school/summer

Now let's make this official.

I'm not going to post anything until summer. I know I keep talking about school and all that, and really, I'm getting overwhelmed, therefore this story is not the first thing on my mind. I've been concentrating on AP tests and going to look at colleges. Don't be offended and don't think this is the end of this story, because it's not. It's just going to take me a little longer to write/finish than expected.

Stick with me. :)

Chapter 25

All right, all right, all right!

Who's ready for a new chapter? I had to have some real life inspiration hit me before I could finish this chapter, but you, it worked. :)
We're nearing the end, are you ready?

-----

Sidney and I had been running around, stealing moments together in secluded corners of my dorm or the arena for the past few weeks. The Penguins had beaten the Capitals in 7 games, and now, they were playing Carolina. They pummeled them the first two games, and I had no doubt in my mind that they would sweep and with that sweep, be well on their way to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second year in a row.

Don’t tell Sidney this though. As soon as I brought up the possibility of a sweep, he silenced me and told me to not talk about it. He told me it was bad luck and that I shouldn’t even think about it. Sometimes I wanted to drop kick him across the house.

While Sidney was flourishing in the playoffs, I was working out and getting myself back into shape. My whole right leg seemed like a useless limb covered in flabby skin. Cellulite seemed to have taken residence there and refused to move, no matter how much I ran and how much I lifted. Sidney didn’t seem to mind as much as I did.

“Guess what,” I said to Sidney, lying on the hotel bed after game three of the Eastern Conference Finals. I was drawing cute little circles on his chest, my head on his arm, which acted as a pillow

“What?” he questioned softly, twirling a curl around his finger. I could tell he was tired, but I wanted to tell him what I had to say before he fell asleep.

“I’m playing in a tournament with the school at the end of June,” I said, craning myself around in his arms to look at his face. I wanted him to be ecstatic, but because of when I chose to tell him, I knew I couldn’t expect much more than a half-hearted nod and a smile. He was lying there, eyes closed looking almost like a perfect wax figure; so serene and at peace, while my mind was whirring like an overheated car. I settled back down into the crook of his arm, wishing he would show some more emotion, just to make me happy.

“Just thought you should know,” I whispered, draping my arm over his stomach. His hand found mine and he began to draw little figure eights in my palm. I knew he was excited, but just completely drained. I understood, so I lay there, as the figure eights in my palm came less and less until I heard a soft steady breathing under me.

“I love you,” I murmured, kissing his ear and lying down beside him.

“I love you too,” he suddenly said, rolling over towards me and pulling me as close as he possibly could. I loved the feel of his body against mine and I never wanted him to go. I wanted to stay like this forever. I slowly fell asleep in his arms, loving the place I was at.

-

I told him they’d sweep. I told Sid the Penguins would dominate the Hurricanes. Who was right? Oh, that’s right, me. You can only imagine how we celebrated together. They rest of the team went out and got drunk while Sidney and I shut ourselves up in his hotel room.

I could hear the guys coming back around 1 in the morning by the muffled yells coming from the hallway. I listened to them for about half an hour, looking at Sidney sleeping peacefully beside me the entire time. I kept running my hand through his hair, damp with sweat, expecting him to wake up at any second, but he never did.

I wanted to freeze time and step away. I wanted to look at what was happening at this exact point in time. As I thought, the voices outside our room shrank to the murmur of friendly conversation. The Penguins had just made it to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second year in a row. I was waiting for someone to come along and tell me it was all a dream; that I had been living in a dream the past month. That my knee wasn’t getting better, that the Penguins were still 1-8-1 in their last ten games and that Sidney was still a grouch and I was still scared to talk to him.

That never happened. I stayed where I was, firmly planted in the bed beside the one person I couldn’t care more about. I didn’t float away, and the lines of his face didn’t smudge and dissipate, disintegrating into the wind; that moment right before you wake up. Everything was tangible and I could touch him. Everything was tangible, and the Penguins were going to the Stanley Cup Finals. Everything was tangible and I was going to play basketball again. Everything seemed right, almost too good to be true.

-

The day after Game Four of the Conference Finals, the team and I flew back to Pittsburgh. They went back to practice while I went back to the athletic center, which also included the training room, where I’d make little stops in to talk to Todd about whatever was happening at the time whether it be about the Penguins or basketball; there was always something to talk about.

Life has little ways of always giving you reality checks, when everything seems too good. I walked into the training room, seemingly walking on clouds, only to see bare walls and Todd cleaning out the cabinets. My clouds instantly disappeared as what was happening hit me. Todd was leaving.

