Live in the Moment
Chance Encounters
Today’s the day that my best and closest of friends is getting married, and in of all places a tropical resort in Mexico. And however unorthodox it might be to have a female as a best man, I guess that’s just how Jason is. We’ve been best friends from the very beginning. I grew up with him, had my first slumber party with him, and even my first kiss. But today I get to see him take a new step in life with a very nice woman named Nelly.
Jason stands at a height of 6'2, coupled with dark black hair and gorgeous blue eyes. He tends to have this lopsided smile, and always seems to have his hands in his pockets. His skin lightly roughed from his work as a marine, and the lines of experience were beginning to line his still youthful eyes. His body had been built over years of dedicated training, but he held a somewhat slim frame nonetheless.
Nelly’s smile sparkled like the sun on water. Her eyes a light amber color and her hair an almost white, platinum blonde. She walks tall and proud, and can easily make any type of clothing look good on her. She just has all the right curves in all the right places.
I’d liked Nelly from the start; she’d always been friendly and open to everything, not to mention she had this perfect laugh to laugh at every single one of Jason’s stupid jokes. Jason and Nelly make the perfect pair, they compliment each other so completely. I truly am happy for the both of them.
“Andy, you ready?” Jason couldn’t help but jitter around the room looking at everything, completely opposite of his usual calm persona.
“Jace you gotta calm down!” I took his hand in mine.
His face lit up with excitement and subtle nervousness, and his hands even began to shake a little as he bounced around the room. I’d never seen him this nervous since he had to tell his dad he’d failed grade 11 math. So I did what I always did. I walked up to him and pulled him into a hug, my arms encircling his neck and calming his trembling body.
“I’m so glad you’re here.” he held me just as tight.
There was a knock on the door, and one of the other groomsmen entered the door; his name is Keith, a tall dark haired, early twenties year-old man, his hair spiked and a smirk plastered on his lips. He’s Jason’s younger brother.
“Jason, c’mon what are you doing? The soon to be Mrs Nelly Wellt is gonna be down the isle before you!” Keith laughed as his older brother smirked back at him and pulled away from me to brush off his black suit pants.
I looked him over one last time. His black tailored suit fit him perfectly, his white dress shirt under neath crisp and bright, and finally his sea blue bow-tie slightly lopsided. So I took it upon myself to straiten it out and smile one last time at him.
“You’re ready.” I smiled.
He nodded more to himself than he did to me, but then leaned down to peck me on the cheek and exit the room.
I sighed to myself in mild humor; but then looked in the mirror to properly assess myself; because of my position as one of the groomsmen, I would not be wearing a suit but rather a black dress with a sea blue sash around my waist. The dress I wore was sleeveless and tight from my bust to my waist, where it then flowed freely from my body in soft strait waves and the blue sash contrasted beautifully with the black. I’d allowed my long brown hair to cascade over my shoulders in soft curls, and lightly lined my eyes with respectable black eyeliner on my waterline that only seemed to make my light brown eyes darken.
“Don’t worry Andy, you look good too. Now move your ass.” Keith laughed.
I playfully punched his shoulder as I exited the door, and walked down the hallway to the lobby and finally to the outside chapel where I would take my place beside Jason, and Keith beside me. The crowd of people sitting in the rows must’ve been close to 100. It just proves that Jason and Nelly have touched a lot of peoples lives.
I stood comfortably beside Jason and within minutes the doors opened as the bridesmaids began their walk up the isle. Nelly had asked her older sister Ashley to be maid of honor, and two best friends Caroline and Nicole to be her bridesmaids. All were dressed in a sea blue dress, each a different style of the same color. Ashley wore a halter, Caroline a 3/4th sleeved dress, and Nicole a full length mermaid. Each of them looked beautiful either with their hair up or down.
But then the music turned, and I watched as Nelly, dressed in a pure white dress that hugged her torso and fell from her hips began her walk down the isle with her father. Her long blonde hair had been tied back into a tight bun and she wore a plain white veil over her face. All in all she looked stunning.
The ceremony went on; Jason and Nelly both said their vows, kissed, the crowd clapped and they were officially married. I’d never been one for the whole idea of weddings, I always thought they were over the top and excessive. But that wouldn’t stop me from supporting my closest friend. I can truly say that I am happy for him.
When I’d finally had the chance to step away from the crowd of family and friends, I’d taken the chance to go to the bar for a nice cold vodka induced fruit drink. As I waited for my drink, I watched a dark haired, sturdy man, standing roughly 6ft tall, and wearing a black suit with a matching black tie begin a casual walk to the bar beside me. I watched him, until I could adequately study his face. His skin looked to be a milky white, and all of his facial features looked soft. His eyes an intoxicating dark brown, and his lips as big as could be. I couldn’t help myself but feel attracted. I suppose I’d always had this attraction to dark haired guys.
“One ice water,” he looked to the bar tender, and then to me as my eyes hadn’t left him yet.
