Leave It To Fate

~Three Weeks Later~

Sid and I have fallen into an easy rhythm; he sends me good morning texts every morning with some cheesy pun or pick up line and I respond with my own cheesy pun or pick up line. I watch the pens win and lose without him and do my best to distract him after the final whistle from feeling bad if the team lost. In the evenings, I pick him up from his landlord/mentor Mario Lemieux since driving makes him dizzy nowadays and bring him back to my place where we play board games or share dinner.

I never bring up his concussion because it just frustrates him and depresses me to talk about it. Sometimes Sid stays over a little too late and I let him crash at my place. The upside to that is that we share a bed; not that I don't have a spare room, I do, but he wandered into my bed one night with a migraine and in search of comfort. With a messy pile of fluffy black hair and that doe eyed stare I couldn't say no. We said it was a one time occurrence.

"I'll do this once," he mumbled into my neck as he made himself comfortable in my arms that night. I ran my hands through his thick curls that needed a trim though I wasn't going to tell him that. "Then I'll be out of your space."

"I don't mind," I whispered. I swore I could hear my heart thudding in the achingly silent room. "I like cuddling. Especially when the cuddle buddy is cute."

"You think I'm cute?" Sidney questioned as he turned his head up to look at me. Even in the low moonlight his eyes sparkled, making my heart ache in the best way possible. He stared at me hard, his face sleepy and playful.

"Now I'm not so sure," I teased. Sid rolled his eyes and huffed. He moved out of my arms and propped himself up on his left arm, our faces millimeters apart. Sidney's eyes jumped from every corner of my face before landing on my mouth. I gulped.

"You think I'm cute," he stated. My hands took on a life of their own as they carded through his hair once again. Sidney closed his eyes and hummed at my actions.

"Yes. I think you're cute and cute people need their sleep so they can stay cute. Especially ones who don't feel so well," I whispered. Sid's eyes opened slowly and he nodded.

"You're right," he moved down and rested his head on my chest once again. His back lifted up and down gently as he fell asleep.

"I think you're beautiful," he yawned before settling into dreamland. How I didn't die and go to heaven is beyond me. That wasn't the last time he slept in my bed. In fact, we share a bed every time he comes over and "accidentally" stays late. It's quite endearing actually and I haven't told a soul.

Tonight is yet another game night but we opted for dinner and a movie instead. It has been raining all day and what better way to spend the day than spend it with some comfort food, some movies, and good company.

"I know you're old but this is ridiculous," Sid teases as I flip on the Turner Classic Movie channel from the kitchen. I roll my eyes and throw my/Sidney's Penguins hoodie on top of my tank top and lounge shorts. Grabbing my bowl of mac and cheese and the remote, I shuffle my way to Sid who already got a head start on his own food.

"Oh shut up. You eat like a teenage boy, you're almost done already!" I motion him to move over some on the couch. He doesn't budge.

"I'm always ready to eat, old lady. And I'm always ready for seconds," Sid says with a suggestive wiggle of his brows. I roll my eyes and bite my lower lip out of shyness. He's been teasing me a lot lately and I just brush it off or go along with it. I never know what to say. Actually, there is plenty of things I could say but none of them are appropriate.

"Ugh, you're so insufferable you know that? And if you don't move I'm gonna sit in your lap." Oh God, why the fuck did I say that? Sidney's stupidly cute smirk grows mischievous. He looks so damn good in his grey sweats (lord have mercy) and beat up Pirates tee. His hair has escaped the clutches of hair gel, leaving his curls to roam freely as a pile of fluff on his head. I swoon inwardly every time he's like this.

"There's an open seat right here," Sid pats his thick, right thigh. "If you're up for it." I stare back at him, my jaw slack. What the heck is even happening?

"I was kidding Sidney," I huff. He puts his mostly empty bowl on the coffee table and opens his arms toward me.

"I wasn't." The idea of sitting on Sidney's lap makes my mind fuzzy with a thoughts I should not be having. He looks at me with innocent eyes---I have always hated looking people in the eyes, but God, I could drown in his dark caramel eyes.

"I'll have to take a raincheck on that," I drop down next to him. I see him give me a small pout from the corner of my eye and I nudge him playfully. "So tonight we're watching," I reach for the remote and check the info box, "Casablanca! Fuck yeah this is my favorite movie. Bogey was to die for," I swoon. Classic Hollywood leading men are my weakness.

"Who?" Sid chuckles incredulously. I scoff and turn to face him, my face stunned.

"Have you been living under a rock? Humphrey Bogart! One of the greatest actors of all time! Known for his rough and tough demeanor and brooding looks! He was also married to the lovely Lauren Bacall. The trench-coat he wears in this is iconic. Oh!" I exclaim as Robert Osborne, this movie buff who gets to introduce movies, appears on the screen. "Shut up, Robert is going to give you an important history lesson," I mumble through a fork full of mac 'n' cheese.

"You're so weird," Sid chuckles.

~~~~

"Oh shit," both of us yell when the room suddenly becomes pitch black after a sharp crack of thunder. "Now you won't get to see the end of the movie!" I cry out. Sid reaches for my hand, patting it lightly.

"I'm sure you'll be able to show me it another time. Right now we gotta figure out this light situation." Sidney stands up, my hand still in his. "Where's the power box?"

"It's upstairs in the laundry room. I'll get some candles just in case." Standing up, Sid walks me to the kitchen where I dig in some drawers for a flashlight. Handing him one, he turns it on and holds it under his chin.

"You're such a dork," I giggle. I do the same with mine. "Got any good scary stories?"

"How about the one about a girl who couldn't watch her favorite classic movie because the power cut off?"

"That *does* sound super scary. So much so I don't wanna hear it. Go," I turn Sidney around and push him toward the stairs.

"Scaredy cat," he teases. I blow him a raspberry while I search for some candles.

Notes

Hopefully there aren't too many errors, I wrote this on my phone. Next chapter should be up by tomorrow and Let's Go Pens!!!!

P.S: Did I mention this is a slow burn fanfic? Please don't hate me :D