“You can’t leave,” I said, my mouth hanging open, my gym bag falling to the ground. “You just can’t…” I felt like part of my heart was being ripped out; he was my best friend, and he helped get me through my surgery. He was the one constant through it all, and now he was leaving.

“It’s a better job,” he said, shrugging his shoulders and continuing to pile up his things. “And it’s closer to my house. I never get to see my family, and this will let me do that.”

“I’ll miss you,” I said, trying not to cry. I really would miss him. He helped me so much. I felt tears spring to my eyes and I quickly wiped them away before he saw.

“Don’t worry,” he stated flatly. I could tell this was ripping him up as much as it was me. “You have my number, right? Call me if you need anything. Let me know if your knee bothers you.”

“Okay,” I stated. I felt numb to the world, and numb to what was happening. This wasn’t real. I walked over and gave him a hug; nothing special, just a hug. I smiled weakly at him before turning around and backing out of the door.

“I’m playing in a tournament with the team at the end of June,” I said leaning against the doorframe. “You should come,” I said, picking up my bags.

“I’ll see what I can do,” Todd said, with one last attempt at a smile.

I smiled in return and backed out of the little room, waving with the hand that wasn’t holding my keys. I started down the hallway, considering all of what just transpired. Todd was leaving. I would be on my own when it came to basketball.

The gym and its big solid glass wall came into view with its treadmills and ellipticals on the other side; overweight college students running at speeds far too fast for them, huffing and puffing. I put my things in a locker and walked out to the treadmills. Everything seemed surreal as I set my speed to 5 and began to run. It hit me hard when I thought about it; between Sidney being one win away from another chance at the cup and Todd leaving, I had a mixture of devastation and joy. I put those thoughts to the back of my head, concentrating on the lop-siding pounding of my feet as I ran.

The more I ran, the more the thoughts creeped back into my head. I couldn't keep them at bay. I thought about Todd leaving, and my feeling of abandonment. Then I thought about Sidney and how happy he made me. His face popped into my head and I immediately smiled. Hell, the thought of him winning the Stanley Cup made me want to skip on the treadmill instead of run. His happiness was my happiness; we were one, and he won out over Todd any day.

heyyy

I feel absolutely awful for not posting anything new in so long. Really, I do. I just haven't had the time.

I promise that you will get an update before I go back to school in January.

In the meantime... I started a new story. :)

Savannah

I would totally love it if you following and/or commented.

NEW

HEY HEY. I haven't posted here in forever, but I AM working on a new chapter, don't worry. AP Biology is just a little overwhelming right now.

Anyway, I've made a new blog, fabricated air, all about hockey and the Penguins, and for me to complain about AP Biology. :)

You should follow me. KTHANKS.

Chapter 24

Into Another World Chapter 24

“So, Pitt’s finest, you can start playing again,” Dr. Carr stated before continuing on. “Now, ‘play’, is a very general word. What I mean by play, is go out to practice, run, do a few drills, but don’t sprint. You can jump and all that fun stuff, but no sprinting for a few more weeks,” my doctor concluded, writing me a note with all the information he just threw at me.

Apparently my knee was the best thing Dr. Carr’s seen since… well he couldn’t remember. I thought that was pretty miraculous, seeing as I have an extremely low pain tolerance, but Sidney says he almost expected it from me. He says I’m a fighter; I’d like to think I am, and if he thinks so, then I must be, seeing as he’s always right.

“So just go see your physical therapist once more to have him check you out and make sure he’s done with you, and if you have any questions, I’m sure Todd’ll know,” he finished, opening the door to walk out. “And Mr. Crosby, I’ll be watching you play Washington tonight,” he said with a wink before walking out of the room completely.

I looked over at Sidney and his scruffy playoff beard that was beginning to get a little greasy, and jumped onto his lap before he could get out of his seat. I straddled his torso, something I hadn’t done in a long time, and kissed his neck, trying my best to avoid his beard.

The feeling I had was indescribable. I felt like running down the hallway screaming at the top of my lungs. I felt like skipping through a field of daisies, and most of all, I felt like going home with Sidney and doing some pre-game warm-ups.

“Did you hear that? I can run, I can play, and I can jump. I can do anything,” I said, smiling what seemed like the biggest smile ever.

“I see that,” he said with a slight smile and a hint of sarcasm to his voice, but I ignored it and pulled him out of the chair after I stood up, leading him down the hall to the checkout counter where I paid my co-pay and bound into the elevator all within five minutes.

