I Hope You Dance (Artemi Panarin)

Something Special Theory

Gabriella

"Come on Hank, time to go in your room" I say calling him over. He silently walks from Artemi back to me and I put him in my office. I call it his room so he didn't feel so put down when he has to go in there.

I come out and grab my purse and Artemi smiles up at me.

"Are you ready" he asks.

"As ready as I will ever be" I sigh. He grabs my hand and it made me settle down yet feel so excited at the same time.

We haven't been real touchy, I'm not sure if that's normal or not or if I shlould be worried or not. According to Freud it's normal to be confused by strong feelings when it comes to relationships and according to Jung physicality has little to do with relationships. But I can read all the theories and ideas and that won't help because they aren't me, they haven't seen the things I've seen and experienced the things I've been through, lucky for them. I wasn't sure what to expect or what to do and that's what scared me.

"Hey" Artemi says snapping me out of my long train of thought that was well on its way of being derailed into a mountain. "I know you're scared, but I got you. I'm not going to hurt you" he insists. I nod slowly until he smiles causing me to smile. I couldn't help it.

We drive over to the United Center and he parks in the garage. He gets out the car and grabs some things before coming to me with red material in his arms.

"Here" he says handing it to me and I lift it up. It was a Blackhawks jersey with his name on the back.

"What is this for" I ask.

"For you to wear tonight... only if you want" he insists.

"I love it, thank you" I smile and he visually lets out a breath.

He leads the way and I follow him into the building. He shows me the underside of the UC, the parts I was allowed in at least, and then the main concourse. He gives me a card to get food at the concessions stands and I didn't drink so I didn't need a wristband with it. He takes me down to the ice and I gape at it for a while.

"Wow" I gasp.

"Pretty cool huh" he asks.

"It's incredible. Are you nervous" I ask.

"A little. But I can't let the darkness of fear dim the light" he says. I turn to look at him and see that he was already looking at me. My heart rate kicks up and he moves so he's right beside me. He turns to the ice and I do to.

"I've always dreamed of this. Playing for the best hockey team in the nhl. Sure, I haven't done anything yet but just being here is a honor in itself. So many people try to come to the nhl from where I'm from and a select few have made it. I was just a little kid from korkino who loved to skate, now I'm here to prove myself as a athlete" he sighs.

"You don't have to prove your worth. Your talent and skills, those come naturally. You can't force those things therefore you can't force to show them. I don't know a lot about hockey, but I do know a lot about personality. I know that the nhl is the largest stage to showcase your personality. So I think if you go out there, and be yourself, everything you want to prove will be known" I explain. He moves closer to my and studied me. I hold my breath as I feel his eyes search me.

"You... are so incredible" he replies softly and I slowly let out the breath I was holding.

"Thank you" I blush and he smiles.

He shows me around the rest of the place and we end up outside the boxes.

"Here's your ticket. It shouldn't be too crazy in here, it's mostly family or the players who aren't playing tonight while they figure out the roster. So you can even sit here by yourself and not talk to anyone if you want. Don't forget to get some food and most importantly have fun" he smiles and I giggle.

"Of course. Thank you again. And good luck" I nod.

"Thanks, I'll see you after the game" he asks.

"You're my ride, I don't really have much of a choice" I laugh.

"Right, see you then" he says walking away. He disappears down the hallways and I realize I'm alone in this strange place. Just great.

I walk over to a table by the window and set up shop there. There was a complimentary water bottle there and I decide that it wouldn't hurt. I take a big gulp and hear my phone vibrate from my purse. Who could that possibly be?

I take my phone out and see I have a message from a unknown number.

Hey, this is Jonathan's girlfriend, Lindsey! Are you the cutie in the Panarin jersey by the window?

Not how I imagined being greeted by a stranger but cute none-the-less. I type back a response before slipping my phone back in my pocket.

I think so 😂

A few seconds later I feel a tap on my shoulder and I turn to see a blonde girl with blue eyes and a black jacket on. She wore a bright smile and it made me feel warm inside.

"You're Gabriella, right" she asks.

"That's me" I nod.

"Yay I found you! Let me be one of the first to say welcome, although this is a preseason game you'll never be able to tell once this place fills up" she laughs.

"How many people does this place hold" I wonder.

"22,000 and at least 21,000 of them are hawks fans" she tells me and my eyes go wide. Thank god I was up here.

"Wow... that's a lot" I admit.

"Yeah, but they're good people. As long as you're wearing Chicago stuff at least" she shrugs.

"How long have you been with Jon" I ask as she joins me at the little table I was occupying.

"About three years. We've kept it on the down low for the sake of privacy but it's been pretty fun" she admits.

"Jonathan is a beautiful soul. I can't say what we talked about but he is very fond of you" I assure her.

"That's very sweet of you to say. He's my favorite person for all the right reasons. And you've helped him so much, I hope you know that. He's never going to leave you alone because he love having his brain picked and learning things about himself" she laughs.

"Don't I know it. I know him just about as well as I know anyone" I admit.

We continue to talk a little and she was right, the place filled right up. I watch as they take the ice for warmups and stand in amazement. Their movements were so graceful and fluid, like rain washing down a drain. Their cuts and turns were so crisp and effortless, it was infatuating.

"Woah" I gasp as they just warm up.

"Is this your first Blackhawks game" she wonders.

"It's my first game of any kind honestly" I admit.

"Really? You've never been to a sporting event before she gasps.

"Nope. I don't leave my house a lot" I shrug.

"Well you're in for a treat. I'll explain it all to you. You're really smart, it won't be too hard" she assured me.

We get some food then return to the table. More people come in and some say hi to Lindsey. She introduced me to more people but I kept to myself most of the time.

At one point of the game three of the other guys came skating towards Artemi. My chest tightens because it looked like they were all going to smash him. But he alluded all three of them while never losing the puck before skating off unharmed.

"Holy shit, if I knew hockey was this cool I would have gotten into years ago" I laugh.

"That... that wasn't normal. I grew up watching hockey and I've never seen that before. That was something special" she admits.

I nod but I knew it wasn't what he was doing that was so special. It was him... he was something special.