Part 8 - Pure Gold

Much to my surprise, as soon as he had the opportunity, Sidney pulled me aside. We were in a deserted hallway of the MTS Centre. We were once again standing so close to each other that I could feel the heat from his body, and I’m sure that he could feel the heat from mine. “Why do you do it?” He demanded his hand on his arm.

“Do what?” I asked, feeling slightly confused.

“Look so good.” He said, his eyes warm as they wandered over me. “It’s not fair. I get to look, but that’s only fun to a point. Eventually….” He said, trailing a gentle finger down my arm. “I’m going to have to touch.”

Was he reading my mind now? I shook my head. “Sidney….” I said slowly.

“No.” He said firmly. “It’s not fair. You get to look so damn fine, and I have to sit here and not say anything and keep my hands to myself.”

“Look whose talking.” I mumbled. “Sid you’re a nice kid and all, but you’re a kid. You’re the same age as my Grade 12’s and you’re in Grade 12. The fact that I don’t teach you notwithstanding.”

His smile was almost mocking. “And you just keep reminding yourself of that.” He said. “Because when you look at me, you don’t think about that.”

I glared up at him, because his smile was annoying me. “And every time you look at me Sidney, know that I’m probably the one thing you want that you’re never going to have.”

He pulled me close to him. Our bodies were touching. My breasts were crushed against his muscular chest. I struggled not only to pull away from him but to force myself to pull away, but his eyes were burning into mine and he was much stronger then I was. “I’m Sidney fucking Crosby.” He snapped. “I always get what I want.”

I shook my head. “Well you aren’t going to get me sweetie.” I said sarcastically. “I’m a teacher and a professional.”

Sidney looked into my eyes for several long moments. “I may not be able to have you right now Drew.” He said seriously, letting go of my arm and stepping away from me. “But I will have you someday.”

With that, I turned on my heel and headed straight for Dion. “That arrogant little son of a bitch.” I muttered.

“What did Darryl say?” D asked immediately knowing who I was talking about.

“A lot of crap.” I grumbled angrily. “I get that he wants me, and he gets that I’m, well attracted to him, but he keeps going on about how he’s going to get me someday because he’s Sidney fucking Crosby.”

D shook his head, and smothered a laugh. “It’s not funny D.” I said.

“Sure it is.” He replied with a smirk. “You’ve finally met someone whose just as persistent as you are, and I mean, I have to give the kid some credit.”

“For what?” I asked, still feeling grumpy, every nerve in my body still standing and at attention after having been so close to him.

“For being willing to risk me pounding him into a bloody pulp.” D said. “But he risked it. In fact, I’m willing to bet that he’ll keep risking it.”

I shook my head. “Well help me out here D.” I said. “Because I don’t need this.”

D just laughed. “Drew the kid is right, he’s Sidney fucking Crosby. There’s not much that I can do.”

I glared up at him. “Some help you are.” I muttered darkly.

“You know you love me.” D said shoving me gently.

I shook my head. “At this particular moment in time that may be in doubt.” I muttered.

D wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Aw come on Drew.” He said hugging me tightly. “I’d go all protective, but I know that you like the kid.”

Sighing, I nodded. “You’re right.” I said. “I do like him. He’s a bright kid and he has to deal with a lot of pressure. Yet he handles it in a mature and adult manner. He’s polite, he’s good looking… what’s not to like?”

D laughed. “See?” He said. “You wouldn’t be very happy with me if I pounded him into a bloody pulp.”

I sighed. “I suppose you’re right.” I said. “I just don’t like feeling like I’ve met someone who could make me forget my professional obligations.”

“He throws you off your game Drew.” D said in an annoyingly superior way. “But you throw him off his, truth be told.”

“Explain.” I demanded curtly.

“He’s not used to not getting what he wants Drew.” Dion explained. “Especially when it comes to girls. And he’s not used to being able to trust that any of them actually care about him as a person. So he doesn’t know what to do with you, because you won’t be impressed by who he is, but he’s still doesn’t know whether or not he can trust you.”

I shook my head. “Surely to God D, there are other girls out there who aren’t going to fall at his feet because he’s Sidney Crobsy.”

“Oh sure there are.” D replied. “But most of them know absolutely nothing about hockey. Or if they do, they don’t have any faith in his abilities.”

I shook my head. “You’re wrong. I’m sure that there will be a girl or two out there somewhere who won’t be impressed by his name. His skills maybe, but not the name.”

Dion shrugged. “But they aren’t here or in Rimouski or in Cole Harbour.” He pointed out. “You are.”

