Evelyna’s POV

Two months. He had been gone two months now, while I was left in this brutal god-forsaken place known as Florida. Two months of heat and sand, of blazing sun and scorching wind. Two more of skirmishes and looking over my shoulder and losing him.

When I finally got out in the real world and started living, I decided I was going to move somewhere with cooler temperatures. No more heat. I loved Boston, had often visited there and had family that had grown up there, but I hoped that a change of scenery would make my transition flow easier from student to “adult-living-on-their-own.” I also hoped it would help me to get over and forget about the Dallas Star, who lived in Texas and was busy in the NHL. Even though we had decided to remain friends from a distance.

I might not be able to do that, but I was old enough to know that what I'd seen here and done there wouldn't easily leave my mind. Just as I knew it wouldn’t for the Dallas Star. And the things we both had felt would never go away.

As I sat on my full-sized bed, once more alone in my apartment, I closed my eyes and pictured cool dry air and Boston. I smiled, as I faintly heard the slam of the main door.

"Yo. Evelyna, you got mail," a voice called out.

I opened my eyes, giving my roommate, who had poked her head around into my sight a look that would have terrified most other people. She just laughed, flinging an envelope into my hands, as I sighed and got up, walking over to her.

"What's this?" I demanded, as I took the envelop and stepped out of my room, almost stepping on a black furred animal, who zoomed past me and into my room. Cali, I thought.

"Mail for you. But it’s from Texas, so I don’t know who..." she responded, as I ventured further into the main room.

We sat down at the table.

"Mail. For me? From Texas?" I replied dryly. They all knew that I didn’t get mail from Texas. Ever. I didn’t have any family from there, but yet, I did know someone from there now.

I held up the envelope and glanced at it. It was addressed to 'My Best Friend, Evelyna Knight' and came from one of those pen-pal services. The roommate who had given me the letter was Kaitlyn and she leaned closer to me.

“So, who’s it from?” she pressed.

I blushed and she gasped. I figured I had given the answer away to her. But it was impossible to hide it from her. She was going to find out anyway. “It’s from--”

“Oh my gosh, that hockey player you like?! The one who was here...Valeri Nichkin or something?”

“Valeri Nichushkin. Yes. It’s from Val.”

“That’s amazing! So you two are like Pen Pals then, huh?”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“Well, open the thing and read what he said to you!”

“You really want to know.”

“Eve, that man was in love with you. I want to see what he has to say.”

“Okay.”

What could it hurt to just open it and read it? I thought. Nah! It couldn’t hurt. Besides I could take a look at it. That didn't mean I'd have to answer it. Or react. Right? I slid a finger under the flap of the envelope and tore it open. Then I slipped out a single folded sheet of paper. Much to the eagerness of my friend and roommate Kaitlyn, who was super interested in the message.

Since we had parted ways, I had gone back to just focusing on my studies in Film. We shot our footage for class, but as I watched our actor get carried away by a reptilian-looking Sasquatch creature, I couldn’t help but think of my precious Valeri.

I wondered if he still remembered me and still thought about me. But of course he did, he kept texting me and we had begun to write notes to one another. I had just received his latest one. Half of it was in Russian, but some of it was in English. He was trying to impress me or his teammates...or there was something else behind it. Maybe it was his duty to the team to learn English and this was one of those many practices.

But as I read the letter, I learned it wasn’t anyone’s plan, but his own. Val wanted to make it habit to write these letter in half English and half Russian, so that he could better his English and learn more. I was all for it.

This was his letter he wrote me: (I translated it all to English)

Dear друг по переписке (I take this to mean “Pen Pal”), Evelyna Knight,

Hi. My name is Val Nichushkin and I feel totally ridiculous writing a letter to someone I've already met. But, I want to learn more English and practice it, and I don't have a choice, so here goes…

I’m not going to introduce myself, since you already know me. Also you can...uh...look it up on the web. “Google” it, right?

I know that some decisions are hard to make, but when affection and love prevail over any other interests, than all the roads to happiness become wide open and danger free.

First of all, I would like to make sure you know that I love you very much and that you are the most wanted and the most desired person than anyone could possibly be. I also need you to know that there`s nothing more beautiful in the world than what is happening between us right now; I feel we are growing closer and getting along really well. I feel we are becoming more intimate, in every sense, and that this union is growing bigger; and that`s the most gratifying thing two human beings could wish for.

That is why I need to remind you (even if that takes a simple letter or e-mail), that you don't have to be afraid of anything, at least not while we are together, as close and united partners.

I miss you so much, I can't wait to see you at a game...

These last few days I have been thinking with affection of the moment we will see each other again, and satiate all this desire that has taken over us in such an intense but wonderful way.

