Part 24 - Pure Gold

In case you happen to be wondering about that kiss…. Yes, I did kiss him, but just on the cheek. I knew he really wanted a real kiss, since he’d seen Reggie and I kiss earlier, but I just couldn’t do it. I had to worry about my career. I had to worry about Sidney’s future. He was being a horny teenage boy, and while I completely understand that, I also know that it meant he couldn’t think about what was going to happen to us next. That was my responsibility.

The next day however, I was able to watch as they defeated Slovakia fairly easily, by a final score of 7-3. Sidney, Patrice and Corey were out early and moving the puck well, leading to a goal by Patrice from Sidney early in the first. Brent and I, sitting in a box with a bunch of Team Canada brass were so excited, jumping up and down and hugging each other.

You may think this behaviour was totally out of place in a luxury box with a bunch of Hockey Canada officials and other important hockey people, but these grown men were just as excited as Brent and I were. Everyone was jumping up and down and yelling and screaming. They were clapping Brent on his good shoulder, like he was totally responsible for the goal. I guess that’s what happens when you’re hurt and the team still manages to take a lead without you.

I’d hate to think about how it would have been up there for Brent if Slovakia had taken that early lead. Fortunately, I didn’t have to, because with just less then ten minutes to play in the first, Sidney scored on another Team Canada power play. I literally JUMPED on Brent.

“Ooof.” He said catching me with a laugh.

I blushed as I disentangled myself from him. “Sorry.” I said.

“No worries.” He replied grinning. “My girlfriend gets like that when I score a goal or do something important.”

“I’m not his girlfriend.” I replied, looking around anxiously at all the suits.

Brent shook his head. “Whatever Drew. We only know that it’s a matter of time for the two of you.” He told me. “In fact, Reggie only kissed you on a dare you know… and too piss Darryl off.”

I laughed. “Well I had a feeling that pissing Sidney off was part of the plan.” I said. “But I have a feeling that that’s what the first kiss was for. The second was purely for our pleasure.”

Brent laughed at me. “You are something else Drew.” He said. “That’s what we all love you, the kid most of all.”

I shrugged. “Right now, I just love the game.” I said.

Brent shook his head and rolled his eyes. “Whatever you say Drew.”

The first period ended with Canada leading 2-0. Early (like a minute in) the second Patrice bagged his second of the tournament, unassisted before assisting on a Sidney managed power play goal 12 second in to the Slovakian player’s penalty. This time I managed to be a little more restrained in my celebration.

Slovakia managed to answer back less then three minutes later on a power play of their own after Nigel Dawes (who I never really got to know that well) took an interference penalty. Jeff Carter answered like; 30 seconds later for Canada before Slovakia managed another goal towards the end of the period. So the score was 5-2 and Brent, the suits and myself basically milled around nervously during the intermission. It wasn’t that we thought that Canada was going to lose or anything like that. Not to Slovakia, at least.

But Jeff was looking a little shaky on a couple of those goals, and that’s what people were worrying about. Each time Slovakia scored Brent would jump up, cuss, run a hand anxiously through his hair and tell me precisely what the defense for Canada had done wrong. D had been on the ice on the penalty kill for the first Slovak goal and then Sidney had been on the ice for the second one. Then, to make matters worse for everyone up in that box, Slovakia added another just over a minute in to the third, and Sidney was on the ice for that one too.

Canada started playing really safe hockey with the score 5-3. To make matters worse, within like, five minutes of each other, Getter, Mikey and Patrice all took penalties. For a little while, Slovakia had a 2-man advantage. Then, Clarke MacArthur one of our grinders on that line with Fraz, scored from Patrice and Fraz to make the score 6-3. Then, towards the end of the game, Clarke got taken down on a breakaway and managed to score a goal on the penalty shot with 7 seconds left in the game.

Everyone was ecstatic about the win. It meant that there was one down, only 5 more to go. The next day was on off day and I knew that the boys were going to be hanging out and just basically relaxing after a light practice the next day. The guys went and showered and basically grabbed a quick dinner before they headed back to the rink to watch the US and Russia. It wasn’t like they were going to be seeing either of those teams any time soon… Sweden was the next opponent that Canada would face, but it was just a chance to see the competition.

I was quickly wrapped in a couple of tight hugs. “What’d you think baby?” Was Sidney’s question after he let me go.

“You were great.” I replied. “On the ice for a couple of bad goals though. But then, that wasn’t your fault.”

He winced. “Gee thanks Drew.”

“Well you scored a great goal.” I said. “And you set Patrice up really well.”

He reached down. “You’re wearing it.” He said, gently fingering it.

“Of course I am.” I replied, glancing at his fingers on my wrist. “It’s a wonderful present Sidney.”

“What are you going to do after the game?” He asked.

“This one?” I said shrugging. “I don’t know.”

“So you’re not going to go drinking?” Sidney asked.

“Who said that I was going to go drinking?” I replied.

“D said that you were probably going to get pissed since we won.” He told me. “He said that that’s what you usually do after Rebels games.”

I raised my eyebrows. “And y’all don’t go get fucked up after wins in Rimouski?”

He shrugged. “Sometimes if we have off time.” He said.

“Sidney its Christmas Day. Merry Christmas by the way.” I said kissing him on the cheek. “I am not, despite my threats to my mother, going to go get fucked up on Christmas Day.”

“Speaking of your Mother….” Dion said coming up behind me and wrapping me up in a big hug, kissing me firmly on the cheek before setting me down. “Have you called your parents yet Drew?”

