The Train Ride That Changed My Life

Part 4: New York Alexis

"Ugghhhh", I groaned as my alarm went off. Groggily I sat up and looked at the clock. 5 AM, it read. I sighed and reluctantly got out of bed. The only thing I don't like about law school is waking up early. Classes don't start until 7:30, but since there aren't any dormitories on campus, I have to take the 6:45 subway. Then I have to walk two blocks to get to class. I peer out the window and am instantly dismayed. Low, gray clouds hang over the city, as a light, slushy drizzle falls. It's the first week of December, and the weather has been cold and wet. I sigh again and hope that the rain will clear up for the game tonight.

Until now, I nearly forgot about the game tonight, the one that Mats wanted me to come to. He even gave me a paper to access the locker room and to go see him after the game. I'm still confused as to why he invited me, of all people. I only just met him this week! However, I've been given the chance to befriend my favorite Rangers player and my favorite hockey team, so I'm ecstatic (and a little nervous) about tonight. There has to be an extraordinary reason for a famous hockey player like Mats to want to see an ordinary fan like me again...

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After a long day of classes, I trudge back to my apartment at 5 PM. All day I have been thinking about the game... Excitedly, I dig through my drawers and pull out my Zuccarello jersey that I got as a birthday present in October, and my American Eagle skinny jeans. Twenty minutes later, I walk to Subway and eat inside. After that, I enter the stadium and get my seat-which is right behind Henrik Lundqvist. Soon, the players skate onto the ice for warmups, and Mats sees me and waves to me. I wave back. The opposing team, the Bruins, comes out to warm up, too. Before I know it, the first faceoff starts...