Once the elevator doors were shut, I kissed Sidney with the most passion I’ve felt for anything in a long time. I separated myself from him when the elevator came to a stop, and he had a completely bewildered look sketched across his face.

“There’s more where that came from,” I said with a wink and a tap on his huge ass before walking out of the elevator with some swing to my hips. I never quite realized how much I swung my hips until I couldn’t do it with my brace and now that it was gone, I was going to be back to normal.

“I have an appointment with Ken in about an hour,” I stated once we got out to his car. “Drive me?” I asked with a cute little smile and a kiss on his lips. I knew he wouldn’t say no to me either way, but I figured I’d give him some sort of incentive. He looked at me with burning eyes and I could tell he was willing to do anything for me at that given moment. Love.

“Do you have time to, oh, I don’t know,” he started, shrugging his shoulders and glancing at the ground before looking back at me with those same burning eyes. “Maybe do some extracurricular things before your appointment?”

“Ohh, what do you have in mind?” I asked, catching his drift and drawing closer to him, placing my arms around his neck. I could feel his hands slide across my ass and give it a quick squeeze before he looped his fingers through my belt loops and pulled my hips closer to him.

“Use that creative mind of yours,” he said, kissing my neck. I craned my head away from his lips, relishing the feeling his lips created on my skin.

“I might possibly have time… if we hurry on back to your place,” I said, letting out a small moan of contentment, feeling his hands run across the bare skin above my jeans and below my shirt.

“Who said anything about going back home?” he asked with a devilish grin, backing me into the side of his Range Rover and running his hands up and down my sides under my shirt.

As much as my mind was telling me, ‘Abort abort! Bad idea!’, I really, really, wanted to have hot sex with him in the back of his car for the second time, but this time I wouldn’t have a big brace hindering me. This time with a purpose, not just because he was in a good mood. This time because I wanted him, and he wanted me. This time, because I’ve never felt more for someone in my life.

He opened the door to the Range Rover while I wasn’t paying attention and began to back me inside. I was sitting on the seat with my legs still dangling out the door when he began to pull at my shirt, but before he could get it off, I pulled him into the Range Rover with me and shut the door.

-

“You have a certain… glow about you today…” Ken said when I walked, yes walked, into physical therapy on that breezy May day.

“Uh, yeah…” I sat down on my usual table and rolled my pant leg up for him to look at my knee for my final physical therapy, hopefully, ever.

“Why are you so sweaty?” he suddenly asked, pulling on my leg to make sure the ligament healed the way it was supposed to.

“I’m just super excited that I get to play…?” I said it almost like a question, and Ken, with his super senses, picked up on the fact that I was lying almost immediately

“Whatever you say Mrs. Crosby…” he stated, smiling his impish little smile that I had seen way too much of in the past three months.

“We’re not married, Ken,” I snapped at him, losing my patience with his childish little games.

“Alright. Let me know when you two DO get married. I want to see proof of this.”

“Oh you’ll get proof. I’ll send you our wedding picture, SIGNED by one Sidney Crosby,” I stated with a smirk. “And I’ll be back, with the Stanley Cup in tow, when they win.”

“Whatever you say. Anyway, your knee. This is the best post-op knee I’ve ever seen. Ever. Let me emphasize that. EVER. You can thank your genes for that,” Ken said with slight shock to his voice. It’s kind of ironic, seeing as all I ever did when I was younger was complain about how I got all the bad genes in the family, and now, these bad genes, were coming in handy.

“Thanks?” I said it almost like a question, wondering if there was some hidden insult behind what he was saying.

“No I’m serious,” he stated, stepping away from the table and looking at me with that look that made me blush no matter how much I looked away. I wanted to slap him across the face when he did that. He’s married for God’s sake and hello, I’m dating Sidney Crosby.

“Well, thanks. Sid’s waiting for me in the car, so I’ll see you around,” I said, sliding off the table and walking out the door, for the last time, pulling on my jacket as I went. I was finally rid of that place for good. I never had to go back in there again. I never had to do leg lifts or calf raises ever again. I was free of my knee. I felt like flying.

Chapter 23

Without further ado, Chapter 23. :)

By March, my crutches were completely gone and I was walking only with the help of a big brace. I had been wearing sweatpants for the past 3 months, but once March rolled around, I started getting a little crazy and wore jeans for the first time in months. Oh and I shaved, which was slightly miraculous. My leg hair had started to look like man-hair. You try shaving with a big brace. It’s just easier to ignore it.

