Part 17 - Pure Gold

Not surprisingly, I had some time to myself that afternoon. The guys had a day off the next day, and then a game on Christmas, and Coach wanted them rested and ready, so they were dealing with a bunch of press stuff as soon as they arrived in Grand Forks. We weren’t entirely sure what Slovakia was going to bring to the table. I mean, Coach had game tape I was sure, but it’s still anyone’s guess how these guys were going to play when the pressure was on.

And that goes for both teams. Slovakia could step up big time… beating Canada would have been a huge deal with the team. Or the opposite could happen and Canada could fold under the pressure of being called the best World Junior Team ever… on paper. I mean, that’s a lot of pressure to place on a bunch of young guys.

Personally, of course, I completely agreed with the analysts. This was the best World Junior Hockey team ever… it was just up to them to prove it. Turning on my TV in the hotel room (thank goodness for hotels with satellite TV) and the first thing I noticed was that there was something about Sidney on every single sports channel in Canada and on most of the other channels as well.

I shook my head with a sigh and turned off the TV. I knew that Sidney was able to deal with it, but I found the more I got to know him, the harder it got for me to deal with it. It wasn’t fair to him. He should be allowed to just be a kid and play hockey. I mean, Dion had to deal with local media when he was 16 and 17, but the national and international media didn’t start really taking an interest in him until last year’s World Juniors.

It should be the same way for Sidney as far as I was concerned, although I knew that would never be the case. I tried to unpack, but the silence in the room was deafening. Sighing I turned the TV back on, but quickly changed the channel to Much Music, Canada’s Music Station, only to find that they were having some kind of annoying MTV show marathon. With a groan of disgust, I changed to the Country Music Channel.

I was singing along to Gretchen Wilson when someone (or rather, as I quickly discovered, several someones) knocked on my door. I pulled the door open, only to find Getter, D, and Mikey Richards at the door. “What do y’all want that’s so important that you’re interrupting my country moment?” I asked.

D laughed. “Drew here is definitely NOT a redneck woman.” He informed the other two.

“Well Getter already knew that.” I said with a wink, happy to have this chance to embarrass him. “Remember the Palace?”

He groaned. “I’d been trying to repress that night thanks Drew.”

When I said I’d met Getter and some of the other Alberta Dub boys, I’d meant it. Most of them however, did not know how close I was to D, and often thought I was just another puck. Getter had been one of the unfortunate ones. D hadn’t been there that night, but Getter had been really, really, really smashed. It was kind of funny in retrospect… for me at least. “Don’t you mean Del?” I replied. “I believe that’s all of my name you were able to pronounce that night.”

“Drew, stop teasing Getter. It’s not his fault that he’s a moron when he’s drunk.” D said firmly.

I couldn’t help it. I snorted. “Look whose talking.”

He glared at me. “Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black?” He snapped back. “I mean, I could tell a few stories about you and some of the boys from when I first started playing.”

I ignored him, turning to Mike. “So Mikey, how’d a nice boy like you get caught up with the likes of Neufy and Getter?” someone I asked.

He laughed. “I was done unpacking when D decided that someone had better go check on you because he saw you get corned by Troy Crosby as we were leaving the airport and he decided that someone other than the kid should come check on you.”

I gave D a quick hug. “While I appreciate the sentiment, Troy and I seem to have reached an uneasy truce.”

“Huh?” D said.

I shrugged. “Basically I am no longer the Spawn of Satan sent to corrupt his son and he is no longer the Devil’s lapdog sent to destroy my relationship with his son.”

“So you and the kid DO have a relationship then?” Getter said, trying to look disappointed.

“We have a friendship.” I said pointedly.

“So you’re single?” Getter said, looking hopeful.

“Only until the 7th of August.” A voice said from the door. “And then she’s all mine Getzlaf.” Sidney said menacingly.

“I told you to stay downstairs.” D growled.

Sidney ignored him. “So my Dad didn’t try to bite you or anything did he?” He asked looking concerned.

“First off Sidney, I made no promise regarding the 7th of August. So RyRy, you don’t have to give up all hope.” I said winking at Ryan. “And second, no, your Dad did not try to eat me or anything. In fact we had a pretty good conversation. Toward the end it was mainly us making fun of you.” I added with a grin.

“And what exactly did you make fun of?” He asked.

I shrugged. “Nothing I chose to share with you yet.” I said, before turning to the other guys. “So what’s the deal with this afternoon?”

“Since we had practice earlier today, Hockey Canada arranged a bunch of press stuff for some of us this afternoon, but most of that’s been taken care of.” Mike answered. “Then I guess we get to have a kind of Christmas super with our families.”

“Cool.” I said nodding, realizing I was really going to be on my own most of today, even if Mikey said that most of the media stuff was taken care of, I knew that that wasn’t the case. It never ended.

