Just The Beginning

It's quarter til three and Elizabeth and myself are raiding her closet trying to find a jersey to wear tonight for the game and she has a lot to choose from.

"Holy shit!! So many jerseys. This is a little overwhelming I gotta say."

"It's a blessing and a curse being in a big hockey family."

"I bet family parties are always a fun time though"

"Oh yeah for sure! My mom's side of the family brings all the alcohol and my dad's side of the family brings all of the food and we usually rent out a place or a park to have it."

"That's awesome!! You'll have to invite me to the next one." shoots me a wink and a smile.

"Oh you know it Nicole" I smile at her in return.

"Now, which jersey are you going to wear tonight?"

"I don't know. This Lemieux is really nice." I hear Liz gasp and I quickly turn around to face her.

"Whats wrong?"

"That's my dad's jersey!! He's been looking for it for the past couple weeks. I'll have to give it to him when I go home."

"Sounds like a good idea to me." I chuckle and continue to flip through the jerseys and notice a C on one of them and pull it out.

"Sorry!! Can't wear that one either. I am actually gonna wear that since I had that one on when we won our last game and believe it or not I kinda have a small crush on Sidney Crosby."

"So that's what you were so giddy to get to morning skate, you were trying to find him looking up and down the hallway and in the locker room.

"Maybe." She says shyly.

"Awe. He is cute!!" She blushes and covers her face.

"It's kind of embarrassing though. Someone like him would never go out with someone like me. I would just be wasting my time.

"You don't know that!! I will make sure he notices you tonight."

"Awe yay!! I'm so excited. Now pick a damn jersey so we can get some food before the game."

"Alright!! What about Jordan Staal?" He's the same number and an alternative captain as my brother." As I hold up the white jersey.

"Oh yeah!! there ya go!! He's tall, blonde hair and blue eyes. You two would make a cute couple. If I go out with Sid and you go out with Jordan we could double like all the time and just think how amazing that would be?"

It would be fun to date a hockey player since I have been single for a little while. My last ex...that is a complicated story. Let's just say that I tried to help him for a while and he didn't want it so I just had to end it and I haven't heard from him since.

"Well lets see how this game goes and maybe if we win we can celebrate somehow."

"You mean when we win I truly don't want to go back to Wells Fargo."

"True that!! Lets go eat so we can get ready"

We decide to order in some Chinese and turn on the tv and watch some NHL Network. The analysts are talking about tonights game. They said that it will be difficult for the Penguins, but they are expected to win so that definitely makes me happy. Now we are in the bathroom after our showers, brushing our teeth, and getting dressed we are doing our makeup and hair.

"Which color Crosby jersey are you wearing again?"

"My black on and you should wear my white Staal jersey." I smile.

"Okay, I am thinking all gold or silver jewelry for you and I have some back and gold jewelry that will go perfect with our outfits.

"That's perfect!!" Both of us start to giggle.

"Are you done with your straightener?"

"Yeah." Liz hands it to me and I plug it into an outlet.

"I hope we get to see our guys tonight."

"Me too Nicole!! Maybe if they are lucky they'll score on and off the ice."

"True that." Saying wth a sly grin. We clean up the bathroom and put everything away and come back to my bedroom doing some final things before we go.

"You all set?" I ask.

"Yes ma'am! Lets go!! Do you wanna drive since I drove to morning skate?"

"Sure." I grab my keys and we are out the door.


We arrive at Mellon Arena just after four thirty and the entire city of Pittsburgh is buzzing about this game tonight. A chance to move on to the Stanley Cup Final against our bitter rival. I park the car and take off my seatbelt.

"I have one question. Why are we here so early?

"Oh!! No reason!!" Elizabeth says looking away taking her seatbelt off as well.

"Oh, I believe that there is a reason....number eighty - seven!!! She blushes hard, gets out of the car and shuts the door.

"It's okay to feel this way. Maybe he'll score a goal." She smiles.

"That would be amazing and maybe Jordan will score one too!!"

"Lets hope so." We get inside and talk to Liz's uncle about out trip for a little while and as our conversation starts to wind down I see her get antsy.

"Good luck tonight coach!!" I say to Coach Therrien.

"Thank you! Hope you two have a good time."

"Thanks we sure will!!" We walk out of his office and Liz is walking fast and her head is on a swivel.

