somewhere with you : sidney crosby

i.

Everything about the boy was curious- his eyes, his personality, but most importantly, his car. The car: a black '69 Camaro ZL1, with a black interior. Every time I saw it, I wanted to figure- not just the car, but its owner - out.

His name was Sidney and that name in and of itself makes me shutter. The day I arrived I was fascinated by him and the day he encountered me he was just as enthused.

The summer before senior year continues to be one that I'm unable to forget except for the parts I have. I was eighteen and it was the summer my friends and I discovered fake IDs and the power of a short skirt. I was on the fast track to BU and the person I was  when we escaped the city limits was all but what I was in the prison we called home.

We returned to classes in September and I went back to a 4.5 GPA, an internship to get ahead in my major and virtually no life. I was following in my dad's footsteps with medicine but unlike him was interested in the sports side. So my dad, being who he is, got me a job with the team not far from here. That's where I met Sid.

It was a gloomy day in Pittsburgh. My best friend Alice and I had just gotten back from spending the weekend at our house in Erie and I was starting work right after school. I was anxious for the day to end and thankful that it was only a halfway. 

Around lunch, I picked up a coffee and a bagel and started my commute from school. The lot was full, and players were beginning to arrive to for practice. I opened the door to the office and navigated myself to my boss, Jack's office. Jack was a physicians assistant at one of the hospitals and did this on the side. He was great at his job, and by all accounts an even better teacher.

"Good afternoon, Maggie," he spoke joyfully from behind the folder. Frameless glasses rested on the tip of his nose as he read through the medical report of guys who had surgery this summer. "how was your summer?"

"Good but definitely not long enough!"

"When do you leave for BU?"

He looked up from his report and at me. His eyes were red from lack of sleep. This was always a stressful time for him. He was on call for the hospital but also ensuring that everyone was in the best shape possible.

"June," I answered. I was counting down the days until I moved to Boston. There was nothing in this town to hold me back and as long as I could keep it that was I would be starting classes in August.

"That's great! I know you're excited to be on your own. Everyone is at that age."

Jack picked up his skates from behind his desk and headed for the ice while I stayed behind and began reviewing. The team was similar to last years. All three captains were back and our leading goal scorer was locked in a contract.

I finished up with the files and decided to check out the team.  I caught them right after practice ended so instead walked to the back to see some of the guys I had known last year. I walked back with Jack's file folder in one hand and my cup of coffee in another when suddenly I was on the ground and someone was standing over me. He cursed under his breath before reaching down to help me up.

"Sorry," he huffed, "I wasn't paying attention like I should have been."

He squatted down to grab the folder and my now split cup of coffee. He promised to buy me a new one. 

Since the door to the locker room was open, meaning I was welcome, I walked in and sat down next to Beau, who was my best friend on the team. He dropped his helmet then smiled up at me.