Two

I woke up and sighed. I had to go to the rink again today, and I wasn't looking forward to it. I didn't want to face Kris. I mean, I didn't like him. At all, but I wanted to be friends with him he seemed nice. I had a bad reputation in San Antonio, and I hate to say it, but mine here wasn't starting out good.

I put on a polka-dotted tank top, a pair of ripped skinny jeans, and flip-flops. I walked downstairs and met up with my dad. We walked out to the car. "Hey." my brother said to me, that I barely saw before said to me. "Hi." I said.

We got to the arena and went into the locker room. I walked straight over to Kris' stall. But, got stopped by Max. He gave me a hug and whispered, "I'm sorry about last night." he said. "It's okay." I smiled. "Did I cause you any trouble?" he asked. "I don't know yet." I said looking over to Kris.
"I do expect to still be friends. Even if I want to be more." he said.
"Of coarse!" I said and gave him another hug.
"Okay. Well.. I'll let you fix things." he said smiling.
"Bye, Max."
"Bye." he said and walked away.

I walked over to Kris. "Hey." I said. He looked up briefly and then looked back down.
"Hey." he said in a muffled voice.
"Listen. I'm sorry about last night. I didn't mean to just leave you. And, if it helps. Max just drove me home."
"Sure you are." he looked up and smiled at me.
I laughed and punched him in the arm.
"Start over?" he asked.
"I don't know.. I kinda like how we first saw each other." I smiled joking around.
He laughed and stuck out his hand. "Kris."
"Carissa. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, too." he smiled.

"Want to come to my house after practice?" he asked.
I gave him a look and he laughed. "A bunch of the guys are going to be there."
I laughed. "Sure. Sounds good. Give me a ride?"
"Aww. Do I have to? I mean. I'm sure you can get a ride from someone else." he said trying to keep a straight face.
"Fine. I'll get Max to give me a ride." I said and started to walk away.
"See you after practice!" he yelled.
I smiled and stuck my hand up giving him some sort of a wave.

I watched practice with my brother and father. I talked to them about the team and things. They told me about what all happened in the playoffs and what went on last year, and what is happening this year. Dad and I kinda got caught up. We talked almost everyday on the phone when I was in San Antonio. But, it still wasn't the same. Dad, and I used to be really close. We still were, we were just getting used to things again. Even though we were like best friends, he still could never get me into hockey. No matter how hard he tried.

Practice seemed to go by fast and we all walked down to the locker room. I walked over to Kris and sat in the stall next to his. He was taking his gear off. "You know. I don't like hanging around stinky guys. So, you better hurry up." I said laughing. He smiled, "Got it." he said and took his stuff and went to the showers.

"Hey." Sidney said sitting next to me.
"Oh. Hey." I said.
"Who are you waiting for?"
"Kris. I'm going to his house, and I don't know where that is. So, he's giving me a ride."
"Oh. That's cool. I'm going to be there too."
"Cool. I'll see you there." I said.
"I'm going to go get a shower. So, I'll see you at Kris'."
"Okay. Bye." I said and he got up.

Kris walked out. "Ready?" he asked.
"Yeah." I said getting up, as he grabbed his bag.
We walked out to his car.

"So. Is like French your first language?" I asked once we got into his car.
"Oui. Faites-vous?"
"Okay. Yes. But, I don't remember what most of it is."
"Yeah, they probably didn't teach much French in your High School."


"Well.. It's kinda confusing. I went to a lot of different schools." I laughed.
"Where did you go to school at?" he asked.
"I lived in Minnesota forever then, I lived in Ottawa from 93-98. Which I picked up on French there. But, I forgot a lot of it since then. I lived in Nashville from 98-06. Then I moved in with my aunt in San Antonio, while my dad came here. I picked up on the southerns accent. So you can't make fun of me." I laughed.
He smiled. "I won't make fun of you. That's interesting. You have a bit of everything in you." he laughed, "Now you are going to have Pittsburgh in you."



I laughed. "Yeah. But, I think it will be harder to change now that I'm older."
"True. Just one thing."
"Yeah?"
"Don't let anyone catch you saying soda." he smiled.
I laughed. "I just call everything coke."
"Okay. That's fine. But, It will still be better if you just say pop."
"Okay. You are going to have to teach me about Pittsburgh things."
"Of coarse." he said.

"So. How did you leave all of your friends behind so many times?" he asked.
"Well.. I still have some friends from everywhere. I talk to basically one or two people from each place."
"Who?" he asked.
"In Minnesota I have Cheyenne. In Ottawa I have Aaron. San Antonio I have Lily, and." I laughed, "Chris."
"Seriously? No way." he laughed.
"Yeah. But he spells his name C-H-R-I-S."
"That's the stupid way."
"I have to admit. I like the way yours is spelled better. But, Chris and Lily are defiantly my best friends of all of them."
"Why's that?"
"I guess it's because I was older then, and I could hang out with my friends more then I could at any other place."
"Oh. I understand." he pulled up to a house. "We're here." he said.

We both got out of the car and went in. "The guys should be here in about ten minutes. Do you want something to drink?" he asked walking into the kitchen.
"What do you have?" I asked.
"Water, orange juice, milk." he laughed. "....pop."
I smiled. "Just give me whatever coke.. I mean, pop you have."
He laughed. "il vous vont." he said giving me a Pepsi.
"um.... merci?" I said.
He smiled. "Yes."
"Yah!" I yelled.

He laughed, and we heard the guys starting to come in.
"Hey. Did you invite Max?" I asked before anyone came into the kitchen.
"No. But, you can. I meant to anyways." he said before Sergei walked into the kitchen.