I made a face. “D do you have to ruin a perfectly good day?” I asked.

“Call your Mom.” He said. “And your Dad.” He added, almost as an after thought. “It’s an hour earlier back home, and they’ll be wondering about you.”

“I don’t want to.” I said, folding my arms across my chest. “And you can’t make me. So there.” I added sticking my tongue out at him.

D rolled his eyes at my performance. “Drew you’re acting about 2 years old. Come on and just call your parents already. They’ve both probably spent Christmas alone and they’ll be waiting to hear from you.”

“No.” I said firmly. “I do not want to talk to either of them.”

D rolled his eyes again. “Drew come on.” He said. “Be the fucking better person in all this garbage with your parents. Don’t let them drag you down to their level.”

I just shrugged. “D I am their daughter after all.”

D rolled his eyes again, causing me to roll mine back at him. “You know that you are better then this Drew.” He told me firmly. “Now just turn on your phone and give your parents a quick call. You’ll make both of their days.”

“Dad’s probably working.” I countered. “It’s not like dispatch is just going to let him call me.”

“Drew, its Christmas Day in Red Deer. It’s not like the criminals are out in force.” He pointed out.

“No, just drunk drivers and petty vandals.” I snapped at him.

“Call your parents.” D said, walking away. “And calm down. You know that I’m just trying to get you to do the right thing.”

“This from the guy who tells everyone that I’m going out to fucked up tonight.” I muttered under my breath.

“Drew are you really going to let Christmas go without calling your parents?” Sidney asked seriously.

I shrugged. “Probably.” I said.

“Why?” He asked, drawing me away from the action and in to a quiet corner. “Why don’t you want to talk to them?”

“Because they are petty and childish and mean.” I said, tears coming to my eyes. “They’ve been fighting ever since I was a teenager and they treat me like I am some kind of pawn in their lives. They are constantly trying to use me to hurt each other, and I don’t want to be a part of it.” I paused, taking a deep breath, a couple of tears escaping despite my efforts. “If I call Mom first, Dad will feel slighted. If I call Dad first, then Mom will feel slighted. I can’t call them both at the same time because if I do try a three-way call, they’ll just fight. If I call Mom first, Dad will be hurt. If I call Dad first, Mom will be hurt. Then they’ll get mad at me for hurting them, and then at each other.” I paused. “I hate it Sidney. Your Mom may act like you’re still 15 and your Dad may push you constantly, but at least they don’t use you to hurt each other.”

Sidney gently wiped the tears off my face. “It’s okay Drew.” He said. “I know its tough.”

I snorted. “No you don’t.” I said. “Your parents are still together.”

“Yeah.” He said. “They are, but I do understand just from listening to you how hard this is on you.”

I sighed. “I’m sorry Sid.” I said. “I don’t mean to be such a bitch about this whole thing, but I really do not want to be part of their game. And I don’t know how to stay out of it other then to just, well, stay out of it. Stay away from both of them. Don’t talk to either of them.” I laughed.

“They actually have something to talk about when I’m not talking to them.” I told Sidney. “Then they can talk about me. But it usually results in them arguing over whose fault it is that I’m being so difficult.”

“Drew you keep mentioning how childishly your parents are behaving.” Sidney said carefully, as if he was really worried that what he had to say was going to make me angry.

Of course, that feeling just sent my defenses up. “Well they are.” I snapped.

“I totally agree.” Sidney said slowly. “They are acting like children.” He paused. “But, well, aren’t you being just as bad if you won’t talk to them at all?” He asked.

“What do you mean?” I replied angrily, folding my arms across my chest.

“Well they’re acting badly by putting you in the middle.” He explained. “I totally agree with you on that, but aren’t you acting just as childishly by giving them what is essentially the silent treatment?”

I glared at him. He was right. And I totally did not want to admit it. “You have no idea how hard it is.” I snapped. “Always trying to keep them from fighting. When Dad was in the process of moving out they would call me AT WORK to decide who deserved what piece of furniture or photo album or other piece of crap they were arguing over at the time."

“You’re not serious?” He asked, sounding incredulous.

“I wish I wasn’t.” I said sadly. “They were interrupting my classes. I was completely sure that I wasn’t going to be given a contract after the whole thing.”

“Wow.” Sidney said. “I’m sorry.”

I shrugged. “It sucks.” I admitted. “But what really gets me is the constant bickering. It never stops. Neither of them are ever satisfied.”

“But still Drew….” He said slowly. “Shouldn’t you be better then that… above that?” He asked. “I mean, you said to Neufy that your Dad is probably on duty tonight, so way not call dispatch and find out? If he is, you can call your Mom while you’re waiting for him to call back… you do have call waiting right?”

“Yeah.” I said slowly. “I do.”

“Well then?” He asked, his eyebrows raised.

I sighed, resigned. “I suppose you’re right.” I said. “But that doesn’t mean that I want to do this.”

Sidney grinned. “Drew being the bigger person means that you do something because even though you don’t want to do it you KNOW that it’s the right thing to do.”

“I suppose.” I said. “But if things get too intense for me, I am going to hand you the phone.” I threatened.

He chuckled. “Do whatever you have to do Drew.”

“Good.” I said shoving him gently with my shoulder. “Because if this all blows up in my face, you’re the one whose shoulder I’m going to be crying on.”

Sidney wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “If you need me Drew, I’ll always be there for you.”