Chapter Four

"That's who you were telling me about before?"

"Duh! Way to go, Randi!" Paula said, like I was supposed to know.

"It wasn't like anything happened! We bumped into each other, chatted I guess, he picked up my purse, and we walked in here...simple."

"Oh, sure...so simple!" She turned back around to hugging up on Max...typical her.

I went through the "bathroom incident" in my head again, wrapping my mind around what had just taken place. He seemed to be under such a spotlight, where his every move was viewed and penalized. Off of those 1 or 2 minutes we spent with each other, he seemed to be a guy that would make any girl happy. Everything from his brown curly locks, his plump lips, and even his butt (yes, I got a view of that!) and his gentleman acts might be too good to be true. I am not one to judge beforehand, but he could be a total jerk for all I know.

While eating our main course, I tapped Tyler's shoulder. "What's the deal with this Sidney dude?"

"Well, what do you wanna know?" he replied.

"What should I know?"

"I don't think I could tell you anything other than he's single. If you want to get to know him, ask him yourself. I know you're not a chicken, Randi." But in this case, I was. I went back to eating my Mango Salsa Chicken and went back and forth in my mind all the different scenarios of what would happen if I went over to his table and got to know him a little better.

The waiters and waitresses came to collect our plates, and I stayed in my seat. They passed out dessert...and I stayed. I was always the bold, go-ahead girl when it came to situations like this. But this time, it was different, and I didn't know why. I felt weird being in this place and couldn't take it any longer. I looked over to my right to find Paula and Max gone...great. Thanks, best friend-just when I need you. Now who's gonna take me home? I looked around the room and searched to find the 2 people I knew...well, more like the 1 person I knew and the 1 person I just had an incident with. I saw Sidney talking to Mario Lemieux, who is also a big deal in this town. So I opted not to bother him. My only other option was Tyler, so I walked around and eventually found him at another table talking to Kris Letang. I tapped his shoulder.

"Paula left me stranded here. Can you take me home?"

"Yeah, sure. Do you wanna go now?"

"Please?"

"Ok. Go sit in my car. I have to say goodbye to everyone." He handed me his keys and I made a quiet exit out into a dark parking lot, all by myself. And then I realized I didn't even know what his car looked like. So I pressed the unlock key until I found it. Luckily, it was in the front row and I didn't have to search that hard. I opened the passenger side of the white Audi Q5 and took off my shoes, propping them up near the windshield. I locked the doors and closed my eyes, drifting off into dreamland. All of a sudden, I hear a knock on my window. I open my eyes and see Tyler staring at me.

"Oh, sorry," I mumble and unlock the doors. He walked around to the driver's side and got in.

"Tired much?"

I chuckled. "Yeah, a bit." But I was lying-I wasn't really tired, I was more confused than anything. And I think he sensed that.

"It doesn't sound just like you're tired. You can tell me anything, yanno." How'd he know?! was all I could think. Well, I have known him for awhile, and I did tell him just about everything before. He is my best friend, just in guy form.

"I think I like him," I suddenly blurted out into complete silence.

"You always did fall hard pretty fast," he replied.

"Shut up!"

"Get to know him! From me hanging out with him, he's really great. Plus, he'll treat you like a princess, more like I'll make him." There's the old TK I know!

I never went for the typical guy every girl wanted. I went for the guys that were more nerdy than anything. I know, weird, right? But those were the only guys my brothers morely accepted. Although my brothers were athletes, they actually did screw around with all of my previous boyfriends, which I expected. At least if I bring home a guy like Sidney, he has more power over all of my brothers combined, which is pretty neat.

"I guess there's always room for change."

Chapter Three

So Paula dragged me around to everyone, and I mean everyone that was there. Well, except for the captain, Sidney Crosby. Apparently, he's a big deal, the face of the NHL. But I never watch hockey-I'm all baseball and football. Ask me anything about the sports and I will have the right answer...guaranteed.

After a half hour of socializing and chit-chatter, we took our seats at our assigned tables. It was Paula, Tyler, Max Talbot, Jordan Staal, and myself at our table sectioned off in the back. The waiters and waitresses came and passed out the salads first. They came with a roll, but I opted not to eat it.

"Excuse me," Jordan spoke up, "but are you going to eat your roll?"

"Oh, no. But you can have it," I laughed and gave him the plate.

"Thanks."

I excused myself from the table and went to clean myself up in the ladies' room. As I came out of the stall, I kind of couldn't get Jordan off my mind. He was very handsome, and who could deny a jaw like that? But something about him seems off to me, I'm not too sure. I mean, don't get me wrong, he's probably a great guy. We'd just be better off being friends.

I pushed the door open and walked as I dug for my phone in my clutch and BOOM! The next thing I know, I was on the floor and my purse was nowhere to be found.

