The Dream

I decided that today I would put more effort into my appearance at work. I told myself it was to look more professional, not to look hot for Evgeni Malkin, but I couldn't even fool myself. Today I chose black business capris and my black vans along with my penguins polo. My hair was half up in a ponytail and I took the time to curl it, ensuring that the curls were tightly woven ringlets. I wanted to chop all of it off, the dead ends were a burden I no longer wanted to deal with. My makeup was definitely accounted for even though I was going for a more natural look, but oh well, I was running late so it would have to do. I rushed into the medical wing of PPG Paints not even realizing that the players had beat me to work today. I hastily opened McLane and Stewart's office door and immediately apologized for being late.
"It's fine. I cleared Tanger, go get Malkin."
I sensed her pissy tone and wondered if it was because of the start of the Tampa Bay series or if it was because I was late. Either way I turned around, sat my things in the corner, removed my coat, and headed towards the locker room to retrieve Geno. As soon as I walked in I heard his exceptional laugh and knew he was still riding on the high from the win yesterday. I walked straight up to his locker, where Sidney Crosby was on his left and Patrick Hornqvist was on his right. They saw me first while Geno was bent over tying his skate and they immediately shut down the conversation. Evgeni bent up and saw me standing there, the smile refused to leave his face as he eyed me up and down, taking me in for a long minute.
"Mae. Came for good luck?" His voice was soft, like he wanted the conversation to be only between us.
"I'm here to look at your elbow again and clear you for play." I matched his tone, slow and soft.
"I'm fine but you feel." He extended his elbow and I slowly approached him grabbing his forearm with one hand and his elbow with the other. As I bent it and felt the movement I could feel his deep soulful eyes not looking anywhere but at me. I met his stare and prepared to ask questions but before I could speak I forgot every word I've ever known and butterflies moved into my stomach. He gently began shaking his head left to right, which I interpreted as his answer on whether or not he was feeling pain. I choked out an "ok" that was so forced my voice cracked. His smile broke showing his hygienic teeth and I dropped his arm.
"Let's go G. Game time, eh"
Sidney tapped his shoulder and Geno stood up in front of me. He towered over me, reaching for his jersey behind him without taking his gaze off of me. I should turn around and walk away before people catch on, but I was under his spell and I never wanted to look into anyone else's eyes ever again. He put the jersey on gracefully, lowered his head and began walking towards the door. After he fist bumped Sid and the door shut behind them, I stood in the locker room alone, the butterflies still inhabiting my stomach. I loved him. I knew nothing about him beside what I read on the internet and watched in interviews, but I knew this was it, this was love.
Fuck.
After getting lectured by Dr. McLane on how punctuality is more important than appearance, I told her that I asked Geno an increased number of questions compared to yesterday and that his elbow was fine. I swallowed hard hoping she didn't see through my bullshit and realize I literally said only one word to him. She thanked me, marked something in his file and dismissed me to go restock the examination rooms. It was silent now while the players were on the ice, only the sound of the game on tv filled the rooms. The penguins were down 2-1 and you could tell the boys were frustrated. Going off a series win, they did not want to start off the Lightening series with a loss.
But they did. 3-1. Now I would witness what it was like in the locker room after a Penguins loss.
I was finishing up restock when they entered the tunnel to head to the locker room. They were still loud but it was more of a mandatory loud than a voluntary loud. Their skates hit the floor sounding like a synchronized stampede, they already began removing their helmets and jerseys and many of them were still breathing heavy from their last on ice shift. I opened the door to exam room wider and waited for them to pass. As Evgeni walked by I smiled happily but he didn't even lift his head from his chest. Geno took wins with great stride but, after just one loss, I could tell he struggled with losing. After stopping by the office to grab Letang and Malkin's files, I entered the locker room. Sullivan was discussing the loss, blaming nonassertive offense and sloppy forechecks for majority of the loss. I waited for his words to fully sink into the players before approaching Letang. His leg was fine and he still managed to keep the mood light while answering my questions. I decided to wait to talk to Geno until after he showered and spoke to the media, hopefully giving him time to cool off. I forgot that Evgeni liked being last. He liked being last on the ice, last off the ice and last out of the locker room. He was finally picking up his duffel bag and heading for the door so I stepped in front of him and lightly spoke.
"G, I have to check your elbow before you leave."
Without cracking a smile he dropped his duffel bag and held out his arm. I looked up at him waiting for the electric eye contact but I got nothing. He looked down at the evaluation I was performing on his elbow. I asked him what was required of me and he mumbled every answer. Finally I took the situation into my own hands and decided there is no reason he should beat himself up like this. I rested my right hand on his left cheek. He looked at me with his tired eyes.
"Evgeni don't suffer the loss all by yourself. It was a team effort, just like when you win. You'll beat them next time."
He flashed me a small smile and shook off my hand, picking up his duffel bag and walking out the door. My heart hurt knowing that he would go home and be alone after the loss.
I turned the files into Dr. McLane who was still sitting at the desk filling out a spread sheet.
"I'm sorry again about being late. Tomorrow I am prepared to be early,"
"Good....keep up the good work Mae."
I collected my things and left. The Penguins didn't play again for three days, so hopefully after a few team practices they will be ready to get their first win of this series. I could tell, it was going to be a long week.
Driving home, I was drowning in my own thoughts and decided to call my best friend, Nicole. She was my favorite person to vent to and she had been trying to get me to tell her about the internship but I've just been too busy.
"Mae is everything ok?" She picked up on the second ring, probably guessing the loss affected me too.
"Yeah I'm ok I guess, just tired."
"Tell me about it."
"I don't want to be sad so I'm going to tell you about the good stuff."
"yea, ok, I'm listening."
I told her about my first day, about how welcoming the staff was and how I threw off Mike Sullivan with my strong hockey opinions. I told her about meeting Letang and some of the other players.
"WHAT ABOUT SID?"
I forgot that that's what she wanted to hear about most. Her obsession with Sidney was borderline stalker, but then again look at me, in love with a guy I met two days ago.
"Girl let me tell you about his booty, oh my god..."
I went on and on getting only loud "AWE"s and "OMG"s. Before I knew it I was home, and hadn't even had time to mention Geno and how my heart swelled when he smiled at me, and how my heart shriveled when he couldn't even look me in the face. But I said goodbye and told her I'd catch up with her, and hopefully get food with her this weekend.
"Mae promise me one thing!?"
"haha what?"
"Let me meet Sid?"
"I'll see what I can do."
and with that the call ended and I collapsed in my bed, tucking my toes underneath Colby, my big black lab who was hogging the end of my bed. He and I sighed simultaneously and drifted off to sleep.

Notes

Wow ten years later I finally post. I'll do better.

Shoutout to my roommate who served as my wordsmith for this chapter.