The Love to Live For

Olli heard the plate crash. I just stand there staring at my phone as Olli runs into the kitchen. He takes my phone to see what I was staring at. He just shakes his head and hands me my phone back.

"Who cares what they think. I know this is going to take some getting used to. People say very very very hurtful things on the internet. That's what people use social media for. It's annoying."

"Yes, but they think I am just after you for your money. That's not true at all. I'm with you because I want to be with you. I haven't dated a guy that has made me smile in years."

I start to cry a little. I can't believe people think I am a slut and a whore. I am not after Olli just for his money. I'm after him because I want to be with him. I love him. I have never dated a guy like him before. The guys I have always dated wanted sex and they were all into drugs. Olli is the complete opposite. He just walks up and wraps his arms around me. I burry my face in his chest. He is so much taller than me. Makes me a little self-conscious. I really care about this guy and I want to be with him for a long time. Maybe get married and have kids some day. I'm too young for that right now, of course.

"Olli?"

"Yes?"

"Would you like to come back with me to Michigan for Thanksgiving? I have not told my parents about you yet. I just sent a text to my mother saying that I may be bringing a friend for Thanksgiving. There is one thing I want you to know about them."

"Oh boy," says Olli jokingly.

"Expect some competition. Some people that are going to be there are Red Wings fans."

"Seriously? I hate that team. They are so...gosh I don't even know."

"Shitty?" I say and we both laugh. See, that's the thing, we always laugh together and get along. I hope my parents like him.

"Yes, they are a shitty team. So are the Flyers."

"Yeah, I bet all the Penguins hate them."

"Well, they are very chirpy and they are one of our rivals, so yeah, I expect tough games against them."

"Yeah, I always watch those games. They are really fun to watch."

"Well, it's Saturday, I'm assuming you don't have classes today?"

"No, why?"

"Want to hang out? We can go ice skating or something."

"Yeah! That sounds like fun!"

Olli smiles and we grab our coats and put on our boots and head out into the snow to head to PPG Paints arena. If the rest of the Penguins see us together, of course they are going to tease the hell out of us, or Olli at least. That's what keeps teams together, the constant teasing and jokes. I love living in Pittsburgh. The snow is beautiful when it is just laying on the ground untouched. The roads are clear right now. Pittsburgh is so beautiful in the winter. It's not even winter yet, but it's getting very close. I love winter, though. I love skiing and skating outside.

"This is going to be fun," says Olli as we get to the rink. We get our skates and head inside. We lace up our skates and head onto the ice. We are the only ones out there. We skate around hand in hand. I can barely skate and Olli is a pro, obviously. It's hard to keep up with him.

"I'll tickets for next game," says Olli. Obviously he wants me to go.

"Who you playing?"

"The Red Wings," says Olli looking me in the eye. "The game is in Detroit. I figured that seem how you want me to go with you to your parents house for Thanksgiving that your family would be interested in going."

"That sounds like fun! I think they would love to go! I just don't know what I am going to do until then. You're going to be gone for almost two weeks."

"Just a suggestion, but you could always study. Also, you will see me in Detroit. That is our last game on the road," says Olli nudging me a little bit. Ice skating is really fun, especially when someone falls on their ass. I haven't fallen yet and Olli isn't going to fall anytime soon. We get off the ice and take off our skates. Dunkin Donuts is across the street, so we head there and get some hot chocolate. I love Dunkin Donuts hot chocolate.

"Did you have fun? I know you can barely skate."

"It was a lot of fun. I can't wait until that game. My family is going to have a lot of fun."

"Are they judgmental? Is it hard to impress them?"

"Well, my mom loves everybody and my dad, well, he's a tough nut to crack. I'm sure if you just be yourself that he will accept you. You treat me like a queen."

"Will he accept the fact that I play for the Penguins? I know you said you believe that they are Penguins fans, but what if they aren't?"

"Olli, no need to worry. That is something they won't care about, I promise," I say putting my hand on his. He is worrying for nothing, but I understand that it's hard to meet parents. My father is a tough one, but he is also is a pretty cool dude. I think they will get along just fine. If not, there is nothing they can do. I love Olli Maatta.

"You sure? I never really have the best luck when it comes to meeting parents."

"Olli, I promise," I say chuckling a bit. We put our jackets on and leave Dunkin Donuts. We get back to Olli's house and sit on the couch to watch a game. I think it's the Avalanche and Senators. Of course, the Senators are crushing the Avalanche. It is the third period. The Avalanche are having a better season than last year. Now that Varlamov is healthy, they should be pretty good with their goaltending. It sucks that the Avs have traded Matt Duchene to the Senators. I really did not want that to happen.

"Wow, looks like the Avs are getting beat. They are only down by three. They can make a come back."

"My parents used to watch the Avs. Now that the team isn't as good as they once were, my parents don't care for them anymore. We are from Pittsburgh, so they have watched the Penguins, but then we moved to Michigan."

"So they don't watch the Penguins anymore?"

"Actually, I'm not sure."

We finish watching the game. The Avs did make a come back, but it wasn't good enough. They only lost by one. Really, not a bad game. Olli put his arm around my shoulders as I curl up into his chest. NHL Tonight is on now. It's really just a bunch of replays and people talking about teams and shit. It doesn't really interest me, but seem how the Penguins have to fly to Ottawa tomorrow to play the Senators, I figured they are going to be talking about that game.

"Tired?" asks Olli. I am still wide awake. I usually go to bed about two in the morning. I look at my phone and it is only ten.

"Not really, but I am comfortable."

"Want to watch a movie or something?"

"What do you have?"

"All my movies are over on the shelf. What kind of movies do you like?"

"Comedies and horror."

"I have Friday the Thirteenth."

"That is my favorite horror movie!"

"I have all of them. Want to start from part one?"

"Sure."

We watch a few of the movies. I wish I could just sit here forever with Olli. He is so amazing. I love him so much. I must have fallen asleep cause I felt Olli trying to move without waking me. I sit up slowly with my eyes half open. Olli is just putting the movies back and turning off the tv.

"Do you want clothes to sleep in?"

"Yeah, sure," I say as a I rub my eyes and follow him to his room. He hands me a pair of shorts and a t-shirt that I already know are going to be too big on me. I change into them and crawl into bed with Olli. I curl up into his side and he wraps his arm around me. It sucks that he has to leave tomorrow for a road trip. I wish this could last forever.

Notes

Sorry it took me so long to update. I have been busy with school and hockey. I hope I will have the next chapter up later this week or early next week!