Chapter 10

About half an hour later I got out of the shower and realized I didn’t know how I was supposed to dress for this little outing.

“Logan,” I yelled from my bathroom as I wrapped a towel around myself.
“What Brooke?” He yelled back sounding kind of annoyed which I chose to ignore.
“How am I supposed to dress? I mean is this a nice place where I should wear a dress or something casual so I can just wear jeans?”
“Well I just got off the phone with Max and their regular season wrapped up two days ago with a win so they’re kind of in the mood to go out and celebrate so I would wear a clubbing outfit.”
“Oh I don’t know if I’m up for the whole drinking thing tonight it’s been a long couple of months.”
“Well that’s too bad for you because the guys are stoked that you’re finally going to go out with us. Vero and Mel too said they can’t wait to see you because it seems like you abandoned them forever.”
“Fine I’m going for a bit but if any drama starts like last time I’m gone”
“Deal.” He said with a little laugh.

Then I found a nice pair of dark denim jeans that fit me quite snug and a nice black halter top. I decided to just straighten my hair and threw on a pair of high heels and I was ready. I went downstairs with Logan to wait for Max to come by and pick us up.

About half an hour later Max showed up and had Jordan with him. As soon as I walked out through the door they both jumped out of the car and came running and screaming at me.

“Brooke it’s been way too long!” Max yelled as he wrapped his arms around me, picked me up, and spun me around.
“Come on Max don’t hog here we all missed her as much as you did.” Jordan laughed while he came and wrapped his arms around me as well.
“Alright you guys I missed you too.” I laughed as we all broke apart and got into the car.

While we were on the way to the restaurant we all made small talk about the hockey season, playoffs, work, and school. It was about a 45 minute drive and when we arrived we saw that everyone else were already there. The guys that came besides the four of us were Ryan, Abby, Colby, Mel, Geno, Kris, Tyler, Sid, and his date. When we walked in through the door Marc, Vero, and Colby all came over and gave me a hug. Then we were all seated. I was next to Vero with Marc and Logan across from us. After we ordered and were waiting for our food Vero decided to strike up a conversation since the guys weren’t really paying attention to us.

“So it’s been a while since you’ve been around.” She stated with something clearly on her mind.
“Yeah school got pretty busy there for a while and then I got a job and started a work term. Plus we went home for about three weeks so I haven’t really had much time.” I replied.
“Yeah Logan kept telling everyone that you were busy but we all really wanted to hang out with you.”
“Yeah I know but I’m going to have more time now because my work term is done.”
Well I’m glad to hear that but Brooke you missed out.” She said with a quick glance at Sid who was also looking back at her.
“What do you mean by that? What did I miss out on?”
“I know that you and Sid had a spark and you guys could’ve started something I just don’t understand why you turned him down.”
“What are you talking about? He didn’t even ask me out. Well maybe he kind of did but it was kind of a misunderstanding.”
“Well he came by the house after he dropped you off and he was clearly disappointed. Then he told us he thought you would have said yes because he thought you liked him.”
“I did Vero you don’t even understand…”

That was all I got out before the waiter came with all of our food. Everybody started talking more and Vero joined in which meant I didn’t get a chance to finish what I was going to say to her.

I found out that Sid’s new girlfriend’s name was Holly and she seemed very quiet and wouldn’t talk to anybody who was there. I couldn’t stop thinking about my conversation with Vero and that made me lose my appetite so I wasn’t able to enjoy my meal. After dinner we all paid for our food and left to go to Marc and Vero’s before we headed out to the club.

“Brooke is you O.K.? You didn’t eat much tonight.” Logan asked while we were driving with Max and Jordan.
“Yeah I’m fine just a little tired I guess.”
“Are you sure?” Max asked. “You really didn’t seem like yourself at the restaurant.”
“Yeah I’m sure guys, I’m fine.”

They dropped it then and about ten minutes later we got to Marc and Vero’s. Once again we were the last ones to arrive since we had to stop to pick up some beer. When we went inside everyone was sitting around and talking about how excited they were about next week, which is when the playoffs start.

“I’m nervous and excited at the same time.” Tyler said.
“Yeah me too but we’re going to do fine.” Sid responded.
“Wouldn’t it be something if it cam down to us and Detroit again.” Marc suggested.
“I don’t know how I feel about that,” Max said with a smile, “but I bet we’ll be fine either way.”

Vero came up behind me at this point.
“Brooke, can you come with me? I want to talk to you”
“Sure.” I answered.
With that she led me upstairs and into her bedroom where she closed the door behind us.

“I just wanted to finish our conversation because you got cut off and I just felt bad about that.” She started.
“I’m actually glad because there are things that I think needs to be cleared up.”
“O.K. well you don’t have to explain yourself to me I was just curious as to what happened.”
“No it’s fine I really just want to let you know like what really happened.”
“O.K. then well yeah he came back here and said that he should have waited because maybe he was pushing or something.”
“It’s not the fact that it was too early it’s just that I didn’t realize that was his way of asking me out until he stopped talking to me and then I didn’t know how to go about telling him I misunderstood.”
“So if he had bluntly asked you would you have said yes?”
“Of course I would have. I know that we haven’t known each other for long but I do really like him. Plus he is so good looking.”
“Oh I wish you guys would’ve dated, I don’t even like Holly and it’s pretty obvious she doesn’t like us either.”
“Yeah I noticed that about her too. But I guess I was too stupid and he’s with her now so none of this even matters.”

We stayed in the room and talked for a bit and didn’t realize we had passed two hours until there was a knock on the door.

