For the second time in under five hours I had to push my ex-bestfriend off my lips. I didn't think I could take this anymore. I heard the door open, and Tuukka rushed over, diving on top of Seguin. He raised his fist and that's when I realized that it was all because of me. I just stood there, looking down at them; fighting as if they were wild animals. Over me. Me. My fault. All my fault. The answer was vividly realistic. I needed to get out of here, and now- I couldn't do this. I couldn't pin them against each other. Was this what I expected when I tried to get into the NHL? Being the damsel in some fucked up hockey romance? The answer was more crystal clear than anything else in that moment. I had made a decision and before I knew it, I was grabbing my bags out of the box, beginning to walk in the general direction of Claude Julien's house. I knew what I had to do, to fix this.

--------

"Don't you like it here?" Claude asked, sitting down behind his mahogany bureau in his home office. I had made it here within fifteen minutes, he lied so close to Seguin it was practically a stone's throw away.

"No, I love it here, it's just," I paused, then sighed, rubbing my temple with one hand as I sat down in the plush chair on the other side of the desk, "I've just lost sight in what I wanted here. It's just a huge mess now."

I groaned out in frustration, slumping back in the surprisingly comfortable chair. He didn't even know half of it but he just gave a understanding nod.

"Why couldn't I just play hockey? Why did it have to be so complicated?" I demanded, finally reaching my boiling point. I covered my face with my hands, willing the tears back. I wasn't about to cry in front of my coach.

"You're a beautiful single young woman," I looked at him from in between my fingers, he was smiling which in turn made me slowly lower my hands back into my lap and begin to smile myself, "The players aren't just going to ignore you."

"So, which team would you like to be traded to?" He continued, seeing no reason to argue my decision further. He handed me 3 team folders. I slowly flipped open the first one, but quickly closing it. Nope. The second one was hopeful, and I looked up at him.

"They've been asking about you," I smiled on instinct "Since you're a free agent" After, reading the third, I slammed it down on the desk with a grin on my face. That's the one I wanted; good pay, nice location, excellent team.

"Nice choice." He stated, I rolled my eyes with a small lively smile on my face.
I didn't want to leave, I really didn't. However, it was the best decision for Tyler and Tuukka, plus the rest of the team. Tuukka was an exceptional goalie and so was I, you can't have two hot goalies. I didn't want them to fight any longer than they already have. I was problematic. I hated myself for putting a wedge between them.

"So you'll get Vokoun?" I asked the seemingly obvious question, he nodded.

"Yup, until either they want Vokoun back or we want you back" And with that he picked up the phone and dialed the Pittsburgh number. Within seconds he started talking, and smiling. If everything worked out, the Pittsburgh Penguins was going to be my new home.


"Hello, Dan," Claude greeted, being patched through to the head coach of the Pens "She's made her decision, congratulations,"

Within seconds I was traded. Within seconds I was no longer a bruin.

-----------

I practically lugged my stuff onto a new plane. Instead of twenty-seven new faces, I was faced with only three. I quickly had a flash back to that first day when I had to sit beside Tuukka, I was so nervous it almost seemed like a dream now, as Dan Bylsma, Mario Lemieux, Gilles Meloche all took me in with shocked looks.

"Hi" I greeted, trying the route of politeness. Dan Bylsma smiled along with Gilles Meloche, the goalie coach, but not Lemieux. I wasn't surprised, I wasn't the most likable looking person in the world, with my broad shoulders and determined face.

"Hello" Dan said, glancing between Mario and I as if we were about to start a fight in the middle of their private jet. Lemieux was the type of guy, I guessed, that wanted to see his money worth before he got too acquainted. I would give him his money's worth plus a cup. I could feel it in my bones that I was meant to be here.

Mario got up, moving towards the cockpit, obviously to tell them that we were ready. This was a tiny bit nerve racking but, nothing I couldn't handle.

"So, why did you want to be traded?" Gilles questioned, as if he was reading from a pop-quiz. I shrugged, indifferently. The last thing I need to do is taint opinions about me with a story of me dating my partner goaltender while my roommate was in love with me.

"I want something different" I expertly lied, giving a confident smile at the end.

My bones ached with potential as I slide past the men and into a seat across the aisle. I could feel deep in my gut that the cup would be mine by the end of this season.

---

Team's POV:

Tuukka walked into the dressing room expecting Alek to be there, organizing her stuff as she always did but, she wasn't. It was just the whole team, the trainers, coaches, and players. Everyone he didn't want to see right now. She'd disappeared after Tyler and him had gotten into a fight over her love. He almost scoffed, it sounded like a bad romance novel now.

"Sit down, guys" Claude gestured to their bench places, as Tuukka noticed that he was being tailed by Tyler. They scowled at each other and parted ways to their lockers, luckily on opposite sides of the room.
Something had happened. Tuukka could feel it in the air. He knew in his gut it was Alek, and it took all of his willpower not to scream out questions about her.

"Alek asked to be traded, and she was," Claude announced, and the whole room seemed to explode in disbelief, and everyone begun talking at one. Tuukka couldn't seem to speak, he was stunned. She'd left?