Giving me this chance will make you happier also, I want to give you back everything you ever dreamed of. My life will be devoted to you and I´ll never do anything that might hurt you in the slightest way. I wish to make you happy and complete.

I leave you with the first of the many kisses I intend to give you...

I need to confess to you that for me there is only one truth: I´m mad about you. I wanna be happy and able to proclaim to all the world that I´ve got the most gorgeous and polite girl in the world, that she´s my beloved one, my girl friend from Orlando.

Love,

Val AKA: “Nichy”

I watched Kaitlyn, as she gave me that look that was like a parent’s, when they caught their son or daughter falling in love with someone. She was smiling at me. But I was just so emotional over it. I couldn’t help it.

“Oh my gosh, Kait, I’m in love. He’s the best!! He’s the ideal man! I have to have him back!”

“I know, but he’s a hockey player in Dallas and you are in college.”

“So, where’s Caitlyn, so I can have her take me to Texas.”

“Evelyna, you can’t!”

“But he misses me and…”

Kaitlyn stopped my frantic movements and pinned me in the chair. “I know this is hard, but you’ve got to stay here, finish your studies, get your life and then go chase after him like someone from a Greek myth story!”

“You’re right. I’m sorry.”

But dammit, Valeri Nichushkin was just so awesome of a human being and person!


Val’s POV

I finished sending my first letter. I knew she would appreciate it and it would be a fun way to handle our distance, apart from texting. I could really focus and send her a heart-felt message. Though I was friends with her on Facebook, Instagram and other social media sites, and though I could also send her an email, I just felt like the letter was the best method for us.

And sure enough, as we got into the month of November. On November 2, I recieved the next letter, this time from her. A response to mine.

It said:

Дорогой мой возлюбленный Валерий, (Dear my beloved Valeri)

You are the sweetest man I’ve ever met - apart from my own father and family, of course - and I love this letter idea. Kaitlyn says hi and she also likes the idea nad misses you. Everyone does...including the cats.

But...seriously...

Sometimes, there are things that happen right in front of your eyes and you are not even aware of them, isn't it? That usually happens when you are totally distracted or you have shut yourself to the world outside.

When we looked at each other for the first time, I felt it was the start of something different! We stroke a great friendship from the start, and if my premonitions don`t fail me, this friendship can become stronger and deeper... it`s all up to you now, because I have already surrendered to your charms!!

That`s right, my darling, it`s up to you now! I, for one, just want to be able to repeat and deepen the feeling I had with that first look!

I swear to you: I felt butterflies when I saw you for the first time! I realized straight away that something bigger could happen between the two of us after that look; actually, I am quite sure that we can establish a new and more intimate relationship, because a certain degree of intimacy, love and lust were unequivocally exchanged with that first look! I hope this first impression of mine will be confirmed!

I'm not trying to beat around the bush, but it would have been very nice to have started this letter by saying right away that I am totally in love with you; it`s so strange for me to be so blinded by love whereas you seem to be blind to my love. If it`s pure distraction and you are really not aware of the way I look at you, then there is still hope this letter will produce some effect. My only fear, however, is that you have already noticed my interest in you and you couldn't care less. Is that the case?

I sincerely hope not... I suspect you haven't even realized that there is someone who looks at you in a different way and whose heart beats faster every time you are near. Much as I try to be discreet, I can sometimes be too obvious; but know that I have brought myself to write you this letter, the dices have been cast and I hope fortune is on my side.

Dear beloved Nichy, if you still remember who I am, it won't be long before you see me again. No, I`m not going to sign this letter; but I`ll be asking you "Did you like it?" next time you walk past me. And what I`ll see in your eyes and in your smile will be my answer.

I wish you the best in Dallas and with the Stars this season, I will be rooting for you and soon, we can be together. Just believe and remember me.

I was so excited. In the letters we discussed love, friendship, futures and work. In texts we communicated in Russian about Tyler, behind his back, which made him frustrated. It was funny watching him fret about what we were talking about.

Jamie rather enjoyed it too and it soon became a thing. We would text back and forth talking about Tyler and “how stupid his face was” and then tell Jamie and he would make Tyler beg for his answer by having to score a certain number of goals or perform a certain task.

He wasn’t pleased and joked about going to Orlando and having a little chat with Evelyna. But I knew he wouldn’t dare hurt me or her. He was mature and he wasn’t like his former self as a Boston Bruin, where he was immature.

No.

Evelyna and I continued to carry on with our letters, texts and whatnot and before long it was deep into the month of November.

Notes

AWWWWWWW!!!! I'D LOVE TO BE PEN PALS WITH NICHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!
Sorry.


Next up: November Magic!! And...A Natural Hat Trick! :D