Drop The Puck, It's Time To Go

Chaos, that is one way to describe yesterday.

No worries, no hatred, no depression, just hockey and friends. Well, except for the Canadiens, they were still assholes as usual. Plus Jake, there was still that issue to. The chaos and excitement was gone the minute I opened my eyes and reality hit me. My arms looked nasty and hurt from Jake, the other aches in my body were just from the intensity of the game, which was a good feeling. The arms? They were just an aching reminder of what still lingered out there, how that past always loved to creep its way back. Groaning, I rolled over and noticed that Tuukka wasn’t there and I sighed, staring at the ceiling, thoughts already racing in my head.

Jake
Mom
Price…yeah, Carey Price…how do I interpret yesterday?

Sighing in aggravation, I rolled out of bed and exiting the bedroom to notice that the whole apartment was quiet and empty. Confused, I went to make myself coffee, wondering where Tuukka was. Staring emptily at the Keurig machine waiting for my coffee to spit out, my phone began to buzz across the counter. Looking at it I slowly picked up the phone not bothering to see the caller ID.

“Hello?” I answered, thinking it was probably Tuuk.
“Roxy!” Nope, it was Ben.
“Hey Ben.” I said dully, still trying to wake up and irritated at my racing thoughts and not knowing where Tuukka was.
“Did I wake you?”
“No, reality did.”
“Huh?”
“Nothing. So what’s the occasion of the call?” I grabbed my finish coffee and carried it over to the bowl that held Marchy. Marchy the goldfish just looked at me pathetically as I gave him a little bit of fish food.

That reminds me, have to ask Ben how he got him in.

“Well, 1) I feel its been forever since I can sit down and chat with you, 2) you played one HELL of a game last night and I want to see you, 3) You have nasty bruises on your arm that have alerted your protective brothe-”
“Tuuk isn’t beating me if that’s what you’re thinking.” I cut in; quickly putting that straight if my brother even dare thought that. Ben laughed.
“Damn are you defensive of him. No, I wasn’t accusing him of doing that, far from it. I also need to discuss Mom with you.”

Collapsing on the coach, I groaned. Not only was I going to have to tell my brother about Jake but also had to talk about Mom and deal with that. Tuukka, where the fuck are you? I need some stress relief!

“Dammit, got to get all of this done and over with then, alright, where do you want to meet?” I asked.
“Meet me at Faneuil Hall, we can walk and talk there.”
“Alright, let me just get dressed and leave a note for the missing goalie.”
“Where is Rask?”
“That is a good question…” I muttered, looking out the window.

*****

Moving away from the wall, the familiar figure continued to hold a clever smile on his face. Slowly, Rask turned and met the snake-like eyes of Jake Ramos, Rask glaring at him once it registered.
“Yeah, now I do…” Rask snapped, looking around to see if anyone would notice if he beat the guy’s ass to unconsciousness.

Jake chuckled, flicking his cigarette away and the remains smoldering on the pavement, smoke slowly curling around and blowing away with the gentle breeze.
“I was wondering if I was even going to bump into you. It always seems to be someone else who comes to rescue dear, pathetic Roxanne. What’s with that? Don’t care about her that much?” Anger, anger was what was bubbling away in Rask’s gut. He’s not worth it. He’s just getting under your fucking skin, it’s slowly working but don’t allow it.

“I care about her, care about her a lot actually. Something you wouldn’t understand because you’re a low, sulking asshole that beat her down for your own fucking gain.”
“I don’t care.” Jake scoffed. “Caring is a weak emotion. You start caring and before you know it, you start getting walked all over. Steven Kasar, the dead asshole, cared about the relationship of me and Roxy so much it ruled him and in the end it killed him and Roxy pattered her way here and just caught your little attention. She’s nothing but issues, bad luck, and a headache.”
“You’re the headache, bad luck, and issue Ramos. I can’t let what you did to her slide by, what your still doing to her. You almost killed her.” Jake snorted at that.
“Almost killed her? She’s weak and pathetic and breaks too easily.”

