I Don't Want to Miss a Thing

My phone buzzed on my nightstand and I jerked awake. I looked around and saw that Kelsey wasn’t in yet. I grabbed my phone and saw that I had a text from Sidney.

Goodnight, I love you

I smiled and noticed that my face was wet. I must’ve been crying in my sleep. I really needed to talk to Sidney, I pressed the call button and waited for it to ring.

“Hello?” He yelled. I could hear loud music and laughter behind him.

“Hey do you have a second to talk?” I asked

“Yeah sure what’s up?” I could hear the noises die down, he must have gone outside.

“Listen I really need to know if this is going to work. I just had a dream that you were breaking up with me because we didn’t talk enough and I was only able to see you during my breaks.” I started crying again.

“Taylor, I understand that we won’t be able to talk as much as we use to. I want this to work, I really do love you. We will make this work, I promise.”

I sighed. “Okay that’s all I needed to hear. I’m sorry for bothering you.”

“You didn’t bother me. I’m glad we talked about this, even if just a little.”

“Me too. I’ll call you tomorrow.” I said

“I might not answer though because I have some promo thing.”

“That’s fine, I can leave a message.”

“That's fine, I'll just call you after. Go back to sleep, everything is fine.”

I sighed and brushed away the remaining tears that were stuck to my eye lashes. "Okay, I love you Sidney."

"Love you too, babe."

I shut my phone and placed it back on my nightstand. I looked at the picture of Sidney that he gave me and sighed. This is going to work.

On the twentieth of September I got a package from Sidney. I smiled as I pulled the tape off and saw there was a stuffed bear with a heart in its hand, a note, and a wrapped package. I pulled out the wrapped package and opened it. Inside was a heart shaped picture frame with one of my favorite pictures from the summer in it. We were at his parents' house and we were sitting in a chair watching the sun setting over the lake. I was half sitting on Sidney and he was kissing my neck. I was laughing with my arms wrapped around his neck. I smiled at the memory and at how happy we looked in the picutre. I placed it with the other picture that Sidney gave me for my birthday and then took everything out of the box. Just then Kelsey walked in and saw me smiling.

“What are you smiling at?” She asked

“My boyfriend sent me a package.” I told her.

“Aw, what’s in it?”

“A picture of us, a stuffed bear, and a note.”

“Aw, that’s too cute. Can I see the picture?” I bit my lip and nodded. She was becoming one of my closest friends and she had some rights to know about my relationship. I handed her the picture from Canada and waited for her reaction.

“Aw, you two are so cute together. What’s his name?” she asked, not surprised that I had a boyfriend

“Sidney.” I mumbled. She looked over at me and smiled and then looked back down at the picture. Her eyes flew to my face and grew quite large.

“OhmyGod, this is Sidney Crosby!” She half exclaimed, half gagged. I nodded. “How long have you been together?”

“Um.” I counted the time since we started dating. Oh my god it couldn’t be? Could it? I double counted and even pulled out my phone to check the date. Shit! “Six months!” That explained the package.

“You seemed surprised by that.”

“That’s because I am a bit surprised. I’ve been so busy that I didn’t realize what today’s date was.” I felt horrible, I didn’t get him anything.

“You didn’t get him anything did you?” She asked softly.

I shook my head slightly and sighed. I felt so bad, I needed to get him something. I put the unopened letter into my desk draw and grabbed my key. “I’m going to the mall.” I said as I walked out the door and towards the bus stop. As I was waiting for the bus I pulled out my phone and saw that I had a text that I didn’t know I had.

HAPPY 6 MONTHS! I <3 U

I smiled and responded.

HAPPY 6 MONTHS! I <3 U 2

I sighed I really had no idea what I was going to get him. What the heck do you get a guy for these types of things? I pulled out my phone and called mom.

“Hey Taylor, how are you?” My mom asked

“Stuck. I just remembered that today is our six month anniversary. Sidney sent me a package and I realized that I don’t have anything for him. What do I get him?” I asked chewing on my nail.

