The Hockey Boys & Me
Chapter 8
"I swear you get prettier every time I see you Allison!" Brayden's parents and sisters had just rolled into town. Brayden had brought me over to see them at Luke's apartment. Rita was currently hugging the life out of me, not that I minded.
"Hello Allison." Jeff said happily, laughing at his wife and pulling me in for a quick hug.
"Good to see you Jeff!" I was laughing at Rita as well!
As soon as he let go, both of the girls latched onto me, saying how happy they were to see me.
"We're going shopping tomorrow, us three, and your Mom can go too, if she wants." I told the girls. They were extremely excited, especially Macy.
I sat back down on the couch next to Brayden, smiling uneasily at him, and nervous for his parents reaction at dinner.
"They'll be fine. Didn't you hear my mom when she saw you?" He whispered in my ear, trying to reassure me, and slowly it began working. Maddie talked about her upcoming hockey season with me, Macy joining in as well.
The pizzas Luke ordered were at the door in ten minutes, maybe less. All of us migrated to the kitchen, having to pull up extra chairs for us all to fit.
"Luke, how are you going to fit everyone here?" I asked, while we were all eating.
"Great question, still not sure!" He laughed bit, along with the rest of us.
"I'm not sleeping on the floor." Maddie announced stubbornly, but I don't blame her.
"The couch pulls out, and I'll take that. Mom and Dad can take my bedroom, but uh, Maddie and Macy..." Luke trailed off, probably not wanting to disappoint.
"You can stay at my house if you want." I offered politely. Mama Schenn started to resist. "It's fine. We have three extra bedrooms, and my parents are in New York right now."
"Can I stay the night too?" Brayden asked teasingly, but it was obvious that he meant something by it.
"Brayden Schenn!" Rita started to scold him.
"I'm not allowed to tease my own girlfriend?" He asked innocently.
I nearly choked on my slice of pizza.
"GIRLFRIEND!?" The entire room erupted, except Luke, who was laughing hysterically.
"Yeah, Mom, I was going to tell everyone in a better way, but I mean, the dinner table is always a great way to talk about important things!" The hole he dug himself wasn't getting any smaller, especially if you noticed the daggers his mother was sending his way.
Jeff, on the other hand, looked content, like it was something he'd known all along. Luke was still laughing, like the obnoxious asshole he can be. Maddie was grinning, like she had just bought a new pair of skates. Macy didn't look like she minded a whole lot, but was happy nonetheless.
But then Rita's face relaxed, her eyes softened, and a small smile slipped onto her lips. "Good for you two." She finally said.
Maddie threw the crust of her pizza at his head. "Why didn't you tell me!? I thought I was your favorite!" Maddie acted genuinely insulted, but then laughed along with her father and Luke.
"Does this I'm getting another sister?" Macy asked, sounding like the only innocent person in the room.
"Sure, I'll be your sister." She sat to my left, so I squeezed her into a sideways hug. Mama Schenn couldn't have 'Awwed' any louder.
"I told you one of the boys would end up with Allison." Jeff told Rita, in an 'I told you so' tone. Luke and Brayden both flushed, but Jeff and Maddie took turns pointing and laughing at both of them.
"You two excited for the game?" Jeff asked the boys, and soon they were in a deep hockey conversation, that none of us girls were particularly interested in.
"Which mall are we going to?" Macy asked, probably bored of the boys' talk.
"I was thinking Franklin Mills, if that's okay." I shrugged and smile at the girls. They nodded along, smiling happily as the boys chatted about hockey.
****
"I have an idea." Macy said from the backseat of my Malibu. We had just pulled into the driveway of the house, and Macy seemed very bubbly and excited.
"Can we just have a huge sleepover?" She asked with a beaming smile.
"What do you mean?" Maddie looked tired and was bordering on telling her younger sister to shut up.
"I think I know what you mean." I said to both of them.
Once we had put the girls' things in one of the guest rooms, we set to work, grabbing every pillow and blanket in the house. We blew up two air mattresses I found in a closet in one of the guest rooms, and set that as our foundation. From there, we had a field day putting down all the comforters, sheets, blankets and pillows.
