Part 2- Pure Gold

So that’s how it was decided that I was going to spend my Christmas holiday around the 2005 World Junior Hockey Championships. Basically D made the decision for me, because he figured that if it were left up to me, I’d wait forever to actually make a decision and then if I decided I was going, well, I wouldn’t be able to go. It had been easy to get me a room in Winnipeg… that hadn’t been a problem, because like he said, he’s Dion Phaneuf. I was even in the same hotel that the boys would be staying in.

Grand Forks had been a little tougher. He told me later that Brent had in fact had to make a couple of phone calls, but did end up getting me a room in the same hotel as Team Canada was staying in. I’d given D a bit of heck for that… I didn’t want to be in debt to the major junior coach. I just didn’t like the idea. Not after all the flack people give teachers who fail guys on the team.

Either way, on December 20th, at 8 am, before school was due to start (I also took a couple of “sick” days so I could go watch D, who had of course been named to the team, play in the team’s first exhibition game) I got on a plane to Winnipeg, Manitoba. The final selection camp had started on the 12th of the month, and I’d missed D. My parents, as predicted by Dion, were arguing constantly about why I was leaving and the truth was, I couldn’t fucking wait to get the hell out of Red Deer.

Let them spend their Christmas season arguing. I was going to spend it partying with a group of loud ass Canadian hockey fans. And believe me, if you’ve never been to a hockey game in Winnipeg, loud is like, not a good enough noun to describe the noise. It’s hardcore intense.
Of course it wasn’t like Dion could be at the airport to meet me or anything like that. He had practice, and then media shit. So when I got into Winnipeg around noon their time (after layovers in Calgary and Regina) I gave a cab driver the name of the hotel I would be staying at, and headed for the hotel.

After I checked in, I wandered downstairs to go grab a quick bite to eat and to my surprise, was swept up in a strong pair of arms as I made my way through the throng of reporters. “Drew you made it.” Colin’s voice said. “Phaneuf said that you were coming.”

“Colin!” I said giving him a big hug. “I hear you get to be part of the grind line.” I laughed, as
Colin is actually one of the Rebels more skilled forwards.

Colin shrugged. “I’m just happy to put on the uniform Drew and you know it.”

I looked around. “Is D in this mess somewhere?” I asked.

Colin glanced around. “I think he’s with TSN.” He said hugging me around the shoulders. “But I’ll let him know that you’re here.”

“Thanks hun.” I said, kissing him on the cheek. “I’m gonna go grab a bite, and then I’m going back to my room.”

“Cool.” Colin said, with a grin that I think could only be made brighter if Canada were to win Gold. In fact, if Canada DID win the gold, I had a feeling that some of the guys on the team were going to have an issue with perma-grin.

As I headed into the restaurant I caught sight of Dion and I had to grin. D would not be one of the guys with perma-grin. Sure, he’d be happy on the inside, but that first game back from this tournament, D would be the way he always was, intense and a man of few words. I learned a long time ago that talking to D on game day was useless, but I did at least want to say hi.

I sat down, ordered, and then pulled open a magazine. I was eating my meal when D’s game day voice (different from his non-game day voice in that Dion Phaneuf on game day is a scary, scary guy) said. “Hey Drew.” He said. “I want to introduce you to someone.”

I smiled. D didn’t have much to say on game days, and he was probably trying to make me feel better. I leaned over the table and kissed D on the cheek. “Sure thing D.” I said, looking at the guy with him.

The guy had dark brown hair and eyes. He was kind of cute in a way. “Brook, this is Drew. Drew this is Brent Seabrook.”

I smiled. “Hi.” I said, shaking his hand. “Nice to meet you. I was sorry to hear about your shoulder.”

He half-shrugged. “I should be fine in a couple of days.” He said. “But meanwhile, I have some free time, and D said that he had a friend coming to town who could use some company.”

“Well that was nice of him.” I laughed, because during this, D had stood and walked away. “But you don’t have to baby-sit me or anything. I can manage on my own.”

He reached over and stole a french fry off my plate. “It’s something to do.” He said. “No one is really interested in me right now, so I don’t have to deal with the media, I couldn’t skate today, and the Doc gets a little sick of seeing my face after awhile.”

I laughed. “So umm, where are you from? I know you play for Lethbridge….” I asked, trying to keep some kind of conversation going.

Brent grinned. “I’m from B.C., but you wouldn’t know where it was, even if I told you.” He said. “Dion already told me that you’re from Red Deer.”

“Born and raised.” I said with a grimace. “Not sure that’s something to be proud of though.”

