Love Rivalry (A Gabriel Landeskog and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Fanfiction)

Chapter 16 - You Never Forget Your First (Part 2)

Ashley's POV

December 21st

We had been back in Edmonton for a little over 2 weeks. The difference between a Florida winter and an Edmonton winter was quite noticeable. You had constant 80 degree temperatures in Florida, with the sun always shining and the sky always clear and blue. But then there was Edmonton. It was a beautiful city in the winter. When the snow fell lightly, it would make for a perfect scene when looking into the downtown area. But there was always having to shovel all of the snow, as well as dealing with the freezing temperatures. But, aside from all of that, there was one constant, no matter which winter wonderland I was in, and that was Ryan. Ryan. The boy could simply do no wrong. He always put me first, even when I have told him not too, and that his career is more important. He was the definition of perfect.

I walked into the boys house, tossing my keys on the counter, and scampering into my safe-haven, Ryan's arms.

"Hi." I whispered into his ear, standing on my toes to do so. Ryan was a tall 6'1. I was a short 5'7.

"Hey." He said, wrapping his arms around my waist. He began swaying us slowly side to side, as if we were slow dancing, but there was no music, we didn't need it.

"I can't wait for tonight." He said to me, still swaying.

"Oh, I totally forgot about that! I'm so excited!" I said. I forgot that Ryan, Taylor, Natalie, and I were going downtown to the winter festival. They sectioned off an area to have it, in a massive park near the center of the city. There were rides, games, beautiful Christmas lights, and at the end, Ryan, Taylor, and a couple of the other guys from the Oilers, were going to light the giant Christmas tree at the center of the festival plaza. I couldn't wait.

"I don't know how you forgot. You were really excited when I told you."

"I know. But hey, I've had a lot on my plate the last few weeks. Which brings me to my next question. I need to get you one more gift for Christmas, what do you want?" I asked.

"Nothing. I have everything I could ever want within a 1 foot radius of me." He was so sweet. Everything he said melted my heart.

"Thank you, Ryan. But I'm serious, what do you want me to buy you?"

"I'm serious too. Nothing at all." I had already got Ryan a picture frame with a small collage of our favorite pictures together, and I got him new athletic shoes, because he was complaining about his falling apart to Taylor a couple weeks ago. I already told Ryan he couldn't spend more than $75 dollars on me, but I knew he broke that rule. He was so outgoing, he would do anything to make me happy, and honestly, it made me feel a little bad, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Ryan's POV

At around 3:00, I went to the grocery store to buy the food for Christmas dinner. I needed a turkey, stuffing, dinner rolls, various vegetables, and some booze. Quite the odd assortment of items if you ask me. I paid, put the food in the trunk of my car, and headed back home.

I walked into the the house and heard the light hum of Christmas music coming from the kitchen. I quietly approached in hopes of catching Taylor or Jordan dancing by themselves to Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You". But I was fortunate enough to see Ashley, my beautiful Ashley, dancing around the kitchen. Her blonde hair, which she straightened, rested on her shoulders as she moved with such elegance and grace. She twirled her way to every separate spot, grabbing things in one motion and continuing her silent monologue.

"I don't want a lot for Christmas, there is just one thing I need..." She sang the first verse. I never heard her sing before, but she had the voice of a choir of angels. I continued to watch, hidden from her sight.