“I don’t know sweetie. You know him better than I do.”

“Ugh, okay thanks mom. I’m on the bus so I’ll call you soon. I love you.”

“Love you to sweetie.”

I walked through the mall for at least ten minutes just trying to come up with a gift idea. Finally I saw something that caught my eye and decided that would be the perfect gift. I headed to the store and bought his present.

****

Today was their six month anniversary and Sidney still couldn’t believe that they have been together for six whole months now. They had their moments when they would be upset with one another for not getting in touch, but they knew that it was going to be hard. They made it this far though and Sidney was hoping they could get another six months out of it. Since they hadn’t seen each other in while, Sidney decided to surprise Taylor. He was planning on taking her out on a nice dinner and just spending time with her because with preseason starting within the next week, there wasn’t going to be much more free time for him. As Sidney drove down the unfamiliar roads of Charlottesville, he couldn’t help but smile at the thought of Taylor’s reaction when she saw him. He missed her so much and this trip wasn’t just for their anniversary, but Sidney was also being selfish. He just wanted to hold his girlfriend in his arms again.

****

Back at the dorm I wrapped Sidney’s present and thought about what I was going to write to him. I didn’t want it to sound like I forgot, but I knew there was no way of hiding it. I took a piece of notebook paper out and started at it. Finally I decided to read Sidney’s before writing my own.

Taylor,
Happy anniversary. I miss you so much and I wish I could be there with you to celebrate. You’ll be happy to know that I finally framed some of the pictures that we took over the summer. My favorite one is the one that I sent you and I have one for myself sitting on my nightstand. That way I can see your beautiful smiling face before I go to sleep.

I smiled when I realized the Sidney was finally settling down and decorating his apartment. I also loved how the picture that he sent me was also his favorite. I could feel tears burning the back of my eyes. God reading this was making me realize how much I missed him. I faintly aware of Kelsey walking in and starting her homework as I continued to read the note.

I also haven’t changed the pillow case on your pillow…

I chuckled because I could see him blushing as he confessed that.

I cuddle with it every night, wishing it was really you. Oh so my black Reebok t-shirt with the blue trip is missing. Do you know where it is?

I smiled to myself because I could just see the smirk he would be giving me if we were face to face. Thinking of that smirk made my heart squeeze. I missed him so much.

I know you have it and that’s fine. So I don’t know how to end this. I don’t want to write about our friends or hockey because today is our day. So I’m just going to say that I love you and miss you SO much! I hope that we can make it another six months, because I really want to. Again, I love you and I hope to talk to you soon.
Love Sidney.

I smiled through my tears that were now running down my face and I folded the letter and placed it in my desk. I looked down at my paper and began writing.

Sidney,
I’m so sorry that this is late. I seriously lost track of the dates and didn’t realize what today was. Again I’m sorry =(. Yes, I do have your black shirt. I was using it as a pajama shirt, remember? Well I decided to keep it, that way you are sleeping with me.

I love the picture and I’m glad it’s one of your favorites too. It’s actually sitting on my nightstand too, next to the one you gave me for my birthday. I miss you so much and I…

My thoughts were interrupted by Kelsey getting my attention. “Taylor?” Her voice was quiet.

“Yeah Kels?” I asked, stretching my back.

“There’s someone at the door for you.” She smiled

“For me, really?” I didn’t know many other people on campus yet, so I was a bit confused. I got up and pulled my hair out of its ponytail. Kelsey was smiling at me from her bed and when I gave her a confused look, she just looked down at her psychology book.

I opened the door not knowing who to expect standing there. My eyes locked with a very familiar chocolate brown pair and my knees went weak, causing me to grab the door frame for support. His arms snaked around my waist and pulled me into his chest. I didn’t realize I was crying until he pulled away to wipe away the tears.

“Why are you crying? I though you’d be happy to see me.” Sidney chuckled

I laughed and smacked his chest. “Of course I’m happy to see you. I’m just surprised to see you.” I smiled up at him.

