Till The Final Buzzer Goes // Chapter Seven

Serena and I spent the rest of the day running around Chicago looking for something to wear for my date the next day. I had that feeling again, a closet full of clothes, yet nothing to wear. We went to a couple boutiques and found nothing, before jetting off to the closest mall. We wandered and wandered and still found nothing before plopping down on a bench with smoothies, completely beat. I was examining my chipped fingernails when I felt Serena nudge me. I looked up as she pointed her head into the direction of the shop window, and sure enough, there it was.

 The dress I was going to wear on my first date with this boy I'm already in love with was a mere ten feet away from me. I didn't care about the cost, I had to have it. It was simple and elegant, and a perfect fit for a early spring day. I ran up to the shop and threw myself in the direction of the dress, examining the silk and lace with delicate fingers. I stared at it with googley eyes until I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. I spun around to see a salesclerk standing there with a grin on her face, her name tag read 'Miranda'. 

"Gorgeous, isn't it." She said, staring at the dress in my hands.

"I love it." I said, beaming.

"It's the last one left, if you want it," She said suggestively, "I can get you a changing room if you'd like."

"That would be great." I said, following her to the dressing rooms.

I wandered into the dressing room and slipped into the dress. It was a perfect fit. I ran out of the room and up to the cash where Miranda was laughing at my frantic expression.

"I'll take it," I said, out of breath.

"I figured you would," she said.

"I'm Kayleigh, by the way," I said, extending my hand.

"Miranda," she said smiling and pointing to her name tag.

"Nice to meet you," I said, swiping my debit card and punching in my PIN.

"Dress for a date?" Miranda asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Yeah," I said, tilting my head, "How'd you know?"

"Just the way you looked at it. I've seen a lot of customers come in here and ask for dresses for dates, they all look at them the same way you do. But you're frantic expression tells me you really like this guy." She said, shrugging.

"Wow, you know what you're talking about." I said laughing as I grabbed my bag.

"I've been working in retail since freshman year," she laughed, "Let me know how it goes."

"I will," I said smiling, "Thanks for your help."

"No problem. See you."

I skipped up to Serena and sat down next to her on the bench, a huge grin on my face. 

"Jonathan!" she said, quickly. 

"What?" I said, laughing and smiling at her random choice of words at the moment.

"Just seeing how you react when you hear his name," Serena said smugly, "You smile everytime."

Till The Final Buzzer Goes // Chapter Six

I stepped out of my car and walked jumpily towards the welcoming gates of the airport. I was picking up Patrick from the airport and I was a little nervous to see Jonathan. I waited impatiently be the gates, my foot tapping on the ground.

"Excited to see him again?" Sarah, Patrick Sharp's girlfriend, asked.

"You could say that." I said, avoiding eye contact.

I held my breath as I saw Jonathan walk towards me, smiling. Watching him a smile couldn't help but wash over my face. Was it even possible to feel this way about someone I had just started dating? He came up next to me and wrapped me into a hug, leaning down and kissing me ever so gently on the lips. 

"I missed you," he murmured into my hair, making my heart stop.

"I missed you too," I responded meekly. He pressed his lips to mine again, and pulled me into a deeper, more passionate kiss.

"I mean, I really, really, missed you." He whispered again. 

I laughed and pulled away from the kiss to look into his eyes that looked filled with happiness at the moment. He was so endearing. Everything about him made me want to melt. I moaned as he crushed his mouth against mine yet again, sending my heart into a beating mess. I turned my head ever so slightly so I could see Patrick's reaction, and sure enough, there it was, pure jealousy. I didn't want to deal with that at the moment, I just wanted to fall asleep in Jon's arms. I was so serene with him, whatever Pat was feeling didn't matter at the time. 

"Is it possible," I murmured, "That I'm in love with you, and we haven't even been on a real date?"

"I think it probably is." Jon stated, "Because I'm pretty in love with you." 

And with those words, I felt butterflies in my stomach, which is a cliche, but true. I was weak in the knees and I stumbled a bit, but he caught me. 

"Yeah," I said, standing on my tippy toes to kiss him, "I'm in love with you."

Jonathan's smile grew wide and he kissed all down my neck, making me feel almost nauseous. 