"Shut up!" Claude yelled, seeming to be very annoyed. Everyone stopped immediately.

"To the Pittsburgh Penguins because of 2 people" He knew the moment the words left the coach's mouth that everyone was glaring at Tuukka, then Tyler. He could feel the eyes burning into his skin.

Nathan knew she would do the right thing, she was smart. He hadn't expected her to do it without telling anyone. And the disbelief and horror was written all over his face.

As soon as the room was quiet again, muffled yelling erupted through the halls.

Emmie burst through the door, her eyes fixated on Tuukka like he was her target, "It's all your fault she left!" Emmie screamed, storming over to Tuukka.

Within a blink of an eye her hand collided with Tuukka's face. She slapped him so hard, there was a beat red hand print on his cheek. She was on the verge of tears by the look on her face. Tuukka didn't feel the sting of the slap only the unbearable pit in his stomach.

"She just called me, she landed in Pittsburgh!" She hissed, rolling her eyes at them.She knew that they were putting so much pressure on Alek. She loved Tuukka but, she really liked Tyler, too.

She stormed over to Tyler, the same look on her face as before, only her cheeks were now streaked with tears, "And you!" She couldn't let the hatred seep any more into her words, "You ruined everything! She was happy and you- you had to wreck it!" She then raised her hand again, and slapped him as hard, or even harder than she'd slapped Tuukka.

"I hope you guys are proud of yourself" She gave them both the finger then stormed back out of the room.

---

My eyes went wide, Evgeni Malkin's pictures did him no justice. I was staring straight into his chest awkwardly as he towered over me with a giddy smile on his face. He was a giant, 6'3, and over 200 pounds of pure agile, strong muscle. He was the first one to acknowledge me since I'd stepped into the locker room.

"Hello," His thick accent, maybe me flinch. I mentally slapped myself, remembering that he wasn't the same guy as Mikhail. He wasn't even remotely like Mikhail, and I shouldn't generalize Russians around Mikhail.

"Hey, I'm Alek-" he nodded, cutting me off mid-sentence. I quickly compared him to a large teddy bear as he gave a goofy grin

"Lehto. Alek Lehto." His accent made my name sound smooth as silk, "I know." He didn't sound anything like Mikhail, he was kinder and sweeter.

"It her!" He bellowed, and almost everyone looked up, including my idol Marc-Andre Fleury. I almost fainted as he began to walk towards me. I controlled myself, sub-consciously freaking out.

"Why hello there" Marc-Andre Fleury greeted with a tinge of a French accent that I'd learned to love over the many interviews I'd watched on ESPN. I extended my hand, with a large grin on my face. He ignored it, pulling me in for an almost-awkward hug, which I returned without another thought.

"You're amazing" he whispered, I instantly beamed like I was the happiest person in the world. He pulled away to look me in the eyes

"Thanks" I paused, "You don't know what it is to me to hear that from you" I tried not to pulled him back into the not so awkward hug anymore.

He seemed to smile wider after I said that. I wanted to sing his praises, but I had to meet the rest of the team. He stepped back, revealing five more guys. I recognized them all, Cindy Crosby, James Neal, Kris Letang, Matt Cooke, and Pascal Dupuis.

"I thought," He paused, laughing a little "she'd be more.........menacing" Dupuis cocked an eyebrow at me, then like his eyes fall all over my frame- sizing me up.

"I mean, look at this," He lifted up my arm, and let it fall to my side again. I couldn't help but give him a superior smile as he continued, "Where's the muscle?"

I scoffed, "Remember how I beat the shit out of Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Matt Duchene, and if I remember correctly you," I pointed to Sidney Crosby and he smiled as if he was remembering the way I'd tripped him, then he'd gotten furious which had earned him a blocker to the nose.

Sidney opened his mouth to answer but, Fleury cut in, "And Maxime Talbot, Eric Staal, Jordan Staal, P.K. Subban and Max Pacioretty" he added to the long list of people I'd pissed off.

"Eh, Maxipad and Suburban deserved it!" I argued, then rolled my eyes, as they all gave me 'really' looks.

"Other times, I was just bored," I half-whispered with a sarcastic smile, that earned a laugh from the crowd of guys. We'd finished laughing as Dan Bylsma walked in.

"What's so funny?" he asked, I, along with a few other guys, shrugged.

Evgeni wrapped his arms around my shoulders with a broad grin, "We talk about how many time Alek get in fight" Evgeni answered for us. I nodded, and Dan raised a eyebrow.

"9 times, but the Canadiens deserved it!" I defended myself, leaning into Evgeni as if he'd been my friend forever. Dan just chuckled.

"I'm glad you're adjusting." Dan started towards the door but paused, "By the way you'll be starting on the road trip, starting with the Wild." I nodded, as he retreated out of the locker room.

4 days, 4 games, until i was on the ice again. Couldn't wait.

Notes

OH......UNEXPECTED TWIST!!!! DON'T WORRY, THOUGH! i got this roller coster under control, sort of. Okay, bye. Thanks for all the support! 22 subscribers, i must be dreaming!