At the end, it felt like we were laying on piles of lumpy clouds!
****
I woke up feeling that same hard thing in front of me that I had felt a few weeks ago, but this time I didn't have to feel it up. My eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the light.
"This is why I wasn't allowed to sleep over?" Brayden teased in a whisper. His arms were wrapped loosely around me, and somehow he'd wedged himself between my bed and I. Macy was on my other side, and Maddie on her far side. In my doorway, I saw Rita whispering to Jeff, probably gushing over how cute we all were. Luke was lying on the other end, passed out.
"Did you guys already have morning skate?" I asked through a yawn. Brayden nodded, obviously trying to be quiet.
"Yeah, it's close to noon." He chuckled as softly as possible, but I wasn't even remotely surprised. If his presence hadn't awakened me, I would have slept well into the afternoon, probably waking up in time to make it to the arena!
Now I could see Rita taking out her smartphone, taking pictures of us.
"They're all just so precious, aren't they Jeff?" I could hear Rita still talking about us, but she was right!
"Yeah, we're adorable Mom." Brayden said loudly. Jeff chuckled, and I know Rita's smile didn't falter.
"Shut up Brayden." Luke groaned.
"You shut up Luke!" Maddie yelled back. Macy stirred, snuggling closer to me.
"Stupid siblings." She muttered quietly, but we all heard her nonetheless. She sent us all into a fit of laughter.
"Rita! Jeff! So good to see you!" Well, I guess my mother is home. "Oh look! They're just so darling!" She embraced Rita and pulled her into a hug, and then Jeff too.
"Quiet down!" Gavin yelled from down the hall. "Nap time!" He yelled even louder.
"Are we still going shopping?" I asked the girls openly, because I was still only half-conscious.
"Yeah." Maddie mumbled. I felt Macy's nod in my stomach, where her head was currently situated.
"Then I guess we have to get up." I let out a deep sigh, and the forced myself to sit up.
"Mom, Rita, are you two going with us?" I asked through another yawn.
"Absolutely!" They said simultaneously.
"Get up girls! We have a long day ahead of us!"
****
And a long day it was! Starting out at the mall was fun with the girls! The Flyers shop released the new Schenn Brothers t-shirts, so the girls, Rita, and I, purchased ones to sport at the game. Mom was coming, but she would be wearing her usual Cosey jersey. But it certainly wasn't a Flyers jersey.
When Gavin and I were younger and we had moved back to New York, we both played for a traveling team, the Fighting Spirit. There were separate girls and boys teams, but we traveled together.
Mom wears Gav's number #16, after his idol at the time, Bobby Clarke. Me? I'm the smart one. I wore number 99, after the greatest hockey player to ever live. Wayne Gretzky!
Mom and I brought all of the Schenn women to every store in sight. Maddie, Macy and I were all bogged down my bags, of our own and our mothers after just a few stops! We stopped for lunch at my personal favorite, Recovery Sports Grill. I swear, they have the best chicken wings!
After endless hours at the mall and then walking the streets to stop in a few boutiques and other shops, we all headed back to the house to change for the game. Maddie, Macy and I pulled on our Uggs with our new shirts and jeans.
We decided against box seats, because it's a lot more fun to hear other people's conversations and be closer to the ice.
We arrived on Broad Street early for the game. We were allowed to go in through the players entrance, even though it wasn't 'recommended'. Ryan was standing there as usual. I mean, I was almost a player, wasn't I!? If the Schenns weren't here, I would be wearing a headset and running around the arena like a crazy person. I help run practices and I'm closer to some of the boys than Peter!
I should have my own jersey. I am absolutely taking this up with Paul!
"Hey Ry!" I greeted him as we came through.
"Hey Allison." He said casually, smiling to all of us as we walked through.
Once inside, we went directly to our seats. We still a had few minutes before the boys even came out for warm ups.
I wasn't sitting for very long, because I saw my father coming down the stairs towards us! He didn't tell Gavin or I that he would be coming to this game!
"Hey Alli!" He face glowed with a warm smile as he hugged my mother and I at the same time.