“What the hell are you guys doing?” Marc asked when he came in clearly a little buzzed. “Doesn’t matter we just called a few cabs so get your sexy asses downstairs.”

Vero and I laughed but did what he said. When we walked downstairs the cabs were there waiting and the first thing I saw was Sid and Holly making out while they waited for everyone else to get ready. I felt as though someone had punched me in the stomach. Vero put her arm around me knowing I was bothered by this and led me to a different cab than Sid and Holly got in. I didn’t want to go to the bar but I knew this was something I was going to have to deal with. So I went and while we were in the cab on the way to the bar I couldn’t help but feel that this was going to be a bad night for me.

Chapter 9

The next morning when I woke up I rubbed my eyes like I always do. As soon as my knuckles touched my right eye a pain shot through it jogging my memory of the little scuffle I had gotten into the night before. I forced myself to get out of bed surprised to be feeling pretty good, and discovered that it was 11a.m. I made my way to the bathroom and saw that I had a pretty nice shiner on my right eye. Then I wandered downstairs to see who was up. As I walked into the living room I saw they were all up but Marc wasn't with them.

"Hey guys", I said as I sat beside Sid on the love seat, "Where's Marc?"
"Right here my love." He said as he handed me a cup of coffee.
"Oh thanks Marc."
"Wow that's a nice shiner you have there." Vero said.
"Yeah the first one I've ever had too." I replied with a small smile.
"Does it hurt," Vero asked, "do you want some aspirin or ice or anything?"
"No it actually doesn't feel too bad, thanks though."
"Well I just have to put this out there," Jordan said with a huge smile, "I think you're rocking that black eye."
"Yeah it makes you look badass." Logan said.
"Umm thanks guys." I said as we all laughed.

We changed the subject and began talking about school, work, and hockey. Hockey dominated for the most part while Vero and I were laughing about how excited the guys got while talking about it. About half an hour later we all decided to go to a cafe just up the street for some breakfast. Logan and I jumped in with Jordan, Sid took his vehicle, and Marc and Vero took one of theirs. We all met up at the cafe and were seated in a booth in the back, which we called in advance and requested. We all ordered and I could not believe how the waitress gave Sid so much special attention and yet I was the only one who seemed to notice. I couldn't help but smile at how clueless everyone seemed to be and at how frustrated the waitress seemed to be getting due to the lack of interest Sid was showing her.

"Hey Brooke, want to run to the bathroom with me?" Vero asked when we were all finished with our food.
"Yeah sure." I answered as I pulled money out of my pocket to pay for my brunch.
"Put your money away I got this."Sid said.
"No I can't make you pay for mine too Sid." I argued.
"Come on it's like 6 bucks I think I can handle that." He insisted with a little chuckle.
"Fine but next time it's on me." I replied while Vero dragged me by the arm and pulled me into the bathroom.

"He's totally into you." She basically yelled as soon as the bathroom door was closed
"Who, Sid," I asked kind of surprised, "I think you're crazy."
"No my dear it is quite clear that he's interested in you. Everything that happened last night he was with you through it all and now he's paying for breakfast."
"So what, he's just being nice."
"Honey you are so clueless, they boy has it bad for you, you'll see."
With that we met up with the guys who were already outside waiting for us.

"O.K. Brooke here's the plan," Logan began, "Jordan and I are going to go back to Marc's and play some more Rockband but we know you have to study. So Sid has some thing with Mario so he said he would give you a ride home. Is that O.K. with you?"
"Yeah if Sid don't care it's fine with me."
"It's no problem at all." Sid replied as he smiled at me.

So we all climbed into our separate vehicles and headed in our own directions. Sid and I made a lot of small talk on the way until he brought up what was said at breakfast.
"So it's on you next time, remember that." He said with a grin.
"What are you talking about?" I asked not remembering our little debate at breakfast.
"You said that the next time it's on you, so does that mean that we're going to be going out again?"
"Well I just figured since Logan has become like your mascot basically we'd be seeing a lot more of each other." At this point I was a pale shade of pink.
"Oh. Well yeah I guess you're right."

I almost thought that I could sense disappointment in his voice but I didn't think Sidney Crosby would be disappointed over me so I just shrugged it off. I was thankful when he dropped me off and we said our byes because the rest of the ride was filled with an awkward silence.

"So how was the ride home?" Logan asked when he walked in through the door.
"Awkward." I answered.
"Yeah Sid called and told us all about it, I thought you guys were hitting it off."
"I know I guess it just kind of caught me by surprise. I mean if a guy from home thinks I'm not good enough what's the chances that I'm good enough for someone like Sid. I don't know I'm just going to bed I'm too tired for this right now."

Finally Christmas holidays came and we were both able to fly home for three weeks. I hadn't hung out with the guys since the night Sid gave me a ride home and Logan eventually stopped keeping on for me to go with them.

When we got back in January I got to be very busy. I started a part time job at a clothing store in the mall and I had to do a work term so between those two things I still didn't have a chance to hang out with Logan and the guys.

"I can't take this anymore Brooke!" Logan basically yelled at me.
"Can't take what?" I asked taken completely off guard.
"It's April and it's your birthday. The guys wants to hang out with us and I told them we would go out for dinner with them. You've been blowing them off for months but it stops now."
"Logan....." I started but he quickly interrupted me.
"No you're going, it's been too long so go get ready and we're meeting them in an hour for dinner."
"Fine but only because I don't have school until next Monday and I don't have work tomorrow."
"Yeah and you'll meet Sid's new girlfriend so it shouldn't feel awkward for you now."

As soon as he mentioned that Sid had a girlfriend I felt sick to my stomach. I knew that I had screwed it up myself but I couldn't help but wonder what if.