For the Love of... Hockey?

Chapter 2

I walked into the arena alongside my brother as I helped him carry his sticks. It'd been nearly two years since I'd been in an arena with my brother, yet it still felt normal. Some of my earliest memories were getting up before dawn and heading to the rink with him, helping him practice the morning away. Any rink was a second home to me.

Handing me a couple dollar bills, Cyrus had insisted that I go get something to eat from the vending machine before disappearing into the locker room. I looked at my options in the machine, quickly choosing a bag of chips, a thing of M&M's, a 3 Musketeer bar, and water.

After collecting my food, I made my way to the stands and plopped myself down. No one was out on the ice yet, so I took the time to admire the banners hanging from the rafters. They obviously had won a lot of championships. The flags had the years 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008, and 2011 each embroidered on them.

As I opened my bag of chips, some of the players started to trickle out onto the ice. One of the first ones I noticed was my brother, who still wore the number 89 like it was his job. I could've told you who he was without the number, though, because of the way he skates. I guess that's what I get for being at the rink with him all the time. I memorized how he favors his left leg, like I do. The specific movement he makes while skating backwards, etc.

The second one I noticed was a tall man, about 6'5 with skates, wearing the number 5. He had long, dark hair that poked out of his helmet in various places. He was beautiful. He must be a defenseman, I thought to myself as I kept my eyes trained on him. My eyes traveled downwards, quickly noting that he’s a lefty. His pants were a tad looser than normal, though I’ve seen it before, a common preference in some defenseman.

I focused my eyes back on his face. Only this time, he was staring right at me, smirking at the fact that he caught me checking him out. I flushed a dark pink color and pretended to find something interesting on the label of my chip bag. Way to go, Hanna. I sarcastically screamed inside my head.

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Twenty minutes after practice ended, my brother strolled out of the locker room. “Come meet the players, Han!” He gestured to follow him inside the hallway the lead to the locker room.

I shook my head furiously. “I can’t go in there!” I basically shouted. “I’m.. I’m a girl!”

“They aren’t naked anymore!” Cyrus laughed and ran a hand through his hair. “Trust me.”

I let out a sigh of relief. As long as I won’t be running into naked hockey players. I trailed him into the locker room, where 13 boys sat before me. This is every girls dream…

“Boys,” Cyrus beamed. “This is my little sister Hanson. Hanson, these are the boys.”

I face-palmed when he called me Hanson; I hated when people called me by my full name, hence why I went by Hanna.

The first to stand was a short, well short for a hockey player, blonde haired boy who looked no more than 18. He looked more my age than anything. “I’m Jonah Riley.” He introduced, sticking out his hand before adding. “So, Hanson, like the Hanson brothers?” He cracked a smile, showing near perfect teeth.

I sent him an awkward smile. “Yup, but I go by Hanna.” 

“Hanson is a cool name!” Said the second guy to stand up, whose name I later found out was Jack.

We went through each of the introductions, with me trying to memorize their face along with their name -which was a whole lot harder than it seemed. There was Jack Kelly, Liam Foster, Noah James, Oliver Wilson, Declan Lawrence, Sebastian Hughes, Chase Shelton, Ryan Harper, Josh Coleman, Brennan Harris, Blaze Andrews, and Jonah Riley. Not to mention most had nicknames, which I decided I would get to later.

The one name I was confident I wouldn’t forget was that of Jesse Taylor, aka beautiful number 5. As he shook my hand a small blush rose to my cheeks again, but I quickly averted my thoughts. Calm down, Hanna. You can’t let Cyrus sense your awkwardness.

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Once we finished introductions, the boys basically forced me to allow them to help me go out and buy some furniture. Cyrus was quick to agree, seeing as how he hates any kind of shopping. So the whole Boston Blades team and I casually made our way to the nearest furniture store... but only not as casually as I hoped. There was pushing and shoving and yelling and picking on and piggy back rides and even some skipping involved in our little trip.

When we arrived at the furniture store, Jack was the first to speak up. “Got any ideas on whatcha want, Hanson?”

I rolled my eyes as he called me Hanson. Well, I could really get whatever I wanted, seeing as how my parents were paying for all of it.. So why not make them pay? “Nope, none.” I smirked to myself as each boy grabbed a cart.

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I ended up picking out this really modern, white bedset. (Which was also one of the most expensive in the stores, but hell. My parents forced me here. I can get whatever I damn well please.) It came with a white bookshelf for my books, as well as a white desk for school, and a white nightstand.

I also picked out a purple comforter with matching curtains and some purple pillows. However, I picked out some white and black pillows to throw the color scheme off a little bit. Thus, causing me to get a black lamp shade and a beautiful painting with a purple/pinkish background and black swirls everywhere. I even bought a chandelier... Judge me.

After everything was said and done, the boys and I carted everything to my brothers’ apartment. Luckily, the furniture was still in boxes, so we could set it up once we were inside.

"Be careful with my furniture, boys." I chirped as I hoped out of my brothers truck and quickly grabbed my comforter. "Wouldn't want to break anything!" I sang, before skipping into the apartment and into the elevator.

"HANSON AUBREY HERRERA!" I heard my brother scream as the elevator doors slowly came to a close. Oh like I'd be able to carry anything, Cyrus. I thought sarcastically as I made my way up to our floor.

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Author's Note:

Hihihihihi!

I'm back!!! Sorry I haven't updated in, seriously, forever! I've been wanting too so badly, but Senior year is getting in the way of everything. Though I figured I should start up again soon, cause God knows if I'll be able to even find the time to write once I begin college next fall!

It's so crazy how I'm a Senior now!

Anyways, I hope you enjoy and I'll be - hopefully - starting another story as well as continuing this one. (:

Much love,

-G.