Caroline shut the heavy metal door to her apartment, finally in her own space. Her whole body seemed to relax. She rifled through her bag, looking for the phone. Caroline shoved the speaker to her ear waiting for Lily's voice to blare over the other line.
Her voice came, wavering and unsteady.

"Lily! Tyler's -
"I know."
Pause. Caroline leaned against the wall, teeth tearing at her nail beds.
"What did he do?"
Lily breathed out, long and slow. Her shoulders slumped as she looked around the empty hotel room. The sheets tangled, clothes strewn on the floor, the incessant thud of droplets from the leaky bathroom sink. Dallas cast into a gray world outside, the rain making a summer day dreary.
"I had sex with him."
*Flashback*
Lily rushed up to the cafe table, her metallic heels clicking against the bleached sidewalk.
"oh my god im so sorry im late! Traffic was such a nightmare."
Tyler looked up from his phone, "You look great."
He leaned over to kiss her cheek, his cologne wafting around her.
"You smell really good, what is it?"
"bleu"
She settled into the wiry chair, already comfortable in front of Tyler after working with him naked. Both professionally and unprofessionally.
"Well its nice. I'm just going to wash my hands, i've been touching door handles all day!"
She rushed to the bathroom, quick to check her reflection.
Tyler lounged outside, watching people walk to and fro.
"Tyler!"
A pretty blonde rushed into view, Chelsea, he realized after a couple minutes.
"oh, hey whats sup?"
"Nothin much, just missing you. And that" She leaned in the stroke his bicep "body."
"Oh you'll be seeing enough of it soon, Im going to be in the body issue. The chick doing my page is obsessed with me."
The blonde laughed, perching herself against the table. Lily pressed herself up against the wall, thinking the blonde might see her.
end of flashback
Lily's words seemed to flow out in one big gust of air, barely conceivable. Her voice cracked, Caroline didn't mention that she heard it. Lily was tough, Caroline knew she didn't want any pity.
"Anyways, I'm on the next flight out of this fuckin' place."
...
Playoffs were here. Sidney was up at 5, in the gym at 6, and practicing for the rest of the day until a game.
Burpees, squats, kettlebell thrusts, push-ups deadlifts.
Everything turned into sweat.
Caroline barely saw Sidney. Except games, but even then he sat as far away from her as possible. She was grateful. Everytime the two came into close proximity it was like her body froze up in guilt, his with rejection. To Sidney, everytime he saw her face it was like reliving that night at the play all over again.
A Boy came rushing into Caroline's office, "Hey, the boss wants a word."
"About What?"
But he was gone. Caroline let out an irritated huff, standing from her chair, her muscles tense from sitting at the desk all day. She rarely touched computers and the office Caroline occupied right now was actually a kind of shared computer area for the medics. They only really used the software to record weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, things like that.
Caroline smoother her black slacks and white dress shirt before entering her superior's office. She kept forgetting her boss's name, maybe it started with an H? An olive toned man rose from his desk, hands spread wide.
"Ah Caroline, the girl i wanted to see."
His italian accent was almost as greasy as his hair.
"Whats up?"
The boss plopped back down on his chair wheeling over twoards the desk so that he could lean both elbows on the table.
"We need you to go with the guys on the next away game. One of the other medics can't make it, something about his daughter's birthday, whatever. So can you do it?"
"Sure."
"Great. Now get out of my office."
Caroline shut the door to her boss's office, shocked by the little man's attitude.
...
Charlie had started to spend most of her time at the law firm she worked at, wanting to numb the pain she was still feeling.
Caroline placed the last pair on khaki pants in her suitcase as Charlie patted into her bedroom. Charlie's violet silk shirt seemed to crease and blonde strands spiked out of the twist she meticulously pinned in place. It was late now, and the city lights coming from the window were the only things illuminating the room.
Caroline sat on the bed, motioning towards the other side for Charlie to sit down.