“Well that was the whole point.” He chuckled. God how I’ve missed his laugh.

“Come in and meet my room mate.” I grabbed his hand and pulled him in, shutting the door behind us. Sidney chuckled next to me as he took in the Caps half of the room and the Pens half of the room.

“Kelsey this is my boyfriend Sidney, Sidney this is my room mate Kelsey.” I said. Kelsey and Sidney shook hands and began to talk. They got along really well despite her ‘alliances’ as I like to call them.

“Well Sidney it was great finally getting to meet Taylor’s ‘amazingly wonderful’ boyfriend.” Kelsey stood, packing her bag in the process. “Tay, I’m going to go to the library to study and work on my thesis paper.” I knew what she was doing, she was giving me time alone with Sidney.

“Thank you” I mouthed as she smiled at me before walking out the door.

I sat on my bed and pulled Sid down next to me. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his side. “Happy anniversary,” he whispered, before placing a kiss on my cheek. I sighed and turned to face him. We didn’t say anything, we just sat there looking at each other. I was running my hand up and down his jaw line and he was doing the same to me. I found myself leaning into his hand and I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes again. “Taylor,” he whispered, leaning closer to me. I closed the space between us in no time. I couldn’t stand not being close to him. When his lips were on mine I let out a very content sigh. I’ve missed him so much. I moved my hands from his cheeks to the back of his neck where I played with the tiny curls that settled back there. Sidney let out a quiet groan and placing his hands on my hips, pulling me even closer. We haven’t kissed like this before, this kiss was filled with passion and time apart. It made my heart beat faster. When we finally broke the kiss, Sidney placed his forehead on mine.

“God, I’ve missed you Taylor.” He said, kissing me again lightly.

“I’ve missed you too, you don’t know how much.” I swallowed quietly. “There were so many times that I want to call you but I was just so damn tired. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize, I understand. That’s why I’m here, so we can spend some time together. I want to take you out tonight. Where do you want to go?” He asked as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

“Uh, there’s this really nice Italian restaurant about five minutes away. How does that sound?”

“Wonderful.”

I got off my bed and walked over to my drawers to grab a new shirt. Then I remembered his gift, I turned to my desk and took the box and note off and handed them to him.

“I’m sorry I’m giving these to you now.” I said

“Well today is the actual day so it works.” He smiled, taking the box from me. I turned back to my drawers because I didn’t want to see his face when he opened the gift. I had gotten him a gold locket and put a picture of us together on one side and a picture of just me on the other.

“I knew it!” He exclaimed with a chuckle. I heard my bed shift and then his arms were around my waist. “Where is it?” He asked

I chucked as I opened my top drawer and pulled out his shirt, “It’s the one that you gave me to sleep in that one night that I was too tired to look for my own shirt.”

“And you kept it?”

“Yes and I sleep in it every night. It makes me feel like I’m back in your arms.” I frowned at the shirt. “But it lost its smell about two weeks ago.”

Sidney chuckled as he stripped off the shirt he was wearing and pulled the black one on. I couldn’t help but smile at him. He was such an amazing boyfriend with an even more amazing body, which was a nice bonus. I remember the first night we got to the apartment and we were getting ready for bed, Sidney took off his shirt right in front of me like it was nothing. I think I actually dropped whatever I had in my hands and I could feel my mouth hanging open. Seeing his fit stomach and abs first hand is a totally different experience than seeing pictures on line.

Sidney was standing in front of me laughing at my expression. “Taylor are you still here?” He asked

I shook my head to clear the distracting thoughts. “Yeah sorry I was just thinking.”

“Are you ready to go?” He asked

“Yeah.” I grabbed my purse and key. I turned to him as we walked down the hall. “Did you like your gift?”

“Yes I did, it’s lovely.”

“It’s not to girly?”

“No, not at all.” He smiled. He grabbed my hand and followed me out the door.

We went to dinner and we talked about our friends and my school. Sidney talked about the season and what he was expecting the guys to look like. He told me that all the guys were back and they all wanted to see me again and hang out. That made me sad, I really wanted to see the gang again, especially Vero.

