Making it

Dancing in the Rain

Slowly I pulled into the parking lot of a fancy restaurant. The name was constantly slipping my mind...it had to be something French, all the nicest eateries had European names. Probably because it added just that extra boost of class.

Tonight is where I will be officially meeting the 5 NHL players that will be participating in the tour. Besides myself the only other people representing TSN will be my boss, and a handful of executives.

I take a second to look at my reflection in the rear view mirror beside me. All I see is someone who looks extremley nervous, and nothing else. I've always thought of myself as just an average looking person with plain brown hair, dull light skin, and grey eyes. I didn't really look like a front desk reporter, and my voice was pretty low.

What if I cut my hair and then people mistook me for a man and started calling me 'Hal'?

I was nervous. This always happened when I got nervous, I'd start to nit-pick at everything, trying to knock myself down until I was too weak to keep going. It takes me a moment before I can get everything together, remembering that I deserve all the credit for the hard-work and determination that has brought me to where I am today.

Immediately after I pull the key out of the ignition it starts to rain heavily. Just my luck.

I stumble out of the car and slam the door shut. Instantly my shoes are filled with a puddle of water and I curse under my breath. How much of a great impression I'm going to make if I'm soaking wet. And even better: this had been a clean and brand new suit. With that I shrug off my jacket and hold it over my head, if I can just manage to keep the skirt and blouse dry....

A sleek black car zooms out in front of me and I see it coming.... A huge splash of water which ends up leaving me sopping wet. So I stand there, frustrated. Then I start to feel the heat of my own anger bubble up. Whoever did this deserves a good talking to so I head in the direction that the car had.

And then I see it....No, it's someone. 

They're making a path towards me, quickly drawing nearer. I squint to see if I can make out a face. All I see is the umbrella hanging over their head.

The figure keeps walking...

It's a man, and he seems to be wearing a suit. Looking at him all dry...it pisses me off. I start to hope it's not one of my co-workers or friends because at the moment have half the mind to scream.

"I'm so sorry, a-are you alright?" He calls to me.

Now he's almost directly before me and I can see the details of his face clearly. I become immediately floored with shock. Standing before me is none other than Jonathan Toews.

"I'm fine." I say in a huff.

He looks at me, his brown eyes studying, trying to find a better answer. I look for some words to put together....

"....Well this isn't the best first impression." I think out loud.

He looks at me and laughs a little, before analyzing what I've just said.

"Wait, are you with the TSN guys?"

"Yeah. I'm the one that's going to be traveling with you, and I suppose this wasn't exactly the best way for us to meet." Word Vomit. That's what happening, nothing going through my head is being revised. I'm just standing in the pouring rain, staring daggers at some hockey player I barely know.

"Oh, my gosh. I need to get you inside, I'm so sorry, Ms.Watson." Jonathan says with a look of honest remorse.

"....So, I have to go in there now, wet from head to toe. Great, I might as well just tell my boss that I'm not good enough. I'm never freaking good enough am I? I came here to smooch with the executives and flirt with some hockey players. Now look, I can't even get into the restaurant without making a mistake. Perfect, fucking, perfect." I say looking him straight in the eye. I can tell he's taken aback. I guarantee no lady has ever spoken such harsh words in front of him. Let alone some woman he barely knows.

"I don't know what to say exactly...It's obvious you're having a bad day, but there's nothing else I can really do...I promise that it wasn't intentional." He says with a hint of annoyance. This when I realize how unfair I'm being. I really shouldn't be giving him such a hard time, especially because I'm going to be spending over a month with this guy and I'm not really getting off on the right foot.

"Erm..Right. I, uh. I apologize for being such a dick, I mean, jerk...Do you think we could start fresh?" I say sincerely.

He nods at me, slowly letting a smile creep across his face.

He doesn't seem like the kind of person who smiles often. I return his smile, as if it's infectious.

We walk towards the restaurant under his umbrella. It's not long before I trip on my own feet and mutter, "Balls!".

This night was only beginning.