Go Easy on Me

Keira sat on the couch in her living room, a horror movie playing on the TV. All of the lights were off, and the only illumination in the room was the occasional glow from the television screen. She had her knees pulled up to her chest and her t-shirt covering her mouth, waiting for the inevitable death of the main character. She took a deep breath and picked up the popcorn that was on the cushion next to her before popping a few pieces into her mouth. She chewed the kernels and swallowed, her eyes never leaving the screen. She was so engulfed in the film that she didn’t even notice her roommate come into the room.

“What the hell are you doing?”

Keira jumped off the couch, spilling popcorn all over the floor. She gathered herself and looked over at Heather, who was checking herself out in the full-length mirror in the hallway.

“God, Heather, what did it look like I was doing?”

Heather made a point to sigh louder than normal, as she bent down to pull on some glitter pumps to match the metallic dress she was wearing. She exchanged her hoop earrings for some diamond studs that some ex-boyfriend had bought her and put her hands on her hips as she looked over at Keira.

“It looked like you weren’t doing what you were supposed to. By that, I mean getting ready for the gala we’re supposed to attend in - oh, a half hour,” she said as she shook her head and glanced at her watch.

Keira closed her eyes and looked down, hoping that by some miracle Heather would have forgotten all about the gala they were expected to attend. Every year, the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh held a gala to fundraise. This year, the girls had been invited. Of course, Heather looked for any opportunity to dress up and get some free booze. Keira, on the other hand, was more than happy to spend the night on their couch in her worn out shamrock boxers. However, she knew they had committed and it was for a good cause, so with that thought in her head she picked herself up off of the couch and went to her room to get dressed.

She grabbed the red dress that she had saved for this night. It was a sheath dress that fell just above her knees, with a small triangle cut out on her torso. The back was open, with three straps meeting at her neck. She pulled the dress on and took a look in her mirror, shrugging lightly before pulling on a pair of nude pumps. She grabbed her purse and went out to the living room to meet back up with Heather. Heather stood in front of the mirror reapplying her lipstick for what must have been the sixth time, and Keira just smiled and pulled her friend out the door.

They arrived at the banquet hall about twenty minutes later, and Heather dragged her friend through the entrance excitedly. She grabbed Keira by the shoulders and playfully shook her.

“Come on. This is the first non-modeling event we’ve been to in weeks. You better enjoy yourself.”

Keira gave her the biggest (fake) smile she could muster and played along as Heather whipped out her phone to take a picture of them. After she put her phone away, Heather looked up and and smirked to herself, a peculiar look taking over her face. Keira furrowed her eyebrows in confusion before her friend spun her around and nodded her head towards a group that was forming on the other side of the hall.

“Two words, baby. Hockey players.”

Keira followed her best friend’s gaze and spotted the group of well-dressed men, greeting each other with handshakes and half-hugs.

“How do you know they’re hockey players?”

Heather scoffed and put her arm around her friend, as if she were pitying her.

“Honey, do you live under a rock? It’s the Penguins. You know...the Pittsburgh Penguins?”

Keira took her friend’s arm off of her and glared at her.

“I’ve heard of the Penguins, Heather. But so what? I don’t get the big deal.”

Heather began to mumble under her breath and Keira could barely make out what she was saying - but she was fairly certain it was something you wouldn’t want your grandmother to hear. While Heather continued her ranting, Keira snuck a glance in the direction of the hockey team. She had to admit they were a good-looking bunch of guys, but were they really that special? Her contemplation was interrupted by Heather, who was now finished with her mumbling.

“Well, I’m going to make my way over there. Will you be okay over here?”

All Keira did was nod, deciding she’d rather stand here by herself than go over and make a fool out of herself in front of all the hot-shot hockey players. She watched Heather strut over to the group of guys, immediately setting her sights on one in particular. Keira instead wandered over to a comfortable-looking arm chair and took a seat. For the next couple of minutes, she just sat and watched the people in the room, taking in the scene of the gala. A small smile broke out onto her face as she glanced at some of children that were present, no doubt patients of the hospital. She made a note to donate what she could before she left. Her mental planning was cut off by the sound of an unfamiliar, masculine voice.

“You look lonely.”

She stared up at the guy standing in front of her and was caught off-guard. He was, without a doubt, one of the most handsome men she had ever seen. She bit her lip to hide her reaction and looked into his deep brown eyes.

“I’m just taking in the room.”

She mentally scolded herself for the lame response, but the man didn’t seem put off by it.

“Can I buy you a drink?”

Keira’s confidence increased as she chuckled and once again looked at the face of the man in front of her.

“You know it’s an open bar, right?”

She swore she could see the slightest shade of red on his cheeks as he flipped his hair and smirked.

“Alright, well, can I go to the bar and get you a free drink?”

Keira nodded and bit her lip before requesting a Paloma. She watched as he nodded his head and turned around taking one last look at her before walking towards the bar in the back corner of the hall. She smiled to herself as she saw Heather coming back over to her.

“Hey, do you want to go back to the apartment?”

Keira was surprised that Heather wanted to leave so soon, since she had been so interested in the event, and in particular, the hockey players that were at the event. She noticed Heather turn her head around and glance at the player she had been talking to before looking at Keira again. Heather looked like she was growing impatient.

“So?”

Keira opened her mouth to speak but then immediately shut it, glancing over to the bar. She saw that the guy she had been talking to was still on the long line that surrounded the bar. She felt guilt wash over her as she knew she would listen to Heather and leave, without even saying goodbye to the mystery man. So Keira got up and followed her best friend out of the banquet hall, trying her best to forget the deep brown eyes she thought she’d never see again.

Notes

Hi!

Here's my brand new Kris Letang story. Though I'm a NYR fan at heart, I have a soft spot for the Pens. Particularly Kris Letang. I have a lot of ideas for the story and am really looking forward to it.

Let me know what you guys think so far, or just say hi!

thanks for reading!
xo Erin