“My name is Sidney.” he started with a charming smile. “I saw you up there with the groom. Isn’t it a little....”
“Different to have a female groomsmen?” I laughed lightly. “Yeah, it totally is. But the groom, Jason, is my best friend. Heck, I’ve known him my entire life. I’m pretty sure that it really isn’t much of a big deal anyways.”
He took his ice water from the bar tender and took a sip. “Well I guess that works then.” he flashed another wide smile.
“I don’t think I’ve met you before. Who’s family are you from?” I asked, while I took a sip from my own tropical drink.
“I’m a friend of a friend of Nelly’s; or something like that. I don’t know, but here I am in Mexico.” he shrugged. “I didn’t catch your name?”
“Andrea Dalton,” I smiled. “But I prefer Andy.”
He nodded to himself, “Would you like to go for a walk?”
“Sure.”
Just outside of the resort buildings we found the beach, and a comfortable shady area with a set of chairs and a convenient small table in the center of the two. I led the way there, and took the seat on the right. Sidney then sat on the left.
“So, what do you do?” I asked. “As a job I mean.”
He seemed to grimace to himself slightly, and even look down to his hands as he rotated the glass cup in his fingers. “I play hockey in the NHL, for the Pittsburgh Penguins.”
The sudden realization sprung on me. I’d been an avid hockey fan since my teens, but never taken the time to learn the faces to the players. I enjoyed cheering for teams; mainly the LA Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs. And even in my youth playing house league hockey, and university on the rep team. I’d grown up loving the sport.
“I feel like a dumb-ass.” I laughed, “Sidney Crosby. That’s your full name isn’t it?”
He laughed lightly too, “You caught me! So, how about you? What do you do?”
“Well, I’m... I’m.” I’d always found it a little awkward telling people this. “I’m a pilot for the US Navy. Jason and I signed up when we were 17.”
He sat back lightly in his seat. “I wouldn’t have expected that.” he said surprised.
“Really?” I took another sip from my drink. “What’d you think then?”
“Well...” he began, “You look like you’re still young, early twenties. I figured, maybe still in school?”
“I was in school until 22, but I’m 25 now.”
“Really, where’d you go?”
“UCLA, I took environmental studies and politics.”
He nodded, “You’re a very interesting girl Andy.”
I shrugged, “I try. But I have to admit, hockey, wow. What’s your workout schedule like?”
“Everyday, run, weights, toning, flexing, stretching. Y’know, everything.” The way he said it made it seem like it wasn’t much of a big deal.
He seems like he prefers to keep mostly to himself, as well as being relatively modest about things.
“In my boot camp I must’ve run 20 miles a day. Then the agility training, and finally weights. Everyday I’ll do a run.” I explained, obviously I’m the one who isn’t modest?
I almost laughed internally.
“I don’t know if I could ever survive boot camp.” Modest, again.
I playfully grinned at him, “Probably not.”
His smile spread across his face an brightened as he let out a chuckle. “Say, when we get back to the states, do you want to go out sometime? That is, if you live somewhere close to Pittsburgh.”
“Totally,” I smiled. “And believe it or not, but I’ve just recently moved from LA to the East coast. I got a apartment in Brookville, that isn’t too far from Pittsburgh.”
“That’s a pretty far move, don’t you think?”
“I got a commission from an air base in Brook, so I took it.”
“Well, it’ll be great. I’m sure you’ll love it.” he paused. “When’s your plane out of here?”
“Tomorrow at 9 am. I have a ton to unpack still at my apartment. How about you?”
“I’m gone at noon.”
Sidney and I ended up talking more about our lives, our passions and interests. I’d found it all interesting. He had been completely different than anyone I’d ever met; a completely modest, polite but somehow childish man. I’d ended up finding it so easy to talk to him, more-so than anyone I’d met in years! It felt nice to speak to someone new, someone I’d known nothing about and in a period of a couple of hours learned so much of his lifestyle. He completely intrigued me. He even offered to help me with the unpacking at my apartment if he had the chance.
When the calls for dinner were announced, Sidney and I returned to the party. I sat at the head table beside Jason and Keith. Jason still completely attached to his new bride Nelly, hadn’t let go of her hand for hours it seemed. While Keith smirked when he caught my gaze.
“Already hitting on the boys I see.”
I’d always thought of Keith as my younger brother. He’d been that one constant in my life for a long time. His sense of humor always seemed to win my favor though.
“Shut it Keith.” I bumped his shoulder lightly, “Where’s your girlfriend anyways?”
He exaggerated his hurt reaction, “But I thought you were my date?”
“Like hell,” I pulled him into a headlock, “But you can have one dance... since you’ll probably never see me in a dress ever again.”
He laughed as he pulled away, “Great. But seriously, it seems you’ve found an admirer.”
I shrugged. “Perhaps. You know how I moved to Brookvile, Pennsylvania?”
