Toronto Love

3

I wake up late today, around 12:15 in the afternoon. When I opened my eyes, I forgot where I was and finally realized I'm in Detroit at Dylan Larkin's house. Before I went down stairs, I decided to get ready for the day. That means a nice shower, I wash my hair then when I get out, I have to blow dry it or it'll take hours to dry. I have big, long, curly, frizzy hair so I decide to straighten in and just leave it down, that's one thing I hardly do. I brush my teeth and put on light, natural, everyday makeup. I just threw some clothes in my bag since I'll be staying until Sunday so I have no idea what I have. I find a pair of black high wasted ripped jeans and a plain white sweatshirt. For the shoes, I put on a pair of white slip on vans, which are my go to shoe.
After I was finished getting ready, I make my way downstairs but no body is home so I sit on the couch to turn on the TV until someone comes through the door. It's Dylan with a bags and drinks in his hand.
"Morning. A little help" he says barging through the door trying to take off his shoes with everything still in his hand. I shoot up from the couch and grab the drinks out of his hand.
Starbucks.
"Iced Caramel macchiato with almond milk and extra caramel drizzle for you madam with birthday cake cake pops, a chocolate croissant, and a ham egg and cheese danish" he says handing me my breakfast.
"Awe, thank you Dyl. I was wondering where you went. Thank you.. you know me so well"

We sit at the kitchen island for about an hour just talking and eating our breakfast. Well it wasn't really breakfast because it was almost 1 pm but I just woke up so I call it breakfast.

My brothers Tyler and Ryan were going to come over since my dad was going to visit an old hockey friend of his and he'll meet us at the game later tonight. I am 20, Tyler is 27, and Ryan is 23 so you can tell who I'm closer with. Ryan. He graduated college from the University of Toronto last year and is still living in Toronto with a few of his friends, doing nothing with his major in Business. Tyler has a wife and they are living in London. He took a different route in life and didn't follow in our fathers footsteps as playing hockey. Ryan and I did which made my father proud. As your first child, especially a boy, you want them to be just like you, wanting to have the same interests in doing what you loved your whole life. But Tyler didn't.
My parents had gotten a divorce when I was 14 years old. I was at the age where I knew what divorce was and what was happening. I was the youngest also. It was just my mom and I as the only females in the house which was what I needed but it went a different way. She married another man who I didn't care for because I have my dad and he loves me. My mom moved to New York to be with him while my oldest brother went with her since he was 18 and Ryan and I stayed with my dad when we moved to philly. To this day, we still aren't as close. Sometimes she'll text me on game days but that's about it. I haven't seen her since last summer.

*beep, beep, beep* I hear the doorbell.
I know it has to be my brothers. I look on the cameras to see their goofy faces trying to look in and I open up the door.
"What did I tell you guys? Dylan's taking a pregame nap so I said to text me when you got here!" I said explaining over what I explained to them before.
They barge in and sit on the couch with me.
"So who you cheering for sis?" Ryan asks me knowing what I'll say.
"No one Ry. Who am I supposed to?"
"Well we both have on our Toronto gear on" he says pointing to their shirts and hats.
I roll my eyes. "I'm wearing this. All neutral to everyone. I'm cheering for everyone. I don't like to single teams out" I chuckle.
"Whatever" Tyler says. "What time are we heading out?"
"5:30" I confirm the time.

"Teagan come to the arena at 4:30" I received a text from Mitch that read that.
I looked up above his name to see the time, 4:18pm.
"Are you serious Marner... that's in 10 mins. And why would I come 3 hours before the game starts?? Dylan hasn't even left yet." I reply back. "I'll be there at 5" I text back right after the first one.
"That's what I thought. Text me when you're here."
"My brothers are with me now" I tell him so he's not oblivious to it. He says it's fine and tells me to meet him somewhere when I get there.

Before I left, I went over my hair again to make sure it doesn't frizz out again and stays straight. I throw on my shoes and we all 4 headed to LC Arena.
I've been questioning why Mitch wanted me to come see him before and why this early.

