Shooting Stars

Chapter 29: The Aftermath of Victors

{Jonathan}
I roll over slightly, feeling the body of another human being in my arms.

I force my eyelids open, despite them feeling heavy as hell.

Of course, there in my arms, lies Ally.

Peacefully sleeping, hair slightly tangled, a small smile on her face, her breathing slow and steady.

We’re on a couch.

Not even the couch in our apartment, but a different couch.

Then, it all comes back to me.

It felt like the longest night of my life.

The longest, most amazing, most enjoyable night of my life.

All of us stayed at the bar until about 5:30 in the morning.

But the partying didn’t stop there.

Turns out, everyone had migrated to Duncan Keith’s house, and the party just continued there.

Alcohol, drinking out of the Stanley Cup, dancing, loud music, summer air... it’s all too great.

It’s still unreal to me. 

I mean it’s only been one night, but it’s still so surreal.

A Stanley Cup Victory; our third one in four years.

It’s been unreal.

I can’t believe that the last game went the way it did. 

But right now, I am having the absolute time of my life.

My adrenalin has been pumping like crazy, ever since that last goal.

It’s been a sick night.

The first of many to come this summer, I’m sure.

I continue to look around, not a single noise being made anywhere.

The house is silent.

The morning sun pours in through the windows, lighting up the room.

Ouch.

That light is going to hurt everyone, because we are all hungover.

We’re at Duncan’s house; Ally and I must have passed out together here.

I notice both Patrick’s sprawled out on the ground, a beer in each of their hands.

Kaner’s blonde curls are messy, and Sharpie’s mouth is partly open as he sleeps.

I look at the couch across from us, and see Chaunette and Andrew lying together, both fast asleep, in the exact same position Ally and I are in right now.

And of course, how could I forget the most respected guest?

Lord Stanley, himself.

The Holy Grail is placed casually and beautifully right on the glass coffee table that is in front of us.

It’s ours now.

It’s the Blackhawks’ for the rest of the summer.

This is going to be one hell of a summer.

I shake my head, smiling, before falling asleep once again.

***

I’d say everyone slept for a solid two hours. 

Ever so slowly, people started waking up, and leaving.

Ally woke up at about the same time that everyone else did, and she gracefully rolled into my chest, kissing me on the cheek.

The departure from Duncan’s house was silent.

Everyone just got up, moped around a bit, made some groaning noises, and then slowly started leaving.

I’m thinking that everyone is pretty tired, and not to mention, hungover as fuck.

I’m not going to lie; I feel like absolute shit.

My head is throbbing, my hands are clammy, my tongue is sore, and my stomach is killing me.

My eyes feel weak, and my body is telling me to keep sleeping.

Ally, Patrick, and I decided to leave all together, as we were all going to the same place.

We called a cab, and took that home, all of us basically falling asleep on each other the entire way home.

It’s 2:30 in the afternoon, on Sunday, June 15.

Ally, Patrick, and I make our way down the hallway to our apartment, trudging like zombies.

All of our eyes are bloodshot and weary.

Patrick manages to unlock the door, take a few steps into the apartment, and then he passes out right on the couch.

“I think he’s pretty tired.” I say, laughing.

Ally’s eyes struggle to stay open.

She nods, smiling slightly.

“Let’s go take a nap.” I suggest, rubbing my eyes.

“Please,” She says, sounding groggy, as she runs a hand through her hair.

The two of us make our way upstairs, and jump right into my bed.

We cuddle up underneath the covers, closing the blinds to prevent any light from coming in.

She cuddles right into my shoulder, and within minutes, she’s out like a lamp.

I am too.

And as I struggle to keep my eyelids open, my head throbbing with pain, my stomach doing somersaults, my body feeling extremely weary, only one thing is on my mind; despite all this pain and this intense hangover...

It’s all worth it.