He nodded.
“He lives in Pittsburgh, and offered to help me unpack my crap.”
“Did he ask you out?” he leaned in a little closer.
“He said he wanted to get to know me better.” I answered back.
“He totally wants to get in your pants.” he smirked. “What’s his name anyways? I don’t think I’ve met him.”
“He’s a hockey player for the Penguins, Sidney Crosby.”
“HOLY SHIT!” he gapped with his mouth open. “I have no clue who he is...”
Right, Keith doesn’t watch hockey. He prefers football.
“But you still got a hockey player chasing after you babe.”
“Babe?”
“Yeah, cause regardless of what you might think of yourself, you are one hot pilot.” Keith rubbed my shoulder, his eyes never leaving mine.
“When did you hit puberty?”
“Ouch,” he covered his chest with his hand. “That was a bit low.”
The meal was 7 courses long, each quite filling and tasteful. My favorite plate had been the butternut squash soup. It was my first time trying it, and I’d found a keen liking to it. The rest had been salad, chicken, steak, fish, breads, and then desert. Everything had been cooked, baked and served perfectly. But I could feel the fullness in my stomach, and the need to work off some of the gained calories. At the end of each serving the crowd of people would begin to hit their glasses, so Jason and Nelly would stand and kiss.
By the time everyone finished their meals, the sky had darkened and the sun began to set, creating a blaze of red, yellow and orange over the sky. The tide going in and out made everything sound so peaceful. But the party was only beginning. The DJ had taken to his post, and began by playing some faster paced Spanish songs. People began to enter onto the dance floor, and allowed their bodies to move to the rhythm.
“Andy, lets dance.” Keith began pulling at my arm. “Maybe you can get mister Big-Shot out here too?”
I followed Keith onto the dance floor, almost reluctantly. I’d never been a party girl. I liked the confines of a small group of people, where I knew everyone and wouldn’t be afraid to act a little crazy. But Keith had always been the dancing type, and slowly he was able to ease me out of my awkward hip rolls into more fluid movements, until I was actually dancing.
Not long after, Nelly and Jason entered the dance floor. Nelly had always been an outgoing, fun, and crazy type girl. She loved to go all out. So when she began to dance with her bridesmaids, all four looked like the life of the party. Jason, meanwhile, took a moment to pull me aside to grab a drink and talk.
“Where’d you go for an hour?” he asked as he sipped an ice water.
“I’m actually kinda surprised you noticed, considering how many people are here.”
He looked almost hurt. “Are you kidding me. As much as I love Nelly, you and I are and always have been joined at the hip. I know when you’re not around... so where’d you go?”
“Ohh, she’s just been busy chatting up dudes.” Keith seemed to pop out of nowhere. “She just had to as soon as I told her I wouldn’t get down and dirty with her tonight.”
“Don’t flatter yourself Keith.” I shot back at him too sweetly. “But I actually found someone. I kinda like him.”
“Oh really?” Jason’s eyebrow shot up. “Hooking up with the family?”
“No, he says he’s a friend of a friend of Nelly’s.” I explained. “Completely not related.”
Jason took another sip of water. “Point him out?”
I scanned the dance floor, and then the tables to find him sitting at one of the far left ones talking to another bald headed man. I pointed to him, and Jason smirked.
“The big one, eh?”
“Shut it.”
“Do you think he’s cute?” Keith batted his eyelashes, and pulled his hands to his face as he made his voice a little higher.
“He’s fuck worthy.”
Both Jason and Keith’s eyes bulged from their heads, forcing me to laugh a little too hard.
“C’mon boys! You both know me better than that!” I exclaimed.
Jason’s chest deflated, and he considerably calmed down. “You scared me for a second Andy,”
I laughed again. But then a slow song came on, signaling the first dance for the Bride and Groom. Everyone cleared the dance floor, and a spotlight seemed to fall atop Jason and Nelly. And moments later, the song ‘Fall for you- by Secondhand Serenade’ began to play from the speakers.
Nelly danced so gracefully in Jason’s arms. He would move fluidly, and she’d follow with complete perfection. She quite honestly held the grace of royalty.
The song played, and when it finished the crowd clapped in celebration. Nelly and Jason kissed each other, and then retreated back to the table for a rest. I looked to Keith, who seemed to have his eyes trained on Nicole. He stood rigid, and somehow his bold features had been narrowed down to a nervous grin.
“Go talk to her.” I motioned.
“What! No, I don’t think so.” he began to back up a little bit.
“What, so you can hit on me like no tomorrow. But as soon as it’s someone else you can’t even keep a strait face?” I taunted. “Where’s that Keith I know?”
He coughed lightly, and then straitened out his jacket before walking around the dance floor and meeting her on the far side. A smile had appeared on her face quickly. Keith had always talked big, but never been able to just go and do it. He’s still a kid.