"I want to take you out," He said, pushing a strand of hair behind me ear, "Like, on a real date."

"I would love that." I said, beaming. 

"Tomorrow then," he whispered placing a kiss on the tip of my nose. 

"Tomorrow it is."

Till The Final Buzzer Goes // Chapter Five

"Don't you think you're rushing things?" Serena asked as she plopped down next to me on the couch to watch the 'Hawks game against the Senators.

"Maybe. But I really like him, and he like's me, so we're just going to see how it goes." I shrugged.

"But, you know nothing about him." She stated, frowning.

"Sure, but eventually I'll get to know him." I said, focusing on number 19 on the screen. I tried to focus on the game, but for some reason I just couldn't pull my eyes away from Jon. He was so graceful as he skated across the ice, and so focused on the play on hand. I was hypnotized.

"Helloooooo?! Earth to Kayleigh!" Serena said, waving an arm in front of my face.

"Sorry." I muttered.

"I just think it's a little fast." She sighed as they zoomed up on Jason mouthing off to the refs.

"You realize you're being a total hypocrite. It took you and Jase what? Three days to end up in bed together?" I retorted.

She shoved my arm, knocking the remote out of my arms. 

"Ow! Geez, just pointing out the facts!" I said, rubbing my arm, "What do you have against Jon anyways?"

"Nothing! Nothing, I'm just looking out for you. I know how those guys get."

"Sure,  but Jon and I are just dating, relax."

"Yeah, well, from what Pat's told me, it's a little more than that." 

I felt myself blush. Oh god, I thought, That's right, we just about had sex on Pat's couch.

"I don't get you, Serena. A couple days ago you were all for me and Jon being together, now you've gone completely in reverse." 

"I'm still for you guys being together, but it was just all too fast for you." She said, smiling as Jason scored, "I mean, I thought you'd at least go on a date before he goes second base with you."

"I still don't know where this all came from," I said, shaking my head, "I mean, one minute Brent was asking me out, and the next Jon was kissing me and telling Pat that we've been dating for the past THREE MONTHS."

"Yeah, that's kinda weird," Serena said frowning, "Sure, he likes you, but why'd he lie to Pat?"

I just shrugged and stuffed more popcorn in my mouth as Patrick scored to tie the game at two. 

"I have a theory," Serena gushed, excitedly.

"Spill."

"I think Pat likes you. That's why Jon lied, because he knows."

I spat my Coke out of my mouth, shocked.

"Noooo." I said, my eyes wide.

"Uh, yeah. It makes sense, doesn't it?"

"Noooo."

 That was all I could manage to get out of me. It did make sense, but I didn't want to admit it. I'd have to talk to Jon and Pat when they got back from their road trip.

Awkward.

Till The Final Buzzer Goes // Chapter Four

Kinda a short chapter, sorry! I thought it was a good place to end it, but I promise more is in the works! - Roxy

I sat there, motionless for what seemed like hours, but I knew it had only been a couple minutes. I didn't know what to say to Brent, and Jonathan picked that up right away. He somehow knew I didn't have the gut to say no to him, so as I was stuttering to get an answer out, he leaned over and placed a kiss on my lips. My heartbeat accelerated as the kiss grew longer and more passionate. This wasn't just a cover up anymore, there was something there. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he pulled me closer to him, our lips moving together in perfect synchronization. Just as I reached for the buttons on his pants, I heard Pat clear his throat behind me. I felt myself turn a deep shade of red, and when I looked at Jon and Brent, I saw their shade matched mine exactly. 

"S-sorry," I muttered, trying to regain myself.

"Where did that come from?" Pat asked, sounding outraged.

"We've been dating for the past two months," Jon responded, firmly. I would've believed him by the tone he used. "We didn't tell anyone because we thought we'd take it slow."

"Heh, yeah that was reeeal slow, Tazer." Pat replied back irritated.

"What the fuck's your problem Kane?" I snapped.

"Well, let me think, I just found out that my best friend is macking my other best friend! I think I have a right to be pissed!" Patrick spat out.

"Whatever Kaner," Jon said grabbing my hand, "Let's get out of here," he said to me then motioned my towards the door as I shot one last look at Brent who looked truly disappointed.