"I didn't know you were coming tonight!" I exclaimed.
"I didn't want to miss your brother's first game," He said happily. "and your mom also let it slip that my possible future son-in-law might be here." He whispered in my ear. I blushed furiously and looked over at Mama Schenn, hoping she might grab his attention. But apparently that wasn't happening! She simply grinned at me, but looked like she had no intention of intervening.
"So where is he?" Dad asked eagerly.
"He um..he's uh over on the uh ice..." I stuttered and stumbled over my words nervously.
"Hmm, would that be..." He smirked, obviously knowing this was torturous for me! "Number 10?" He asked with a grin. Somehow, my face felt even warmer.
"Good for you, honey." He patted me on the back, then moved to take the empty seat next to Jeff. I sat back down in between Maddie and Macy.
By the middle of the second period, the boys were down. Capitals 2, Flyers 0. It was disappointing really, to see how great they had been playing and now this... Ovechkin was everywhere. He'd scored one of the goals, and assisted the other. It was obvious that our defense was majorly lacking.
Coming back in the third period, Claude must have given them a great pep talk, or Peter might have knocked some sense into the them, because Simmonds came on the ice and scored a goal, 40 seconds in! The raw determination was on every single one of their faces.
When Claude finally got the puck he shot down the ice like he had rockets on his skates! Between him and Voracek, I don't think it was possible for them to not score!
Once they tied it up, the Caps must've realized that they could be in deep shit if they didn't step up. But our boys weren't backing down.
Overtime was merely a game of back and forth. There were very few shots from either end, and it was evident that a shootout was coming.
Simmonds stepped up first, after the first Cap to shoot missed. Unfortunately Wayne also missed. The second cap was able to get one in, but so was Claude! The third missed too, but so did Voracek. Apparently they were saving Ovechkin, because the fourth Cap missed. But Brayden Schenn, our fourth shooter made it!
There wasn't a person in the building that wasn't on their feet cheering!
Final score: Washington Capitals 2, Philadelphia Flyers 3!
Maddie, Macy and I were still cheering and hugging each other as the boys came out to hug Brayden on the ice.
"I think you chose wisely." Dad said in my ear.
"Hello Allison." Jeff said happily, laughing at his wife and pulling me in for a quick hug.
"Good to see you Jeff!" I was laughing at Rita as well!
As soon as he let go, both of the girls latched onto me, saying how happy they were to see me.
"We're going shopping tomorrow, us three, and your Mom can go too, if she wants." I told the girls. They were extremely excited, especially Macy.
I sat back down on the couch next to Brayden, smiling uneasily at him, and nervous for his parents reaction at dinner.
"They'll be fine. Didn't you hear my mom when she saw you?" He whispered in my ear, trying to reassure me, and slowly it began working. Maddie talked about her upcoming hockey season with me, Macy joining in as well.
The pizzas Luke ordered were at the door in ten minutes, maybe less. All of us migrated to the kitchen, having to pull up extra chairs for us all to fit.
"Luke, how are you going to fit everyone here?" I asked, while we were all eating.
"Great question, still not sure!" He laughed bit, along with the rest of us.
"I'm not sleeping on the floor." Maddie announced stubbornly, but I don't blame her.
"The couch pulls out, and I'll take that. Mom and Dad can take my bedroom, but uh, Maddie and Macy..." Luke trailed off, probably not wanting to disappoint.
"You can stay at my house if you want." I offered politely. Mama Schenn started to resist. "It's fine. We have three extra bedrooms, and my parents are in New York right now."
"Can I stay the night too?" Brayden asked teasingly, but it was obvious that he meant something by it.
"Brayden Schenn!" Rita started to scold him.
"I'm not allowed to tease my own girlfriend?" He asked innocently.
I nearly choked on my slice of pizza.
"GIRLFRIEND!?" The entire room erupted, except Luke, who was laughing hysterically.
"Yeah, Mom, I was going to tell everyone in a better way, but I mean, the dinner table is always a great way to talk about important things!" The hole he dug himself wasn't getting any smaller, especially if you noticed the daggers his mother was sending his way.