"I don't think trying to look for Sidney is a good idea right now because, first of all, you need to relax. I know you have major butterflies. Second if all he is probably in the middle of his pre-game routine and we both know that you don't wanna ruin that."

"No, I guess I don't want to be the reason he has a bad game."

Since we got to the rink so early we did anything and everything to kill time. We watch players come in, we went to the team store which I did buy a home and road Jordan Staal jersey for myself that I know Trey will appreciate. Liz gets a puck and a 8" by 10" picture and then we talked to some wives and girlfriends that had just arrived.

It's finally game time and we both take our seats right behind the Penguins bench with our beer and ready to cheer on our boys to victory. The first period is exciting with Evgeni Malkin getting a goal and Ryan Malone getting a goal on the power play. Moving on to the second period the Flyers respond with two goals of their own from Mike Richards and Kimmo Timonen. Intense action back and forth. Big hits and nice saves and a few bad class that didn't go unnoticed.

In the third period, the Pens take a penalty half way through it and the crowd is giving the ref an earful and some the comments are not so nice. From the penalty, the Flyers score again and it's from their captain Jason Smith and it's three to two Flyers.

"Okay!! Who is going to tie this game?" I ask Liz even though I already know what her answer is going to be.

"I'm gonna go with Sid." I smile

"I kinda had a feeling you were going to say that."
Well, this girl is good!! not even five minutes later Sid scores on a breakaway to get the game-tying goal with the assist from Jordan. Elizabeth and I just look at each other and smile. No one else scores within the last few minutes of the period so we are getting some overtime and hopefully it won't last long since we have an early morning tomorrow

It could not have gone any better because only two minutes in Jordan and Sidney are on a two on one and all of Mellon Arena stand up anxiously waiting on what is going to happen.

Staal to Crosby back to Staal...HE SCORES!!!!! I truly thought that the roof was gonna come off from how loud the crowd is right now. Everyone is clapping and cheering, the Pittsburgh Penguins are first to make the Stanley Cup Final. We won't know who we play until tomorrow and hopefully Liz and I will be on the beach or having drinks when we find out. We get back to the office ad we are both in the hallway sitting on the floor, as we wait for the media frenzy to die down in the locker room.

About twenty minutes later some players come out and as soon as Liz gets the keys to open it. Jordan and Sidney come out so we stand up and brush ourselves off.

"Great game you two!!" As she greets the both of them.

"Thanks!" Sid says as well as Jordan.

"That goal was amazing." She says blushing and Sid notices and smiles.

"So is this your roommate you've been talking about?" I shoot her a glare. I kinda had a feeling that she was talking about me to these guys. Lovely.

"Yes!! Sid, Jordan. The is is my roommate Nicole."

"So nice to meet you both. Great game winner Jordan." He thanks me and I smile. I must admit Liz was right. He is so cute and maybe I am not mad that she was talking about me.

"Are you guys celebrating at all?" Liz asks Sid. He smiles and puts his hands in his pockets.

"Yeah, were thinking of hitting up a bar for a few drinks with some of the team. You guys wanna tag along?"

"Sure, but we can't stay long because we are going to Virgina Beach."

"Well then lets get going!!" Jordan says with a big smile.

We all get into our cars and go to a little pub downtown. We both get two beers and a shot and talk to the guys about the game and the rest of the playoffs so we can be sober when one of us decides to drive home.

"Have fun on your trip!!" Sid says to us heading to the bathroom.

"Thanks Sid!!" I say with a smile. Both of us girls get up to leave and Jordan taps me on the shoulder and leans in to hug me.

"Have a safe trip." I smile and blush at the same time. Moments later Liz grabs my arm and we are outside and in the car.

"Does someone have a crush now?" I smile and try to cover my red cheeks.

"Just a little crush. No big deal." I get the look from Liz that says is a huge deal but I am just gonna go with the flow. With the guys winning tonight and this vacation tomorrow I just had a feeling that this was going to be a good week.

Notes

I am so happy about this chapter!! A pair of crush confessions!! I wonder where that will go. Plus I want to wish my first love Jordan Staal a happy birthday I hope he had an amazing day yesterday and I would love some feedback. Questions, comments, anything!! Enjoy!!! #NeverForget <3