Rask stepped closer to Jake.
“She’s weak and pathetic? Strong words coming from someone who can’t seem to win any fight he’s gotten his stupid ass into.” Jake’s eyes darkened.
“How the fuck would you know? We’ve just met.”
“We might have just met but it feels like I’ve known you for quite awhile. It seems like every day I have to wake up to see some bruise on her left behind by you. I swear to god Ramos, stay the fuck away from Roxanne. Don’t go near her and don’t you fucking put another hand on her again.” Jake raised his eyebrows at Rask, a cocky smile emerging on his lips.

“Can’t promise that, she’s kind of irresistible, being such an easy target.”
“Thought you said she was nothing but a bundle of issues, bad luck, and a headache.” Jake laughed at Rask.
“Oh she is, until you cover her mouth to shut her up as you use her for the only thing she’s good for.”

That was it, Rask couldn’t take it anymore. That was one insult to many on his girlfriend and he couldn’t take it anymore. Punching Jake hard in the face, he then grabbed the collar of the asshole’s shirt and threw him to the ground.
“Don’t fucking mock about that, at all. Don’t fucking talk about Roxanne like that at all. One more shitty thing out of your mouth and I wont care what scene it causes, but I’ll dump your pathetic ass into the Boston Harbor.” Rask punched Jake in the face again, backing away and began to walk away before he found himself following through with his threat.

“Really man?” Jake called out. “Roxanne isn’t worth protecting that much. You better be careful or in the blink of an eye she might suddenly not be there anymore.”

Bullshit Ramos.

*****

“How long can I live this way, is there someone I can pay to let me go, 
'cause I'm half sick of shadows, I want to see the sky, everyone else can watch as the sun goes down, so why can't I?” I walked off the T at Government Center singing softly to Emilie Autumn, snuggling deeper into my jacket and Bruins scarf as a blast of sharp, cold February air cut into me as I left the warm subway. The wide open brick park at the feet of Boston’s City Hall. I looked up at the abstract architecture of the building before me as I meandered through bodies towards Faneuil Hall.

I started up one of the flights of stairs and noticed a familiar figure at the top staring up at the City Hall in deep thought. Smiling lightly, I walked over and stood next to my brother and looked up at the building with him.
“Wishing your name was on this?” I joked. I saw a smile grace Ben’s lips.
“Had to draw this building sophomore year, it was such a bitch but the picture came out great. I think I kept it somewhere…” Ben sighed and shook his head. “So long ago, look at how much time has passed and what has happened.”

I looked around at my surroundings, knowing exactly what Ben was talking about. If someone told me ten years ago that I was going to become a forward for the Boston Bruins, dating the goalie I admired, become best friends with my favorite players, and deal with shit like Jake, my dad, and mom…I would have just laughed in their face and tell them to lie off the drugs for they were really overdosing themselves!
“Yeah…we’ve seemed to have witnessed every single thing life can throw at you in a matter of what? Twenty-six years?”
“Soon going to be twenty-seven for me and twenty-three for you.”
“Too true.” I stated. “But that’s in future, we’re here to discuss other shit.” I said, nodding towards Faneuil Hall, a place that no matter what temperature it was outside, was always clambering with people and music.
“And discussing we have to do…”

Together, me and Ben emerged into the crowds as we discussed last night’s insanity.
“I still need to know though.” Ben said, after I finished explaining what went down with the huge on ice brawl that broke out. “Where did those bruises come from.” He lightly poked my upper arms and I flinched a little, signaling he hit them.
“Jake…” I muttered. I sensed my brother going rigid at the sound of that.
“Jake’s still around?” I nodded.
“He is.” I looked around at the crowds entering and exiting Quincy Market carrying shopping bags from all the shops surrounding the brick plaza. “He could be chilling around here as we speak. But yeah, he found me outside the TD and those bruises are from him holding on hard to me.”

Ben stopped walking and was shaking a little.
“He…what?” He whispered. “Couldn’t you get some security officer to help you? That’s full out assault! Did he do anything more?”
“He forced his tongue in me…” I said. “And that’s when I got rescued and Jake slithered off to some hiding spot.” Ben must have been seeing red, he looked so pissed off and for good reason.
“Who came to your rescue? Was it Rask? I hope he gave a good beating.” I opened my mouth then slowly closed it.
“Well, Rask didn’t come to my rescue. Someone I least expected and that’s where I have another dilemma coming in. It was Carey Price who helped me out.”