Jeff, on the other hand, looked content, like it was something he'd known all along. Luke was still laughing, like the obnoxious asshole he can be. Maddie was grinning, like she had just bought a new pair of skates. Macy didn't look like she minded a whole lot, but was happy nonetheless.
But then Rita's face relaxed, her eyes softened, and a small smile slipped onto her lips. "Good for you two." She finally said.
Maddie threw the crust of her pizza at his head. "Why didn't you tell me!? I thought I was your favorite!" Maddie acted genuinely insulted, but then laughed along with her father and Luke.
"Does this I'm getting another sister?" Macy asked, sounding like the only innocent person in the room.
"Sure, I'll be your sister." She sat to my left, so I squeezed her into a sideways hug. Mama Schenn couldn't have 'Awwed' any louder.
"I told you one of the boys would end up with Allison." Jeff told Rita, in an 'I told you so' tone. Luke and Brayden both flushed, but Jeff and Maddie took turns pointing and laughing at both of them.
"You two excited for the game?" Jeff asked the boys, and soon they were in a deep hockey conversation, that none of us girls were particularly interested in.
"Which mall are we going to?" Macy asked, probably bored of the boys' talk.
"I was thinking Franklin Mills, if that's okay." I shrugged and smile at the girls. They nodded along, smiling happily as the boys chatted about hockey.
****
"I have an idea." Macy said from the backseat of my Malibu. We had just pulled into the driveway of the house, and Macy seemed very bubbly and excited.
"Can we just have a huge sleepover?" She asked with a beaming smile.
"What do you mean?" Maddie looked tired and was bordering on telling her younger sister to shut up.
"I think I know what you mean." I said to both of them.
Once we had put the girls' things in one of the guest rooms, we set to work, grabbing every pillow and blanket in the house. We blew up two air mattresses I found in a closet in one of the guest rooms, and set that as our foundation. From there, we had a field day putting down all the comforters, sheets, blankets and pillows.
At the end, it felt like we were laying on piles of lumpy clouds!
****
I woke up feeling that same hard thing in front of me that I had felt a few weeks ago, but this time I didn't have to feel it up. My eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the light.
"This is why I wasn't allowed to sleep over?" Brayden teased in a whisper. His arms were wrapped loosely around me, and somehow he'd wedged himself between my bed and I. Macy was on my other side, and Maddie on her far side. In my doorway, I saw Rita whispering to Jeff, probably gushing over how cute we all were. Luke was lying on the other end, passed out.
"Did you guys already have morning skate?" I asked through a yawn. Brayden nodded, obviously trying to be quiet.
"Yeah, it's close to noon." He chuckled as softly as possible, but I wasn't even remotely surprised. If his presence hadn't awakened me, I would have slept well into the afternoon, probably waking up in time to make it to the arena!
Now I could see Rita taking out her smartphone, taking pictures of us.
"They're all just so precious, aren't they Jeff?" I could hear Rita still talking about us, but she was right!
"Yeah, we're adorable Mom." Brayden said loudly. Jeff chuckled, and I know Rita's smile didn't falter.
"Shut up Brayden." Luke groaned.
"You shut up Luke!" Maddie yelled back. Macy stirred, snuggling closer to me.
"Stupid siblings." She muttered quietly, but we all heard her nonetheless. She sent us all into a fit of laughter.
"Rita! Jeff! So good to see you!" Well, I guess my mother is home. "Oh look! They're just so darling!" She embraced Rita and pulled her into a hug, and then Jeff too.
"Quiet down!" Gavin yelled from down the hall. "Nap time!" He yelled even louder.
"Are we still going shopping?" I asked the girls openly, because I was still only half-conscious.
"Yeah." Maddie mumbled. I felt Macy's nod in my stomach, where her head was currently situated.
"Then I guess we have to get up." I let out a deep sigh, and the forced myself to sit up.
"Mom, Rita, are you two going with us?" I asked through another yawn.
"Absolutely!" They said simultaneously.
"Get up girls! We have a long day ahead of us!"
