The Hockey Life - A Patrick Kane Fanfic

Part Thirteen - Can I Call You Lean?

PART THIRTEEN: CAN I CALL YOU LEAN?

The next day was pretty unexciting until it was actually time for the game. Even though the experience this time wouldn’t be as exciting as the last time, I was still pumped to be working at another Hawks game. I had to be at the United Center early again, but it still didn’t take long for the fans to start arriving. I started off at the ticket booth, and it was absolutely crazy. I was amazed at how many people waited until the last minute to purchase tickets rather than getting them ahead of time. All of us interns were really busy before the game started. I didn’t know what to expect once it did start, but I hoped it would be a little less ridiculous. Maybe the fans would be distracted enough by the game to calm down when it came to buying things.

Luckily, the closer it got to game time, the less crowded the halls got. Everyone was anxious to see the ice and the players, so they eventually all cleared out of the hallways and into their seats. That was when my job switched to selling drinks right where all the action was happening. Puck bunny, who had been around me the whole time we had to sell tickets, finally left. She had to work concessions away from where I’d be, thank god. As she walked away, Alex and Dylan came towards me, although I couldn’t recognize Dylan. He had been chosen to be Tommy Hawk for the night. Somehow, the role seemed to fit him, but I still couldn’t help but laugh when he came up to me in the mascot suit.

“How hot is it in there?” I asked.

“I’d say about…seven million degrees. They should probably consider installing some sort of air conditioning system in here,” Dylan answered, and Alex and I laughed.

“Okay, well we better get going. We’ll probably meet up with you out there at some point,” I said. All three of us went out towards the seats and the ice, but Dylan separated from us quickly. Alex and I began doing our job for the night.

I didn’t know if Brad had any way to keep an eye on all of us, but I tried to be really polite to even the rudest people and I used my best saleswoman voice. I couldn’t stop myself from getting distracted by the game, though. It was my favorite team playing my favorite sport, how could I not watch?

When I was selling drinks instead of being an equipment manager, the night went by a lot slower. It seemed to take forever to get to the third period. It was hard to tell if it was just because selling things to people wasn’t fun or the Hawks weren’t doing so well. It could have been a combination of both, but I got a surprise in the middle of the third period that didn’t allow me to figure that out.

“Hey, I’ll take a beer over here,” a voice rang out to me. I knew that voice. It belonged to Brian’s best friend, Miles. That could only mean…

“Brian! What are you doing here?” I asked, locating him and his friend in the sea of red and black.

“I got two tickets to the game last minute so I had to bring him along,” Miles said, pretending he hadn’t been interested in inviting my brother.

“I was going to tell you, but I figured I would surprise you instead. Well, that is, if I ended up seeing you,” Brian explained.

“Well it’s cool that you’re here, but you probably should have come to the last game I worked at. It was a little more exciting for the home team than this one is,” I said, checking the score again. It was still 1-2 in favor of the Florida Panthers.

“Eh. They still have time to turn it around. And besides, it’s a hockey game at the United Center. It has to be good no matter what.”

“Hey, how about that beer I asked for?” Miles asked.

“Here,” I said. That’ll be a hundred dollars.”

“That’s not what you told that lady down there!” Miles complained, digging into his wallet.