Once outside, Jonathan pushed me up against the wall and began kissing me all over passionately, and just like before, I found myself gasping for breath as I deepened the kiss. He kissed all down my jaw line then back up again, wrapping his arms around my waist as he pulled me off the wall and closer to him. 

"W-when?" Was all I could manage to stutter out.

Jonathan laughed, "I've wanted to do this for a long, long time." He said as he kissed me again.

"W-why?"

Jonathan pushed the lock of hair that had fallen in front of my face behind my ear, "Just, because." I put my arms around his neck and stood on my tippy toes so that I could kiss him. I moaned as I felt his hands wonder around my body, finding my bra strap then quickly undoing it. 

"Maybe we should go," I said between kisses, motioning towards the car.

Jonathan chuckled a bit, "Yeah, that's probably a good idea."

It was so all of the sudden. I had no idea he felt that way about me, but I was glad he did. And as we drove back to his place, I couldn't help but feel my smile grow wider and wider every time he looked at me.

Till The Final Buzzer // Chapter Three

I pulled into Pat's driveway only to be greeted my Adam Burish running frantically towards my car. I laughed and hopped out to give him a hug. 

"Hey Adam, do you know what this big secret is?" I asked with an eyebrow raised.

"What do you mean miss Kayleigh, I know nothing if the sort." he said amused.

I just shoved him, and walked into Pat's place. Patrick was sitting on the couch with Brent Seabrook, watching ESPN and eating some form of icecream sundae. It did NOT look appetizing. I plopped down next to Pat on the couch, and grabbed a spoonful of his sundae. I was right, it was disgusting. 

"Was the big secret the fact that you can't make decent sundae's" I asked laughing.

"Nooooooo," Pat said with a smile on his face.

"Spill it, Kane" I said, shoving him a bit.

"Ow, well, that's going to bruise," Patrick said rubbing his elbow.

"Are you going to tell me or am I going to have to guess?" I asked.

"Guess."

"You're gay." I said completely straight-faced.

Patrick spat out his sundae and burst out laughing, falling off of the couch. He was crying he was laughing so hard. When he had finally collected himself, he sat up and told me that wasn't right either.

"I don't like the direction of this conversation, so I'm just going to tell you." Pat said.

"Okay, shoot."

Just as Patrick opened his mouth to speak, Jonathan walked into the house. I felt my stomach get tied up in knots as he smiled sheepishly at me and sat down next to me on the couch.

"Jonny!" Patrick yelped, "You're just in time for the news!"

"Okay, Patrick, enough procrastinating, what is it?" I snapped.

"Seabs here," he elbowed Brent in the stomach, "Wants to take you out to dinner sometime."

I felt Jonathan tense up next to me, and Brent and I both turned a deep color of red. I didn't know what to say, Brent and I had always been good friends, but I didn't really think of him that way, and I couldn't get my mind off of Jon, who was unusually quiet all of the sudden. Subtly, he leaned over and whispered into my ear: "Don't do it." His hand snuck down to mine and held it tight. My pulse was racing, and I just desperately wanted to lean over and hug Jon. But now was not the time. 

"Uh, well," I heard myself stutter to Brent.

What do I say?

'Till The Final Buzzer Goes // Chapter Two

I woke up to the sound of the Backstreet Boys blaring from my alarm clock at 8 o'clock on Saturday. 

Fuck, I thought, Forgot to turn that thing off.

After verbally and physically assaulting my alarm clock for going off, I rolled over and got out of bed, mumbling to myself as I tugged on my clothes. I was already up, there was no use in going back to bed now. I pulled a black sweater over my head along with my grey skinny jeans and black Converse and headed out. Not sparing time for my hair or makeup, so I probably looked like crap. I stopped at Starbucks to get my daily breakfast, a tall double skim latté and a cinnamon roll, then headed over to Lisgar High to post the list for the school hockey team. 

When I moved to Chicago, I was 19 years old, and fresh out of high school. I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do yet, so I took a year off from college. Much to the resent of my parents, of course. I needed something to distract me, so I applied for the post of head coach for the hockey team of a local high school. 

