​I groaned when I realized I was awake. I had a big meeting at work today, which I was both really excited for, but also dreading. I didn't think the result would be in my favor. I want a better job, preferably in New Jersey. I got out of bed and put on my glasses. I ran a brush through my tangled carmel colored locks. Deciding I didn't want to shower, I put on my Clarkson Devils jersey, which he had signed. I knew David before he was famous, he and my brother were good friends as kids. But my brother went to North Western and David continued his hockey career. While David and my brother grew apart, I kept contact with him. I went downstairs and turned off the coffee maker. "Screw it." I muttered, turning it off. I could grab coffee at a Dunkin Donuts on my way to work. I sighed. Their bagels would also have to suffice. I ran upstairs and got dressed. My boss is more my friend than my boss, so he probably wouldn't be surprised if I looked like a mess. But I put on jeans and a nice red shirt. I straightened my hair quickly, not taking as much care as I should have. I jumped into the car, knowing I was missing something. I sighed, stopping at Dunkin Donuts. I went over the speech in my head. I needed to be persuasive. I had rehearsed this a million times. I wanted a better job that working for a sports magazine that comes right out of Pittsburgh. Nobody's ever heard of it excpt for some sports fans who are also avid readers. What I want to do is work in New Jersey. Thats where my family and friends are. Sure I've got friends here in Pittsburgh, but in NJ is where my life is. I still want to write, but maybe move on from sports. I'm a Yankees fan, not a Pirates fan! I've traveled with all the sports teams in Pittsburgh just to write some story that nobody's ever going to see. I hate the Steelers, I'm a Giants fan! I miss New Jersey. I'm also a diehard New Jersey Devils fan. Since David Clarkson and I are friends, I'm also pretty close friends with Marty Brodeur. And once your friends with Marty you're friends with the team. I love the team, everyone of them is just great. Fun to hang out with. Just a bunch of good guys on that team. I pulled into the office building. I sighed, ready for what was to come. I walked in, grabbing my bag from the passengers side of my black car. I rushed into the building, and before I knew it I was sprinting down the hall. And then, I ran right into a man. And then, I felt his coffee seeping through my shirt. "Watch it!" He snapped. I always go zero to sixty, and this was no different. "No 'sorry'?" I hissed. "Thanks a lot! I'm going to be late for my meeting as it is, without this!" "It never would have happened if you would have watched where you were going!" He growled back. "Ugh!" I moaned and I suppressed the urge to slap him in the face. The man didn't stop. "You should really just move out of my way!" That was it. My hands were full, so I hit him in the stomach with my bag. There was no reaction. I pushed passed him, and didn't look back. I rolled my eyes. People always push me a little too far, I've never understood why. Strangers mostly, because everyone who knows me knows that I have a temper. I guess they figure so much fight could come out of someone so small and shy-looking. They always underestimate me, I suppose. And once I get mad, it takes me a while to cool off. My meeting was supposed to start at 8:30, and its already 8:40. I groaned just at myself. I shouldn't really let ignorant assholes get to me. But it was too late for that now. I decided my boss knows me well enough that he wouldn't mind if I was fired up the first 15 minutes or so. I couldn't do anything about the shirt, or the stickiness on my chest, so I went directly into my boss's office. "Haley Springsteen," He said with a smirk. "Justin Anderson." said, putting on a fake smile. He just rolled his eyes. "Who spilled the coffee?" "Some inconsiderate asshole downstairs. I was running and..." I trailed off, not sure how to explain myself. Justin just rolled his eyes. "Ok, obviously your fault, but you fought and now you're all pissed. You better calm the hell down because you're trying to convince me that I should let one of my best, and frankly one of my favorite writers go." I knew he would understand. I got here when I was 18. I was still in college. But I wanted a part time job, and Justin was willing to hire me, almost as a joke. But we quickly became friends and he soon learned I was a great writer from Jersey, who was always looking for a better career. He just smiled. "Alright Haley. Why? I'm sure as you were going through this in your head, the questions would be simple. So, we'll start with why. Why do you want to leave us?" "Because my dad's not a fan of Pittsburgh sports teams." I said sarcastically. "Because this has been my career forever, and I need to expose myself to new things. New things being different places, different topics, other than sports I mean. It's not like it's no fun having A.J Burnett recognize you on the street because you've travelled with him a lot, but thats just it. I've only ever gone with the Steelers or the Pirates, so I'm hoping that if I stay in sports I can go to some place like California or New York, where there are lots of other teams. And hopefully moving on from sports, I'd rather go to New Jersey and find interesting things to write about there, or maybe in New York I was thinking about writing for the New York Times." Justin nodded. "Uh huh. So, I guess you answered a couple of my next questions right there. But what's your career goal for the next 10 years?" Shit. Never thought about that. "Just to keep writing. More and more. About a variety of different things, not just sports teams. Just to maybe get more attention, so there are more opportunities, you know?" "You never thought about that till now." "It was quite a curve ball." Justin just laughed. "Now why should I let you go?" Again, shit. Why didn't I think about that? "Well," my throat was dry. "Lets see. You said I'm one of your best writers. ONE of the best you said. I can get better if you let me go, and then maybe come back and be THE BEST. Also because if I'm a favorite you won't want me to be trapped doing something I don't want to do. Don't get me wrong, I love working here. It's great. But there are so many people who hate their jobs. When you start to hate your job, you start to hate your boss, and when you hate your boss you don't give a crap about them or your work quality. Save me now, and don't let me become one of those. And also, we're friends. Do me a favor, and I'll do you a favor. And if I become rich and famous, I can always say that Justin Anderson was the only one willing to give me a job." That got a laugh out of Justin. "Well, it pains me to do this, but I have a compromise I think." I waited eagerly. "If you can write me a great article, you're best work, the most perfect damn thing ever, I'll help you get a job where ever you want. Deal?" I smiled, even though I wanted to jump up and down and scream in victory. I had gotten exactly what I wanted. It was easy! Just a good article! Justin seemed to see the emotions dancing in my eyes. "So, you're not going to ask who you're traveling with, huh?" Travel. Crap! I was hoping I wouldn't have to travel. But still! One more week of travel and I was DONE IN PITTSBURGH!!! "Who?" "You will be traveling with the hockey team. The Pittsburgh Penguins." My heart fell. I HATE the Penguins. "I want the article mostly to revolve around how the guys feel about each other. How that affects their play. And mostly, we all want A LOT about Sidney Crosby." I wondered if I looked as upset as I felt. I forced a smile to my face, and hoped it looked real. "I know this will be a challenge for you Haley. And that's why I gave this article to you. I want to challenge you. And its not a week this time. It's a whole season." Justin explained his choice. No. Not the Penguins.