Part 4 - Pure Gold

So that’s how I met Sidney. And the rest of Team Canada. I sat around with those guys until around one, when I yawned broadly. “I need to go to bed.” I said standing.

Dion had left awhile before, sure that I was in good hands, to go play Madden. “Umm don’t go yet.” Reggie, hottie though he was, I had quickly discovered that he wasn’t my type. “I’ll go get Neufy.”

I shook my head. “I’m just going to go up a few floors to my hotel room.” I said. “It’s not a big deal.”

“Neufy would want someone to go with you.” Reggie said.

“Well he’s busy playing Madden.” I said. “And he hates being interrupted.”

Sidney looked at me. “I’ll walk you up.” He said. “I’m sure that will be good enough.”

I shook my head, as we headed out of the room. “You know, I’m like, six years older then you are. I’m sure I can take care of myself.”

He smiled at me, his dark brown eyes shinning. “I’m sure you can too.” He said. “Think of this as you protecting us from Phaneuf instead.”

I shook my head. “You know, D is really just a big teddy bear.” I said. “He’s the sweetest guy I’ve ever met.”

“You really know him well don’t you?”

I shrugged. “D was one of the only people who just accepted me for who I am.” I said. “He didn’t care about who I’d slept with, or what that I’d danced on the bar with a few of my girlfriends in high school and then got arrested for being in the bar underaged. Then we got the bar shut down for nearly a month, and then NO one got in underaged anymore.”

Sidney laughed. “You really got arrested?”

“Five of us yeah. The police didn’t appreciate our dance. Partially because my Dad was one of the arresting officers.”

“Are you serious?” He asked.

I sighed. “Sadly yes. And in Red Deer, no one will let me forget about it. But Dion didn’t care.” I said. “He thought it was as funny as I did.”

“You thought it was funny?” Sid asked.

“Hell yeah.” I said grinning. “There I was, 17 years old, in grade 12, dancing on the bar, and my Dad comes into the bar. He thought I was spending the night at a friend’s place. I was so drunk I’m surprised I managed to get on the bar at all.” I paused. “My parents were already fighting all the time, and Dad blamed Mom, Mom blamed Dad, and the whole bloody city seemed to be talking about it.”

Sid looked at me. “And that didn’t bother you?”

“When people tell the truth, that’s cool.” I said. “It’s when people exaggerate. Like for awhile, everyone believed that I kicked my Dad and fought the cops when they pulled me off the bar. That wasn’t true. I went quietly, because I was scarred sober.”

Sidney nodded. “That would suck.”

“Yep.” I said. “And those rumours aren’t the worst ones for girls. The worst ones are the ones about sex. But when D and I met, he didn’t automatically assume that I was hitting on him and when people WARNED him about me he shrugged it off and said I was cool.” I paused. “You know that girl in Rimouski that everyone thinks is a nasty hoe? I was Red Deer’s version.”

“Was?” He asked, clearly curious.

I shrugged. “I went away to University. I grew up. I’m a teacher now and I have to watch my behaviour a little more.” I explained. “A lot of people still see me as that hoe though… even though when it comes right down to it, I never was. I was no worse then any of the guys on the Rebels, but because I’m female it’s a whole big thing.”

“What do you mean?” He asked as we paused in front of the elevator, his deep brown eyes looking down into mine.

“Well its okay for any of you guys to go out and have a one night stand. A girl does the same thing, and suddenly they’re a whore. The guy is okay for it, because he was just taking what was offered. A girl isn’t allowed to do that.” I said. “Our society is full of hypocrites.”

“You know you’re making me feel guilty for every bad thing I’ve ever said about any girl since I’ve been in Rimouski.” Sid said, raking a hand through his hair.

I laughed. “Well don’t feel guilty about EVERYTHING you’ve ever said.” I said. “Some of them probably are bitches.”

He laughed. “So, if you don’t mind me asking, why are you following Dion around instead of spending Christmas with your family?”

I shrugged. “It’s a long story.” I said. “But D made the plans to save me from having to chose between my parents. They just got divorced.”

Sidney had the good grace to blush. “Sorry.”

I shrugged. “It’s a fact of life.” I said. “Everyone has things in their lives that they don’t necessarily like, but that’s just the way life is.”

We got into the elevator with a bunch of drunk Team Canada fans. Sidney signed a bunch of autographs, and I leaned over and whispered in his ear. “You don’t have to walk me all the way to my door Sid.”

He looked up from the jersey he was signing startled. “Why not?”

“Well I wouldn’t want you to have to deal with any kind of rumours.” I whispered shrugging.

“Remember, Dion will kill someone if we can’t tell him that we made absolutely positive that you made it back to your room.” Sid said. “And I for one am not about to lie to him. It’ll be fine.”

I shrugged as the elevator came to a stop. “Well, this is our stop then.”

The guys all leered at me. “A puck fuck….” One of them (he had to be at least 40) said reaching over and trying to grab my ass.

I glared at them and went to slap him, but Sid maneuvered himself so he was in the way and then grabbed my arm. “Gentlemen… I think you misunderstand.” He said. “Delreinne here is Dion Phaneuf’s cousin.” He lied smoothly. “She came down to visit Dion and he got caught up in Madden when she decided to come up to her room… he just asked me to make sure that she made it upstairs without any trouble.” Here he paused. “I’m not going to have to tell Dion that we had trouble am I?”

The guys looked at each other and one of the other guys said. “Umm no, not at all. Sorry for Gerry, he’s pretty drunk.”

I glared at the men as we got out of the elevator, but Sidney kept a tight grip on my arm, preventing me from slapping the man who’d tried to grab me. “Mother fuckers.” I muttered. Then I turned to Sidney. “Though I must say, Dion’s cousin? That was inspired.”

He grinned. “I thought so.” He said. “No need to borrow trouble after all.” He paused. “But if that’s how those girls get treated….” He shook his head. “Maybe I should make a couple of new friends when I get back to Rimouski.”

I smiled. “Good for you.” I said.

“So you’re going to be around the whole tournament right?” He asked.

I nodded. “I have a feeling it could be a lot of fun.” Sidney smiled at me, and I couldn’t help by smile back. His eyes were absolutely beautiful. We stood there, just looking at each other. I couldn’t help myself. “Has anyone ever told you that have beautiful eyes?” I asked.

“Has anyone ever told you that you have a beautiful smile?” He countered.

I shook my head. “I need to go Sid.” I said. “Umm… you guys are scouting Switzerland tomorrow night right?”

He nodded. “Yeah.”

“Well then, I’ll see you there.” I said uncomfortable with the attraction I was feeling to this kid.
“Have a good practice tomorrow.”