My brother’s anger turned into extreme shock.
“Price did…?” I nodded my head.
“Yeah, it was Price. It was all really awkward.” I then explained to my brother about the whole thing (minus Tuukka attacking my face, that’s just personal) and then told him about the spider scene and my uncertainties.
“We’re rivals Ben, he hated me during Super Skills. Now we were acting like we were acquaintances last night, I don’t know how I feel about this. I HATE THE CANADIENS, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM!” That got a lot of stares in my directions and whispers. “The team Canadiens guys, I’m not racist.” I announced to the world before going back to talking to just Ben.

“Nice.” He stated to my scene before returning to my original dilemma. “Look Roxy, its just how shit works. Look at you and Erika now. You started out with beating each other faces in to hugging every second you could get. Look at her even, she’s friends with not only every single member of her team but her team’s biggest rival, the Penguins and is even dating the Captain. I knew it was only going to be a matter of time before you warmed up to Price, you seem to instantly befriend goalies.”
“But. It’s. Freaking. Carey. Price. The most montoned, dimwit, Canadien!” Ben rolled his eyes.
“Look, just ignore it for now.”
“But he came to my rescue, I can’t ignore something like that.” I said.
“Then don’t.”
“But how!?”
“YOU ARE SO DIFFICULT!”

I stuck my tongue out at Ben and proceeded to walk towards Quincy Market, feeling the burning desire for a clam chowder bread bowl, Ben following after me.
“Alright, putting that all aside, time to talk about Mom.” I sighed.
“Rather not deal with that.”
“But you have to Roxanne.” Ben said sternly. “You can’t ignore it. She’s a person.” I closed my eyes and sighed heavily, pushing into the packed Quincy Market, looking at the long, long, long food court. So much gourmet cuisine in one place…heavenly.
“I know, but how am I suppose to deal with her?” I asked, heading towards one of the many different New England seafood companies, passing the greasy smell of Chinese noodles and roasted chicken from the barbeque company.
“I don’t know, I might be your brother but I’m not you.” I stood in line for my bread bowl, my brother slowly eyeing the Lo Mein noodles next door. The heat inside the building was suffocating and I removed my scarf and hat, red hair tumbling down my shoulders.

“Yeah, that’s true. What do you suggest though? Be civil with her and wait for her to show me that she can be trusted again?” My brother shrugged, slowly moving over to another line.
“That’s what I have been doing. The past is the past and she came back to us. She loves us and when you stormed out it hurt her badly. If you continue to deny her your love I think she’s going to relapse and in the end, never heal like she wants to.” I looked back to see it was my turn to order, realizing that what my brother stated sounded like what Ms. Flanagan told me that day.
“I guess I need to go talk with her again…”

*****

“Savvy is leaving.” I dropped my jacket, hat, and scarf on the floor at what Tuuk stated to me the minute he saw I walked through the door.
“WHAT!?” I cried. Savvy was leaving!? Tuuk nodded sadly.
“Bergeron, Chara, and Recchi had to go to a press conference about his health. Too many concussions this year and it’s too dangerous for him to continue on.”
“Not…Sa…vard…y…” I stated. “IT ISN’T TRADING SEASON YET AND I’M ALREADY LOSING SOME TEAMMATES!” I collapsed on the coach and sighed heavily. Tuukka came over and sat next to me, arm around my shoulder.
“I know, but it’s all to heal him so he can come back for next season ready to play. You want him to die?” I swallowed.
“Hell no! It just sucks how dangerous this game can be…”
“So can life…” Tuukka added, pulling me closer to him. It felt like an odd comment.
“Why do you say that?” I asked.
“No reason.” He said, but the way he said it seemed hesitant. I sat up, going to hang up all my dropped clothing, looking at him.
“If…you say so.” I said, picking up my scarf.
Savard is leaving, way too injured to keep playing.
Tuukka acting odd like he just got into an argument with someone and it’s fuckign with his head…
Yup, two more shitty things to add to my list.

