The Love to Live For

I throw on my Maatta jersey and I head out the door to find Olli himself waiting for me outside. I want to know what is going on between us. It's clear that we like each other, but we haven't really talked about it. He opens the door of his car and I get inside. He gets in his drivers seat and sits there in silence for a minute.

"Are you okay?" I ask showing my concern.

"Yeah, I have been thinking. Would you be my girlfriend?"

I feel like a smile crept across my face. I really want to be with him and I am shocked that he wants to be with me.

"Of course!"

I must have got too excited to where I almost hopped in his lap. I wrap my arms around him and hugged him tightly. He hugs me back.

"Someone's excited," he teases me as we head to the rink. I can't wait to see this game. "I like your jersey."

I sorta chuckle, "Of course you do."

We get to the rink. Olli drops me off out front and he heads to the team's parking garage and gets ready for the game.

***Olli's POV***

She said "yes" to being my girlfriend. I can't get that thought out of my head. I really like this girl and I don't want to screw things up. The team can't know about it anytime soon. It's too early in the relationship for my team or my parents to meet her. Once they find out, of course they are going to want to meet her. She is really cool. I am glad I get to be with a girl like her. I walk into the locker and Kristopher Letang (Tanger) comes up behind me and startles me half to death.

"So, who's the girl?" asks Tanger with a smile spreading across his face. Here comes the teasing that I was trying to avoid.

"She's nobody," I say as I try to walk to my locker to get ready for the game.

"Why don't you introduce us to her?" says Tanger as the rest of the team looks at me.

"Fine. She's here tonight. Just don't bombard her. It's really too soon."

I couldn't help but cave in. I can never say "no" it's just not who I am. I get ready for the start of the game. The coach comes in the locker room to give his pregame speech. Sid is still hurt, so he won't be playing tonight.

"Alright boys, we need to go out there and give it our all. These guys are going to try and get under your skin. Especially Claude Giroux. Try to control your anger, don't let them get to you and play your best. It's just the preseason, these games don't count. I still want you to beat these assholes," says Coach Sullivan. "Here are the starting lineups: Rust, Malkin, Kessel, you guys are starting for offense and defense will be Maatta and Letang. Murray in the cage. Let's kick some Crier ass!"

The team cheers and we all head out to the rink for warmups. I see Alysha sitting behind the net taking pictures with her phone. I take a couple shots on net and try to focus on my warmup routine. I want to impress her. She looks so good in that jersey. I take a few more shots against Murray to help him get warmed up. This is going to be a great game. She is going to have a lot of fun. Tanger must have noticed that I looked right at her.

"Is that her?" asks Tanger still trying to tease me.

"Yes."

***

We get back on the ice to start the game against the Flyers. We are going to win. Malkin gets ready for the draw. Giroux is on the starting lineup for the Flyers. The ref drops the puck and Malkin wins the draw. He gets the puck back to me and I pass it over to Letang. He carries it into the offensive zone and takes a shot. Elliot makes the save, but let's out the rebound. I get it and slap it into the net. The goal horn sounds and we all celebrate the goal. I sneak a little peak at Alysha and she is on her feet cheering. I just really want to impress her.

***Alysha's POV***

The goal light in on behind the Flyers net. The Penguins go up by one. I am on my feet cheering and clapping. The boys get ready for the next faceoff. A few seconds later, the Penguins score again. That time I think it was Letang that scored. By the end of the game, the Penguins have won the game 5-0. They took it to the Flyers. Giroux goes over to Olli and tries to start shit. Malkin comes over and checks Giroux and it breaks out in a line brawl. The fans get on their feet and cheer and the refs try their hardest to break it up. It's kinda difficult to break up a line brawl with only four refs.

***

I walk down to see if I can find Olli. Not sure where the locker room is, but I have an idea of what direction it's in. This is only my second time in PPG Paints Arena.

Meet me by the locker room.

Where is the locker room?

Do you know where the players tunnel is? Where we get on the ice?