I scanned the tables, looking for that dark hair and soft featured man; only to find him walking in my direction. Once he reached my side he stopped, and casually pushed his hands into his pockets as he met my gaze.
“I don’t mean to be clingy, but I’m finding it hard to forget our conversation earlier. I haven’t found anyone as easy to talk to as you in a long time.” he smiled lightly, “It’s quite the change from what I’m used to.”
In all truth, I was having a hard time getting his face from leaving my mind as well. It’d also found it great to find someone other than Jason to speak to.
“It’s not clingy at all. In fact, out of everyone here, you, Jason and Keith are the only ones I’ve spoken to the whole time. I’m not much of a party person....” I looked up to meet his eyes; and the response I got seemed to mirror my feelings. “I like dancing, though.”
However awkward I might find dancing to be around a lot of new or completely random people, I did enjoy it when I was much younger. Or when alone in my bedroom jamming out to my favorite artists, that’s the type of dancing no one but myself ever gets to see.
He almost awkwardly scratched behind his head. “Dancing is okay, I guess.”
I couldn’t help but laugh lightly. “You say it like it’s a bad thing.”
He shrugged, his hands back into his pockets. “I’ve got about as much movement in my hips as a plank.”
“And I tend to feel a little awkward around this many people, so,” I chirped up a little. “Let’s go get a drink.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What a strange, intriguing, obviously beautiful woman. In a short time I’ve already learned so much about her; her interests in flying, how she played sports in highschool and hockey in university. She’d spoken of how she and Jason had met, and how she loved Nelly like a sister. She told me about how when she was a kid she’d first wanted to be an athlete, and that she’d grown up in Toronto Canada.
There certainly is a lot to learn about one person.
But what I find rare in a person like her is simply that... she’s so accepting of everything, and completely open. She could talk freely, laugh and comment without restraint and of all things... didn’t make a big deal about hockey. As much as I absolutely love the sport and everything that comes with it, I guess it’s just nice to find someone who can relate and talk intelligently about more than one thing.
Not to mention that body! I don’t think I’ve ever found a more physically attractive woman in my life, alright, that might be a lie; but out of all the girls I’ve met in my nonexistent social life she definitely makes the top 3. In most cases when women worked out and begin to built muscle mass it could turn out very attractive or almost scary. But for Andrea, to say the least, the strength suits her. She’s a strong woman, both physically and mentally. Her muscle toning isn’t excessive, her arms clearly displayed firm biceps and deltoids, but the way she held herself didn’t make it seem as though she was suddenly going to turn into the Hulk.
One thing I found interesting about her is that her posture is completely perfect. She walks tall and proud, and sits without hunching her soldiers. This quality makes her look confident in herself, and making her strength in character so much stronger.
When she would talk her voice would come off soft and enticing, making me want to listen to anything and everything she would ever say. And her eyes, a light but piercing brown that held every emotion she could ever share; warmth, understanding, sadness, love... lust. And that reminds me, that chest. Yes, her breasts. Considering I stand taller than her I have this beautiful angle right down the front of her dress. I can confirm that they must be all natural, and not too small nor too big.
You know what they say right; skinny girls might look good in clothes, but fit girls look good naked. And she definitely has the body for it.
I followed her to a balcony that over looked a calm cove, the waves moved in and out slowly and the moon now reflected on the water. Not a single cloud hung in the night sky, and the lights from the party made reflections of their own. The music now quieted from our distance, and the stars shown as bright as diamonds.
Andy leaned against the railing, and a warm breeze hit us coming up from the sea. Her eyes scanned the water, a sort of wonder entered her vision.
“I always wanted to travel the world, y’know, see it all.” she smiled, “When I was a kid I wanted to be the ‘girl-who-did-it-all’. Sports, politics, everything. What did you want to be when you were a kid?”
Now that struck me a little hard. Ever since I was able to walk I was learning how to skate. And when I learned how to skate, I learned how to play hockey. It was determined even before I knew what hockey was, that I was going to be a hockey player. I’d missed out on a lot of things in life to get where I am today; girls, relationships, first jobs, and even social events in school. I needed to keep a high average, and keep playing hockey. All my time had been taken over.
I leaned onto the railing beside her. “It was always hockey.”
Her light-brown eyes met mine, “Really? I can understand, it’s a great sport. But really? Nothing else?”
I shrugged my shoulders, “Just hockey.”
“I suppose after a while it just becomes second nature.”
“I guess you could say that. But the game is always changing, new players, new games. It’s actually pretty exciting.”
“That’s true.” she nodded.
Moments passed in comfortable silence. In fact I’m not entirely sure how long it was, until Andrea turned towards me once more and covered her yawning mouth with her hand.
“I think it’s about time I get to bed. It’s an early morning tomorrow.”
I nodded, but pulled my phone out of my pocket. “So we can keep in touch?”
She nodded, and took the phone when I handed it to her so she could enter her number. Then returned it and giving me a light wave, as she walked back to the party. Probably to tell Jason and Nelly goodnight.