Pulling up to the players parking lot/ garage, there were many fans standing outside the gate to get a photo or an autograph from any of the players before they parked their cars and went in.
It wasn't time for them to go in the arena yet, so my brothers and I had to get passed security with Dylan by outsides. When we got in, Dylan gave us a little tour and introduced us to some of the players. My brothers decided to go up in the stands to see the view and take it all in before thousands of people come cramming in the seats.
"By the way, I'm here. Dylan's taking me to wherever you guys are. He said to meet us in the hallway. See ya in a few mins" I text Mitch letting him know I'm here 10 minutes after I had already arrived.

Dylan didn't want to go past the territory on this game day so Mitch has to come through the doors so he can get me and make sure security knows since I don't have a special pass or anything.
We started walking down the hall when I heard someone say my name. It was William Nylander, Mitch's teammate, who I met back last season. We actually text sometimes and became good friends.

"Your birthdays coming up isn't it?" Mitch says I think asking a question out of no where.
"Yess..." I groan. I never really cared for birthdays.
"Well, I have a few surprises I need to give to you now."
"No mitch. I don't want you to get my anything."
"T, you're turning 21. 21!! Only going to be and turn that once ya know.. too late. I already got you a few small things." He stops smiling at me nervously. "Okay so... in two and a half hours you will be singing the National anthem and dropping the puck to Larkin and I."
I give him a blank stare in his eyes. I have no clue what to think. He knows I sing and thinks I'm good at it but no one else does and I get super nervous. Dropping to the puck to my two favorite players is a dream so I would be honored to do that.
He can tell my heart is beating out of my chest, " no turning back T. It was hard for me to do this since I'm not a red wing but I did it. They already have everything set up and ready for You to do it." He emphasizes on the 'you'.
"I guess I can't say no can I? But I can just walk out of this building and never turn back. But for you I'll do it. Ugh I can't believe you're making me do this."
"I know you wouldn't like that present much so here's one I know you'd love..." he grabs an envelope from the back of his waste band on his shorts and hands it to me. "Open it."

I slowly tear open the back of the envelope and see 4 laminated tickets it looks like. I couldn't tell what it was until I started to read them.
"April 19th... Scotiabank Arena... 8:00pm... Drake... on my birthday" I started to cry.
Drake is my absolute favorite and not only because I'm from the 6ix. I couldn't believe they were V.I.P tickets. A meet and great and seats on the floor. Oh my gosh. I started crying and there was Auston again videoing me and him on Mitch's phone just like last surprise.
"How... Mitch, omg. I love you so much. Thank you" I say in between breaths, still not being able to breath. His birthday is May 5th and I'll never be able to make this up.
"Who? Who's going? There's four tickets.."
"Me, you, and two other people you want."
That made it even more special. During the season we really never see each other so being surprised with drake tickets and him being able to come is such an amazing thing.
"I have no game and when you guys win the Championship, it'll be over before then too. It couldn't have worked out any better" he tells me, giving me a hug.

I told everyone what Mitch had surprised me with after singing the national anthem which took everyone by surprise, even my self. After I sang, it was time to drop the ceremonial puck. Dylan Larkin to my left and Mitch Marner to my right. I drop the puck and we're all laughing cause Mitch said something. I give them both hugs and head off the ice down the carpet.

When I got to my seats, I noticed my dad, who I finally got to see and spend time with. I got to tell them where I'm going for my birthday.

Drake. This is going to be the best day/ concert of my life.

Pd 1: 2-0 Toronto
Pd 2: 2-1 Toronto
Pd 3: 4-1 Maple leafs win.
It was upsetting because I knew how Dylan would feel but I was also happy for Mitch. They're flying back tonight so after the game, I met up with him to say thank you again and say a see you later.

Going back home with Dylan was tough because you never know what to say after a loss. Especially a loss that bumped you out of even going to the playoffs.