"Are you.. Okay?"
"Im fine. Just tired you know. Ive been handling this exhausting deposition over and White&Smith."
Caroline knew she was lying, or atleast she was avoiding the real problem. But this was how Caroline got over things. She put them in a box and shoved them in the darkest corner, soon to be forgotten.
"Do you want some help?"
Caroline nodded, motioning towards the pile of black and yellow polos. Charlie ignored the pile and ventured into my closet coming out with a red bodycon dress and some nude Loubitons.
Caroline looked up at Charlie, brow perched high on her forehead. Charlie shrugged, "Just In Case."
Charlie was smart; She pieced together what had happened between Sid and Caroline within a day of Caroline getting back. Though seeing someone else's love life improve was like a twisting knife in Charlie's stomach, she wanted Caroline to be happy. If Caroline was happy that meant on less gloomy person in the apartment.
Caroline didn't have the heart to tell Charlie that Sid was the reason Geno stopped seeing her though. If only she knew. Caroline knew she should know, but didn't want her to think she'd choose Sid over her best friend. Caroline looked over at the clock- she needed to be at the airport in thirty minutes to make it through security without missing the plane.
...
The team was going to New York to play the Islanders.
Sidney had been pushed into the glass, his skate twisting at an odd angle.
"Hey Caroline can you get some more supplies for me while i help out Sid?"
Caroline turned away from the players to another medic, nodding robotically as she got up to make her way towards the medical room. The almost maze-like series of backrooms were relatively empty as she meandered through the halls. Caroline passed door after door, realizing that she should have made an attempt to learn the location of the Medical room.
Finally, She found the locker rooms, hoping that the medical room would be nearby. Past the dripping showers and barren visitors' pits was a back room. Caroline opened the door to find rows upon rows of pills, vials, gauze, tape,and ice. Bingo. Quickly She gathered two counts of everything the medics would need to tend a sprained ankle or strained muscle. With hands overflowing with medical supplies,Caroline swayed over to the door joining the supplies closet and the locker rooms. A loud slam resonated throughout the locker room just outside. Caroline stopped, thpught for a sec, then let her curiosity get the better of her. She tip toed towards the door leading to the lockers. Peeking through the slit made from the ajar door was a man. It was Sidney, sitting on the glossy wooden bench. His defined back heaved in excursion and anger. His muscles her taut, tension straining his body. Caroline couldn't see his face from her hiding place, but She imagined it to be one of absolute rage.
Sidney tore of his pads, throwing them against the lockers, peeled of his uniform, and fell back down again, head in his hands, body only partially covered by the tight spandex of his under armor. Caroline admired the expanse of his back, now fully in view. The way his waist rose into broad strong arms, his shoulders shifting with his breathing.
She held her breath. Sid attempted to undress further, this time more methodically. He took his jersey and wiped the sweat off his chest, muscles flexing with each movement.
His hands went to the last piece of clothing he had on, slowly sliding off the waist of his under armor. Caroline leaned closer, wanting to see him. The anticipation causing a heat to pool between her thighs.
An ice pack had loosened itself from Caroline's grip, and it slid easily from her grasp without notice. The wet block fell to the floor with a small thump.
Sidney quickly turned around, meeting Caroline's surprised expression.
"What are you doing?"
She just stared at him, shock and complete utter horror clouding her train of thought.
"Hey, I asked you a question! Are you gunna answer it?"
"Well uh-"
He turned away from her, huffing indignantly.
"Whatever"
Breaking out of her daze Caroline quickly scurried out of the supplies room, eager to escape Sidney's presence. As she sped past one locker Caroline stumbled over a bag, falling face first into the linoleum floor. Her face heated as she stood up, hands snatching out at gauze and ice packs to collect the supplies that were now littering the locker room.
"Shit."