****
And a long day it was! Starting out at the mall was fun with the girls! The Flyers shop released the new Schenn Brothers t-shirts, so the girls, Rita, and I, purchased ones to sport at the game. Mom was coming, but she would be wearing her usual Cosey jersey. But it certainly wasn't a Flyers jersey.
When Gavin and I were younger and we had moved back to New York, we both played for a traveling team, the Fighting Spirit. There were separate girls and boys teams, but we traveled together.
Mom wears Gav's number #16, after his idol at the time, Bobby Clarke. Me? I'm the smart one. I wore number 99, after the greatest hockey player to ever live. Wayne Gretzky!
Mom and I brought all of the Schenn women to every store in sight. Maddie, Macy and I were all bogged down my bags, of our own and our mothers after just a few stops! We stopped for lunch at my personal favorite, Recovery Sports Grill. I swear, they have the best chicken wings!
After endless hours at the mall and then walking the streets to stop in a few boutiques and other shops, we all headed back to the house to change for the game. Maddie, Macy and I pulled on our Uggs with our new shirts and jeans.
We decided against box seats, because it's a lot more fun to hear other people's conversations and be closer to the ice.
We arrived on Broad Street early for the game. We were allowed to go in through the players entrance, even though it wasn't 'recommended'. Ryan was standing there as usual. I mean, I was almost a player, wasn't I!? If the Schenns weren't here, I would be wearing a headset and running around the arena like a crazy person. I help run practices and I'm closer to some of the boys than Peter!
I should have my own jersey. I am absolutely taking this up with Paul!
"Hey Ry!" I greeted him as we came through.
"Hey Allison." He said casually, smiling to all of us as we walked through.
Once inside, we went directly to our seats. We still a had few minutes before the boys even came out for warm ups.
I wasn't sitting for very long, because I saw my father coming down the stairs towards us! He didn't tell Gavin or I that he would be coming to this game!
"Hey Alli!" He face glowed with a warm smile as he hugged my mother and I at the same time.
"I didn't know you were coming tonight!" I exclaimed.
"I didn't want to miss your brother's first game," He said happily. "and your mom also let it slip that my possible future son-in-law might be here." He whispered in my ear. I blushed furiously and looked over at Mama Schenn, hoping she might grab his attention. But apparently that wasn't happening! She simply grinned at me, but looked like she had no intention of intervening.
"So where is he?" Dad asked eagerly.
"He um..he's uh over on the uh ice..." I stuttered and stumbled over my words nervously.
"Hmm, would that be..." He smirked, obviously knowing this was torturous for me! "Number 10?" He asked with a grin. Somehow, my face felt even warmer.
"Good for you, honey." He patted me on the back, then moved to take the empty seat next to Jeff. I sat back down in between Maddie and Macy.
By the middle of the second period, the boys were down. Capitals 2, Flyers 0. It was disappointing really, to see how great they had been playing and now this... Ovechkin was everywhere. He'd scored one of the goals, and assisted the other. It was obvious that our defense was majorly lacking.
Coming back in the third period, Claude must have given them a great pep talk, or Peter might have knocked some sense into the them, because Simmonds came on the ice and scored a goal, 40 seconds in! The raw determination was on every single one of their faces.
When Claude finally got the puck he shot down the ice like he had rockets on his skates! Between him and Voracek, I don't think it was possible for them to not score!
Once they tied it up, the Caps must've realized that they could be in deep shit if they didn't step up. But our boys weren't backing down.
Overtime was merely a game of back and forth. There were very few shots from either end, and it was evident that a shootout was coming.
Simmonds stepped up first, after the first Cap to shoot missed. Unfortunately Wayne also missed. The second cap was able to get one in, but so was Claude! The third missed too, but so did Voracek. Apparently they were saving Ovechkin, because the fourth Cap missed. But Brayden Schenn, our fourth shooter made it!
There wasn't a person in the building that wasn't on their feet cheering!
Final score: Washington Capitals 2, Philadelphia Flyers 3!
Maddie, Macy and I were still cheering and hugging each other as the boys came out to hug Brayden on the ice.
"I think you chose wisely." Dad said in my ear.
please update!!!
3/17/14