The Intern

I was asked by Rugby Canada to go to a Training Camp in Langford, British Columbia for four days which meant I would be missing school and my internship. The Sens were going to away on a road trip for the majority of the time I am staying in British Columbia which is 6 days so I will really only be missing school which I have already made sure with my professors.

For the past month and a half Curtis and I have been hiding our relationship from the team and others. He was very excited for me when I got the email about the Training Camp which is big for me as Team Canada’s sevens players were preparing for Rio, they called up many rookies to come to training camp and fight for their spots on the teams for the upcoming international test matches for the 15s team.

I was very nervous and excited for the opportunity. No one else from Carleton got invited but some from Ottawa U and Montreal got invited so we are going to be on the same flight. I had said goodbye to Curtis last night as I had an early flight and talked to my dad, mom, and my siblings on the phone telling them about it. The support was crazy to see and even people at school that I had never met before congratulated me and my school had tweeted it on the twitter feed.

I took a cab to the airport and Curtis was mad because he wanted to take me but he had a game the day I left so I couldn’t let him drive me.

I am on the plane heading to Langford right now and am trying to get some sleep as training camp will start the day after we get there and I want to make sure I am rested and settled in Langford before that starts.

‘Everything okay’ I get a text from Curtis as soon as I turn my phone off of airplane mode and back to my data.

‘just got off the plane.’

‘call me later’

‘ok will do 27’

I put my phone away and look for the sign that says Rugby Canada with the three others. Olivia, points out the sign and we head over there with our luggage.

We had to fly over 7 hours from Montreal on a connecting flight to Victoria and then take a car to Langford which would be about a 30 minute drive.

“Hi Welcome to Victoria.” A man smiles who I immediately recognize from the Rugby Canada magazines but I couldn’t put a name to his face.

He leads us to two jeeps parked outside. “These are your rides to Langford, courtesy of Rugby Canada. The address is already put in your gps. You can just drop them off at the hotel. Someone will pick them up. Safe travels.” The man smiles and walks back into the airport.

The group of girls laugh awkwardly at the man and we split up into the two jeeps. I, along with Olivia take one and Julia and Anna take the other.

____

After the drive to Langford and our hotel, we settled in and I took a nap before we planned what the four of us were going to do for the night. I was rooming with Olivia who is the player that goes to Ottawa U, it is pretty cool that during the season, our teams hate each other but now we are becoming close friends through rugby also.

We had planned to go to dinner at some East Side Mario’s down the street before turning in because we are all tired from our long day. Curtis had texted me during my nap but I haven’t looked at it because I was getting ready. I put on a pair of leggings and wore a Carleton Ravens Rugby sweatshirt, I wanted to be comfy and East Side Mario’s isn’t really a dressy up restaurant.

I was waiting for Olivia so I decided I should text Curtis back. I open my phone to 9 messages and 2 missed calls from Curtis.
‘hey how is everything going?’
‘i hope u made it okay’
‘call me later when ur not busy’
‘i have been so bored today’
‘i miss u’
‘i hope u are having fun’
‘do i need to report ur disappearance’
‘im so pathetic txting u like this lol’

I’m a little weirded out at the the number of times he texted me, but I know he was just worried about me.

I text back to Curtis.
‘sorry, got here safe and I had a nap, now getting ready for dinner. how was ur day?’
Curtis replies almost instantly.
‘boring without u, hows bc?’
‘its so much warmer here, no snow 10 degrees’
‘wow, sounds lovely’
‘do u miss ur home province?’
‘yeah, i miss home sometimes’
‘its really pretty here’
‘it is, u said u were going to dinner?’
‘ya, east side marios’
‘when will u have to leave?’
‘we are on our way now’
‘walking?’
‘no rugby canada gave us jeeps to use’
‘no way’
‘its pretty cool, ours is red’
‘like sens red?’
‘a little’
‘r u able to talk on the phone later tonite’
‘i could go for a walk or something, so ya’
‘well i dont wanna put u in any danger’
‘what do u mean’
‘like outside with strangers’
‘u worry too much, i play rugby’
‘i know, i just dont want u to get hurt’
‘fine, maybe just talk to u on the balcony’
‘i like that plan’
‘have to go, i will text u after’

______

We just had got back from dinner and Olivia is taking a shower when I’m finally able to call Curtis who answers on the second ring.

