"Thank you."
The date? That was important. January 19th, 2013. Or at least that's what was scribbled down in her notebook. The Arizona Coyotes were at the American Airlines Center post game, and reporter Alexa Fitzgerald had just wrapped up her interview with Mike Smith after the loss. Tapping her microphone off, putting it back in its case, and quickly shuffling to meet her supervisor, Alexa had a small smile.
10:45 pm. Not that bad.
"Kevin, did you get that?" The camera man gave Alexa a thumbs up. Alexa's first year of becoming apart of the press for the Coyotes wasn't that exciting, actually today was her first days in game related action, ever since the lockout.
And nobody really wanted to talk about the lockout.
Alexa handed her notes in to her supervisor, Sarah, ready to board the flight with the rest of the Coyotes and go back home to Arizona.
"Alexa, do you have a minute?" The black haired woman shoved Alexa's notebook back into her hand.
"I'm really sorry, but the Coyotes have already found a new media relations person. I'm afraid this leaves you without a job. You can pack your stuff up and leave, thank you so much for your time."
She was speechless. Her heart sinking, Alexa ran all the way out of the rooms and into the quiet hallways of the American Airlines Center. She was distraught, confused, humiliated, mad as ever her dream job didn't go as planned. Reaching for her phone, she called her mother and father, and the word was eventually spread to her sister.
"I'll talk later." Beep. She pressed cancel on the call, taking huge breaths inwards and outwards.
"Are you okay?" A player on the somewhat smaller side with a quizzical smile of sympathy on his face stood in front of her.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Alexa said with a sniffle, her throat parched. It was hard to find the words to capture how many ugly emotions she felt.
"I'm Jamie. Nice to meet you." Jamie shrugged, trying to lighten the mood. "Are you lost or something?"
"I don't really have a job right now." Alexa said quietly, looking down at her silver flats she had on.
"If you go on the NHL website, maybe you can find an opening." Jamie was very optimistic, as he walked towards the nearest door .
"Thanks."
"You're welcome, Alexa." Jamie's eyes shifted towards the press badge Alexa wore over her black pantsuit outfit, as she blinked before tearing it off and throwing it on the ground of the concourse. She had to move on.
Driving back home from the airport, Alexa pulled into the driveway of her Glendale, Arizona home. She was reunited with her parents, Diane, a seamstress, and Mark, a businessman, the most supportive people she knew. Alexa had two siblings, who were both younger, Nicholas, and Addison. Alexa was so happy her mother was going to have another baby brother, the months anxiously ticking away. Hopping onto her MacBook as soon as she got home, browsing through NHL hiring pages, a gust of wind opened the front door and the talking began. Addison was the life of the Fitzgeralds, and she always had a story to tell. You could automatically know when she entered a room. With her ice skates in her hand, sporting a purple sweatshirt and yoga pants, the blonde began to rave about her day. "So at the rink there was this boy who was around my age who has this tournament this weekend because he's a prospect or something and he told me I was such a great figure skater!"
Alexa sarcastically clapped for her younger sibling. "And I was fired from the Coyotes, but it looks like I'm shipping up to Boston." Addy's shrug turned into a smile. "I heard."

Late June, 2013.
Months went by, the desert skies turned into skyscrapers. An apartment was moved into. Addy stopped figure skating. She wasn't interested in being loud or obnoxious anymore, she was maturing, quiet, and emotional. A hockey fan, from afar. She worried she didn't know much about the sport her sister was interested in. She was really happy that the lockout didn't exist, but she never showed it publicly.
Alexa got the job opening, and she started reporting for the Bruins. Specifically, interviews and Bruins Beat. Same name, black and gold badge. Alexa was busy getting to know Bruins players who she adored talking to, especially before and after after game day.
Meanwhile, Addy leaned against the white brick of the back entrance of the TD Garden. Tyler Seguin hauled his bag out into Bergeron's car, and glanced at Addy for a second. Tyler's face flickered towards Addy, and her blue eyes blinked back at the boy. Addy was sporting a black fannypack and a blank Bruins jersey, with black ripped jeans. Addy followed the Bruins slightly, not as much as her sister would. She preferred the Coyotes because she had grown up with them. 'Breakup days' were the hardest because that was when the season wrapped up. Losing the Cup to the Blackhawks left a sour taste in the mouths of Boston. Addy could imagine how hard it would be to clean a locker out and answer questions that stung. Addy was getting off topic though, she had to focus. Who was this? Tyler. Yeah. But when it came to Tyler, something struck her. Tyler walked in front of her, his whole body visible even in the slight darkness. Tyler ran his hand down his cheek and sheepishly grinned towards the shorter girl. "Aren't you the new reporter's sister?" Addy nodded back towards him. "Yeah, I'm Addy, and my sister's Alexa." Addy knew exactly who this hockey player was because Alexa had raved about how new and amazing he was earlier and how he was a key piece of the Bruins. This was Tyler Seguin, we're talking. So good but so bad. Why was Tyler Seguin messing with Addy Fitzgerald, the pathetic little bandwagon sister of a Bruins reporter? Addy remained breathless, as she stared into his eyes. "I'll take you to my place tonight." He decided, offering her. "It's just a little start to the offseason, that's all."

Notes

it gets better i promise