The Ice Prince and The Snow Queen

Kala Mari was going to her first Blackhawks game with Dimitri at her side. It was a nice break from the hard work of acting. The young actress wasn’t much into hockey or sports in general. She was so busy acting, she didn’t even think about it...or have the time to sit down and watch games.

But, her friend on the other hand, Dimitri, was a huge hockey fan. And his team was the Blackhawks. So given that they were in Chicago and had gotten ahead of schedule in the shooting for the film, they were allowed some downtime.

Dimitri had asked Kala to go with him to the game, having gotten two tickets. And, well, she did want to get away from Dublin and his villainy for a bit. So she agreed. She let him know that she knew nothing about hockey though, to which he launched into an explanation and told her everything he knew.

Kala was overwhelmed, but she was willing to give the sport a try. And Dimitri was there, so if she didn’t like it, she could always make out with him. Okay, so maybe she did think of him more then a co-actor…at times.

They arrived at the busy United Center and headed into the arena, checking off their tickets and finding their seats. They were sitting right up front, behind the boards. They were behind the where the opponent’s goalie would be.

On the ice, the teams were warming up. There were a few ugly-looking players with missing teeth. And then there were some who had stitches and scars etched on this faces. Kala shook her head and rolled her eyes. “This had better be worth it. I’m not sold yet.”

“It will, trust me. Chicago’s the best team to get into hockey!” Dimitri exclaimed, with a smile. “I promise you.”

“If I see nothing but blood, teeth pulling and hard hits, I’m outta here, you here.”

A lady wearing a Blackhawks jersey with the number 88 on it leaned over to them and hissed, “The Blackhawks aren’t like that. We’re not Boston...or Toronto or even those turds in Montreal.”

“Uh, okay, thanks. I don’t know much about hockey, as you can tell. Beginner here. Also, I’m an actress, so sorry ma’am.”

She winked, smiled and then turned to her friend. Kala could now see the name “Kane” on the back of the jersey. Dimitri wrapped an arm around her and spotted her bewildered look. “Kala? What’s up?”

“Who’s Kane?”

“Kane? Oh, Patrick Kane! You’ll like him, trust me.”

Kala frowned. She wasn’t sure about this, but she had to give it a go, after all the game hadn’t started yet. She couldn’t technically judge it yet.

They took their seats, as the arena filled up and the start of the puck drop loomed closer. Kala looked to the ice, where the players had been practicing and fooling around. Now they were gone. The ice was practically empty.

All of a sudden, a booming voice sounded over the intercom, “Ladies and Gentleman, let’s meeting the players for the 2014-2015 St. Louis Blues…” There were occasional boos and a few cheers from Blues’ fans as the players skated out. Then there was a dramatic pause, before, “And now, your Chicago Blackhawks!” And the building erupted in noise.

Kala was surprised at the passion of the fans. And she was a little moved by the thunderous sound. The players were introduced as they came onto the ice acknowledging the crowd. Patrick Kane was announced and Kala perked up as a scrawny little blond man emerged from the tunnel.

Kala elbowed Dimitri and whispered, “He’s a hockey player?”

Dimitri nodded. “Wait until you see him in action. He may be small...but he’s deadly, in terms of scoring.”

Kala turned back, as the last man skated out. This man was a brunette and he had a tense, focused expression on his face. He joined the blond at center ice - a term Dimitri had told her about. She was shocked that she had remembered the term. The two men exchanged some words before standing upright and looking ahead of them with a sharp focus.

The National Anthem was sung and then the arena lighting flipped on and the starting lineup got ready at the face-off. (Another term she remembered from Dimitri’s conversation.) Kala watched as the players all got a quick drink and then lined up for the start of the game. The brunette player, who Dimitri explained was the captain of the team with the name Jonathan Toews, lowered into position.

Kala’s breath caught in her throat and then the puck was dropped and won by the Blackhawk centerman. A Blues player challenged the Chicago left wing: introduced as Brandon Saad. But the winger was able to tip it forward, where it was taken by Jonathan.

The captain then made a sick pass to his right wing, the blond named Patrick Kane. He took it in his stick and Kala watched as he pulled out some cool spinning and juking moves. He crossed the blue line into the Blackhawks’ attacking zone and shot at the goal. The goalie blocked it and it rebounded back out for Patrick to scoop up once more.