“Don’t worry Drew.” D said. “You won’t be alone all afternoon, my parents are going to go for a tour of the campus and they are going to invite you to come along.”

“It’s no big deal.” I said with a shrug, not really wanting to be around old people all afternoon. “I’ll hang out in the hotel.”

“Why didn’t you bring a friend with you?” Getter asked.

D glared at him, knowing that I didn’t have many friends… a lot of acquaintances, but not a lot of real friends, especially since D takes my advice on women, most of the girls in Red Deer aren’t very fond of me. “How easy is it to get people to go away from Christmas? I mean girlfriends you can manage and family yeah, but friends? Friends want to be with their families.”

“But Drew is just your friend, how’d you get her to come?” Ryan asked.

To my surprise, Sidney glared at him more forcefully then D did. “Getter shut up.” He snapped. “Don’t you realize you’re just shoving your foot in your mouth? Or is your head just shoved too far up your ass?”

I put a hand on Sidney’s shoulder. “It’s okay.” I said, my eyes meeting his momentarily, saying more with my eyes then I did with my voice. I turned to Getter. “My parents are recently divorced and I’m just something more for them to fight about.” I said shrugging. “So D and I just decided that I’d come here for Christmas so that we could give my parents something they agree on to discuss this Christmas, rather then spending the whole thing arguing.”

“And if they fight over you what could they possibly agree on?” Ryan asked, looking intrigued.

“The fact that Neufy here.” I said elbowing him in the stomach with a grin. “Is a bad influence on their precious baby girl.”

D laughed. “Interestingly enough, my parents would probably agree with that.”

I giggled. “It’s probably because it’s the truth.” I said.

Mike and Ryan laughed, but I noticed that Sidney had moved protectively to my side. “So what are you guys going to do until you skate?” I asked.

“Hang out with you.” D said. “It’s probably the last bit of time we’re going to have until this thing is over.”

“Should I feel special or something?” I asked with a grin.

“Of course.” D said, ten he glanced at the TV that I’d muted. “I see I’ve finally got you away from the dark side.” He added with a grin.

“Umm no. One day of country music to avoid a Simpson sister marathon on Much does not a Country music fan make.”

“You don’t like Country?” Sidney asked.

“I like some Country.” I said. “But mainly I listen to rap and rhythm and blues. I like fast music with a lot of beat.”

“Mainly because she has no sense of rhythm.” D teased.

“I can keep up with you when we two-step, so I would stop right there Phaneuf.” I said. I
glanced at Sid. D and I had both learned to two-step at high school, and as far as I knew, Sid didn’t really GO to high school. “Can you two-step Crosby?” I asked.

“Umm no.” He said, looking a little embarrassed.

“You like country and you can’t two-step?” I asked, looking a little shocked.

“Drew, I’m a little under age remember? It’s not like I go out to bars all the time.” He pointed out.

I rolled my eyes. “And I was never arrested for dancing on a bar when I was your age.” I snorted. “Come on Sid, don’t feed me that crap.”

“Okay fine, I don’t usually go to bars.” He corrected.

“Thank you.” Then I turned to Mike and Getter. “Can you two two-step?” I asked.

Mike grinned. “Of course I can two-step.” He said. “What do I look like?”

“Getter?” I asked.

“It’s like, mandatory to learn how to two-step in Regina in Grade 9.” He said. “Every high school teaches social dance in PE.”

“So what y’all are telling me is that the only person who CAN’T two-step is the one who was amazed that I don’t like country music?” I said with a grin. “Well now I know how we’re going to spend this afternoon.”

“Drew….” D said warningly. “I do not want to spend my last afternoon to hang out with you teaching the kid how to two-step.”

“Awe come’on D.” I said elbowing him. “I’m sure we can find some girls in the hotel who are more then willing to dance with some of you. I’m sure no one is using the ballroom right now and we can go dance. It’ll be fun.”

“You are absolutely insane Drew.” D said shaking his head.

“You know you love me.” I replied sticking my tongue out at him. “Besides teaching the prodigy to dance is far more fun then sitting around all afternoon watching you guys play Madden or something.”

“We could go to the campus.” Getter pointed out. “Go for a workout.”

I rolled my eyes. “You know what will happen then right?”

“No what?” Mike asked, a mischievous grin on his face.

I stuck my tongue out at him. “Ass.” I said. “You guys will get hounded by the media, and I’ll be left to my own devices.”

“Naw.” Sidney said. “That won’t happen. At least not to me. Pat’s worked out my media schedule with the Team Canada PR people. I don’t have anymore interviews set up for today, its all been taken care of.”

I snorted. “And like the reporters will leave me alone Sid.”

“Come work out with us Drew.” D said. “I mean, if you keep going the way you’re going, you won’t fit into the clothes you bought for long.”

I glared at him. “Ass.”