She hastily bent down to collect the various bandages and disinfectants that now seemed a little damaged. Caroline could feel Sidney bend down next to her. His large hands darted out to pick up various medical paraphernalia. He gently placed his share of the mess back into the basket.
"I was getting some stuff for uh" she stumbled over my words as she looked up at him. His hair was stuck to his forehead and his muscles were coated in a thin sheen of sweat. Somehow looking more attractive than ever.
"Look, i know you were just doing what you were told. I just, I get grouchy after games sometimes. When they go bad at least."
Caroline nodded, too embarrassed to make conversation. Instead she fiddled with the shaken up bottle of gatorade she snagged from the cooler that held the ice packs.
"Will you look at my injury?"
Caroline nodded almost immediately, wanting to talk to Sidney after gaining some semblance of composure. She still didn't make eye contact, mortified that Sidney caught her staring. They walked back over to the bench he was previously at. Caroline bent down between his legs, face inching close to a thigh as she peered at his injury.
"Its sprained."
"good." "good?"
Caroline looked up at him quizzically.
"That means i can play."
"Oh, well yeah."
They fell into another awkward silence. Sidney, after a mental pep talk, spoke again.
"So when were you going to leave? When I was completely naked?"

Caroline blushed. Wrapping an elastic compression bandage around the sprained area.
"I wasn't really thinking."
His mouth twitched up in a smirk. Caroline grabbed the ice pack she previously dropped and lightly pressed it against his ankle. A girl with blonde hair came in then, rushing to Sidney. He automatically wrapped his arms around her in a bear hug.
"What happened out there?" She glanced down at his wrapped up foot. "Looks like someone took care of you, how bad is it? The injury?" Sidney looked over at me for an answer.
"Itsnotbad."
Caroline scolded herself for fumbling again with conversation. The show of affection between the two freaked her out. Caroline took in the girls's appearance. She was pretty,nice smile.. and an athletic build. Jealousy bloomed inside of her, sinking to Caroline's stomach as she watched the girl interact with Sidney. The girl now faced Caroline, waiting for Sid to introduce the two.
Sidney, put his arm around her, "Taylor this is Caroline. Caroline this is Taylor, my sister." A look of recognition crossed her features then and she moved to wrap her arms around me in a hug. Caroline slumped in relief.
"So this is the new med girl! I've heard a lot about you from the other guys. Some have little crushes on you." She winked playfully.
Caroline looked over at Sidney, silently questioning him. Now it was his turn to blush.
"Only good things said I hope."
"Oh, yes!"
Sidney, now bright red, turned to his sister, "Stop bothering her."
Taylor rolled her eyes, "Where are my manners? Can I please bother you some more and ask you to hang out with us after the game?"
Caroline looked between both of them. Sidney looked more uncomfortable by the second, and his sister beamed smugly. His still half naked body gleamed with sweat, drawing attention to his built chest.
"Why not?"
The locker room began to fill up with giddy players; Pittsburgh won 4-2.
...
Taylor and Caroline traded phone numbers before Taylor went back to her hotel, she had gotten sick in the car ride home and didn't feel like going out anymore. She was leaving tomorrow morning and needed a good night's sleep.
"So..you had a good time?"
Sid looked over at Caroline, a little reserved now that Taylor wasn't their to buffer their interaction. She nodded, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Yeah it was nice"
His face lit up.
"Good. Thats good I-"
"sIDNEY!"
We both turned to find Geno, James, and Beau walking towards us. Their arms linked together, swinging side to side obnoxiously.
"We go out for drinks! You come?" Geno looked down at the two. His breath smelled strongly of Vodka and as Caroline looked at the other boys, she noticed that they were all slightly unsteady on their feet.
Sid and Caroline shared a look, both agreeing after a silent debate. The club Geno had chosen was a block away from the hotel and Caroline found herself slightly regretting the choice to come as the cold air hit at my exposed thighs. She was wearing the red dress, its material clinging to all the right places on her body.