Yeah, I think so.

Go there and I will meet you.

I did as he said and I found the players tunnel. I wait for Olli right there. He walks out the locker room still half dressed in his gear.

"Hey, great game!" I say as I hug him tightly. He litteraly had to bend over for me to hug him. He is so tall, but he is even taller on skates.

"Do you want to come over?" he asks. It's totally dark outside and it's late at night, but I will go over there.

"Sure. Want to stop at my dorm and get a movie or something?"

"Sure. What movie?"

At that moment Letang walks out of the locker room.

"Ah Olli. Hanging out tonight just to watch a movie," says Letang with a smirk on his face. I know exactly what he was thinking. I know he is just messing with Olli. "I'm Kris, by the way, but the team just calls me Tanger."

"I'm Alysha. Nice to meet you."

"You too. So seriously, just going to watch a movie?"

"Tanger, really?" says Rust as he walks out of the locker room trying not to laugh at Letang. He is kinda funny though. But no, me and Olli are not having sex anytime soon.

"But I side with Tanger, you guys are going to be alone," says Rust starting to tease us.

"Pervs," says Olli trying his hardest not to laugh at their comments. "I'm going to change and then we are leaving before the whole team gets in on it."

"Too late," says Murray walking out of the locker room. He is still half dressed with his leg pads still on. "Is this Alysha? How did Kris find out about you two?"

"I have my ways," says Tanger as he crosses his arms.

"Yes, this is Alysha. Alysha, these are some of my teammates."

"Nice to meet you guys."

"You too," says Murray shaking Alysha's hand.

***

We get in the car after Olli gets changed. We are on our way to campus so I can get a movie and maybe some clothes. It's late at night, so I would probably end up staying there. I haven't heard from Tiffany in awhile. I hope she's doing okay. I know she is with Sid taking care of him and what not.

"I'm sorry about those guys," says Olli finally speaking.

"It's fine. Not the first time that happened. Everytime I date someone, their friends always tell us to have sex or whatever."

"I'm willing to wait as long as you want."

"I'm still a virgin so it may be awhile," I say. I feel like Olli knew I was embarrassed. He just put his hand on my shoulder.

"So? That doesn't bother me. I just want to be with you. I have done it plenty of times, but if you want to wait, we will wait. Sometimes it's for the better."

"Thanks for understanding. Do you want to come up with me?" I ask as we get to campus. Olli nods and we get out of the car. He follows me into the dorm and up the stairs to my room. There is an elevator next to the stairs, but that gives me an excuse to be lazy. I walk down the hall to my room and unlock the door. Tiffany and Sid are laying in bed together. Looks like they are sleeping. I grab my favorite movie, Slap Shot. I know that since Olli is a hockey player that he will love this movie.

"Nice room. Pretty spacious for the two of you. I thought dorm rooms were small?"

"They generally are."

We get back in the car and head over to Olli's house. I love Pittsburgh at night. It is so beautiful. Pittsburgh is one of my favorite cities. Not only did I grow up here, but it is a great place to live. I just take Olli's hand that is sitting on the center console and smile. Olli pulls the car into his driveway. He really doesn't live that far from my college. It's not within walking distance, but about five minutes away by car. I hate walking, personally.

"Here we are. You hungry? I know it's late, but I can make you something if you want," says Olli as we head into his house. This place is huge! Of course, that is what I expect from any NHL player.

"Where are we watching this?"

"Well, I have the living room, my room and a couple guest rooms that have a DVD player. I was thinking we can watch it in the living room."

"Good thing Tanger didn't hear that," we both laugh at that statement.

"Yeah he would tell us to watch it in the bedroom or something."

"Yeah, he would have."

I take a seat on his couch as he gets some popcorn and soda. He places the DVD in the DVD player and hits play. This is by far my favorite movie. We didn't even finish the movie before we both fell asleep.

Notes

Sorry for the really long chapter but I didn't know how I wanted to end it. I hope you all like it!