The Roommate: A Mathew Barzal Fanfiction

30. Jade

Tori's advise the other day lingers in my head as I sat on the living room. It's Friday night and yup! I am not going out. I have not been going out and drinking since the slapping-Pauline incident.

I got traumatized about that to be honest, and I still regret that I did that because that was completely not me. I have never slapped another person in my whole entire life and I can't believe I did it just because of a man.

However, part of me says that it was alright just so Pauline can wake the fuck up and realized that the world is not revolving around her and that she should learn where to take her place.

Now I'm curious if she already know the reason why I slapped her.

I turned the TV on and scroll the channels to look for some entertainment. I kinda like my place by the way-- I mean I haven't done making any changes and it doesn't look like it is fully lived but I'm getting in there.

My schedule at the firm has been so hectic in the past few weeks now and I have less time to do further changes in the house since I am also spending most of my free time at Tori's helping her out in taking care of Andrea.

Right now, Anders' parents are in town so I don't have to go there. The grandparents are savoring the limited time they have to bond with their new grandkid so I don't want to spoil that.

I reach the bag of Duritos on the coffee table and started devouring it as I watch a silly documentary of cows on the screen when suddenly, my phone beeps and it's Tori calling.

I immediately answered it.

"Hey, babe what's up?"

"What are you doing right now?" She said right away on the other line.

"Nothing. I'm just sitting in my living room eating a bag of chips. Why?" I asked with my mouth full.

"Anders' parents nominate themselves to babysit Andrea tonight, will you come with me and watch the game?"

"What game?"

"Islanders, obviously." She answered. "It's a home game and final game too. Come with me please."

I have nothing else to do tonight, and this is Tori asking to go out. She haven't watched any game for so long so I might as well grant her wishes, and besides, I kinda want to see Mat.

"Okay."

-

Few moments later, Tori and I are walking down the hallways of the arena heading to where the VIP lounges exclusive for the player's family are at.

The game haven't started yet and the players are still currently warming up. I settled on my seat and was surprised to see Rebecca seating few benches from us. She walked towards me and gave us a hug.

"How are you ladies?" She greeted.

Tori and I said our responses in unison.

"Are you enjoying the motherhood Tori?" She asked, she's a very enthusiastic woman. I have only met her twice-- thrice now and I totally like her.

"Super, although sometimes it's tiring but it is absolutely amazing." My cousin replied.

"Well savor that now, because ones the kid reaches the age three you'll get stressed on how active they get." She advised and decided to settle on the bench between me and Tori.

The players shuffles out of the arena one at a time signalling that their warm ups are over and that few minutes from now the game will be commencing.

For some reason, I felt nervous. The last time I watched Mat's game live was roughly two months ago in Boston. This is the final game of the series, if the Islanders lose against Pittsburgh tonight the team won't be able to compete on the Stanley Cup Championships.

Mat and I always talk about his games before, but he never mentioned about imagining himself winning a Stanley Cup because according to him, the fact that he's already on the NHL, that is already major. But I know somewhere, somehow he wants it, every NHLer does! Who am I kidding?

"Mat has been commiting way too many penalties since the season resumed after the All-Stars weekend. Did you guys happen to talk about it?" Rebecca asked only to realized that she's been talking to me.

"Oh! Uhmm-- we don't." I stuttered. "I mean we don't talk anymore actually."

Rebecca doesn't know Mat and I are done then. She looked at me in shock and then it was replaced with sympathy.

"It didn't work out?"

"I guess it didn't." I replied sighing because I felt my heavy heart again pushing me to cry but I don't want to. I swallow the lump on my throat and tried to show a smile.

She reached and squeezed my shoulder. "You'll be fine. At least you are not bitter enough and still chose to watch his game after all."

That is just because I miss him so much.

"Yeah." I replied faking a small laugh right there.

She sighed adjusting on her seat and focused her eyes on the rink. "Guess that explains why his performance are way too off."

And with Rebecca's statement I felt guilty. As all the players stood in the center of the rink for the national anthem, I focused my eyes on Barzal. It is hard to see his actual face because I am way too far but when the jumbotron focused his face I can see a small cut just on top of his cheekbones.

I hate it when he get cuts due to games but that is part of the sport. I focused myself looking at Mat moving on the ice even though I can't keep up that much because he is way too fast.

On the middle of the game, Mat got hit on the shoulder real hard causing me to yelp. I began to feel worried especially after seeing Mat fell on the ice holding his shoulders, he's completely hurt from that hit.

"Wait-- no call? That was in the blue line!" I reacted and some of the people seating few inches away from me agreed and complaining too.

Few minutes passed when it's Mat's shift on the ice, he gets even slamming the guy on the boards and the referee calls it out pausing the game.

"Now that is unfair." Tori reacted.

"Petterson and Mat have been going at it since Game 1" Rebecca commented.

"What do you mean?" I asked completely confused.

"During Game 1, they had a fist fight like on the ice. And then later on, on every game they always do that."

"Why is he fighting?" I muttered silently not wanting these two ladies to hear me out but Rebecca herself didn't miss it.

"It's a do or die game Jade. They are all starving to win the Stanley Cup, that's just normal." Rebecca said, but for me it isn't.

I mean, I don't want to feel way too special and think that I was the reason why Mat involves himself on fights but even if I am not the reason, I still don't want to see him get hurt or even punch people.

It's five minutes away until the end of the third regulation and I can really sense the nerves of all Islanders fans inside the arena. Beauvillier managed to tie the game with a 3-3 score during the second regulation.

Everytime the puck gets deflected by the Islanders goalie, everyone around jumps and every time the goalie of the other team do the same thing everybody groans. The tension is out of the roof and I can't help but shake. The whole time Mat is on the ice, he gets hit by Petterson like on the twentieth time now.

Yup! I have been counting. He looks really hurt I can tell but he's fighting though it. Damn it! Why can't this game be chill or some shit?

Thirty-seconds down until the end of regulation, Crosby scored ending the game into 4-3.

"Damn it!" Rebecca hissed and settles back on her chair and sip on her beer.

Islanders lose...