"I'm so sorry!" A young man said to me as he offered me his hand to pull me up. I couldn't help but look into his gorgeous hazel-colored eyes-they were just so...perfect.

"Oh, it's ok. It was my fault-no worries," I replied. We just stood there for a moment and stared at each other. I felt extremely awkward, but at the same time, it felt right.

"Unfortunately, I have to get back out there. I would make it up to you, but umm..."

"No! It's fine-go ahead. Don't worry about it."

"You sure? Are you ok?"

"Yeah, I've been through worse than this," I laughed.

"Ok," he smiled and turned to walk off to the dining room. But then he turned around-"I forgot to ask you your name."

"Miranda. What's your's?"

"Sidney. It's nice to meet you, Miranda. Sorry it's so short."

"It's ok. I understand."

I bent down to the floor and started to pick up my belongings before Sidney stopped me. "Please, allow me. It's the lease I can do." With that, he picked up my Blackberry Pearl, compact mirror, lip gloss, and a couple other little things and placed them in my purse. He closed it and handed it back to me.

"Thank you," I said.

"No problem," he replied. "We're going the same way, right?"

"I think so," I laughed.

We walked up to the door, and like a gentleman, he held it opened it for me and let me enter first. He followed right behind and after the doors closed, all eyes were on us...literally. I felt very uncomfortable. Everyone there must have thought we were a couple, but we weren't! I turned and gave him a shy smile, and he gave me a toothy grin. We went our separate ways, back to our respective tables.

Paula refocused her attention from Max to me. "You just...you just..."

"Walked in with a guy?"

"A GUY? That's Sidney Crosby who you just walked in with!"

"Yeah, and?"

"THE CAPTAIN!"

It just hit me...was that who Paula was telling me about before?

Chapter Two

I crossed the busy Sewickley street and made the 3-block walk to the apartment Paula and I lived in. Well, it was more like a dorm. One level, 2 bedrooms, kitchen, living room, 1 bathroom. That's it-no need for the fancy stuff yet. When I got in, I walked into the bathroom to find makeup and clothes thrown all over the place.

"What is this mess?" I asked.

"Oh, sorry. I'm just getting ready for tonight. You're still coming, right?"

"Yes, I am. And now I have the lovely duty of finding an outfit. Great."

I was never one to dress up-it just wasn't my style. With 3 brothers in the house and being outnumbered by the opposite sex, you kinda get a little more different influence. Not that it's a bad thing. That's why I love Paula-we are the same, yet different. She may not be as much of a tomboy as I am, but she's my call for help when it comes to stuff like this.

"Oh, come on! It'll be fun. I'll help."

So we did a half-hour long duty of tearing through my closet. After much debate, I finally settled on a berry tie-neck dress and a pair of short heels from Paula's wardrobe. It was the only dressy thing I had these days, and I never wore it before, so why not for an occasion like this? I let my hair loose out of the ponytail it was in all day and let it fall. My brunette-colored hair was long and draped down to my lower back. I have been meaning to get it cut short, but Paula insists I keep it long. I guess my feminine side is starting to show a little more these days.

"And now, it's time for the makeup!"

"Oh, no, no, no! You know damn well that I don't do makeup! I hate having to cake that shit all over my face."

"Well, let me do it and I won't cake it on. I promise! I'll keep it natural-looking and let your inner beauty show. Come on, to the bathroom we go!"

She pulled a chair from the dining room set and plopped me down in it, facing away from the mirrors. Fifteen minutes later, I emerged a new lady that no one would recognize. She actually did a pretty good job. Just the basic foundation, tan eyeshadow, mascara, blush, and lip gloss. I must say I did look good. Gosh, I sound conceited, I thought to myself. And that is rare for me.

"Whoa," Paula said, "you look gorgeous!" We made our way out the door and walked into the dark parking lot. They always freaked me out. When I was younger, about 15 or so, I was walking home and witnessed a young woman being attacked. Afraid that the attacker would see me, I ran as fast as I could all the way home.
Ever since then, I have been terrified. Lately, I have been working on this fear of mine and seem to be doing better. We got into my Kia Spectra and drove off to Le Mont. The traffic wasn't bad, and we arrived there 15 minutes early.

"Ready to wow the guys?" Paula asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be. I never seem to wow guys, so whatever."

"Oh, Randi! Don't doubt yourself, girl! You look absolutely beautiful tonight. I'm sure you will swoon someone tonight with your looks." I never really thought of myself as beautiful. When I compared myself to Paula, I didn't even come close. She's the one all the guys notice first-tall, brunette, and built like a brick house with long legs and perfect facial features. I am the average height and have a little baggage on me. It has always been a struggle, and still is, to maintain my weight. I am content with the way I look right now, but I don't know how long that's going to last when I walk in this place.