After dinner we went back to dorm and curled up on my bed and talked for another two hours. Finally it was time for Sidney to leave and I felt my heart breaking, I didn’t want him to leave. It was nice to finally get to talk to him in person. He got up off the bed and switched his shirts again. I smiled at when he handed me the black one back and I tossed it behind me so I could wrap my arms around his waist. We stood there just holding each other, I had my head resting on his chest and he was resting his chin on top of my head with his arms around my waist.

“I really don’t want you to leave.” I whispered

“I know and I don’t want to leave, but I have to get back to Pittsburgh because pre-season starts soon. I’ll call soon though, I promise” He kissed my forehead.

I nodded slightly and tightened my grip on his waist. He removed on of his hands from my back and placed it under my chin, lifting it up. He brushed a light kiss on my lips before pulling away.

“I love you Sidney.” I said

“I love you too Taylor. Happy six months.”

“Happy six months.”

I watched as Sidney walked down the hallway and out of view before going back into my room. Once inside I slid against the closed door to the floor. God it was nice to get to see him again, to be able to have him hold me. I sighed before getting off the floor and into my pajamas. I pulled Sid’s shirt on and smiled, it smelled like him again. I loved that he came to surprise me, but I wasn‘t sure if I was going to be able to handle the separation this time. I stuck my nose in the shirt and inhaled his familiar scent. I climbed into bed, hugging the bear that Sidney had sent to me. There were only a few more weeks until winter break.

A little while later Kelsey came back and her trip to the library turned into a trip to the mall. “So tell me about it.” She said throwing her bags on her bed.

“What do you mean?” I asked

“How was dinner?”

“It was nice. We talked about our friends back in Pittsburgh-“

“Whoa, I thought you said you were from here.” She said, confused

“I am.”

“The how do you have friends in Pitt? I know you’ve probably gone to a few games, but a couple hours isn’t really a lot of time to build a friendship.”

What the hell was that supposed to mean? Whoa why was I getting upset about this? Maybe I should explain some things to her. I chuckled lightly. “Kelsey, you and I became friends on my first day here, so it is possible.” I smiled. “Plus I spent the summer up there.”

“What exactly do you mean ‘spent the summer’?”

“I mean exactly what I said. I spent the summer in Pittsburgh.”

“Did you stay with Sid?”

I bit my lip and nodded. Kelsey let out a squeal.

“So you stayed with Sidney Crosby at Mario Lemieux’s place?! Two legends under one roof.” I couldn’t help but laugh. For someone who was a Capitals fan, she seem quiet interested in Sidney’s life.

“Um, actually I stayed with just Sidney.” I whispered.

“How?” Then I could see it click in her mind. “Ohmygod, you lived with Sidney didn’t you?”

“Yeah.” I smiled. “He actually bought an apartment so I could stay with him.”

After hearing that, Kelsey declared that tonight was going to be a stay up and talk night. She told me that she needed the details of everything. I found myself telling her about my relationship with Sidney and with the rest of the team. When I spoke about the guys she realized who I meant on the first day when I was talking about ‘these guys that I know’. I also told her about visiting his parents up in Cole Harbour.

“Taylor, I have one more question for you.” She said quietly from her bed.

“Hmm?” I was slowly falling asleep, all my emotions from today were catching up.

“Have you two slept together yet?”

I was suddenly wide awake. “No.” I said a bit sadly.

“You sound a little upset about that.” She chuckled.

“No I’m not. I mean I would like to eventually, but I’m not ready for that yet.”

“Don’t worry it will happen eventually. I’ve only met him once, but I can tell that you two really like each other.”

“We really do, but we are having some trouble getting use to the added distance. Before I was closer to him because I was close to D.C. Now I’m further from there.” I sighed. “After spending two months with him this feels like we broke up or something.”

“Don’t worry, you will get through this.”

“Thanks, Kels.” I yawned. “Night.”

“Good night.”