Netting Crow (Blackhawks Fan-Fiction)

Chapter 19

Sunday morning happened in a rush. Nathan and I had to get home, so I could drop him off before I headed back into the city for the game, which started earlier than normal for a Sunday night game. While we were doing that, Corey had morning skate, followed by some extra film footage.

I had decided that I would stay overnight with Corey, and since I was off for MLK day, he and I would spend the day together, while Nathan spent the day with his cousins.

Besides being rushed, it felt like nothing was falling into place. After I dropped Nathan off at my mother-in-law's, I decided to run home to grab some clothes for tomorrow. When I headed back out to the garage to head downtown, my car wouldn't start. "You have to be kidding me!" I thought.

I texted Amanda. "Hey. My car won't start. Have you guys left for the game yet?"

"No. The game doesn't start until 7:00. Why would we leave at 3:00?" She replied.

"Umm, the game starts at 5:30 tonight."

"It does. Crap! I didn't realize that. I will call my dad and we will come pick you up. It'll still be like an hour before I get there from my house."

I felt disappointment flow through me. An hour would put us at the UC right at puck drop, which means we would miss warm-ups.

"Okay. Whatever. Just get here." I replied.

I decided that I better text Corey to let him know not to expect to see me for warm-ups. Hopefully, he would get my message, so he wouldn't worry.

"Hey. My car won't start. I'm fine, but I'm stuck at home. Amanda and her Dad are going to take me to the game, but we will be late, so don't expect to see me for warm-ups. Sorry. :(" I hit send.

After what was only 45 minutes, but felt like an eternity, Amanda and her dad pulled into my driveway, and we were finally off.

I received a text from Corey during the car ride to the UC. "That sucks. Thanks for telling me cuz I would've worried. Meet me at my car after the game, and we can go home together. I will get you home tomorrow, and we can figure out what's wrong with your car."

"Sounds good. Good luck tonight." I replied, but didn't hear back as it was just about go time for equipment and then warm-ups.

I was anxious the whole way there. The last time I didn't get to do my normal routine, the Hawks lost the Western Conference final. Hopefully, nothing too terrible happened today.

We literally walked in and got to our seats before the lights were dimmed for the opening and the anthem. The game started at a pretty quick pace and by the second period it was 3-3. Corey was struggling and it was easy to see, but it didn't help that the defense seemed to be asleep at the wheel too. It seemed like the AllStar break would be a well-needed rest for everyone.

The Dallas Stars were really aggressive, so much so that Patrick Sharp ended up getting in a fight. It was his first fight in years. It helped get the Hawks fired up, but to no avail. When the third period began, it turned into a blood bath. It was 6-3 Stars as the buzzer sounded the end of the game. The third period was brutal for Corey and the defense.

Amanda and her dad waved good-bye as I headed down to the parking garage to wait for Corey. I felt terrible for him. The defense had completely fallen apart during the third and that was when Corey needed them to be strong because he seemed shaky after that third goal went in early in the second.

I waited patiently for Corey for about an hour and a half when guys started filing out into the garage. The doors to his car unlocked as I saw him walking toward me. There were a mix of emotions on his face: anger, exhaustion, frustration, and self-doubt, I saw that emotion first and foremost.