Even now I can tell that Andrea is special. Whatever the future holds, I think it might’ve just gotten a little better.
Jason stands at a height of 6'2, coupled with dark black hair and gorgeous blue eyes. He tends to have this lopsided smile, and always seems to have his hands in his pockets. His skin lightly roughed from his work as a marine, and the lines of experience were beginning to line his still youthful eyes. His body had been built over years of dedicated training, but he held a somewhat slim frame nonetheless.
Nelly’s smile sparkled like the sun on water. Her eyes a light amber color and her hair an almost white, platinum blonde. She walks tall and proud, and can easily make any type of clothing look good on her. She just has all the right curves in all the right places.
I’d liked Nelly from the start; she’d always been friendly and open to everything, not to mention she had this perfect laugh to laugh at every single one of Jason’s stupid jokes. Jason and Nelly make the perfect pair, they compliment each other so completely. I truly am happy for the both of them.
“Andy, you ready?” Jason couldn’t help but jitter around the room looking at everything, completely opposite of his usual calm persona.
“Jace you gotta calm down!” I took his hand in mine.
His face lit up with excitement and subtle nervousness, and his hands even began to shake a little as he bounced around the room. I’d never seen him this nervous since he had to tell his dad he’d failed grade 11 math. So I did what I always did. I walked up to him and pulled him into a hug, my arms encircling his neck and calming his trembling body.
“I’m so glad you’re here.” he held me just as tight.
There was a knock on the door, and one of the other groomsmen entered the door; his name is Keith, a tall dark haired, early twenties year-old man, his hair spiked and a smirk plastered on his lips. He’s Jason’s younger brother.
“Jason, c’mon what are you doing? The soon to be Mrs Nelly Wellt is gonna be down the isle before you!” Keith laughed as his older brother smirked back at him and pulled away from me to brush off his black suit pants.
I looked him over one last time. His black tailored suit fit him perfectly, his white dress shirt under neath crisp and bright, and finally his sea blue bow-tie slightly lopsided. So I took it upon myself to straiten it out and smile one last time at him.
“You’re ready.” I smiled.
He nodded more to himself than he did to me, but then leaned down to peck me on the cheek and exit the room.
I sighed to myself in mild humor; but then looked in the mirror to properly assess myself; because of my position as one of the groomsmen, I would not be wearing a suit but rather a black dress with a sea blue sash around my waist. The dress I wore was sleeveless and tight from my bust to my waist, where it then flowed freely from my body in soft strait waves and the blue sash contrasted beautifully with the black. I’d allowed my long brown hair to cascade over my shoulders in soft curls, and lightly lined my eyes with respectable black eyeliner on my waterline that only seemed to make my light brown eyes darken.
“Don’t worry Andy, you look good too. Now move your ass.” Keith laughed.
I playfully punched his shoulder as I exited the door, and walked down the hallway to the lobby and finally to the outside chapel where I would take my place beside Jason, and Keith beside me. The crowd of people sitting in the rows must’ve been close to 100. It just proves that Jason and Nelly have touched a lot of peoples lives.
I stood comfortably beside Jason and within minutes the doors opened as the bridesmaids began their walk up the isle. Nelly had asked her older sister Ashley to be maid of honor, and two best friends Caroline and Nicole to be her bridesmaids. All were dressed in a sea blue dress, each a different style of the same color. Ashley wore a halter, Caroline a 3/4th sleeved dress, and Nicole a full length mermaid. Each of them looked beautiful either with their hair up or down.
But then the music turned, and I watched as Nelly, dressed in a pure white dress that hugged her torso and fell from her hips began her walk down the isle with her father. Her long blonde hair had been tied back into a tight bun and she wore a plain white veil over her face. All in all she looked stunning.
The ceremony went on; Jason and Nelly both said their vows, kissed, the crowd clapped and they were officially married. I’d never been one for the whole idea of weddings, I always thought they were over the top and excessive. But that wouldn’t stop me from supporting my closest friend. I can truly say that I am happy for him.
When I’d finally had the chance to step away from the crowd of family and friends, I’d taken the chance to go to the bar for a nice cold vodka induced fruit drink. As I waited for my drink, I watched a dark haired, sturdy man, standing roughly 6ft tall, and wearing a black suit with a matching black tie begin a casual walk to the bar beside me. I watched him, until I could adequately study his face. His skin looked to be a milky white, and all of his facial features looked soft. His eyes an intoxicating dark brown, and his lips as big as could be. I couldn’t help myself but feel attracted. I suppose I’d always had this attraction to dark haired guys.
“One ice water,” he looked to the bar tender, and then to me as my eyes hadn’t left him yet.
“My name is Sidney.” he started with a charming smile. “I saw you up there with the groom. Isn’t it a little....”