*****

Standing in the locker room, I leaned on my hockey stick sadly along with everyone else as Marc picked up the last of his equipment from his cubby. Detroit was waiting for us out there in the TD Garden but that was far away for me tonight. Right now I was going to have to say goodbye to another friend who wasn’t going to step out onto the ice of the TD Garden to play a Bruins hockey game the rest of the year…

And rumor has it spreading from the medics in the room…maybe the rest of his life.

It better not be the rest of his life; please life, stop being this goddamn cruel.
“Well guys, don’t make me feel awkward leaving a quiet locker room!” Savvy stated, looking at everyone’s gloomy face.
“But we’re depressed! I know I am sad beyond all belief…” I declared, looking around to see some heads nodding slowly.
“We care about you man, don’t like seeing this happen to you.” Campbell said, rocking back and forth on his stick. Savard shrugged.
“Shit happens, we all know that.”
“But we’re all silently pissed at the fact that your leaving for a reason that is just…angering!” Lucic commented, earning a raised eyebrow from Krejci.
“Great explanation.” The Czech remarked. “I think I can explain in English better than you.” Lucic just glared at his bro.

“You better not be leaving for good though.” Bergeron said. “It sucked having to sit in that press conference hearing that possibility.” Savvy looked at everyone in the room all dressed in their Bruins gear, ready to head out for our game. You could see in his eyes that he was hurting about not standing there with us.
“I know, only time is going to tell whether or not I come back.”
“If you don’t come back I’m going to cry like I did with Sturm and Sobotka.” I said, giving Savard a puppy dog look.
“Start crying Roxanne.” I looked over too see Coach standing in the doorway with Houda and Ward with crossed arms. I could see a small smile and a twinkle in his eye, signaling he was trying to lighten the depressing mood in the room. I just gave Coach a pathetic look.

“WAAAH” I cried out. Savard laughed and walked over, giving me a big hug.
“I’ll still be around Roxy, going to be following all of you religiously.” I hugged Savard back.
“You better or I will start doing slap shots into your windows! In fact I’ll slap shot in a goal for you tonight.” The farewells continued around the room till it was time for us to leave him behind to head home and for us to run out the locker room to the roaring stadium.

Marc Savard wasn’t my first hurtful loss but this one was almost the worst. When you were just in the background of the team, a loss was difficult but now that you play with them all as team, it made it ten times worse for everyone became family.

What sucked even more was that trade season had yet to begin…

That night, I scored a goal for Savardy. As I got tumbled by my teammates, I felt a pinch of fear in my gut.

Which one of you guys am I going to lose next…?

*****

The week went by and I played game after game, our six game road trip was finally in motion. Nearly three weeks away from home, the idea was exhausting me at the thought but I grabbed my suitcase and pushed all negative thoughts away, had to think positive.

Positive thought #1: We could win every single one of these games.
Positive thought #2: I was going to be seeing more of the United States and Canada!
Positive thought #3: Trading had begun, but Tuukka was still with me!
Positive thought #4: I was avoiding the Mother Issue.

Yeah, this was going to be a good time. On February 15th, we gained a new forward from the Ottawa Senators, Chris Kelly. Kelly was a chill guy and still didn’t seem to know how to fit into the chaos that was the Boston Bruins or how to deal with me and Team Canada. But he was really nice and welcoming, not one bit of assholeness lingered in him from his Senator days, telling me it was thrilling to lay on a team with me, saying he had enjoyed watching me before arriving here. Why thank you Kelly! On our jump from Long Island to Ottawa the next couple of days gave us a chance to really fully initiate Kelly (Boychuk thrilled to know he knew the art of the game cribbage) into the Bruins but then all the fun and games were over.

Over on February 18th.

“You guys…are the most…boring people…I have ever met.” I muttered, starring absently at the two guys sitting next to me on the flight to Calgary. Kelly and Boychuk were extremely intense in their cribbage game. Tuukka had fallen asleep on me, arms crossed and I hugged him to make sure he didn’t roll off the seat and me.
“Well then don’t watch us.” Boychuk stated the obvious.
“What would that leave? Bergeron and Marchand bickering over movies or watching my sleeping boyfriend? Dammit, are we there yet?”
“No.” Kelly and Boychuk answered for me at the same time. The airplane fell quiet for a bit before Julien piped up from the back.
“Blake and Mark, can you come back here?” I turned around to noticed the two guys get up and join the coaching staff along with Jeremy Jacobs in the back of the plane, all of them chatting in low, low voices.