Once at the club, they were taken to a lavish VIP table. The blue lighting flickered in and out of the room and water slid down beautiful glass walls. A waitress dressed as a Mermaid came up to take the drink order.
"What is this place?" Caroline yelled, voice straining to be heard above the crowd.
"Blue Lagoon! Where the girls are wet and the drinks are dry!" Beau slurred, chuckling at his own joke.
The boys got a round of shots and everyone at the table downed a least two drinks. Beau and James immediately left the group, finding two female companions to dance with.
Geno was quieter than usual after the initial wave of euphoric alcohol began to wane. He rejected every girl's advance and opted to instead sit at the booth and twirl his glass between his fingers. He was moping, and Caroline wanted to ask him about it, but didn't have the patience at the moment to listen to him. Not when she knew she could've helped Charlie instead.
Realizing this night was going to be more tense than she thought, Caroline walked over to the bar to get another shot. She was going to need a little help from her friend Mr. Daniels if she was going to make it through the night. The bar was full of scantily clad thirsty people and she patiently waited for the bartender to get to her. A buff, tattooed man came up to Caroline, two glasses in tow.
"You look thirsty."
Caroline smiled, declining his offer with a short nod.
"Oh come on, just drink it. Are you here alone?"
He got closer too her, and could smell the stench of alcohol on his breath. Caroline took the drink, sipping it to please him. A sharp kick burned my throat and something else, something different was in the drink.
"What is this?"
His face twisted into a cat's grin and she stepped back, wanting to distance herself from this advancing stranger. His hands reached around her in a vise like grip. She struggled to get out of his hold, now noticing that everyone else around her was too preoccupied to notice him groping her without permission. His fingers snatched at the delicate fabric of Caroline's dress, forcefully tugging her closer to him.
"Get off of me!" she shrieked, panic coloring her voice.
Thinking of the only other way she could ward him off she continued to shout, "My boyfriend is going to be here any second-
A reptilian smile stretched over his face, "I don't think you have a boyfriend." Terror surged through her as he yanked her against him and further away from the crowd. The people Caroline grasped at began to double, their laughing forms stretching in and out of her vision. Caroline clawed at him hurriedly, too frantic to inflict any real damage. Her heart was thudding in her ears, almost becoming a strong, rhythmic beat that pulsed through her body.
Caroline tried, fruitlessly, to push him off her. Her movements became sluggish and weak. They were nearing the back exit of the club, and hot tears streaked down her face.The ringing from her heart wasn't stopping and Caroline could barely focus on moving on her own. Wave after wave of exhaustion tipped her body in and out and she slumped against the man. Heer body was too heavy for him to carry, and he struggled to position Caroline against him. Time slowed, the steps twoards the back exit taking months. Caroline's protests muffled and gurgled in her throat.
He was almost there when she slowly started to come to, the sip was strong but not enough to last. He realized Caroline was sobering up, his pace quickening and muscles straining to carry her. His hand was now on the door, and though the drink was wearing off, Caroline still couldn't free herself from the man's grasp.
"HEY"
A glass flew out of nowhere and broke against the man's skull, forcing him to break contact with Caroline. Two girls appeared from the shadowy corner of the club, one of them running up too Caroline to see if she was ok.
"Are you alright? Did he give you anything?"
She shook her head, too frazzled to form a coherent sentence. The other girl that was now pushing the man away from us, called over to her friend.
"Hey, Skylar, check this out."
The girl went to go investigate the man, while the other pinned his arms behind his back.
Caroline fell in a heap on the floor, too inebriated to pick herself up. Warm hands encircled Caroline and turned her around to face Sidney. Wanting comfort more than a need to keep boundaries, she leaned into him. He responded to Caroline's silent plea for affection, wrapping his arms safely around her, he rocked them for a moment before the two girls focused their attention back on them.
"Do you know him?"
Caroline snuggled even further into Sidney, inhaling his scent.
