Chapter 23
Calli’s POV
I helped Marissa pack up to leave this morning. I filled her in about everything that happened between Sid and I, not telling her about the necklace though. For some reason, that just seemed personal and for now I just to keep it between me and Sidney. I hugged her goodbye, thanking her for helping me through everything last night. Who knows where Sidney and I would be if she didn’t convince me to talk to him. It was slightly scary now. Knowing that it was just me, Sidney, and the rest of the team. I’m a person who likes escape routes, no matter how happy or how in love I am. I went down to the hotel lobby, grabbing some fruit before picking up the newspaper. The headline immediately caught my eye.
NHL Crosby confirmed with girlfriend
Last night in Montreal, it was confirmed that 21 year old Sidney Crosby is dating Callista Shaw, 19 years of age, locally from Mt.Lebanon, Pittsburgh. If you’re a big hockey fan in Pittsburgh, you’ll automatically remember her name. She is the rookie goalie for Pittsburgh University women’s ice hockey team, already making her name known. Before going to Pitt, she grew up in Mt.Lebanon where she played her career split between center and goalie. After their former starting goaltender graduated, for her junior and senior year she played full time. Those two years Mt.Lebanon won the state title. She obviously has a busy schedule and so does Mr. Crosby, so how will it work? It will be interesting to see if..story continued on Page A4
Underneath was the picture of me and Sidney, a picture of me posing with some fans with Marissa, and a picture of me right after we won the state championship my senior year. They couldn’t have chosen a less flattering picture of me. I ran my hand nervously through my hair, I wasn’t used to this attention. Sure, I got the occasional newspaper headline here and there and the little girls who admire any female hockey player. I felt people staring at me already, so I put on my glasses and pulled the hood up on my jacket. I waited outside for Sidney in the cold, looking down with my hands shoved in my pockets. He pulled up and I got in the car and he looked at me. “Calli..I saw the article. It’s going to be okay. It’s going to die down.”
I shook my head, “I know, I’m not upset. I would do anything to stay with you, it’s just I’m not really used to all of this…attention.” I admitted.
He tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. “I’m sorry babe, but do you think you’ll be okay for a press conference tonight before the game? That way the reporters can get all of their questions out of the way and hopefully they will bug you less.”
“Am I dressed up enough?” I said looking down at my outfit of gray jeans and black cardigan with my black ankle boots. I had a feeling that no outfit would make me able to please every one as the best hockey player in the NHL’s girlfriend.
He sighed, “Calli, we’ve been over this before. You are always the most sexy girl in the room. But to answer you’re question, yes you look stunning as normal.”
I finally laughed. “You’re so corny Sid.”
He shrugged before his face turning serious. “Cals, you know I have a lot of female fans. Half of them are polite women who know hockey and they will love you and respect you. But then there’s the puck bunnies…there’s nothing you can do to make them be less bitchy. Just bear with it and ignore them, please?”
A slow smile stretched across my face. “Well, I’m the one that you’ll be holding tonight, so they can say all the crap they want.”
He held out his hand and I took it. “Forever and always, Calligirl.”
“You got it hockey hunk.”
Chapter 24
Sidney’s POV
I took Calli’s hand as we walked into the press conference room. I could tell she was insanely nervous. I don’t quite understand why, she’s on a college hockey team, so she’s been in press conferences. From the interviews I’ve watched of her, she seems pretty media friendly. Plus, she’s beautiful and I don’t get why she thinks people won’t like her. We sat down in chairs next to each other besides a table. I put my hand on her knee under the table, trying to calm her down. Marc sat down on the other side of her, he was there incase the questions got out of control and we needed a distraction. I heard the camera start and before I knew it the first question was being asked.
“So how did you two meet?”
“Well, I was practicing and apparently Calli fell down and hit her head on the side of the bleachers, so she needed to be stitched up.” I looked at Calli and she was blushing, but she was biting back a smile. Marc chuckled, before I kept going. “I come back from practice and she was sitting in my stall holding a towel to her head. We just started talking and you know the rest.” I answered as nonchalantly as possible.
“So Callista, why did you start playing hockey?”
She hesitated for a second before genuinely smiling. “Well, I have four older brothers that all played hockey. When my parents weren’t home, they would tie to me to a trash can in the drive way and use me as a shooting target.” She paused for a moment because various people around the room were laughing. “So obviously I wanted to learn how to protect myself, so I decided to play for a year. But I ended up loving it so much.”
“What made you decide to play goaltender?”
“I love playing goalie, but it was basically made for me. I was diagnosed with asthma when I was fifteen and I could suffer a bad attack and eventually die if I kept playing with the upbeat tempo of a center. I couldn’t give up the game though, so I tried playing goalie. Lucky for me it ended up working out.”
“What’s your biggest motivation?”
I watched her carefully, knowing her mom was a very, very sensitive subject for her. I was about to cut in and say “no comment.” But she beat me to it. “Well, my mom was always the driving force behind me. She encouraged me, drove to all the practices, tournaments, and games. Took me out to get all my equipment and found the goalie solution. Without a doubt, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her. Unfortunately, we got in a car accident two years ago and my mom didn’t make it, so I try and make her proud every day.” Her smile faltered, but her voice kept steady. I was so damn proud of her.
The press conference lasted nearly for a hour and I barely said anything. They loved her and were eating her up. Finally, we got to leave. She hugged me excitedly. “I think they liked me!” She exclaimed.
I laughed and twirled her around, “No, they loved you.”
That’s when I heard the deep voice of Carey Price go, “Crosby, can I speak to you. Alone.”
wow omg i think sid and carey should get into a fist fight lol i love thios story =D thanx so much
ReplyDeleteAHH
ReplyDeleteyay! the press liked her!
i was afraid they were going to be retarded and make her feel like shit. but none of that here! WOOOOO!
and ughh. carey has to come back!?!?!
hopefully it's to apologize, or something nice the gentlemanly like that!
oh. haha. and i read the thing about the banner at the top. and i was like "wait.. i didn't make that..?!". and i was seriously SO confused, because my last initial is M too! then i saw the side, and it was like "not the comments one" and it was all cleared up! lol
like i was seriously having a mental breakdown trying to remember if i actually made that! lol!
haha
so yeah. loved the chapter =]
Oh boy...
ReplyDeleteCalli did so well in the press conference. As for Carey, um I don't know what to think. I really really hope that they settle things calmly, otherwise say hello to my publisity.
I love the banner! And I can't wait for more.