“Well I’m not in Cole Harbour or Rimouski, but I know what you mean.” I said with a sigh.

“Drew you really need to have more self-esteem.” Dion said firmly. “I mean, you are one of kind, even if that’s not what I’m looking for, you are what a lot of other guys are looking for and can’t find. Mainly because they are too blind to see how special you really are.”

I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. D had this way of saying things that always made me feel better about myself. “Thanks sweetie.” I said softly.

“Don’t mention it.” D said blushing.

I grinned at him. “So humble.” I said jokingly.

He shook his head with a smile. “Look whose talking Drew.” He replied.

“Look whose talking about what?” Sidney asked, joining us, clearly, as D had said, not fearing his wrath.

“Drew was talking about how humble I am.” D explained easily, ignoring the murderous expression on my face. “And I said, look whose talking.”

Sidney laughed. “Yeah Drew doesn’t exactly strike me as the humble type.”

I glared at him. “Now look whose talking.” I snapped.

Sidney just shrugged good naturedly. “Point taken.” He said with a smile. “I guess none of us can claim humbleness on our list of personal qualities.”

“Aren’t you guys supposed to be watching the game or something?” I muttered feeling a little cranky.

D just shook his head. Sidney, however, was not quite so bright. “Jeez.” He said. “Who pissed in your cornflakes?”

I glared up at him. “I’ll give you three guesses and the first two don’t count.”

“Aw relax Drew.” Sidney said, stretching, his arm wrapping around my shoulders. “Enjoy the game.”

I shook my head and shoulders, shaking his arm off. I didn’t like this at all. “Well I’m going to go talk to Coach.” Dion said, giving me a nudge.

“Traitor.” I muttered as he turned and walked away.

Sidney, however, just turned and grinned at me. “See Drew? Even Neufy approves.”

“D does not approve.” I said fiercely. “He just knows that I’m not going to do anything stupid.”

“And what do you classify as stupid?” He asked, looking amused.

I glared at him. “I’m not sure why you and D find this so damn funny, but I don’t.”

He laughed. “You’re only upset because you want me as much as I want you, only you can’t have me.”

“Ahh what?” I said, eyebrows raised. “I believe Sidney, that we have already established that it is YOU who can’t have me.”

Sidney shook his head. “No that’s not it.” He said. “No that’s not all. For awhile I thought that it was, but then I realized that there’s more to it then that. You want me. I know that and so do you. But you can’t have me because I’m underage. I can’t have you because you’re a teacher and I respect that.”

While Sidney was saying all of this, I was inspecting my shoes. I mean, he was right. It did irk me that I wanted him so badly. But then, what wasn’t there to like? I mean he’s attractive, he’s sweet, he’s charming, and he’s mature. We get along. He’s someone I could actually see myself enjoying spending time with. He was right and there was nothing I could do about it.

Suddenly I felt his fingers under my chin. He forced my chin up so that I was looking in his eyes. “Drew don’t get upset babe.” He said, smiling down at me. “I turn 18 in August. We can be together then.”

Not, “we’ll see what happens then” or “we’ll keep in touch and go from there”, “we can be together then.” That was why I liked him so much on such short acquaintance. I smiled nervously. “So what do we do until then?” I asked.

“We get to know each other.” He said with a shrug. “We get to be friends.”

I nodded with a small smile. “I can handle that.”

“Good.” He said wrapping an arm around my shoulders and giving me felt like a very quick hug.

I rested my head briefly on his chest. The hug felt really quick, but thinking back, it was probably a little longer then it should have been. “So what do you think of the Swiss?” I asked as we pulled away from each other.

I looked around. Most of the guys had kind of, well dissipated while Sid and I were talking. They’d just backed off and left us alone. It was actually kind of cool. I didn’t give Sidney a chance to answer the question before I said. “Wow. I’m impressed.”

“By what?” He said with disdain, his eyes on the game.

“Not that.” I said. “Look around.”

I watched the expression on his face carefully as he turned and looked around. To my surprise it didn’t really change that much. He just shrugged. “Drew its pretty obvious to everyone that there’s something between us. Patrice and Reggie asked me about it the other night when I volunteered to walk you up to your room.”

I was still wary. “The guys on the Rebels wouldn’t have backed off like that.” I pointed out. “I doubt the guys on your team would either.”

Sidney shrugged again and then grinned down at me. “You’ve said it yourself. Neufy has that kind of affect on people.”

I giggled. It is true and I have said it. “Well I guess I should be grateful then that he’s a bossy jackass huh?”

He shoved me playfully and then smiled down at me softly. “We should both be grateful Drew. We should both be grateful.”