“Different to have a female groomsmen?” I laughed lightly. “Yeah, it totally is. But the groom, Jason, is my best friend. Heck, I’ve known him my entire life. I’m pretty sure that it really isn’t much of a big deal anyways.”
He took his ice water from the bar tender and took a sip. “Well I guess that works then.” he flashed another wide smile.
“I don’t think I’ve met you before. Who’s family are you from?” I asked, while I took a sip from my own tropical drink.
“I’m a friend of a friend of Nelly’s; or something like that. I don’t know, but here I am in Mexico.” he shrugged. “I didn’t catch your name?”
“Andrea Dalton,” I smiled. “But I prefer Andy.”
He nodded to himself, “Would you like to go for a walk?”
“Sure.”
Just outside of the resort buildings we found the beach, and a comfortable shady area with a set of chairs and a convenient small table in the center of the two. I led the way there, and took the seat on the right. Sidney then sat on the left.
“So, what do you do?” I asked. “As a job I mean.”
He seemed to grimace to himself slightly, and even look down to his hands as he rotated the glass cup in his fingers. “I play hockey in the NHL, for the Pittsburgh Penguins.”
The sudden realization sprung on me. I’d been an avid hockey fan since my teens, but never taken the time to learn the faces to the players. I enjoyed cheering for teams; mainly the LA Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs. And even in my youth playing house league hockey, and university on the rep team. I’d grown up loving the sport.
“I feel like a dumb-ass.” I laughed, “Sidney Crosby. That’s your full name isn’t it?”
He laughed lightly too, “You caught me! So, how about you? What do you do?”
“Well, I’m... I’m.” I’d always found it a little awkward telling people this. “I’m a pilot for the US Navy. Jason and I signed up when we were 17.”
He sat back lightly in his seat. “I wouldn’t have expected that.” he said surprised.
“Really?” I took another sip from my drink. “What’d you think then?”
“Well...” he began, “You look like you’re still young, early twenties. I figured, maybe still in school?”
“I was in school until 22, but I’m 25 now.”
“Really, where’d you go?”
“UCLA, I took environmental studies and politics.”
He nodded, “You’re a very interesting girl Andy.”
I shrugged, “I try. But I have to admit, hockey, wow. What’s your workout schedule like?”
“Everyday, run, weights, toning, flexing, stretching. Y’know, everything.” The way he said it made it seem like it wasn’t much of a big deal.
He seems like he prefers to keep mostly to himself, as well as being relatively modest about things.
“In my boot camp I must’ve run 20 miles a day. Then the agility training, and finally weights. Everyday I’ll do a run.” I explained, obviously I’m the one who isn’t modest?
I almost laughed internally.
“I don’t know if I could ever survive boot camp.” Modest, again.
I playfully grinned at him, “Probably not.”
His smile spread across his face an brightened as he let out a chuckle. “Say, when we get back to the states, do you want to go out sometime? That is, if you live somewhere close to Pittsburgh.”
“Totally,” I smiled. “And believe it or not, but I’ve just recently moved from LA to the East coast. I got a apartment in Brookville, that isn’t too far from Pittsburgh.”
“That’s a pretty far move, don’t you think?”
“I got a commission from an air base in Brook, so I took it.”
“Well, it’ll be great. I’m sure you’ll love it.” he paused. “When’s your plane out of here?”
“Tomorrow at 9 am. I have a ton to unpack still at my apartment. How about you?”
“I’m gone at noon.”
Sidney and I ended up talking more about our lives, our passions and interests. I’d found it all interesting. He had been completely different than anyone I’d ever met; a completely modest, polite but somehow childish man. I’d ended up finding it so easy to talk to him, more-so than anyone I’d met in years! It felt nice to speak to someone new, someone I’d known nothing about and in a period of a couple of hours learned so much of his lifestyle. He completely intrigued me. He even offered to help me with the unpacking at my apartment if he had the chance.
When the calls for dinner were announced, Sidney and I returned to the party. I sat at the head table beside Jason and Keith. Jason still completely attached to his new bride Nelly, hadn’t let go of her hand for hours it seemed. While Keith smirked when he caught my gaze.
“Already hitting on the boys I see.”
I’d always thought of Keith as my younger brother. He’d been that one constant in my life for a long time. His sense of humor always seemed to win my favor though.
“Shut it Keith.” I bumped his shoulder lightly, “Where’s your girlfriend anyways?”
He exaggerated his hurt reaction, “But I thought you were my date?”
“Like hell,” I pulled him into a headlock, “But you can have one dance... since you’ll probably never see me in a dress ever again.”
He laughed as he pulled away, “Great. But seriously, it seems you’ve found an admirer.”
I shrugged. “Perhaps. You know how I moved to Brookvile, Pennsylvania?”
He nodded.
“He lives in Pittsburgh, and offered to help me unpack my crap.”
“Did he ask you out?” he leaned in a little closer.
“He said he wanted to get to know me better.” I answered back.
