Fire on Ice (Sidney Crosby Fanfic)

Girlfriend

This time, the rest of the party is beyond friendly to both of us. Veronique is here and with her down to earth presence I almost feel like I could hang out with this group more often. Too bad I won't, especially not after I do this. The players start coming in, but the only person I'm really here for is Sidney. I'm surprised when he isn't the last to come, I had my money on having to wait for his self-centered-ass to get here. He goes through everyone really quickly and comes over to me. Christina is giving me the eye. I stand up so I can give him the hug he opened his arms for. Once again I'm surprised at how good his hugs are, but when I see the way his eyes search me for the jersey he got me I'm reminded of why I hate him.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" I practically whisper. Still, the whole table suddenly goes quiet in surprise. People can make anything awkward.

"Uh... yeah, sure," for a second his bottom lip twitches into his top lip. He throws his jacket next to where I was sitting, probably so no one else sits next to me.

I grab the box as we slip off to a corner.

"What's up?" he asks, his lips curled in a self assured smile.

I push the box into his arms, "Here, thanks, but I don't want it."

His face suddenly turns white. I can tell I offended him. For a moment I regret being such an asshole, and by doing this I'm probably being as stuck up as he is. But then he chuckles and raises his eyebrow. The color in his face returning, he asks, "What?"

"Thanks for the jersey, but I don't want it. I mean, it's a sweet gift, I'm just... I don't like you that way." I actually don't like him in any way.

His cheeks turn pink. I think I'm shaking from how awkward this is, if it was anyone else I would've done this in a much nicer way. Still, I do feel sorry for him. I'm thinking hard of a way to apologize without it coming off like I want to give us a chance. I feel like he's really offended, but he suddenly laughs and pushes the box back into my arms so that I have to take it, "Hey, I don't want it. Sorry if I made you think I like you, I don't."

Not only am I embarrassed, offended, and hurt by hearing that, but his emphasis on 'don't' makes me want to punch him in his stupid face.

"I thought I screwed up your jersey or something so I got you a new one. I don't like you." His need to say it twice pisses me off.

"Oh," I chuckle awkwardly, "Sorry, well, thanks then."

"You can exchange it if you don't want it, I sent the receipt."

"Thanks," I smile at him. He nods and walks away towards the table. I'd be the weirdo if I didn't go back, but at the moment I feel too awkward to do it. I go to the bathroom and just to do something I put the jersey on over my shirt.

I stare into the mirror. My face is red. I feel pretty fucking horrible, I don't know how I ended up being the hurt one here. I don't even know why it's bothering me so much. I don't feel like carrying the box around anymore, I throw it into the garbage. It's probably going to be really awkward with him out there. I try to prepare myself. I wonder if he's still going to sit next to me.

When I walk back to the table both of our seats are empty, I don't see Sidney anywhere. I stare at where he threw his jacket, it's not there. Christina slides over to me, "That was so weird, he came back all flushed and confused and then he told us he just got a text from his girlfriend and he has to go."

Girlfriend?! I am such a fucking idiot. I feel even more hurt and embarrassed. I try to hide it and sit down.

"What's going on?"