"Ha! Told you I could do it!" I gloated in his face.

"I knew you could," He smirked down at me. "I just wanted to see you do it." His face inching closer and to my own. His eyes flickered to my lips, and stayed there briefly, until he was too close. But I was the one to close the gap.


I sprang out of bed, thanking god that it was just a dream, and a really random one at that.

The days were evidently growing colder. I shivered, even underneath my comforter. I pulled on a pair of socks and a sweatshirt before advancing downstairs.

The team has the day off, therefore Gavin will most likely sleep in until well past noon. My parents came in just minutes after me last night, but I didn't bother to let them know that.

Brayden said eleven, and it's around nine now. Dad's car was already gone, probably to go see Paul, for his morning meeting that was scheduled for today.

"Morning Allison." Mom said happily. She already dressed and finishing her cup of coffee.

"Mhmmph." I said unintelligibly. Everyone knew I wasn't a morning person, but no one tried to address it. Gavin and I both weren't morning people, and that's why I wasn't waking him up right now, because he wouldn't do that to me.

"I'm going to grab bagels and coffee with Mrs. Holmgren, and then we're going to meet with some of the WAGs for lunch. They already want to start planning the Wives' Carnival." Mom was talking excitedly, because she loves the start of hockey season.

I don't know another woman that relishes this time of year as much as she does. She loves the players like her own kids and gets completely decked out for every game.

"Have fun." I said with no emotion, and grabbed a cookie from the jar at the back of the counter.

"I'll be at the bakery after the luncheon." She informed me quickly, before saying a quick goodbye and heading out.

Realizing I had another hour and a half until Brayden came, I went back to sleep.

--

When I slipped back into consciousness, I rolled over on my bed onto something hard. It wasn't soft, like a blanket, or fluffy like a pillow. Figuring I shouldn't feel up whatever it is, I cracked an eye open.

Brayden Schenn was the hard substance that I just ran into. He was lying next to me, in my own bed, and now staring down at me with his adorable smile.

"Hey sleepyhead." He teased.

"Hey." I said through a yawn. "What time is it?"

"Eleven thirty. Your brother let me in." His cheeks were a tinge pink, but he look happy.

"Let me just get changed." I mumbled quickly and sprang out of the bed and into my en suite bathroom. Luckily I remembered to put my clothes that I wanted to wear in here.

I'm glad I didn't feel him up...that would have been really awkward!

--

"Wanna stop for some Starbucks?" Brayden offered.

"Sure." I easily agreed. Brayden pulled into the drive-through line. Since the season hasn't started yet, Brayden isn't too well known. But probably after a few games, he'll get popular enough that it won't be easy to go out in public.

"Two Grande Double Chocolatey Chips, thanks." He told the woman at the window.

"How'd you know that's my order?" I asked curiously, with a teasing smile.

"I uh, I saw it on your cup at the first day of camp." He scratched the back of his neck, smiling uneasily. "Is that creepy?" He asked nervously.

"Nah, I think it's kind of cute that you remembered." I was furiously blushing, and pink was showing on Brayden's cheeks.

He handed me my cold drink, taking a sip of his own as he did so. Then we headed off, but I wasn't quite sure where we were going to skate...

--

"How did you manage to get the keys to the Wells Fargo Center, if the team hasn't even-if you guys-the season hasn't started? How the hell did you do it!?" I was so beyond excited. I could barely form a sentence.

"I asked Claude, and he kind of helped me out." Brayden admitted, seeming a bit bashful. The preseason doesn't even start for another week!

I may practically live here for part of the year, but I rarely ever get to skate on the actual ice.

--

Brayden and I laced up our skates, grabbed sticks, threw on helmets and gloves, and were out on the ice in no time.

We skated around, getting the feel of this ice, compared to the Virtua Center. The overall feel of the building, with a vast expanse of seats and kiosks surrounding us made it feel like you were playing for the gods. It's easy to understand why players smile a lot when they first enter. Just imaging seeing the stands filled, your name being announced and the whole stadium lit up must be beyond surreal.

"How long have you been playing?" I asked Brayden while we looped around the rink.

"Luke started when he was four or five, not sure, but I started the next year." He was smiling vibrantly. "Our Dad came to all of our practices and games...We played pond hockey all through the winter."

"We have a pond out back of our house in New York. On weekends, when Gavin and I would go see a Phantoms game, we'd play all morning until we left for the game." I smiled back up at Brayden.

We grabbed some pucks from the bucket he had put by the home bench, and shot them from the blue line.

"Talked to my mom last night. She said that they'll be here for the opener." He told me happily.

"And your sisters?"

"Yeah, they'll be here." He was still smiling.

"Good. Maddy and I need to do more shopping." I smirked at him, waiting for him to ask the question.

"You already met them?...Oh, last year!" He answered his own question, and probably feeling foolish.

"Yeah, I only met your parents briefly. But Maddy and I still text." I shot him a smirk. "I know more things about you than you realize." I told him ominously.

"Like what?" He asked challengingly.

"Your last birthday cake was orange and black, and you ate the entire thing yourself." He chuckled a bit.

"Luke did tell me things about you, before I came." He smirked at me. "Like how you really hate French fries."

"Brayden Schenn, that might be borderline creepy." I informed him, but also wondering how that might have come up in conversation.

"I swear, it was all Luke!" He held his hands up innocently. "Maddy, Luke and I were at the mall, and she got French fries at the food court. She was going on about how perfect they were. Then Luke was saying how he knew someone that hates them." He tried to explain quickly, and without blushing, but I was laughing anyways.

"It's alright Bray, it's good to know you're at least stalking through your brother." It was my turn to smirk teasingly.

"I also know that you have a great slapshot." He added, after he shook off my last comment.

"Not as good as some of your teammates." I shrugged it off.

"We're NHL players Ali, we're the best." He smirked cockily, but he was speaking truthfully.

"I know, but I also know how deathly afraid of snakes you are." I grinned at him, waiting for his rebuttal.

"And you don't like spiders." He shot back, and grabbed a puck out of the bucket sitting next to the home bench.

"Touché." I said, realizing I probably couldn't top that.

"So, you think you can score on me?" Brayden asked cockily.

"Of course." I waved my hand dismissively.

"Let's see it then."


We lined up in the center circle. I took off with the puck, but he was right on me the whole time. I played with the puck a bit, keeping it close. Brayden stood between myself and goal. I turned my back to him quickly, and went to his left side, immediately taking the opening next to his leg. It sailed through!

"Ha! Told you I could do it!" I smirked at him, waiting for his response.

"I knew you could," He smirked down at me. "I just wanted to see you do it."

.
.
.

Déjà vu.

Notes

I realize that Brayden actually came to the Flyers before Luke, but...yeah, ignoring this...I sort of forgot and then remembered but I don't feel like changing this around. Also, this isn't necessarily based on a certain season. There will be no lockout in this story, and the games will not be based on any real games.

Sorry it took so long, hopefully it won't next time!