“Hey laur.”

“Hey 27, how’s the team?” I find it weird talking to Curtis because we haven’t established a big friendship yet, we have only established a sexual relationship so the only thing I know what to talk about is hockey.

“Good, we fly out early tomorrow to St. Louis and then practice right when we get there for the game tomorrow night. What time do you start tomorrow?”

“8:30 we have a quick meeting before training.” I tell Curtis.

“Are you nervous?” Curtis asks.

“I’m terrified.”

“You have been to a camp before though.”

“Yeah, but this is for a Women’s National team spot so theres more at stake.”

“Just work hard and show them what you got. If they say no, its their loss.” That doesn’t really make me feel better but the thought behind Curtis’ words is what matters.

“I’m gonna try, I want to make it really bad.” I tell Curtis.

“I know you do. How are the other girls that you’re with?”

“Well I haven’t seen or met other than the girls than the ones I travelled with. But I knew most of them before.”

“Is there anyone you are friends with thats going to be there?” Curtis asks as I hear the shower turn off and I head out onto the balcony.

“Yeah, I played with Lilly during highschool and she goes to Guelph now and there are some of the players that I played with Team Ontario on so it will be nice to see them.”

“Thats good, it was always nice seeing and playing with all the other guys from around the country.” Curtis tells me.

“Yeah, its fun. I think I just want to have fun, playing the sport I love so.” I trail off.

“Tell me more about rugby, I love hearing you talk about it.”

“Well I have told you a lot about it already. My highschool was one of the best in our area, we had this rival against this catholic school about ten minutes from my school. I went to OFSAA twice in both my senior years, got gold in grade 11 and silver in grade 12. Lost to that catholic school.” I say still bitter about it because that is how much the two teams hated eachother.

“So you still hate that team huh?” Curtis asks.

“Like Boston Bruins hate.” I joke but its true.

Curtis barks out a laugh. “True.”

“I should probably get to bed.” I tell Curtis lightly.

“Do you have to?” He whines.

“You also have a game tomorrow.”

“I know, I just miss you.”

“You just miss my body and what you can do with it.” I roll my eyes over the phone at him.

“Thats not true. I like you Lauryn and just because we can’t date doesn’t mean I don’t want to be with you. Yes the sex is nice but its nice because its with you.”

“I don’t know what to say. I think I like you, I just want to get to know you a lot more because I feel like our relationship is only physical right now. And it is kinda against my job to be involved with you.”

“I know but I can’t help it if I like you. I don’t want to just turn it off.”

“I know.” I tell him. “I will call you tomorrow after training.”

“Goodluck Laur.” He says to me.

“Night 27.” I smile and doze off.

_________

My first training session for the National Women’s team was today and I think I did really well. I pushed myself to learn as much as possible but also to show my strengths and to show my coaches that I would be a good asset to this team.

I was so dead after the training but we still had to go to a nutrition meeting where we were talked about how we can maximize protein and make the workouts and training sessions we do, actually work instead of putting bad foods back into our system afterwards. All I want to do is sleep, my workouts at home didn’t even compare to the work I put in today at camp. I was tired and sore, but it was a good tired and sore.

After the nutrition class, we had lunch and then were able to go back to our hotels before coming back at 5 before dinner. I had some pasta with meat sauce for lunch and a salad from the salad bar. I was getting to know Olivia a lot better now, but I was sitting with Lily, my friend and teammate from high school.

“So how is Guelph?” I ask her, sitting down.

“Good, I’m taking zoology.” She says to me.

“That sounds intense.” I reply.

“The profs are pretty good with rugby and school, how’s Carleton?” Lily asks.

“Good, I’m interning with the Ottawa Senators.”

“Thats sick. So you get to hang out with the players?” She asks.

“Yeah somewhat. I get to interview some of them but I mainly work in like P.R and grab coffee. Normal intern stuff.” I chuckle.

“Are you close with any?”

“A couple I am begun to be good friends with.” I shrug.

“Wow, I would kill for that. But like I probably would sleep with a couple of them.” She jokes and I almost spit out my water. I try and make myself look cool by coughing a little. “Still a little bit of a good girl eh Laur?” She laughs.

“You just took me by surprise thats all.”

“I remember highschool girl. Did you have a boyfriend?” She jokes.

