Eight Days of the Week

"Sorry, but...I think there's been a misunderstanding."
"No, no misunderstanding."
"It's just...see, I applied for the athletic training position."
"Yes, but unfortunately we are no longer in need of a trainer. We are, however, short a member on our equipment team. One of our previous staff members has found another job over the summer closer to..."
This is where Penny stopped listening. What about the position she applied for? At the end of last year's season, fresh off a Stanley Cup win, she had applied for the internship position for team trainer of the Chicago Blackhawks. Over the course of a few summer months, she had apparently been robbed of the opportunity.
Stupid fucking off-season.
Instead, after recieving a call from the team promising 'good news', she's here standing in Stan Bowman'soffice being accepted for a job she never applied for.
"If you are interested, we'd like to offer you the position."
Admittedly, it would pay better than the internship. And she would still be able to work with the greatest hockey team of this generation. All unfortunate frustrations aside, this would be a good move.
You will not go back to selling shoes.
Straightening her back and nodding once, she put her hand out for his to shake.
"Thank you for your consideration. I'd be honored to be apart of the Blackhawks organization."
-----
After ironing out a few details and receiving a schedule, Penny was eager to go home and change into more comfortable clothes. Quickly stopping off for some Chinese takeout for herself and Emelia, her roommate, she was home in under twenty minutes.
As she struggled with the constantly-jamming front door to their shared apartment, Emelia jumped out from behind the couch with a balloon in hand and a blaring kazoo in her mouth.
"Congrats! Congrats, congrats, congrats, con-"
"I didn't get the job." Penny interrupted. Emelia's shoulders slumped and she let the balloon go.
"What? How, why not? I knew I didn't like the Hawks."
"For starters, it's not all bad; I did get a job...just not the one I applied for. And secondly, don't even joke about that, the Hawks are sacred." Penny dropped the food off in the kitchen before making her way to her bedroom.
"Well what the hell does that mean? Are you an ice girl? Oh God, please tell me you're an ice girl." Emelia shouted from the kitchen, already tucking in to her General Tao. All she got in response was a faint, over-the-top gagging noise. She chuckled, satisfied with herself.
"All do respect," Penny made her way back to the island while pulling on a hoodie, "I have a bit more dignity."
"Lies." Emelia pointed an accusatory fork at her. Penny waved a dismissive hand at her roommate.
"They offered me a spot on the equipment management team. Looks like I'm back to square one."
"Back to being in the locker room."
"Back to sewing hockey players' pants."
"Back to seeing hockey players without pants."
"Back to washing their uniforms."
"Back to seeing them without-" Penny leveled a glare at Emelia, cutting the comment short.
"The point is, I thought managing hockey equipment would just be, like, a college thing. I loved it, but it's not something I was entirely keen on making a living doing." Emelia looked at her sympathetically. "But I'm trying not to think of it as regression. Just...slow progression into the life I want."
"Even if it isn't the life you planned, it's the life waiting for you." Emelia gave Penny a reassuring smile.
"How philosophical." Penny replied dryly, before bellying up to the island next to her roommate and digging in.

Notes

So this is my first time writing a hockey fanfic, but it is not my first time writing. Sorry this chapter is a bit on the short side. If it gets a halfway decent response (fingers crossed), I will post further chapters! Thank you for reading, please let me know what you think!

(This story is also posted on Wattpad)