My stomach began to twist around at the sight. If it wasn’t trading season, I would have thought nothing of it. But it was and it was going to drive me crazy now.

The day passed without a sense of what happened on the plane, absolutely nothing till we all got to the locker room in Calgary. I approached my cubby and started getting all my padding on and I felt something weird and fuzzy. Moving one of my shoulder pads I saw a furry eight-legged demon.
“FUCKING SHIIIIT!” I screamed, pulling off all my shit and batting the thing away, collapsing into my cubby and clearly springing something because my entire body was showered with fuzzy spiders. “AHH!! AHH!!” The entire locker room burst into hysterics at the sight, not bothering to help me. Somehow in my hysterics I came to realize the spiders were fake and I stomped angrily on one of them before crawling away from my cubby like a wounded soldier, fake sobbing. “Whoever did that IS FUCKING DEAD!”
“For once that wasn’t us!” Marchand wheezed out through his laughter fit, leaning on Bergeron.

Wheeler and Stuart were the ones to come strolling in with tears in their eyes.
“We did it!” I ran over to them and tackled the nearest one, Wheeler, to the floor and start hitting them.
“ASSHOLE, ASSHOLE, ASSHOLE! WHY, WHY, WHY!?”
“AHHH MICKY STOP!” Wheels cried while Stuart collapsed against the wall.
“We’re taking the Dropkick Murpheys to heart and going out in style.” Stuart finally got out. I stopped my assault on the cowering Wheeler.
“What…?” I asked, the room finally quieting down from laughter at Stuey’s words. “What do you mean ‘going out in style’?”

“We’ve been traded to Atlanta.” Wheels said, uncovering his head. I slowly got off Wheeler, blinking at the two of them.
“Both of you guys?” Krejci asked. They nodded and everyone looked at each other.
“It’s our last game playing as a Boston Bruin.” Wheels continued.
“So we’re going out in style.” I looked at my pile of discarded equipment and a collection of fake spiders everywhere on the floor.
“Going out in style you guys are.” I said and then scrunched up my face. “But you’re leaving forever!? Fucking life! So fucking cruel!” I ran over and gave Stuey a hug then Wheeler who got off the floor.

“Alright guys, lets go out there and make this game a memorable one for these guys.” Chara said. “They want to go out in style, so going out in style they will.” And hell of a game we did play, defeating the Flames 4-2, both Wheels scoring a goal for us with an assist from Stuey, their last duo goal as a Black and Gold. I was wondering who it was I was going to lose…and it turned out to be them. Watching them cleaning out their cubbies back in Boston after returning from Calgary made me burst into tears.

Atlanta…we were meeting up with them again. But I was going to have to compete against them, something I didn’t like thinking about.

Trade Season…it was cruel…so cruel it made me keep one of the fake spiders from Wheeler and Stuart’s booby trap.

“They were cruel, they were ignorant, they were beauty, they were kind, they were patience, they were virtue, they were crazy, they were mine…” I angrily shut off the Dropkick Murpheys. It wasn’t helping me through these Trade Deadline Blues. My team, all explained in that one chorus and now that team was changed up again. Was I going to be able to deal with all of this over the summer?

My blues continued on when we retrieved the man we traded my two teammates for. Rich Peverly was a stern looking man who didn’t have the carefree attitude of Wheels and for the moment I was pretty much ignoring him. The other guy was sent down to Providence for our AHL team so I never got to see him. If he was different from Peverly’s stone face I would probably demand a switch.

But owners and General Managers didn’t care about that sort of shit, they were all about business and winning.

