Ready For Love : Tyler Seguin Fan Fiction

Seeing Tyler play for the first time

I remember the first time I saw Tyler play hockey. We were 7 years old. My dad had been coaching him for maybe half of their season already and my mom couldn't watch me that day. I think she had a meeting for work or something. My dad brought me to the game with him and even let me sit on the end of the bench next to the players. Tyler and I thought that was just the coolest thing. He was always trying to sit next to me and even when he was at the other end of the bench he would peak around his teammates to look at me once in a while. He had the biggest smile on his face, he always had the biggest smile on his face. This smile was extra cute because he was missing his two front teeth. He was thrilled about it. He kept saying, "now I look like a real hockey player."

Every once in a while my dad would come over to me and explain what was going on in the game. He always wanted me to understand, not just watch. I was just trying to take it all in. Tyler's speed was the first thing that I noticed. He was just able to skate through anyone. It seemed effortless, like it was second nature, like he didn't even have to try. It was obvious that he was better than all of the other kids out there but he didn't flaunt it. He just wanted to play and be a part of a team.

Me being there was a little distracting for him at first. I think he was trying to show off for me. He didn't need to. Even at 7 years old I already thought the world of him. My dad had to sit him down and have a talk with him about being focused and after that he payed more attention to the game. I think my dad had threatened to have me leave the rink so Tyler behaved. I remember being so captivated by him. When he was on the ice my eyes were on him and him only. At that young age he had such a great hockey mind already. I think his dad had a lot to do with that. They pushed him hard, but Tyler needed that, it has made him who he is today. He's one of the hardest working people I know.

In between the first and the second period I got to go into the locker room with my dad and the team and listen to him talk to them about what they did well at and what they need to improve on. What was so great about my dad as a coach is that he talked to them as if they were equals, not as little kids. They were young, but they understood the game enough to be talked to like people. I remember being so blown away by the whole experience. I saw a side to my dad that I really hadn't seen before and I was in awe of Tyler's talent.

My dad was sitting down with one of the more struggling players, talking to him, trying to boost his confidence, trying to give him the best advice he could, when Tyler came over and sat down next to me. I looked to my right where he had plopped himself down and smiled. "You're really good," I whispered as I leaned towards him. I guess I didn't want his other teammates to hear me.

"Thanks," he replied proudly, puffing out his chest a bit and smiling ear to ear.

"I didn't know before this."

"My mom says it's not polite to brag."

"She's right. That's good advice."

He smiled and I smiled back. I don't even know why we were smiling but even back then whenever he smiled I'd immediately smile as well. It was infectious even when we were 7 years old. He knew it too. He knew his smile could get him out of just about anything. Not that he was bad all that often, but it was a nice tool to have.

"I'm going to score next period and when I do you gotta put your hand out so when I skate by I can slap it, you know, like the pros do."

"Ok, Tyler."

I didn't even question him. I had no doubts that when he said he was going to score, he'd score. He picked his helmet up from the floor and rested it on his knee. He looked at me and held it in his hands. "Do you want to try it on?" he asked.

"Yeah sure!" I exclaimed as I held my hands out for him to give it to me. He giggled as he placed it on my head. It was a little sweaty but I didn't dare say anything to him about it. It didn't matter, though, he knew.

"Sorry it's all sweaty but it's ok because it's my sweat."

"I guess so."

I scrunched up my nose and lips in a little bit of disgust as reality started to kick in. His sweat was all over my face and hair. He almost fell off the bench laughing so hard. "Don't make that face, Amy! I'm not gross!"

"I know you're not but..."

Before I could finish my sentence my dad walked over and just stood in front of me holding his hand over his mouth, trying to hide his smile. "We have to get back out there. Give Tyler his helmet back."

I took the helmet off and handed it to Tyler and he put on his head. Tyler walked out of the locker room and to the bench. "Boys are disgusting, daddy," I whined as we followed not that far behind him.

He chuckled. "Just keep thinking that way until you're about 30, sunshine."

"Huh?" I asked, not understanding what he was getting at.

"You'll understand one day."

I looked up at him and smiled. "Ok, daddy." I didn't even need an explanation. I trusted that some day I would, and boy do I ever.

When we got back out to the rink I took my seat at the end of the bench, where I had been in the first period. I remember looking forward to seeing more of Tyler play. I couldn't wait to see him score. It didn't take long for that to happen. Tyler flew down the ice with the puck and skated through the whole team to score. He pumped his fist up in the air as his teammates gathered around him to congratulate him. As promised they skated down the line of players on the bench, slapping hands. I put my hand out and got slaps from most of them. Tyler got to me and slapped my hand. I could see the smile on his face through his cage.

That wasn't the only goal Tyler would score that game. He scored a few more, each time with a bigger smile on his face as he would skate down the line, slapping everyone's hands. It was very clear to me how dominant he was out there and it wasn't because the other kids were bad, he was just so good.

After the game I waited with Jackie and Paul for them to come back out after getting changed. The players started emerging from the locker room and we patiently waited for Tyler, who was the last one out along with my dad. He smiled once he spotted us and walked over to us and gave Jackie a hug after dropping his equipment bag to the floor. My dad walked over to me and put his hand on my shoulder.

"Did you have fun at the game, Amy?" Jackie asked as Tyler took his place next to her. He always stayed close to her.

"Yeah, Tyler is really awesome."

"What about your dad as coach? Aren't I awesome to?" my dad teased.

I giggled as I looked up at him. "Of course you are, daddy." I look over at Tyler. "But Tyler's my favorite hockey player."

"What do you think Sundin is going to think about that?" he asked.

I laughed. "Silly, daddy, he doesn't know me."

He chuckled. "No, I suppose not."

Tyler smiled wide. "You hear that mom? I have a fan."

"You have lots of fans, Tyler, but she's more than just a fan don't you think?," she said. She always made sure to keep him grounded when it seemed like he was getting a bit too full of himself.

"I know. She's my best friend." He walked over to me and gave me a big hug. I squeezed him back. Tyler always used to hug me and I loved his hugs. He didn't care that he was a boy and I was a girl. It was something that he would do and it always made me feel so good. I bet they made him feel good too and that's why he continued to do it. Then he did something that none of us expected him to do, he kissed me. It was an innocent, barely kiss on the lips, a tiny peck. But it was a kiss nonetheless, my first kiss. I remember feeling myself blush and looking down at the ground, not sure how to feel about it. I didn't hate that he did it. He did it out of love. Everything he does is out of love.