“You look cute,” Sid said to me as I hobbled down the stairs one at a time. We were going out to a movie, an actual date.

“Thanks.” I replied, giving him a peck on the cheek once I reached the bottom of the stairs a few moments later. “I hate this stupid brace. I hate my knee.” I said, looking down at it.

“Oh hush. I will not have you ruining my night,” he said with an impish grin before kissing me again. “Now hurry up, we’re going to miss our movie.”

“You’re asking me to hurry? I can only go so fast Crosby.”

“Well by all means, take your time,” he stated with a giggle before opening the door so I could hobble out and down the stairs, once again, one at a time. “I’m pretty positive a snail could beat you.”

“Shut up!” I yelled at him, smiling, still making my way down the stairs. “Just because it could doesn’t mean you have to point it out. Asshole.”

“You know, you’re moving way too slow.”

Before I knew it, I was being picked up off the ground and thrown over his shoulder. My knee honestly never entered my mind. I just didn’t want to fall and bust my head open.

“Sidney Crosby! Put me down!” I shrieked, wrapping my arms around his torso so he couldn’t drop me and digging my hands into his shirt.

“Jess, be quiet, people will think I’m murdering you,” he said, trying to suppress one of his girly giggles.

“Help help!” I screamed as loud as I could before he shoved me into the SUV and closed the door behind me. I was laughing uncontrollably now and he was turning a shade of pink as he opened the driver’s side door. I just smiled at him when he looked at me.

“I hate you,” he stated with a slight smile as he put the car into reverse and headed towards the theater. I kept looking at him even as he drove. Whenever there was a traffic jam or he wasn’t going to make a light, he bit his lower lip and glanced in the rearview mirror. I wanted to reach over and run my hand down his jaw line, to feel the stubble that was beginning to grow for the playoffs, still a week away.

“Sidney,” I started, reaching over to fulfill my wish. “You’re so cute.” I smiled at him as he took his chocolate eyes off the road for a split second to look at me.

“That’s it? All I get is a ‘You’re cute?’” he asked me, playfully hitting my good knee.

“After you dragged me across your yard, you’re lucky I didn’t just drop your ass,” I said, laughing at his facial expression. He looked slightly surprised that I would ever say something like that. Evidence that I was getting to be myself again. This surgery took so much out of me. I didn’t even feel like myself the past 3 months.

“Well-I,” he stammered, trying to come up with the words.

“That’s right, be afraid,” I said growling a little and making a face at him before turning in my seat to face straight ahead again. I could feel his eyes darting back and forth from the road to me and I could feel him smiling at me, willing me to turn and look at him. I wasn’t going to give in to his little mind game, so I kept my eyes straight ahead, like I didn’t even notice that he was looking at me. Once we got to a red light, his hand made its way onto my thigh and up my leg. Only then did I turn to face him, and when I did, his lips were suddenly on mine.

The car horn behind brought us out of what he had just created, and honestly, I didn’t want it to end.

Sidney!” I scolded, hitting him across the arm. “Eyes on the road. What’s wrong with you?” I mocked, laughing at the expression on his face when the car honked. I’m sure they could probably see our silhouettes going at it, which is slightly embarrassing on all accounts.

“You’re what’s wrong with me Jess! You drive me crazy!” he said, taking his eyes off the road again and smiling at me. I grinned at him before pecking him on the cheek when he turned his head forward again.

“Thanks,” was all I could think of. I love you didn’t quite fit, and kissing him would be a little too much, so I just sat back in my seat and waited until we got to the movie theater.

We ended up seeing I Love You, Man, a movie Sidney insisted upon. I was not so sure about it, but he convinced me that I’d love it, and miracle of all miracles, I did. Sometimes it surprised me how often he was right, not just about me, but about everything. He practically knew me inside and out… literally. I wanted to be with him forever, but I knew that wasn’t likely. I always had a tendency to get bored with people, but so far, he was doing fine. I wasn’t bored. Maybe it was the fact that I went through such a life shaking experience with him that he’s just become my crutch, metaphorically and physically. I can’t even say how many times he carried me to the bathroom and up the stairs to my room. I wouldn’t have made it anywhere without him. Maybe we would be together forever, as lame as that sounds. It's what I wanted.

sorry!

I'm going to say practically the same thing as I did with SteelCity:

I just got back from Maine. I have schoolwork, and actual work. I also need to buy a laptop.

So if I get bored doing one of the above, like I did with SteelCity, I'll probs work on cranking out another chapter. Sorry it's been so long.