Goodbye Girl

James sat in the suite in Toronto, waiting for his team mates. He watched as people filed in around him. He noticed a girl walk in with crazy wavy hair and a Crosby jersey. He questioned why she was in the suite. He realized it was none if his concern and went back to watching and waiting for the team.

This was his tenth missed game since his injury. He was upset. Hockey was his life and he wasn't allowed to play. He hated this. He hated everything that was going on in his life right now.

Everyone in the suite cheered when Tanger scored. The girl James had noticed was cheering the loudest. He looked over his shoulder at her. Her eyes widened and she sat down, ducking her head. He laughed. She was cute.

When Bolland tied it, the suite groaned in sync. The girl with the wavy hair let out a separate growl. James looked at her once again. This time, she stared right at him instead of cowering away. He sent her a smirk. She shrugged, crossing her arms. He could see the hint of the blush she was holding back. He loved doing that to girls.

In the third, when Kessel got the Leafs their third goal of the night. The girl shot up. James's head shot to her. She made her way to the door.

"You're gonna leave with that much time left on the clock?" He called.

She nodded, turning. "There's no chance." She explained.

"There's still a solid two minutes." James rolled his eyes.

"Reimer's hot tonight. The boys don't have a chance." She shrugged and opened the door. "Maybe if you were out there, yeah, but not with how they've played tonight."

James watched the door close behind her. He chuckled a bit, shaking his head. He turned back to the game and saw Flower had been pulled. Bollard scored in the empty net with forty seconds left. The suite groaned.

James shot up, walking to the door. He rushed down to the change rooms to find his team. He saw the girl from the suite standing near the Penguins door with her head looking down at her phone. He walked right over to her.

"What's your story?" He nodded his head at her. She looked up with a cocked brow. "Up in the team suite and now you're near the change room. You must be a big deal."

"Oh, I'm the Real Deal." She smirked. He let out a laugh. "I'm a friend of,"

"Amber!" Sidney's voice called. She turned to see him walking towards her in full equipment. "I didn't know if you'd make it."

"Well, here I am." She motioned at herself. "Sporting some asshole's jersey."

Sid laughed. "Funny girl." He glared. "Gimme a bit and then we can go out." He walked into the change room.

She turned back to James. He had a look of realization on his face. She shrugged at him.

"So you're Sid's friend?" He questioned.

"No, he just knows my name because he knows all the thousands of girls that love him." She sassed back.

He grinned. "Hey, I don't need the attitude." He pointed a finger.

She threw her hands up in defence. "Sorry, force of habit." She explained. Her hand extended. "I'm Amber, and you're James Neal." She stated.

"Pleasure to meet you." He chimed.

"My room mate would kill to meet you." She blurted. "Sorry, but I've witnessed her cry over you."

"Why didn't you bring her tonight?" He asked.

"She's back in the 'Burgh. I'm here for work." Amber sighed. "Sid called me and offered me all this shit so I couldn't say no."

James nodded. "Well, when you're back home, get Sid to grab some tickets for you and your friend and we'll go to the bar after or something."

"Sounds like a plan." She smiled.

Emily groaned when Rich missed his shot on the shoot out. The Jets grouped around each other and cheered. She turned her live TV off in her office, along with everything else that was on. She grabbed her coat and made her way down to the arena. She waited near the change rooms for her boys.

She hadn't spoken to Tyler since the stunt he pulled when she was in Pittsburgh. She'd been home for two weeks and not a word was said between the two of them. She wanted an apology but Tyler wasn't ready to give one.

He walked out and spotted her. He took a deep breath, walking past her. She looked up from her phone at him. He made eye contact before looking down. Emily growled, gaining his attention. She frowned at him but he continued to walk.

Jamie came out with Jordie and saw the frown on her face. He knew it must have been because of Tyler. He walked over to her, letting out a sigh as he hugged her. She hugged back.

"Do you want to come out with the guys tonight?" Jamie asked her.

"Not really." She grumbled, pulling away from her.

"Okay, I'll stay home." He smiled at her.

She rolled her eyes. "You have to go. You're the captain." She argued.

"I don't have to do anything. I call the shots." He smirked.

The pair made their way home. After they watched a half hour of a movie, Jamie couldn't stay up any longer. He said a good night to Emily before he went up to his room. Emily decided to call James after hearing about his team's loss, although he wasn't playing. She scratched Marshall's head while she made the call.

The phone rang three times before he answered. "Hello?" He sounded raspy.

"Shit, were you sleeping?" She gasped.

"Yeah, but it's fine. How are you?" He asked.

"I'm good. Sorry about that loss." She sighed.

"Shit losing to the fucking Leafs." He growled. She laughed. "How's things with Tyler?"

"Still haven't spoken." She explained.

As if he heard his name, Tyler staggered in the door. The two stared at each other before Tyler came further into the apartment. Marshall jumped off the couch and ran to Tyler.

"Hi boy." Tyler said in the goofy voice he always used to talk to him. He knelt down to pet him. "Sorry I left you home with uncle Jamie and aunt Emily."

"Speak of the devil?" James chuckled.

"Yeah. I'll call you later." She said, ending the call.

She watched Tyler walked into the kitchen and followed him. She stood in the door way with her arms crossed. He made himself a sandwich while feeding Marshall a bit of everything he put on it. He held up some onion. His eyes shifted to Emily, as if he was asking if it was okay for Marshall to have. She shook her head. He went back to making the sandwich, not sharing the onion with his dog.

He finished assembling his sandwich and walked past her to the living room. She spun around to follow him with her eyes. He sat on the couch, searching for the remote. Emily walked over and grabbed it from where it was, handing it to him. He took it without a word.

"Honestly, Ty?" She cried. He took a bite of his sandwich. "Why are you so mad at me?"

"Because you went back to that piece of shit." He said with a mouth full.

"Clearly, I didn't if I'm here right now." She threw her arms out for emphasis. "Why would me going back to him bother you so much? Are you jealous?"

Tyler laughed. "Yes, Emily. I'm absolutely in love with you!" He mocked. "It bothers me because you're too good for him. You're the most beautiful, funny, intelligent, and independent girl I know, and it drives me insane to see a prick like him treating you like a toy."

Emily stared at him. She felt her eyes start to water. Tyler stood up and pulled her into a hug. She cried into his chest while he held her tight.

"I don't want to be his toy anymore." She sobbed.

"Then don't be, Em. Don't let him cross any boundaries you don't want to cross." Tyler whispered.

The sound of a plate hitting the floor pulled them apart. They both looked to see Marshall chomping down what was left of Tyler's sandwich. The two laughed when he looked at them in guilt.

"Tyler, the onions." Emily gasped.

"I ate them all already." He laughed.

Notes