“Well one, Brad.” I look down at my food thinking about my ex boyfriend Brad. He was a big rugby guy too. He was my first boyfriend in high school so he was special, until he cheated. I wasn’t that torn up about it because I was going off to school and wouldn’t have to deal with him. It was in first year that I really started going out and having a couple one night stands with one fairly long benefits relationship. He was someone on the football team and I still keep in touch, he was a nice guy but now has a serious girlfriend. “But like I have been with other guys since then.” I say shrugging.

I have changed a lot since high school once I realized there was life outside of rugby and studying. I still study crazy hard so I can get opportunities like my internship but I have found a balance of social, school, and rugby.

“Wow.” She comments. “I would have never figured.” She laughs. I don’t know whether that was a compliment or be offended. “Do you have a boyfriend now?”

“I think, I don’t know. Its complicated.” I spit out not wanting to give many details to an old friend but also because I have no idea what Curtis and I are.

“So its in the early stages? I started dating Eric from the men’s team. He plays Canada too.” She tells me. I think I know who she is talking about it so I just nod in reply to her question and statement.

I look down to my phone in my lap to see a text from Curtis.

‘how is everything going?’
‘what are we?’ I quickly respond on a whim, knowing I will regret it later.
‘where is this coming from?’
‘like do i tell ppl i’m single or what?’
‘u can tell them anything you want to tell to them, its up to u’
‘thats not an answer’
‘i hate texting, when can i call u? I dont understand what u r talking about’
‘i cant right now’
‘why r u being so short with me?’

I roll my eyes at his text, looking up at Lily. “Boy troubles?” She smiles.

“Somewhat.” I chuckle, putting my phone away.

“What is the issue?” Lily asks.

“What do you do when you are in the awkward stage of what are we?”

“Well with Eric, I was straight with him and we both told each other what we wanted. Luckily it was the same thing.”

“I think my situation won’t go as smooth as yours.”

“Why? I found it very easy to do with Eric. I wasn’t worried.” She says calmly. “Everyone goes through this phase. Just talk to him, I’m sure he will respect how you feel. If not, then fuck him.” She chuckles.

“Thanks Lil.”

“Go get ‘em tiger.” She smiles getting up the table to leave. “I will see you bright and early tomorrow for hell day, get some rest!” She singsongs walking away. I sit finishing up my salad, planning on heading to the gym for some quick weights before some very much needed stretches and a rolling out session. I hope I can blow some steam off from Curtis. I decide to not look to see if he has responded, I will deal with him later.

After a good session I was ready to get to sleep after one of the longest day ever. Tomorrow will be worse, we have two training sessions and a weight room session. It will be a dramatic change from today. Before closing my eyes, my phone starts to vibrate. It’s Curtis.

“Hello?” I whisper not wanting to wake up Olivia. I walk out to the balcony and close the door.

“Laurynnn.” Curtis slurs on the phone.

“Curtis? What time is it there? Like 2am?”

“I don’t know Lauryn.”

“Where are you?”

“Out.”

So he is going to be short with me, really. “Are you with the team?”

“Nope.”

“Who are you with then?”

“Nobody, I was afraid I would tell them about you. I can’t risk that.”

“Curtis-” I start.

“No, let me talk. I want to be with you and show you off and kiss you in front of my teammates. I want to be your boyfriend and to come home with you in my apartment ready for me to make love to you. I hate this whole thing and I also hate myself because in the last month I have fallen in love with you. I can’t be around my teammates anymore because all I think about is you and I’m afraid to that I will talk about you. I have never lied to the people closest to me.” He pauses and I quickly jump in.

“Curtis, it’s the rules. As much as I want to change that, I can’t. Of coarse I love spending time with you and getting to know you. But I can’t do what you want” I tell him slowly.

“Do you love me?” He asks.

I am very taken aback by his question. “I don’t know.” I reply.

Curtis sighs on the other end of the phone.

“Look Curtis, I need to go. I will be home in 3 days and we can talk then. I need to focus on this training camp and we can figure this out when I get back.”

“Please Laur.” He pleads.

“I can’t do this right now 27.” I tell him, my eyes welling up.

“Please.” He pleads again.

“I hate doing this Curt, believe me. Pick me up from the airport and we can talk.”

“Fine.” And then dial tone.

Notes

DUN DUN DUNNNNNN. Hopefully there will be happiness in the future?? we'll see!!
Chapter 4
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