“He totally wants to get in your pants.” he smirked. “What’s his name anyways? I don’t think I’ve met him.”
“He’s a hockey player for the Penguins, Sidney Crosby.”
“HOLY SHIT!” he gapped with his mouth open. “I have no clue who he is...”
Right, Keith doesn’t watch hockey. He prefers football.
“But you still got a hockey player chasing after you babe.”
“Babe?”
“Yeah, cause regardless of what you might think of yourself, you are one hot pilot.” Keith rubbed my shoulder, his eyes never leaving mine.
“When did you hit puberty?”
“Ouch,” he covered his chest with his hand. “That was a bit low.”
The meal was 7 courses long, each quite filling and tasteful. My favorite plate had been the butternut squash soup. It was my first time trying it, and I’d found a keen liking to it. The rest had been salad, chicken, steak, fish, breads, and then desert. Everything had been cooked, baked and served perfectly. But I could feel the fullness in my stomach, and the need to work off some of the gained calories. At the end of each serving the crowd of people would begin to hit their glasses, so Jason and Nelly would stand and kiss.
By the time everyone finished their meals, the sky had darkened and the sun began to set, creating a blaze of red, yellow and orange over the sky. The tide going in and out made everything sound so peaceful. But the party was only beginning. The DJ had taken to his post, and began by playing some faster paced Spanish songs. People began to enter onto the dance floor, and allowed their bodies to move to the rhythm.
“Andy, lets dance.” Keith began pulling at my arm. “Maybe you can get mister Big-Shot out here too?”
I followed Keith onto the dance floor, almost reluctantly. I’d never been a party girl. I liked the confines of a small group of people, where I knew everyone and wouldn’t be afraid to act a little crazy. But Keith had always been the dancing type, and slowly he was able to ease me out of my awkward hip rolls into more fluid movements, until I was actually dancing.
Not long after, Nelly and Jason entered the dance floor. Nelly had always been an outgoing, fun, and crazy type girl. She loved to go all out. So when she began to dance with her bridesmaids, all four looked like the life of the party. Jason, meanwhile, took a moment to pull me aside to grab a drink and talk.
“Where’d you go for an hour?” he asked as he sipped an ice water.
“I’m actually kinda surprised you noticed, considering how many people are here.”
He looked almost hurt. “Are you kidding me. As much as I love Nelly, you and I are and always have been joined at the hip. I know when you’re not around... so where’d you go?”
“Ohh, she’s just been busy chatting up dudes.” Keith seemed to pop out of nowhere. “She just had to as soon as I told her I wouldn’t get down and dirty with her tonight.”
“Don’t flatter yourself Keith.” I shot back at him too sweetly. “But I actually found someone. I kinda like him.”
“Oh really?” Jason’s eyebrow shot up. “Hooking up with the family?”
“No, he says he’s a friend of a friend of Nelly’s.” I explained. “Completely not related.”
Jason took another sip of water. “Point him out?”
I scanned the dance floor, and then the tables to find him sitting at one of the far left ones talking to another bald headed man. I pointed to him, and Jason smirked.
“The big one, eh?”
“Shut it.”
“Do you think he’s cute?” Keith batted his eyelashes, and pulled his hands to his face as he made his voice a little higher.
“He’s fuck worthy.”
Both Jason and Keith’s eyes bulged from their heads, forcing me to laugh a little too hard.
“C’mon boys! You both know me better than that!” I exclaimed.
Jason’s chest deflated, and he considerably calmed down. “You scared me for a second Andy,”
I laughed again. But then a slow song came on, signaling the first dance for the Bride and Groom. Everyone cleared the dance floor, and a spotlight seemed to fall atop Jason and Nelly. And moments later, the song ‘Fall for you- by Secondhand Serenade’ began to play from the speakers.
Nelly danced so gracefully in Jason’s arms. He would move fluidly, and she’d follow with complete perfection. She quite honestly held the grace of royalty.
The song played, and when it finished the crowd clapped in celebration. Nelly and Jason kissed each other, and then retreated back to the table for a rest. I looked to Keith, who seemed to have his eyes trained on Nicole. He stood rigid, and somehow his bold features had been narrowed down to a nervous grin.
“Go talk to her.” I motioned.
“What! No, I don’t think so.” he began to back up a little bit.
“What, so you can hit on me like no tomorrow. But as soon as it’s someone else you can’t even keep a strait face?” I taunted. “Where’s that Keith I know?”
He coughed lightly, and then straitened out his jacket before walking around the dance floor and meeting her on the far side. A smile had appeared on her face quickly. Keith had always talked big, but never been able to just go and do it. He’s still a kid.
I scanned the tables, looking for that dark hair and soft featured man; only to find him walking in my direction. Once he reached my side he stopped, and casually pushed his hands into his pockets as he met my gaze.
