Chapter 32 - An American Flavour

If you think that things between Sidney and I were somehow perfect after that, well they weren’t. I was glad that we were in Finland during this time, because, well if we hadn’t been, I don’t know how I would have been able to control my jealousy. As it was, some of the guys on Team Canada had sisters or female cousins’ who thought that Sid was hot and that didn’t sit well with me.
I did my best to keep those feelings to myself however. Sidney was under enough pressure as the youngest member of Team Canada. So I didn’t do anything crazy and change my schedule just so I could keep an eye on him twenty-four/seven. There would be time enough for that when we got home to Rimouski.
I was thrilled when the final turned out to be Canada against the USA, though I had no idea who I was supposed to cheer for. I mean, I’m an American, plus Zach and Drew were playing for Team USA and I’ve known them for years.
Then there was Team Canada and Sidney. I loved him. How could I not want him to win? He would be devastated if they lost… and I didn’t want that for him. There was so much hype surrounding him and this tournament. It was apparently a really, really big deal in Canada. One of the Team Canada staff members told me that when the team failed to medal in like 1998 they held a summit on the state of youth hockey in the country.
I dressed nervously for the final, choosing to wear only black and white since that couldn’t possibly be taken to mean that I was supporting one country over the other. I knew that it would become an issue if any of the boys thought that I was cheering for the other team more then I was cheering for them.
I sighed. This was going to be a good game hockey-wise, but I couldn’t imagine Sidney losing. Or Zachie and Drew losing. I didn’t want either to lose, and honestly, I wasn’t sure that I wanted either side to win. At this point, a draw would have been nice from my side of things.
Except this was international hockey. That meant no ties… a shootout if necessary, but no tie. Ever. So someone was going to lose and I was going to be torn between celebrating with the victor and commiserating with the loser.
“Kally are you ready to go yet?” My Dad’s voice called from the living room of the suite.
“Just about.” I replied, putting the finishing touches on my makeup… a small Team Canada temporary tattoo on one cheek and a small Team USA tattoo on the other. Complete with glitter of course.
“Well hurry up.” My Dad said. “Unlike most things in our lives, in this particular case, they will start the game without us you know.”
I rolled my eyes. “I am well aware that the entire world will not wait for us Dad.” I told him. “Just grab my coat for me will you?”
“Which one?” He asked.
I shrugged. “Just make sure its not too long and that its white.”
“The mink okay?” He asked as I wandered into the living room.
“Perfect.” I said, as he helped me put it on. “Thanks Dad.”
“You’re beautiful honey.” Dad said, kissing me on the forehead.
I kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks Daddy.” I told him sweetly.
We got into the car and headed over to the rink. I was nervous and jittery and my leg wouldn’t stop moving no matter how hard I tried to steady it. I sighed anxiously as we were lead to our box I was probably more nervous then the guys were.
“Are you alright?” Dad asked, leaning over and handing me a glass of champagne.
I smiled tremulously. “I will be when it’s all over.” I told him firmly. “I’m not sure I can handle all this waiting.”
Dad rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Drinking will help.” He said, clinking his glass with mine. “So to a good game.”
“Cheers.” I said wryly, tipping back the glass and finishing it all in one sip.
My Dad chuckled and shook his head as we sat back to watch the game. Team Canada started strong, with a goal early on from Nigel Dawes. Team Canada led for just over five minutes when Dan Fritche tied things up for the USA. About a minute later Sid took a bad hooking penalty (one that he was very, very unhappy about from the looks of things) but the team killed it off and the period ended tied at 1 a side.
The second period was all Team Canada. Tony Stewart and Nigel Dawes both scored, giving Canada a 3-1 lead at the end of 2 periods of play. Both teams took only 2 penalties in the period… I think the refs were letting them get away with more because it was two North American teams pounding the crap out of each other, rather than a poor little European team and a big scary North American team.
Or something. Either way, I anxiously awaited the third period, knowing full well that the game wasn’t over. And was Team USA ever out to prove that. First Patrick O’Sullivan scored to make the score 3-2 and then two minutes later, Ryan Kesler tied the game on a weak goal.
It wasn’t that Team Canada wasn’t playing well. They were. But their goalie looked flustered after the O’Sullivan goal. Very flustered actually… and Montoya, the Team USA goalie, seemed to be getting stronger with every shot he faced.
That wasn’t the case for Fleury. He seemed drained, and it wasn’t long before he made a huge mistake and O’Sullivan managed to get an unassisted goal. The goal was totally Fleury’s fault. He was out of the net to play the puck and basically just let it go in.
I don’t think I’ll ever forget the look on the faces of the boys on the bench… or the look of anguish on Fleury’s face as he lay on the ice knowing that he allowed a 2 goal lead to become a 1 goal deficit. It was heart wrenching.
In fact, it was so heart wrenching that I couldn’t bring myself to look at Sidney. There was just over 5 minutes left in the hockey game, and from the determination I saw on the faces of the players on the Team USA bench they would not be giving up this lead easily. If at all… add to that the fact that Montoya was clearly pumped and getting better with every shot he faced. It wasn’t going to be easy for Team Canada to come back.
In the end, they couldn’t. They pulled Fleury with a minute ten left in the third and the Team Canada boys peppered Montoya, who stood his ground. He was not letting anything by him. The gold medal was so close that he could taste it and he didn’t want to give up that taste.
I watched, saddened, as the Team Canada boys lost. To them, silver wasn’t good enough. Sidney had explained that to me enough times for me to understand it. In Canada, only gold would do, and no Canadian team had managed that since 1997 or something like that.
