The Train Ride That Changed My Life

Part 6: MSG Alexis

All around me, people were cheering and screaming Mats's name, as hats of all colors fell down to the ice like rain. A few minutes later, the final buzzer rang out, and the Rangers beat the Bruins, 4-1! The crowd roared, and after a few minutes, jubilant fans began to file out of the stadium. I dug through my bag and found my exclusive-access pass that Mats had given me, and started walking toward the locker room. I couldn't wait to see him!

*******

Mats was waiting by the locker room door when I got there. He was wearing the infamous Broadway hat, the decrepit little black fedora that was given to an outstanding player after every win, and had a huge smile plastered on his face.

"Great hat trick! That was amazing!" I told him.

"Thanks Alexis!", he said. "Come right in!"

As I followed Mats inside, I noticed how huge the room was. It was furnished with a blue rug with the Rangers logo on it, and the ceiling was tall. Wood cubbies held each players' gear, each one decorated with their players' number. Mats lead me to his cubby, and we sat down on the bench inside of it.

"So, what do you think?" he said, grinning.

"This is amazing!" I replied, truthfully.

"I'm glad you like it!" he exclaimed.

"I don't get it though. Why would someone as famous as you invite me down here?" I mused.

Mats grinned sheepishly. "Because I have something to tell you. Follow me." My heart skipped a beat. What was this about?

Mats lead me down a narrow hallway past the locker room, and sat down. I did too. He took a deep breath.

"Alexis, by now you must have realized that you are different than the other fans to me.", he said.

I nodded, unsure of what he was going to say next. "Yeah. I get the impression that you don't normally bring fans to the locker room to hang out with you." I winked at him. He laughed.

"Anyway, ever since I met you last week, I couldn't stop thinking about you. And... well... this probably sounds outrageous, but I think I'm in love with you." He blushed profusely.

A feeling of incredible happiness spread all over me. Ever since Mats joined the Rangers, I had been obsessed with him. I had always had these crazy thoughts that we would end up dating or whatever, and now my seemingly preposterous notions had actually come true. I resisted the urge to scream out of glee.

"Well", I said, struggling to keep my composure, "I was thinking the same exact thing".

And then he hugged me- the best feeling I have ever felt in my life.