The Hockey Life - A Patrick Kane Fanfic

Part Thirty-One - Getting Closer

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE: GETTING CLOSER

After Valentine’s Day, things really took off, and in more ways than one. For one thing, the end of college was getting closer and closer, which meant I needed to get some hands-on experience with athletic and personal training. Not only was it part of my grade for a class, but it would help me get a job quicker and easier once I was done with school completely.

At first, I had planned on doing some work back home. I quickly found out that a lot of people didn’t want me working with them when I hadn’t officially graduated yet. Seeing it on paper that I had a degree was important. But back home, everyone knew me. They trusted me, and they would let me work with them. Of course, the traveling would be a pain, so it would mostly happen on weekends. Luckily, though, I didn’t have to resort to only working on weekends and traveling an hour there and back.

I was reading in my room a little over a week after Valentine’s Day when I got a phone call. The number on the screen was unfamiliar, but it seemed to be a Chicago number. I was always hesitant to answer calls from people who weren’t in my contacts, but I did anyways.

“Hello?”

“Hello Lena, this is Brad Stanford.” I was delighted to hear the familiar voice.

“Hi Brad! How are you?”

“I’m very well, Lena. I’m assuming you are too?”

“Yeah, I’m great.”

“That’s good. Well, I’m sure you’re wondering why on earth I called, so I’ll get right down to it. As I told you and Dylan, doing so profoundly well in the Blackhawks internship program has its perks. I told you that you’d be invited to work with us again and join us for events and I haven’t invited you to do anything like that yet. However, I hear that you’re searching for athletic and/or personal training experience, is that correct?”

“Yes, it is,” I answered. I had a good feeling about where the conversation was going.

“Well, I know you got a little experience during your time at the United Center, but of course, it wasn’t enough for someone who is serious about going into a career in the field. I’ve talked to our trainers and they have agreed to have you work with them. I’ve seen you in action before and I’ve heard about your progress in school so far, and it’s given me confidence that you’ll do well. Now, this isn’t a job offer, per say. There’s a technicality that you need a degree for that, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t work in an environment with certified trainers tutoring and helping you. I know you want and need the experience to be able to get a real job in the field in the future, so just think of it as an extension of your internship,” Brad said.

“Wow, Brad. That’s an amazing thing for you to do for me. Are you really sure about this?”

“Of course I’m sure! You already know everyone here and they all know you. Plus, I’m sure Patrick won’t complain about getting to see you all the time again. He talks about you enough already,” Brad said. I blushed at his comment about Patrick. I was glad he couldn’t see it. “So, what do you say? Would you like to work with our trainers again?”