*****

“We’ve got another player!?” I cried, walking out onto the ice for a game day skate at Edmonton that day. “Who did we trade to receive him!?” I pointed to the older, quiet man standing there, looking over cautiously at Krejci who just gave him a casual shrug that interpreted as don’t let it get to you dude, just go with.
“No one Roxy.” Coach stated annoyingly. “Meet defensemen Tomas Kaberle from Toronto Maple Leafs.”
“Hey.” He said with a slight accent. I studied him before cracking into a smile.
“Got an accent, where from?”
“The Czech Republic.” He answered as I clapped my hands.
“THAT EXPLAINS WHY YOU’RE STANDING WITH KREJ! Since Coach says we didn’t trade anyone for you, I’m going to easily welcome you with open arms cause you seem like a calm, collective guy like Kelly!” That got a smile out of Kelly and a glare from Peverly. Kaberle laughed.
“Glad I’m passing the McGregor inspection.” He said.
“Oh believe me, you’re lucky that you did.” Peverly growled. I sent an annoyed look towards Peverly.
“Start acting carefree like Wheels and Stuey and you’ll pass!” Peverly ignored me and continued to shoot pucks at Timmy.
“Aren’t we just a big happy family!” Kaberle joked.
“Je to jen šílená mrcha.” Krejci stated to Kaberle in what had to be Czech.
“Slyšel jsem, že asi Roxanne, ale také jsem slyšela, že je úžasné.” Kaberle responded and I bounded after them.
“I HEARD MY NAME! WHAT WERE YOU SAYING!?”
“Krejci called you a crazy bitch and Kaberle agreed.” Chara answered. I looked at the giant Slovakian.
“Thanks Chara! KREJCI YOU’RE DEAD!”
“Chara!” Krejci snapped.
“I wasn’t agreeing!” Kaberle defended.
“Doesn’t matter you stupid Czechs, time to face the MassHole! LET’S GO!”

*****

Six games.
Six game winning streak for the Boston Bruins! We hadn’t been able to do that in like…what? Twenty or thirty years?

Redemption Team, that’s what we were being called and I highly agreed.

It was after our 1-0 shutout of the Senators and I was getting an interview for being the one who scored the only goal the whole game. Hair still slightly wet from showering, I sat at the post-game table for an interview, Julien and Rask sitting with me. I couldn’t wait to tackle my boyfriend, he got a shutout tonight and I was so fucking proud of him!

“So how invigorating is it to now be going home tomorrow after having a six game win streak on the road, not losing one game? It’s been awhile since the Bruins have been able to do it.” I smiled.
“It’s great you know, boosts our confidence and makes us feel ready to head out for our next game. But we can’t exactly think about it too much because then we’ll get sloppy and lose our streak.”

The questions continued to emerge as such, like how it felt to score the only goal in that game and what it felt to see Tuukka walk away with a shut out. I answered them all with a smile, trying not to show that I was dead tired and wanted to get the hell out of there.
“McGregor, on a different topic, what is your opinion on the whole Harper/Morrison issue?”

Taking a deep breath as to not chuck the mic in front of me at the reporter, I gave a smirk.

“I’m going to be as politely blunt as I can with this. Morrison is a jerk. And I’m only saying jerk because I’m on live TV. I’d say something different if I could. But yeah, Harper is 100% innocent and being framed and I stand by that statement because we might have had a tough time during the beginning of this year but Super Skills healed everything and we’re really good friends. I’ve gotten to know her a lot better and she would not do that. Not in the least. So please just shut up about it and give her her peace so she can clear her name.” The reporter slowly closed his mouth and slowly clicked his voice recorder off.
“Thank you…McGregor…” He said timidly.

That’s right, fear the MassHole. Finally getting leave from the table, I tromped my way to the back of the locker room to gather up everything to head out when I came across Tyler and Timmy just looking at each other with this scared look on their faces.
“You guys run into the Reaper or something?” I asked, looking at the two highly confused.

Seriously, Tim Thomas doesn’t have a smile on his face, something is wrong!

“It feels like it.” Tyler commented, pointing into the locker room. “You’re old job has finally got a replacement and well, just take a look at the girl who has taken it. I need a third opinion on this. Chara just said we were imagining shit and to lay off the LSD.”
“I didn’t think Chara knew how to say LSD in English.” I joked, walking towards the door. “But I will check out this new girl, why so shocked?”
“You just need to take one look.” Thomas finally stated. “Seriously, I had to do a double take.” I looked between the two slowly before cautiously creaking open the locker room door.
“Why do I sense Team Canada shenanigans…” I mumbled.