Patrick went around the goal, stickhandling and showing off, keeping the puck, while his teammates got into position. A Blues player reached his stick out and finally Patrick sent the puck to a teammate. This guy had the number 7 and the name Seabrook. Brent Seabrook. The defensemen quickly passed it to a guy named Keith, who wound up ready for a shot, but ended up sending it back to Patrick Kane, who’d crossed the ice.

“What--? How--? He was--just--!” Kala exclaimed, leaning forward, bewildered.

Another sick stickhandling sequence from Patrick Kane, before he sent a beautiful pass through two Blues defender’s legs and to Jonathan, who slapped it home.

Goal, Blackhawks. 1-0.

Kala turned to Dimitri, her mouth hanging open in shock and happiness. Dimitri smirked at her.

“Are you not entertained?” the man asked, laughing.

“Alright, you were right. That blond has some moves!” She glanced up at the JumboTron and rewatched the goal.

Before she knew it, the puck had dropped once more and the Blues had possession of it. Corey Crawford, the goalie for the Blackhawks had blocked a shot and sent a rebound shot to the boards. Kala cringed as a Blues player was smacked and pinned against the boards before her. The Blackhawk player had been number 65 and was apparently known as Andrew Shaw, or to the crowd and Chicago fans, the Mutt! He was one of the scrappy players portraying a battle scar and stitches, but he didn’t seem phased by it.

A few seconds passed and the first period was half over. The Blues had gained possession again and a certain number 19 was chasing the possessor of the puck. Kala gasped and blinked as the swift captain of the Blackhawks slammed against the boards and was pinned in place by one of the Blues players.

“Hey, Dimitri, I think the Toews guy’s kinda cute!” Kala exclaimed, grabbing at Dimitri’s arm. She blushed.

“Hey Kala, what are you…!?”

“Ohmygosh he’s soooooo cute!” Kala screamed like a fangirl. “I wanna marry him and have his kids!”

“Easy there Kala…”

“But look at him!”

As the game carried on and Jonathan seemed bothered by the hit, enough to throw a few crosschecks and words, Kala’s eyes kept finding the tough, brave man. And when her eyes followed him to the bench, he took his helmet off and squirted some water on his face. She shuddered and blushed a little at his water-drenched face and hair. He glanced up at the JumboTron with a cute look and then back at the ice. He seemed to be barking instructions as he multitasked drinking his water.

“He’s so dreamy, Dimitri.” Kala sighed and batted her eyelashes.

Dimitri rolled his eyes. “Girls and hockey players.”

Kala saw his shiny chocolate eyes shimmer in the arena lighting. They were almost like a puppy dog’s. Then he turned and flashed a smile at his blond friend. Kala blinked. She spun to Dimitri snapped from her trance. “Uh, is Jonathan gay?”

Dimitri faced her, alive with excitement. “No. I don’t think so.”

“Him and Patrick are--”

“They’re best friends, Kala. Look, during intermission, I’ll show you some clips of them. They’re like brothers, close friends, not lovers though.”

Kala looked back to the bench and gasped. Jonathan had just given Patrick a rapid and secretive kiss on the lips. She cocked her head to the side though and smiled as she saw them both grinning at each other. She had to admit that the two were adorable together, if they were a couple. It was her little secret.

And she suddenly felt different about the man.

(Kazer.)

The first period came to an end, with the Blackhawks up 3-0 on the Blues. Corey Crawford was a brick wall in the net, making spectacular saves and stoning the Blues’ shots. Patrick Kane had a goal, Jonathan Toews had a goal and Brent Seabrook had a power-play goal.

During the first intermission, Kala cleared up some questions she had like ‘what a power-play was’. And Dimitri answered her. Then he showed her three videos of Patrick and Jonathan. But Kala knew what she’d seen...love.

The second period began and nothing more happened. It was a lot more back and forth and the Blackhawks still dominating and the goaltender standing tall and solid. Kala saw more of the handsome captain and his blond friend. She still wasn’t sold that there wasn’t something love-based happening between them and instead of mooning over the brunette captain, she focused on trying to deduce the answer.

