The Intern

"Good morning Miss. Taylor, I trust you found the place okay." Michelle greeted me, as I entered the Dr. Pepper StarCenter.

I nodded, still feeling somewhat frazzled after the three bus transfers I'd had to endure to make the 35 kilometer commute. The new black dress pants I wore were creased and my blue blouse had the beginnings of embarrassing pit stains; all in all it wasn't the first impression I wanted to make.

"Well this morning we're going to have an informal press conference after the morning skate. You'll be checking the press in and verifying credentials, also I'll have you set up some coffee and snacks for them as well." Michelle announced, handing me a clipboard and pen.

"Where should I be keeping the press until practice is over?" I asked, as I looked around the vacant arena.

"I'll show you to the room where we usually host them, but before that I thought I'd introduce you to the coaching staff and some of the players." Michelle announced as she began walking past the rink towards a set of green doors. "Also, here's your staff pass. It'll get you into the practice facility and everywhere at the home rink without having to wait for me." She said as she handed over a white and green laminated pass adorned with the Dallas logo and the word 'STAFF' in bold lettering at the bottom.

"Great, thanks." I murmured, slipping the lanyard over my neck. I smoothed a hand through my tangled shoulder length brown hair, attempting to rid it of some of its frizziness. It'd started out straight when I'd left the house, but after a solid hour and a half spent commuting on the humid Dallas transit it'd become a lost cause.

I followed Michelle through the mostly vacant dressing room, down a narrow hallway and into a small, homey looking office. The cramped space was decorated with various framed photos, some candid and others obviously professional shots of the team and players.

Sitting behind the desk was a balding man with a neatly kept mustache and slight tan. He appeared to be in his mid-fifties and had a gruff demeanor about him.

"Coach," Michelle started, causing the man to look up. "this is my new intern Kennedy Taylor. Miss. Taylor this is the Stars' head coach Lindy Ruff."

"Pleased to meet you, sir." I said, my strict upbringing rearing its head. "You can call me Kennedy."

"Glad to have you on board Kennedy," He replied, giving my hand a firm shake.

"Well we have people to meet and things to do, so we'll leave you now coach."

I followed Michelle back the way we'd came, careful not to trip in my new black heels. The once vacant locker room was now bustling with players in various states of undress, causing a fiery hot blush to stain my cheeks.

"Boys," Michelle yelled punctuated by a very uncharacteristic piercing wolf whistle. "This is my new intern Kennedy Taylor, you'll be seeing her a lot over the next couple months. I'm sure you can introduce yourselves on your own terms later on. Have a good skate,"

With a backwards glance at the group of guys who were now staring at me, I quickly scuttled after Michelle's retreating form. I was surprised at how quickly she navigated uneven flooring in her 6-inch heels that put my 4-inch stilettos to shame. I was glad introductions were over, and was looking forward to getting to work. Befriending the Dallas Stars wasn't on my top list of priorities.

My morning was spent checking press passes and filling up decanters with coffee. Michelle was busy in another part of the building leaving me to entertain the increasingly impatient 10 or so journalists.

"The players should be ready to take your questions in about ten or so minutes," I announced, after reading an incoming text from Michelle on the cracked screen of my iPhone 4.

"You said that fifteen minutes ago," A snarky blonde snapped, throwing back the rest of her third coffee in one huge gulp. I could barely contain the urge to roll my eyes at the girl's behavior, it reminded me so much of the girl's I grew up with.

"I'm sorry for the delay, they'll be here soon I promise." I ground my teeth to keep in the snarky remark I wanted to make. The eighteen dollar an hour wage was seeming less and less worth it.

"Can I have a sparkling water please?" The same blonde requested, her brown eyes practically daring me to disagree with her.

"I'll go check," I mumbled. "Just hang out here and I'll be back in a sec" I said, addressing the rest of the room.

I pulled out my phone and called Michelle, immediately getting her ultra- professional voicemail.

Is there anywhere to get sparkling water? A reporter just requested some

I sighed as I waited for a reply, glad to be away from Barbie Reporter even if it was just for a minute or two. When I didn't get an immediate reply, I decided to make my way to the dressing room and find Michelle.

"Kennedy? What're you doing here? You're supposed to be entertaining the reporters." Michelle said, her tone laced with blatant disapproval.

"Someone asked for sparkling water, I was coming to ask you if there was any. You weren't answering your calls or texts," I replied, hating the defensive edge my voice had taken on.

"Prioritize Kennedy, you finding sparkling water isn't something to call me about. Next time ask one of the other staff members, I don't have time to be playing waitress. Now, go check the dressing room fridge for a water and let Benn and Seguin know the media's waiting."

I nodded and trudged my way back to the dressing room wondering who Seguin and Benn were. They were odd names, but who was I to talk when I was named after a former President.