I saw the rest of the team going about their regular business packing up and I looked back at the goalie and forward in skeptism, really thinking that Chara was right: they needed to lay off the LSD. Shrugging, I continued into the room and walked over to my cubby, grabbing my stuff and taking a swig from my abandoned water bottle, feeling thirsty. I saw a new figure come around the corner into the room carrying equipment, reminiscent of the time when I used to do-

I began to choke on my water and spit it all over an innocent Kaberle wandering by minding his own business.

“GAAAH Kabby I am so sorry!” I called out to the startled Czech defensemen. He scrubbed the water off his face with a chuckle.
“All is good Roxanne, maybe you need a lesson in swallowing.” I rolled my eyes.
“Har de har har, you were a good replacement for Wheels.” I then turned my attention towards the source of my choking who was standing off to the side watching the scene.

She looked exactly like Erika Harper.

I quickly looked the other way and busied myself, as I watched her move from her position and focused on her work so I could turn around and studied her, putting the sex tape in mind. Body type similar…hair pretty much the fucking same…The girl turned around and I was met with-

Brown eyes.

Dammit, the girl had blue eyes in the video. I quickly exited the locker room and found Timmy and Tyler again and had a freak attack.
“I UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW! HOLY SHIT, SHE LOOKS LIKE HER! THAT MUST BE HER! WHAT DO WE DO!?” Tyler slapped a hand on my mouth.
“Shut up! Let’s not alert the whole fucking world on this discovery! We don’t want to scare her away!” Thomas removed Tyler’s hand from my mouth.
“She looks like Erika…but is she really the one? Or are we jumping to conclusions?” I spoke up.
“Timmy…she looks exactly like Erika down to the body type and hair and she looks like the girl in the tape.”
“But the eyes.” Thomas stated, pointing out an issue with this.
“Brown.” I stated, growling in anger. “Fuck! Is there any chance that the color could have been changed!?”
“That’s a possibility.” Thomas said.

I looked behind me at the locker room and the mysterious Erika look-a-like now inside. Sean framed Erika with a girl that looked like her. The new water girl did, it was too coincidental it was fucking freaky. Do I have the piece of evidence, right here, right now? The piece Erika needs? Biting my lip and chewing it.
“This is too fishy, way too fishy. Where did she come from and what is her name!?” I asked. The two shrugged in confusion. The door opened up and walking out was the girl in question, off to complete her work. I glared at her retreating form, a voice popping up behind me though made me jump out of my skin.

“What’s with the gossip crew out here?” I twirled around to see Coach standing there looking exhausted. I began to sputter while pointing furiously with both hands after the retreating girl.
“COACH! COACH! DO YOU NOT SEE THIS!? ARE YOU NOT SEEING THE BULLSHIT?”
“Oh god, here comes the ‘bullshit’ montage.” Thomas commented. Coach looked casually down the hallway at my pointing.
“What are you saying?” I started to pull my hair.
“Coach! That’s the girl! That’s the one who stole Erika Harper’s identity! We have the piece of evidence needed! Are you not seeing this!?” Coach put his hands on my shoulders.

“Roxanne McGregor, calm you ass down before you have a freaking heart attack and we lose one of our biggest stars.” I sputtered.
“Coach, I am not calming down on this, not one bit! That’s the slut and I refuse to let her go!”
“I know she is!” Coach snapped.
“SHE’S THE- wait, what!?” I called out, looking at Coach in disbelief at what he just said, Tyler and Thomas matching my face expression. “Coach, what are you-”
“I said I know that she is the imposter. Why do you think I agreed to hire her?” Everyone’s mouth dropped open.
“But…but…but…” I stuttered.
“How did you find her?” Tyler asked in shock.
“What is going on, I sense something working ropes right now.” Thomas stated, folding his arms ad raising an eyebrow at Coach.

“That’s cause there has been someone pulling the ropes behind everything.”

I turned to look behind Coach Julien and felt like I was slammed in the face with an eighteen-wheeler.

Legendary Robert Gordon Orr, AKA the famous #4 Bobby Orr, stood there with a victorious smile on his face.