Brent laughed. “It could always be worse.” He said with a shrug.

I grinned. “You’re right. It could be worse. I could be from P.A.” He looked at me oddly and I laughed. “It’s a long story.” I said, still laughing. “You’ll have to ask D. When he tells the story its way funnier then when I tell it.”

Brent shook his head. “Something tells me that his version is a little different then yours too.” He laughed.

“Well of course it is.” I said. “He wasn’t actually there.” I added indignantly. “He was all safe, with all the other Rebels. It was just the fans.”

“So D tells me that you’re a teacher.” Brent said, stealing a few more fries off my plate.

“Yep.” I said. “Its not really that interesting or that glamorous a career.” I said. “At least not when compared to professional hockey player, but y’all aren’t going to be playing pro anytime soon with this lockout.”

Brent shrugged. “A bunch of the guys are thinking about guy to Europe next year.”

I shook my head in disgust. “Why? So you won’t be considered rookies when you get to the NHL? So you’ll be free agents instead of having to deal with a new system? And what about your family and friends? You’re just going to leave all that behind?”

Brent shrugged. “You forget Drew, a lot of us have left our families behind a long time ago. We’re used to being away from them.”

I nodded. “I guess part of its selfish on my part.” I said.

“What do you meant?” He asked.

“Well D is one of my best friends.” I said. “If he goes to Europe….”

“Dion won’t go to Europe.” He said. “He’s already signed remember?”

“Oh yeah.” I said. “Where is Calgary’s AHL farm team?”

He laughed. “I’m not sure.” He said shrugging. “Dion will know.”

“I should hope so!” I said. “I hope its not too far away.”

He paused. “Are you guys, like, together?” He asked.

I shook my head. “When I said D was one of my best friends, that’s exactly what I meant. I’ve known him since he first started playing for the Rebels and we’ve just… well he’s been there for me through a lot of shit.”

Brent nodded. “I had to ask.” He said. “Because everyone was wondering. All the way through the selection camp he was talking about his buddy Drew who was coming to see the exhibition games and then going to the tournament with us.”

I shook my head and laughed. “He didn’t tell anyone that I was a chick did he?”

Brent laughed. “You do know your Dion.” He said. “Then I saw Colin hugging you and I figured you were just some fan. But then he comes up to D and says that Drew is here I’m expecting a guy, and then he brings me in here and you’re, well a girl.”

I laughed and shook my head. “That’s D for you though. He’ll never give you anymore details then you actually need to know. For the record though, my name isn’t really Drew. It’s an acronym.”

“A what?”

“Acronym… initials that spell something out.” I explained. “Like SADD or MADD or whatever.” I said. “My full name is Delreinne Rochelle Esmèe Whitney… DREW.”

“Del-what?” He asked.

“Delreinne.” I said. “It means the queen. My Mom decided to learn to speak French while she was pregnant and then spent most of the time watching cheesy French soap operas. That’s how she came up with my name.” I said shaking my head. “Fortunately I was only stuck with Del-rain, since no one in Red Deer could actually pronounce the name properly, until I was in Grade 1. We were writing out our initials and someone pointed out that mine spelled Drew and he thought it was funny. He was trying to tease me or something and started calling me Drew. It didn’t work out too well for him, because I liked it better then Delreinne.” I blushed, realizing that I’d been talking for quite some time. “Sorry I didn’t mean to talk your ear off.”

Brent laughed. “No big deal.” He said. “It’s not every day a guy meets a girl named Drew.” He paused. “Especially not when you’re expecting a guy.”

We laughed together as I finished my sandwich. “Well I don't know what you guys are doing this afternoon, but I was going to go up to my room and take a nap. Tonight’s going to be a late night.”

“Yeah sure.” Brent said standing up before pulling my chair out for me (D had clearly given him a lesson in manners… much like the one I’d given D several years before). “I’ll walk you to your room.”

“You don’t have to.” I said.

Brent laughed. “Yeah but D wants to make sure you’re taken care of.” He said.

I shook my head. “I can take care of myself.” I muttered.

Brent raised his eyebrows. “I dunno.” He said. “The way Phaneuf tells it, he’s been taking care of you since you met. And until I’m in the roster, that’s my job.”

I grinned wickedly at him. “Well then….” I said. “If its gonna be your job, come up to my room before you guys leave to go to the rink.”

“Why?” He asked looking interested.

“Because….” I called over my shoulder as I headed into my room. “D always does the pseudo gay guy friend thing on my outfits.”