"Hey." Sergei said.
"Hey." Kris and I both said.
I grabbed my phone and text Max.
Hey. Come to Kris'?
Ha. Am I invited? I mean. He doesn't hate me?
lol. no. we cleared things up. he doesn't hate you. he doesn't hate me. he said you can come if you wan to. so are you?
sure. be there in a couple minutes.
cool. see you then.


"Hey. Is Max coming?" Jordan Staal asked.
"Yeah. He is."
"Good! This will be real fun then!" Ruslan said.
I laughed. "Is he the only guy you rely on for fun?" I asked.
"No. We rely on Billy Guerin, too." Tyler Kennedy said.
"Is he coming?" I said after laughing.
"I believe. He will probably come with Crosby. Those two are ialways together." Chris Kunitz said.
"Isn't that kinda a big age difference?" I asked.
"Yeah. But, those two don't care. Billy just treats Darryl like a real twenty-one year old."
"Oh. I see. Are they roommates of something?"
"Yeah. I got kicked out!" Marc-Andre yelled.
"Marc! You didn't get kicked out. Plus, you get to room with Max now." Kris said.
"Oh, yeah Tanger. Real fun." he said.

"Hey!" I heard Max yell. "You mean a lot to me too, Flower." he said walking over. He gave me a hug.
"Where's billy!" Ruslan said.
"Relax, Rusty." Max said. He shot him a look. "Fine. Tank. Calm down he's right behind me."
"Guys! Come on! Can't you two get along for two seconds?" Tyler Kennedy yelled.
"Yes, Mr. President." the both said standing up straight.
I laughed. They all had some interesting nice names.



"Yeah!" All the guys yelled, and I turned and saw Billy and Sid.
"See! Told you they would be together!" Chris said.
"Excuse me?" Sid said.
"Oh, come on. You know." Max said.
"Oh, I don't think I do, superstar."
"Oh, come on! That was a commercial!"
"We will never let you forget it." Kris said.
"Yeah, yeah." he said.

"What are we going to do?" I asked.
Everyone looked at Billy and Max. "Oh, come on. You guys are so lame! Make something up on your own!" I said.
"Wii!" Kris said.
"Yeah!" everyone yelled.

"Everyone team up!" Tyler yelled.
The teams were, Ruslan and Sergei. Jordan and Tyler. Billy and Sid, of coarse. Marc and Max. I just kinda sat back and let them pick their teams. Kris came over. "Want to be my partner?" he asked. "I really don't have a choice do I?" I said smiling.
"Well.. you don't have to play." he said. "No way! I'm playing! Yes, I'll be on your team."
He smiled and we went up.

We ended up bowling. Billy and Sid won. Sidney was so competitive. Kris and I didn't do the best. But, we weren't the worst. That was Max and Marc. I kinda laughed at that. When we were done playing we all sat down and watched TV. I sat with Max on the floor. It was kinda funny. We got yelled at for talking, so we sat there and text each other.

you know. i do really like you.
Max, i just.. don't want a boyfriend right now. i just...
relax. im fine with just being friends. i just want you to know that. plus, you aren't good for me.
what do you mean?
i hate to say this, but i'm a player. i can never stick with one girl. you should be with Kris.
What!? what do you mean?
wow. you really need to learn how to relax. i see how you and Kris are together. you two are good together. i've never seen him have as much fun as he does with you. i never knew you before, but you are probably pretty happy with him.
max, i dont know what to say. i mean. yeah. kris is a great friend. but, im not sure if there is anything more than that.
i know you dont know. but i do. he likes you. it doesnt matter if you like him or not. you dont have to like him. i just want you to know that he likes you. you two should be friends, and just see where it goes.
well.. thanks for telling me, Max. I think the show is over. so lets stop texting. lol.


Everyone left, and it was just Kris and I left. "You want to stay here a little bit more, or do you want me to take you home now?"
"Will you take me home. But, do you mind if we stop and get something to eat? I'm starving."
He laughed. "Sure." we both went out and headed to the door.

"So. Where do you want to eat?"
"Wow. You think I know?" I laughed. "I just moved here Kris. What is around here?"
"There's a Boston Market a little bit away."
"Boston Market! They don't have one of those down south! Let's eat there!" I yelled.
He smiled at me. "Good! I love Boston Market."

We soon arrived at Boston Market. We got our food, and we sat down.
"So. Tell me about yourself." I said.
"Well.. I'm a hockey player." he smiled.
"No way! I didn't know that!" I said sarcastically.
"I don't know. What do you want to know?"
"Anything."


"Okay. Well.. my favorites are. food: tacos! defiantly. Color: black and gold."
I laughed. "You are so stupid."
"Hey!" he said.
"Sorry."
"Yeah, yeah. Tell me about yourself."
"food: pancakes."
"Pancakes?"
"Yes. with.." "real maple syrup." we both said at the same time and we both laughed.
"color: blue."
"Good color."
"Thanks." I said smiling.


"So, what is there I need to know about you?" he asked me.
"Nothing, really."
"Are you staying in Pittsburgh, or are you going back to San Antonio?"
"Pittsburgh. Oh, yeah. When are you showing me around?" I asked smiling.
"Anytime, you want."
"Okay. Don't leave for 2 days. So tomorrow?"
"Sounds good. Pick you up at ten?"
"Yeah."

"Are you coming to Detroit with us?" Kris asked me once we got in the car.
"Yeah, actually. I'm going to meet up with my friend Cheyenne there."
"So. Do I get to meet her?" he asked.

"Um. Sure, if you want?"
He laughed. "Okay."

"Well.. bye." I said as he pulled up to my house.
"Bye."
"See you tomorrow."
"Yupp." I said getting out of the car and going inside.