The third period got more exciting. By now, Kala was 100 percent sold on the sport of hockey. She jumped from her seat and happened to meet the eyes of the centerman, who appeared to wink at her. He scored two more goals and suddenly a flurry of hats rained down on the ice.

“He got a hat trick!” Dimitri gasped, jumping to his feet. “Three goals.”

Kala nodded, watching the celebration and listening to the cheering fans around the arena. This was stardom in a whole new light. The players appeared unfazed by it. If she’d been a player, she’d have been distracted.

One of the players, wearing a number ten on his jersey and the name “Sharp”, scooped up one of the hats with his stick and held it out at the blond, who was smiling and chatting with the brunette. Sharp took the hat from the blade after a few seconds and placed it on Patrick’s helmet. Kala giggled as she watched Patrick give him a “you’re kidding me right?” look.

“Dimitri, look!” Kala exclaimed.

Dimitri followed her finger as she pointed at the goofy Blackhawk players. The celebration was over soon and so was the game. The Blackhawks congratulated their goaltender and then skated to center ice, raising their sticks up and high-fiving. Patrick appeared to hang around Jonathan, which was interesting. It only fueled Kala’s question of their relationship.

Then the players began to skate toward the bench and the tunnel and exit the ice. Jonathan skated to high-five his fellow teammates at the bench. Patrick stood to the side, grinning at him. Kala watched as they left the ice last.

“Are you sure that those two aren’t married or dating?” Kala asked, unable to stop herself from asking.

Dimitri spun to her. “Who?”

“Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.”

Dimitri laughed. “I’m sure. They’re just best friends...or hockey bros. Trust me, everyone would know if they were doing anything. Besides, I thought you were into the brunette. You were mooning over him the first two periods.”

“I don’t know, I saw Jonathan kiss Patrick...on the lips.”

Dimitri’s eyes flew open. “You what?”

“I saw them kiss, Dimitri. That isn’t being a best friend, that’s being a lover!”

“You must have been daydreaming.”

They began to climb the stairs and exit the arena, which was still buzzing from the excitement and the large win over the Blues. Kala glanced back at the ice.

“I wasn’t daydreaming. It was the same look Kayley gives Johnny. There’s something more going on between those two, and personally, I think it’s rather adorable.”

“Alright, you can think that, but changing the subject, how’d you like the game?”

Kala folded her arms and gave him an “are you kidding me?” look. “Obviously, I liked it. Thank you so much for introducing the sport of hockey to me, Dimitri. You’re the best male co-actor friend I could ever hope to have and work with! And that Captain is pretty hot. I hope he isn’t completely gay and that just maybe I was actually hallucinating.”

“I’m sure you were. I’m also glad you liked it.” Kala patted him on the shoulder and turned to look at the fans exiting the arena. There were some drunk people, but most of them looked passionate and happy. Truth was, she loved this sport now. It wasn’t like how she’d thought at all.

Dimitri watched her, saddened that she continued to refuse his advances toward her. He loved her but it seemed, she didn’t love him back...at least not in a romantic way. Still he wasn’t one to give up. He’d continue to try and “woo” her. And now that she was a hockey fan, it made her even more appealing to him.

“I wonder if Dublin’s a hockey fan?” Kala questioned. “He seems like the type of guy who’d be in love with the goons and the rough stuff, you know?!”

“I’m sure he is. You can ask him when we get to the hotel.”

“That’s okay. I’d rather take a slapshot to his big ugly head!”

They both laughed and walked back to the car and drove to the hotel. Kala watched the United Center fade away, as she looked out the window and sighed. “Jonathan Toews,” she whispered to herself. “He’s such a stud.” Dimitri overheard her and couldn’t help but feel jealous and a little frustrated.

How could she possibly be in love with Jonathan and not him? It wasn’t right.

Notes

Sorry its been a while since I've updated, I've been super busy and X-Men movie week sorta brained my brain. But don't worry, I haven't forgotten these stories. I might have to just update them once every week instead of the "4" days...so it may be more of a 7 or 8 day update, but we'll see.
So, the Hawk are in the playoffs once again! Woo!! And the Ducks and Lightning are as well, so I'm about halfway in with my teams. :P
Thanks for reading this though and I hope you are still enjoying it or have enjoyed it. :)


Next up: Jonny's Got A Secret