"I'm a friend." Sidney said.
The two girls looked at each other, shrugged, and left them at their spot in the corner of the club.
"If I had known you would get yourself in trouble so quickly I would have offered to come with you."
Caroline broke away from him, alarmed by the suggestion in his words.
"I didn't ask that guy to grope me. And it's not like you were there to save the day."
Her words were slow, but clear.
Sidney put his hands through his hair and tugged a little, clearly frustrated.
"Why do you always do that?"
"Do what?"
"You always pick and pick at what I say. Why? Do you find some sort of pleasure from it?"
"No! You just say the wrong things!"
Caroline quickly turned away, sluggishly walking towards the exit.
"Wait- where are you going?"
"Where does it look like I'm going? The hotel!"
Sidney quickened his pace, catching up too Caroline, "Well I'm coming with you."
"No your not, its only a block away."
They were outside now, waiting for the crosswalk to turn green. Once crossing Caroline sped up, trying to lose him. She fell slightly and Sidney offered his arm, to which Caroline ignored. He huffed, still walking along side her.
"You were almost taken advantage of in a crowded club! It's like your asking for something bad to happen!"
Caroline looked at him incredulously; did he even hear the words come out of his mouth?
"There you fucking go again. You're acting like I somehow deserve whatever bad happens to me for doing something normal. It's like blaming someone who got hit by a car for standing on a side walk near a road!"
"You're so fucking difficult!" He yelled. They were in the hotel lobby now, and some people had turned to look towards the angry couple. Caroline jabbed at the button to the elevator, holding herself back from ripping Sidney to shreds, and maybe his clothes too. He looked hot when he was angry. Once the doors slid open, Caroline stomped into the elevator, Sidney following.
"What now? Whos going to abduct me in an empty elevator? The buttons?!" Caroline shrieked, mad at herself for finding Sidney so attractive and infuriating at the same time.
"No. We're staying on the same floor!" He invaded her personal space, eyes filled with anger.
"You're fucking insufferable."
Caroline pushed on his chest, more to make a point than anything. But Sid didn't budge.
"You're fucking insane!"
Caroline's POV
Our lips were mere inches apart, his breath fanning across my face. I hit at his arms and chest hurriedly, taking out my frustration on him.
"DONT.LOOK.AT.ME.LIKE.THAT." I yelled between slaps.
The pathetic attempts of aggression didn't phase him, after each blow he came closer. His eyes bore into mine and his hands took my face in their grasp. We were pressed against the wall when his lips forcefully met mine.
I felt a wash of relief as Sidney's mouth moved against mine, warmth spreading through me. He pushed me up against the wall, hands snaking under my thighs to lift them up and around his waist. His head ducked into the curve of my neck, biting and sucking on the sensitive skin there. I needed this. Needed him. All of him. I probably needed this after the locker room incident.
"Sid."
He groaned in response, proceeding to make his way down my chest, nipping at the flesh above the swell of my breast. I shivered at the contact, momentarily forgetting the need for privacy. I tried to reach for the red button myself, but my fingers barely brushed the other wall.
"Sid. The door." I murmured, the sensation of his mouth overwhelming me.
Finally understanding Sidney reached out his hand, after hearing the click I returned my mouth back to his greedily. My fingers tangled themselves into his hair, tugging lightly.His hands hiked my dress up to my waist, spreading my thighs. I gasped when he rolled his hips into mine; the delicate fabric of my panties providing no protection from his erection.Our bodies rocked into each other feverishly, our movements becoming sloppy. His mouth pressed into mine, his hands gripping me in place as he ground himself into me. I could feel myself start to tighten and strain the pleasure just beginning when-
*Ding*
The sliding doors shuffled open.
"Oh my god"
Sid and I froze.

Slowly I looked up to see Geno, standing at the entrance to the elevator.

Notes

OMG WE WON THE STANLEY CUP CONGRATS TO US