Hockey had always been a big part of my life, and I could always find comfort in the game. It seemed so practical at the time, coaching kids just a couple years younger than me with aspirations of making it to the big league, that I signed up within a second. And after that, I fell in love with the job so much, that they asked me to be a permanent position as head coach, fully equipped with a pay check every week. Ca-Ching.

I walked down the high school halls to where I was supposed to post the list. There waiting were a group of boys, anxiously waiting to find out if they made the cut. I smiled at Colin, the captain of the team last year and posted up the names.

"Hey," Colin greeted me as we heard grunts and cheers as people started walking away from the board. "I was wondering, you're friends with the Hawks right?"

"Yeah, most of them"

"Well, I was talking to Andrew, and he suggested that maybe it'd be a good idea to have some of them come to practice sometime. Y'know, help the freshman out."

"That sounds like a good idea, I'll call up Pat later and ask him to help out."

"Whatta bout that Toews guy?" Colin asked suggestively. Oh yes, he knew.

I felt my cheeks flush as his name what brought up. God, why does that always happen?! 

"Don't push it, Col." I said, shoving him a bit, "I'll see what I can do." I turned around and started heading back to my car.

"There's always bribery!" Colin yelled after me, "Flash him a little ass and I'm sure he'll say yes in no time!"

I couldn't help but laugh at this, even if it did make me a little bitter. Gotta love that kid. 

I walked over to my car, parked in the usual spot. Fuck, I thought looking at the windshield, I could see a little white piece of paper sticking out from the wipers, That's the second one this week. I pulled the ticket from the car to see WHAT in Gods name I could've possibly gotten a ticket for this time, only to see that it wasn't a ticket at all, it was a note. And I could recognize the third grade imitation writing anywhere;

Kay,

Meet me at my place after practice, I have secrets to share ;)

- Pat.

I rolled my eyes as I hopped into the car and looked at my watch. 12:00. I figured the skate was over and headed to Pat's house, wondering what in the world he could want from me now.

Till The Final Buzzer // Chapter One

I closed the car door behind me as I made my way into the arena to watch practice, once again. I've only been living in Chicago for two months, but I've seemed to make myself at home at the United Center. I'd spent the last five years of my life living in Pittsburgh with my Penguin brother, Kris LeTang. Since breaking up with my long time boyfriend I needed to start over, and I couldn't think of a better place than Chicago, where I only knew a handful of people. One of those people was Patrick Kane, who has been my best friend since first grade. He helped me get settled in the city, and introduced me to his teammates who would eventually become like brothers to me.

"Come on, Kayleigh!" Patrick yelled at me from ten feet away, "I'm going to be late!"
"Coming!" I yelled back.

I scurried over to my friend who was waiting for me impatiently by the doors to the arena. We bolted through the doors to the locker room, where I found a roomful of shirtless guys listening to Quenneville go over today's practice routine. I gulped as I saw Jonathan Toews get up and walk by me to get his practice jersey, shooting me a sheepish smile as he passed by. I said goodbye to Pat and went to find my regular seat in the stands, quickly getting away before I would do something embarrassing in front of Jonathan. There waiting for me was my almost-sister, Serena, talking to someone in a bubbly tone over the phone. She waved me over as she finished her call and set down her White Mocha.

"Hey!" She said, sounding ecstatic.
"Hey," I smiled and took a seat next to her, "Who were you talking to?"
"Jason," She gushed. "He was inviting me to dinner, since he's in town tonight."

Serena had been dating Jason Spezza for three months now, all thanks to me introducing them at a charity even in Ottawa. She was head-over-heels for him, but there was something about Jason that made me think he wasn't the most loyal boyfriend.

"Oh, have fun!" I said.
"So, what about you and your secret lover? Any progress?" She asked.
"Um, no," I muttered, "Not at all, really" I sighed seeing Jonathan skate by.
"Well, just tell me when you two hook up in the locker room showers" She said.

I nearly spilled my coffee all over myself when I heard this.

"Ha! As if, he barely talks to me!" I said with a laugh.

"Hm, well, a little birdy told me he likes you" Serena said with a smile.

"Dumb bird," I muttered.

He couldn't, could he? I thought.