The boys from Team Canada were all in tears as they stood, silently to accept their silver medals. A tear slid down my cheek. Sidney was totally devastated. I could by the look on his face. “Kally its okay.” Dad said, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “Those boys will get good and drunk tonight – don’t worry, I’ve seen to that, and he’ll be fine.”
I sighed. I wasn’t sure if Dad was right about that. Sidney was so proud of wearing the Maple Leaf. He’d wanted so badly to win. This could totally devastate him. “He’ll be alright Kally.” My Dad said with a chuckle. “Give him a little time, and then go visit him.” He paused. “Oh and whatever you do, don’t go see Zach and Drew first.”
“Why not?” I asked, feeling slightly confused because I was watching Sidney so intently.
“Because you’ll end up covered in champagne.” He explained, shaking his head.
“Oh… oh yeah.” I said, finishing the glass of champagne in my hands.
I hung out, continuing to drink for about a half hour. I didn’t want to rush in on Sidney too soon, but at the same time, I did want him to know that I was there for him. The locker room was definitely somber. The guys were all silent as they removed their gear. I stood, silent, in the doorway, unsure of whether or not I should approach him.
Sidney looked up and his eyes met mine, and tears immediately filled my eyes. He was struggling to hold back tears, so I did what I could, and I cried for him. I walked over to him, the tears silently streaming down my face.
Sidney stood and wrapped his arms around me tightly. I cried silently into his neck, hugging him tight. Sidney kissed my hair softly. “Thank you for coming here first Kally.” He whispered. “I love you.”
“I love you too sexy.” I whispered, kissing him softly on the cheek. “I’m so sorry.”
Sidney shrugged. “It’s not your fault or anything Kal.” He said, with a pointed look in the direction of the Team Canada goalie.
“You still have the Q to win kid.” I said, relaxing against him slightly as his hands stroked me gently.
Sidney sighed. “Go and visit Zach and Drew.” He told me, kissing me on the top of my head before moving away from me to take off the rest of his gear.
I glanced up and him, startled. “You mean you don’t want me here?” I asked, feeling a little hurt.
“Of course I want you here Kally.” Sidney said, with a tremulous smile. “But I know that we’re going to have to go talk to the media… explain how we lost. They don’t care that I’m only 16. Or that Marc-Andre’s only 19. All they care about is that we lost. That Canada lost… again. That good as we are, we couldn’t win.”
Sidney took a deep breath before continuing. “If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather that you weren’t there for that part.” He told me gently, tipping my chin up so that I was looking into his eyes. “Because if you are there with me Kally, I’ll look up into those beautiful eyes of yours and I’ll see all the sympathy and then I’ll want to be 16. And I’ll want to be upset. I can’t let those vultures see how upset I am.”
I nodded. “When you’re done with the press, bring whoever you want and come up to the suite.” I told him. “Dad bought enough booze so you guys could get good and drunk, and if you guys come up we can have a party of sorts.”
“Could we make it a private party Kally?” Sidney asked looking me over again, his gaze hot. “We haven’t been alone, alone in a very, very long time.”
I stretched up and kissed him slowly and passionately on the lips. “I think that could be arranged sexy.” I told him honestly. “I’ve missed you.”
Sidney grinned slowly. “I’ve missed you too Kally.” He said, smacking my ass. “And I’ve missed that too.”
I giggled and rolled my eyes. “I wonder which one you’ve missed more kid.”
Sidney put a forceful hand on the back of my neck and pulled me to him, kissing me forcefully. “I missed you far more then the sex.”
I smiled as I turned to walk away, my hand still in his. “Well that makes one of us.” I told him with a teasing smirk. “I just missed the sex.”
The laughter of some of Sidney’s teammates, upset as they were, followed me. It was clear to everyone how Sidney was going to get over the disappointment of having lost the gold medal game. I headed down the hall to the Team USA dressing room. I handed my mink to one of the Team USA staff people. “Make sure NOTHING gets on this coat.” I told him firmly. “Is that clear?” I demanded, when he didn’t reply.
“Of course Miss Van Steen.” He replied obediently “I’ll see to it.”
“Thanks.” I said taking a hesitant step into the dressing room.
It was hesitant for a reason. The minute I was through the door I was immediately drenched in champagne. “We won Kally!” Zach yelled, swooping me up in his arms as he dumped more champagne on me.
“Fuck Zach!” I cried, not really all that upset, since I had known what I was getting myself into. “Did you not notice that I’m wearing winter white?”
“Well now you’re wearing champagne.” Zach replied with a grin, very much used to me. “Which is a much more acceptable shade for winter.”
I grinned and took the bottle from his hands, drinking what was left before I gave him a big kiss on the cheek. “Congratulations Zachie. You know I love you.”
“But you went to see Sid first.” He noted.
I didn’t answer. This was not going to become a pissing contest, not if I had anything to say about it. Zach waited, then realized I wasn’t going to say anything. “How’s the kid doing?” He asked.
I shrugged. “As well as can be expected Zach. This championship is a huge deal in Canada. Most of the media here is Canadian. Those guys are devastated. They’re out to get drunk and fuck whatever they can get their hands on tonight.”
Zach grinned. “We should all go out together.” He said. “I mean, what happens on the ice stays on the ice.” He said. “We have something in common, Kally. We want to go out, get fucked… both literally and figuratively. Plus, I so want to fuck a Finnish chick before we leave.”
I shook my head, rolled my eyes and patted him on the head. “You go do that honey. I’m out to keep my Canadian boy… I love him just the way he is.”