We went up to the front desk in the main lobby and as we were asking where to go, we were greeted by Tyler. This was the first time in a long time that I'd seen him.

"Don't I know you two ladies?" I squealed with delight and jumped into his arms, so happy to see him again. Back when I first met him, I had the tiniest crush on him, but that eventually went away. He's more of a brother to me now more than anything. I sometimes find myself thinking about maybe what could have been with us, but now I will never know.

"It's been forever since I seen you last! So how've ya been?" I asked as we walked towards a set of large doors to what I assumed to be a massive dinner.

"Oh, good. I'm excited to finally make it in the NHL. So, what's new with you?"

"Just focusing on school and working at the Sewickley Cafe. My life's a bore," I laughed.

"After you, my lady," Tyler said, holding the door open for me to enter.

"Thank you, sir," I replied in an English accent. It was always our little joke of ours because we thought the English had the weirdest accent ever.

"I've missed making fun of the English people."

"Well, you now can begin your poking fun of the English people again," I said.

I saw Paula walking towards me, and I knew my ass was in trouble. When we are at things like this, she always drags me around to introduce me to everyone and then leaves me to socialize on my own. But, at least I had Tyler, so it was no big deal.

"Come with me-you are finding yourself a guy tonight, right here. I will make damn sure of it."

And that is where my fun began...

Chapter One

Fall 2008

Time seems to go by slower every time I look at the clock, I said to myself as I counted down the minutes until I was out of this place. I work at the Sewickley Cafe, and boy is it a bitch. I work my ass off for a lousy paycheck. But sometimes, we get some good tippers that stroll in here every once in awhile. But that is rare, and only happens on a good day, not like today. Anyway, let me introduce myself...

My name is Miranda Delmore, but my family and friends call me Randi, and I recently turned 21. I just moved here over the summer to transfer from New York University to the University of Pittsburgh, and started at the end of August. I am majoring in the Pediatric field of medicine. It has been my dream since I was a little girl to give back to the sick and unfortunate children who have not been as lucky as me. I can't say that my childhood was the best, but I can't say it was the worst. My parents, Jake and Penelope, were never married, and never planned to have me at the time my mom conceived. I was born on July 7th, 1987. When I was 2, my dad left the both of us stranded and never came back. I have not seen him in nearly 20 years, and I frankly don't care anymore. When I entered the first grade, my mom found someone and married my "dad," Brad. I call him my dad because he was, and still is, the only father figure I ever had. My middle school years were ok, but it was a struggle for me to find a friend. I never had a real friend until 8th grade. Paula Kennedy and I bonded instantly our first class, and we were inseparable. We also frequently hung out with her brother, Tyler, who now is on Pittsburgh Penguins' roster. Paula and I were unfortunately separated 2 years ago. Our plan was to go to the same college, but that didn't work out until this summer. She got accepted to Pitt and I chose NYU. We still managed to see each other every 2 weeks during the school year, and hung out for most of the summer. My decision to pursue pediatrics in New York was wrong in my opinion. There wasn't as much opportunity in New York as there was here. And at least I had Paula. So it was perfect. My parents weren't happy at first about the decision, but they grew to understand that I was an adult and could now make my own decisions. So, here I am, living with Paula and attending Pitt.

My work day was over, and I was free. I quickly flipped to the current date in my calendar on my phone to see what was on the agenda:
Dinner Party with Paula-7:30 PM.
Le Mont Restaurant.
Oh, shit. I forgot about this.

Two weeks earlier...

"Randi!" Paula squealed with excitement.

"I'm on the phone!" I shouted.

"But this can't wait! Get down here!"

I trotted to the living room from the bathroom. "What is sooooo important?" I questioned.

"This!" She handed me her phone to scan over the text message she just received. "Tyler invited the both of us to dinner in 2 weeks...WITH THE WHOLE PENGUINS' ROSTER!"

"...Ok. Why are you so excited?"

"Because...I need to find someone! And so do you."

"But there are many fish in the sea. Why does this 'someone' have to be on the Penguins?"

"Well, other than the fact that quite a few of them are GORGEOUS and have a pretty pay check."

"It's not all about money. And plus, I don't need to find a guy right now."

"Yes you do! You need to find a cute guy to take up some of your time. I mean all you do is sit here or work when you're not studying. That can't be too much fun. A guy would be a perfect solution."

"Well, maybe I want nothing to do with guys at the moment. School just kicked in and it's gonna get heavy. I don't know if I will have the time to commit to a relationship."

"You don't have to commit! Just have some fun."

"I don't really roll like that."

And now I have to stress over finding an outfit for this fricken event. Oh, the joy...