Here's One From the Heart

XI

The game had ended almost 45 minutes ago by now, with the Rangers winning 2-1.

I showered, did a quick interview, and rushed outside to meet Rayne by my usual parking space.

Only to arrive with Rayne nowhere to be found. I waited for another generous ten minutes, before declaring it all a lost cause.

Sighing, I hopped into my truck and hung my head over the steering wheel. I wasn't sure whether to be angry, or upset. Or maybe I deserved it. Maybe - just maybe - everything she said to me that day was true.

I'd never really met a girl full of such self-respect as her; and maybe this was just a taste of my own medicine.

Those girls, the ones who take up no more than one night of my life, meant less than nothing to me. It came so easy to me; to love them, then leave them the next morning.

But with Rayne, it was a completely different story.

Somewhere between her long, chestnut hair, and her crystal blue eyes, I fell hard. The feeling in my heart when I saw her, hit me harder than any check to the boards ever did.

It was hard to believe, really; a simple American girl, who worked a modest job at the Capitals' store, could steal this "hotshot" Czech hockey player's heart.

In what seemed to be a single moment, she went from just another face passing me by, to being the face I wanted to wake up to every morning.

I adjusted the rear view mirror, until I was staring directly into my own eyes. "What exactly did you expect, Jakub? You knew she wouldn't show." I asked myself, furrowing my eyebrows in anger.

"You got what you deserved. I didn't try. I didn't fight. Had I just swallowed my pride and told her how I felt, I wouldn't be in this goddamn mess."

Instantaneously, a tear snuck from my eye. I wipped it away aggressively, putting my truck in gear.

-

Rayne's POV

I had decided, in the spur of the moment, to crash Blayze and Oliver's monthly date night. The game had ended about two hours ago by now, but Blayze and I stuck around to tidy the store a bit.

And, for fear of running into Jakub, I decided hiding away in the gear store would be the best idea.

"Please don't take this the wrong way," Blayze started, returning the last few items to their proper places, "I don't mean to sound harsh in anyway - because you know I love you to death, but don't you have anything better to do than crash date night?"

"Usually," I teased, "But Sydney and I aren't exactly on speaking terms still, and Max is still out of town-"

I was interrupted by Blayze's silent eye roll.

"Yes?" I sighed.

"You're still screwing around with that... Asshead?"

"Yes." I replied simply.

"Why can't you see what I see? He's such a-"

"If we could stay off this topic, that'd be great." I growled, slamming my locker shut. Our conversation had led us all the way to the break room.

"I know, I know," he sighed, "You just- you know how I feel about him..."

I sighed, slinging my purse over my shoulder. "Can we just go?"

I stormed off ahead of Blayze, trying to tune out his distant chuckles. He always seemed to get some sort of high from pissing me off, and although I knew what he was trying to do, I'd always fall for it.

I was so angered, I walked right past Oliver's van.

"Sweetie," Blayze called, laughing. "That car's here."

I was only a tad embarrassed, backtracking and getting into the vehicle silently.

"Where are we headed tonight?" Blayze asked, intertwining his fingers with Oliver's in the driver's seat.

"You'll see." Was all he said.

I sunk deeper into the backseat, biting my thumbnail and watching the lights pass by. The two of them seemed so happy, I observed, watching them in the front. Although I had a boyfriend myself, things weren't feeling the same between the two of us. He was gone all the time, and I'd finally grown tired of Max's cheating, right under my nose.

And of course, we can't forget the 6-foot-something, Czech hockey player in the room... That's right, Jakub Vrana. He wanted me, and that completely changed the game.

For the first time in my life, other people's happiness made me sad.

"We're here!" Oliver sing-songed, jumping out of the car faster than I'd ever seen anyone go in my life.

I watched through the window, as a larger grin crawled across Blayze's face as he slide out of the vehicle.

I was the last one out, taking my time.

"This is where we had our first date..." His voice trailed off, "We haven't been here in ages."

It was then, that I remembered... I was interrupting their two-year anniversary. A sudden pit grew in my stomach, and without a word, I followed them into the lounge.

I had quickly became a distant memory of theirs, as they headed off to their own table, to do their own thing. I sat at the bar, hanging my head, and refusing to make eye contact, even with the bartender taking my order.

From across the room, I heard that all-too-familiar accented voice; only this time, it was angered and slurred.

"What the hell are you doing here?" He stood up from his booth, "What? Are you following me now? I get it, you didn't want to see me tonight. You'd rather sit alone."

"Jakub, you don't get it-" I cried.

I had no idea he was going to be here. I planned on getting out with my friends, to ponder the whole situation.

"I-I think I've finally won you over," He smirked, drawing closer to me, until placing a passionate kiss upon my lips; much more passionate than any other previous kiss.

"You can't regret something you won't even remember in the morning."