“Come on.” He said. “Grab your workout gear. You did bring a pair of runners you can actually work out in right?”

Ryan glanced at the open bag that was full of shoes including several pairs of Nikes. “What’s wrong with those?” He asked.

“Those are for style.” D explained, rolling his eyes.

“Precisely.” I said. “But yes, I did bring a pair of sneakers.” I said, looking around, I grabbed a small gym back and tossed in a pair of spandex, a sports bra, a tank top and a pair of worn Nikes. “Well I’m ready.”

The guys laughed. “We’ll meet you in the lobby in five.” Dion said. “We’ve got a van we can take over.”

“Cool.” I said, watching as they headed out the door.

Sidney however, lingered. “Will you have dinner with my family tomorrow night?” He asked. “I want you to be part of my Christmas.”

“I should probably check with D.” I said, uncertainly. “I think he’s planning on me having dinner with him and his family.”

Sidney nodded. “I know, but on the off chance he wasn’t, come for dinner with my family baby.” He said firmly. “And if you’re going with Neufy, then come tonight.”

I nodded. “Of course sweetie.”

“Good.” He said smiling down at me, reaching out and giving me a big hug.

I pulled away. “Sid….” I said slowly.

“It’s just a hug Drew.” Sidney said rolling his eyes.

I shoved him gently. “Are you going to come workout with us or not?” I asked, changing the
subject.

“Of course.” He said grinning at me. “I mean, I can’t let Getter enjoy the view all by himself can I?”

“Moron.” I said shoving him again as we headed out the door.

We rode down in the elevator together, Sidney getting off on the floor he was staying on to go grab some workout gear as I continued down to the lobby. D, Getter and Mikey were waiting. “What took you so long?” Getter asked.

“You need to ask?” D said rolling his eyes. “Darryl took her so long.”

I stuck my tongue out at him. “Ass.” I said.

“What did the kid want?” He asked.

I shrugged. “To invite me to have Christmas dinner with his family if you don’t want me to have dinner with yours.”

D looked at me funny. “Of course I want you to have dinner with my family.” He said. “What was the kid thinking?”

“That he would like to have my company for dinner.” I snapped, not liking the fact that D was basically insulting Sidney for a perceived insult at him.

“Relax Drew.” He said, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “I want your company for Christmas dinner too. So do my parents. Sidney isn’t the only person on this trip who enjoys your company.”

I gave him a hug. “I know, I know, I’m sorry.”

“You better be.” He replied, hugging me back. “Now let’s go.” He said, as Sid stepped off the elevator.

We left the hotel and got into the van and D drove us over to the University campus. We worked out hard (and I do mean hard… I don’t think that I would have worked out nearly as hard by myself or even if it was just D and I) for about an hour. D had some kind of newspaper interview set up and there was a team meeting, so we headed back to the hotel.

It had been a nice afternoon, but it still wasn’t over yet. I elbowed Sidney as we stepped out of the van. “So what are you doing until the meeting?” I asked.

He shrugged, and smiled at me softly. “Hopefully spending more time with you baby….” He trailed off.

I shook my head. “Well we can do that.” I said with a grin. “But only if I get to teach you how to two-step.”

His shoulders slumped. “I didn’t want to have to tell you this Drew, but I have absolutely no rhythm.”

I giggled. “No way.”

“Completely.” He said sighing. “I can skate and move on the ice, but put some music on and I’m incompetent.”

“How on earth have you kept anyone from discovering this?” I asked.

“Like I said Drew, I don’t dance.”

I pulled on his hand. “Well you do now.”

“Don’t make me….” He whined. “I want to keep you impressed with me for a little while longer.”

I shook my head with a grin. “Don’t worry sweetie, I haven’t been impressed with you for a long time.”

He sighed, defeated. “There is no way I am getting out of this is there?” He asked, his hand still in mine.

“None.” I said.

“No way he is getting out of what?” His Mom asked, coming up behind us.

I dropped Sidney’s hand like a guilty little kid. “Umm, well Sidney admitted earlier this afternoon that he can’t two-step… while he was giving me a hard time about not liking Country music. So I was going to drag him into the ballroom and teach him to two-step.”

Mrs. Crosby’s face lit up to my surprise. “And he was going along semi-willingly?” She said. “I’ve been trying to teach this boy to dance since before he went away to Shattuck’s.”

I smiled a little shyly. “Well it wasn’t completely willingly… and Mikey, Getter and D wanted to have nothing to do with it, but they all already know how to two-step, so that left Sidney and I. So I was going to go to see if the ballroom was open and take Sidney and teach him to two-step.”

She smiled at me. “Teach him if you can, he’s yours.” She said raising her hands in a gesture of defeat. “I gave up a long time ago.”

“Thanks Mrs. Crosby.” I said with a smile. “I’ll do just that.”