“I don’t mean to be clingy, but I’m finding it hard to forget our conversation earlier. I haven’t found anyone as easy to talk to as you in a long time.” he smiled lightly, “It’s quite the change from what I’m used to.”
In all truth, I was having a hard time getting his face from leaving my mind as well. It’d also found it great to find someone other than Jason to speak to.
“It’s not clingy at all. In fact, out of everyone here, you, Jason and Keith are the only ones I’ve spoken to the whole time. I’m not much of a party person....” I looked up to meet his eyes; and the response I got seemed to mirror my feelings. “I like dancing, though.”
However awkward I might find dancing to be around a lot of new or completely random people, I did enjoy it when I was much younger. Or when alone in my bedroom jamming out to my favorite artists, that’s the type of dancing no one but myself ever gets to see.
He almost awkwardly scratched behind his head. “Dancing is okay, I guess.”
I couldn’t help but laugh lightly. “You say it like it’s a bad thing.”
He shrugged, his hands back into his pockets. “I’ve got about as much movement in my hips as a plank.”
“And I tend to feel a little awkward around this many people, so,” I chirped up a little. “Let’s go get a drink.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
What a strange, intriguing, obviously beautiful woman. In a short time I’ve already learned so much about her; her interests in flying, how she played sports in highschool and hockey in university. She’d spoken of how she and Jason had met, and how she loved Nelly like a sister. She told me about how when she was a kid she’d first wanted to be an athlete, and that she’d grown up in Toronto Canada.
There certainly is a lot to learn about one person.
But what I find rare in a person like her is simply that... she’s so accepting of everything, and completely open. She could talk freely, laugh and comment without restraint and of all things... didn’t make a big deal about hockey. As much as I absolutely love the sport and everything that comes with it, I guess it’s just nice to find someone who can relate and talk intelligently about more than one thing.
Not to mention that body! I don’t think I’ve ever found a more physically attractive woman in my life, alright, that might be a lie; but out of all the girls I’ve met in my nonexistent social life she definitely makes the top 3. In most cases when women worked out and begin to built muscle mass it could turn out very attractive or almost scary. But for Andrea, to say the least, the strength suits her. She’s a strong woman, both physically and mentally. Her muscle toning isn’t excessive, her arms clearly displayed firm biceps and deltoids, but the way she held herself didn’t make it seem as though she was suddenly going to turn into the Hulk.
One thing I found interesting about her is that her posture is completely perfect. She walks tall and proud, and sits without hunching her soldiers. This quality makes her look confident in herself, and making her strength in character so much stronger.
When she would talk her voice would come off soft and enticing, making me want to listen to anything and everything she would ever say. And her eyes, a light but piercing brown that held every emotion she could ever share; warmth, understanding, sadness, love... lust. And that reminds me, that chest. Yes, her breasts. Considering I stand taller than her I have this beautiful angle right down the front of her dress. I can confirm that they must be all natural, and not too small nor too big.
You know what they say right; skinny girls might look good in clothes, but fit girls look good naked. And she definitely has the body for it.
I followed her to a balcony that over looked a calm cove, the waves moved in and out slowly and the moon now reflected on the water. Not a single cloud hung in the night sky, and the lights from the party made reflections of their own. The music now quieted from our distance, and the stars shown as bright as diamonds.
Andy leaned against the railing, and a warm breeze hit us coming up from the sea. Her eyes scanned the water, a sort of wonder entered her vision.
“I always wanted to travel the world, y’know, see it all.” she smiled, “When I was a kid I wanted to be the ‘girl-who-did-it-all’. Sports, politics, everything. What did you want to be when you were a kid?”
Now that struck me a little hard. Ever since I was able to walk I was learning how to skate. And when I learned how to skate, I learned how to play hockey. It was determined even before I knew what hockey was, that I was going to be a hockey player. I’d missed out on a lot of things in life to get where I am today; girls, relationships, first jobs, and even social events in school. I needed to keep a high average, and keep playing hockey. All my time had been taken over.
I leaned onto the railing beside her. “It was always hockey.”
Her light-brown eyes met mine, “Really? I can understand, it’s a great sport. But really? Nothing else?”
I shrugged my shoulders, “Just hockey.”
“I suppose after a while it just becomes second nature.”
“I guess you could say that. But the game is always changing, new players, new games. It’s actually pretty exciting.”
“That’s true.” she nodded.
Moments passed in comfortable silence. In fact I’m not entirely sure how long it was, until Andrea turned towards me once more and covered her yawning mouth with her hand.
“I think it’s about time I get to bed. It’s an early morning tomorrow.”
I nodded, but pulled my phone out of my pocket. “So we can keep in touch?”
She nodded, and took the phone when I handed it to her so she could enter her number. Then returned it and giving me a light wave, as she walked back to the party. Probably to tell Jason and Nelly goodnight.
Even now I can tell that Andrea is special. Whatever the future holds, I think it might’ve just gotten a little better.
6/16/13