The room was alight with voices and laughter, the guys obviously in a good mood. I kept my eyes glued to the carpeted floor and headed straight to the fridge I saw stashed in an alcove away from the main dressing room.

"Grab me a blue one," I swiveled around and saw a tall, lanky strawberry blonde peering down at me. He was shirtless and had an accent I couldn't place, but I was determined to remain professional.

"Don't they have the word please where you're from?" I snarked, not wanting to become a doormat to these guys.

"Sweden. And no they don't actually," He replied, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. Using my momentary shock he shouldered past me and grabbed a blue Gatorade. "John Klingberg, pleased to meet you."

"So you do know that word, at least sort of." I replied, shaking his slightly sweaty hand. "Kennedy Taylor,"

He nodded and walked off, rejoining the throng of shirtless and rambunctious athletes. I turned back to the fridge and grabbed a Perrier, hoping Michelle wasn't going to kill me for my slow return.

"Can I get Seguin and Benn to follow me to meet with the media?" I asked, looking around the room for a reaction.

"Which Benn?" A guy with slicked-back black hair and a lot of tattoos asked as he gesture at a bearded guy with red hair.

"Um-" Improvise, Kennedy. Don't look stupid! "Both? Both." I replied, trying to play it off like I knew what I was talking about.

"Okay?" Black hair looked super confused, his expression mirrored on red hair's face. "Let's go Segs,"

"Can't keep my fans waiting," The guy I assumed was Seguin responded as they all filed out behind me.

Michelle gave me a relieved look as I entered the room with the guys right behind me. I wondered how restless they'd gotten in the time I'd been gone, but decided not to dwell on it.

"Here's your water," I said in a sickly sweet tone, thrusting the bottle of Perrier into her hands.

"Thanks Doll, I'll let you know if I need anything else." She responded, her voice equally as sweet.

"What's Jordie doing here?" Michelle asked me, her brow furrowed in confusion.

"Who?" I asked dumbly, berating myself for not learning the roster.

"Jordie Benn," She nodded in the direction of the red head who was standing awkwardly at the back of the room with Seguin and black hair.

"Oh, um I wasn't sure which Benn you meant." I mumbled, hoping I wasn't going to be fired on the spot.

"Next time ask," Michelle hissed, before putting on a cheery smile and addressing the room. "We'll be taking questions for Jamie, Tyler, and Jordie today."

She then lead the boys up to the table at the front of the room set up with two microphones and a Dallas Stars backdrop.

"Go grab a microphone from next door, now!" Michelle whispered, nudging me towards the door while she ran interference.

I legged it next door, cursing my lack of fitness as I was left breathless and slightly sweaty by the time I returned with a microphone in hand. Michelle gave me a nod of approval and directed me to stand to the side and be quiet.

"Tyler what do you think of your lack of success on the power play?" One of the suit clad reporters asked, microphone outstretched for a sound bite.

I tuned out the answer and the subsequent half hour of questions that followed it. I didn't know enough about hockey to understand the questions asked or the answers given, yet another thing to add to my list of things to study.

I was looking forward to getting home and out of my now super uncomfortable shoes, queuing up some friends, and binge-studying the Dallas Stars roster. Sadly I still had many hours left before I was off the clock.

"Thank you all for coming," Michelle clapped her hands and motioned for me to follow her out the door. "Fortunately that was a small enough mistake that could easily be fixed, but something happens like that again and I won't be so tolerant. This job had multiple applicants and you can easily be replaced, so see that you don't continue to make yourself replaceable. Understand?"

"Yes ma'am," I murmured, my cheeks feeling hot with embarrassment.

I was used to being told how good I was at things and never had I ever been called replaceable. I was starting to realize now that that probably had more to do with who my parents were and less to do with my abilities.

"Good. Now I know we didn't really talk hours or anything yesterday, but they're going to be a bit sporadic. You'll still have full time hours they just won't be on a Monday to Friday, nine to five basis. So we're done here for the morning, I have some paperwork to do back at the office so I'll have you meet me at the arena at five o'clock. Your pass will get you parking in the staff and players lot."

I didn't have a car, but there was no point in me telling her that so I simply nodded and waved goodbye.

"Someone's in trouble," A voice sing-songed behind me.

Cheeks flaming I turned around to see it was Tyler Seguin flanked by a Benn brother on either side of him. I couldn't believe they'd heard Michelle's lecture and I wanted nothing more than the floor to swallow me right up.

"Uh- I'm working on it." I replied, looking him dead in the eyes showing him I wasn't just going to fold under his teasing. "Glad to hear it," He smirked, his beard twitching in obvious amusement. "See you around, Newbie."

Notes

Thanks for all the subscriptions and comment :) hopefully you like this chapter! I'll have the third one up tomorrow or at the latest Wednesday morning. Xx comment, rate, & subscribe