Sticks & Spirals

“How did you not meet Seabs before?” Carmen, Brouwer’s girlfriend asked me as she sipped her drink.
I sulked, wondering how we got onto the topic of Seabrook. She just sort of brought him up out of no where. I’m starting to think that the boys talk about me more than Andrew lets on. “I don’t know.”
Carmen stared at me, her pretty blonde hair blowing slightly as a fan blew against us. “Your cousin grew up with him. I don’t understand.”
“Andrew hang out more with Troy. I mean hell, I’ve known your lover since he was like, nine, or something like that,” I said to her, sipping at my vodka fruit drink.
Carmen smiled. “That must be cool. What about Frazzle?”
I laughed. “Frazzle Dazzle? I met him when he was twelve or so.” Carmen giggled at the nickname. “Did he tell you that I was the one who gave him that nickname?”
“No way?!” Carmen laughed. “So that’s why everyone calls him that.”
“Yup. Even Carley calls him Frazzle Dazzle once in a while. Mainly when she’s teasing him.”
“How long have you known Carley?”
“Pretty much since they started dating.”
“And yet you never met Brent, even though you’ve met Troy and Colin. You even grew up with them.”
I nodded. I really didn’t want to be talking about the defenseman, but Carmen wouldn’t let it go. She was blown away that I never met him face to face until I moved down here. Andrew has been friends with Troy, Colin, and Brent for as long as I can remember, but I never met Seabs. I’m not sure why. Maybe things would be different if we met before...
I shook my head. “I saw him at games, but at the time he was just another kid.”
Carmen nodded. “I understand.”
The conversation was finally dropped when the boys walked over. Troy pecked Carmen on the cheek, getting her to smile, and Andrew handed me another glass. Red wine, my favorite.
Yeah, we’re at a local bar in downtown Chicago. The Hawks are celebrating a win, and all the girls got to come along with. Thank God, cause I seriously needed a good drinking binge. My skating needs work, a lot of worker, and my coach is hardcore. Don’t get me wrong, I love her and all, but Traci knows how to push, and my knee is definitely weak. I can’t do my axel, which is the second thing I’m known for.
I’m mostly known for my spirals. Everyone says I just have a natural grace when I spiral. And I love it.
“Dance with me,” Andrew said, grinning.
I laughed and took my cousin’s hand. “Why the hell not!” No, that is not the alcohol making me a little louder than normal. That’s just me.
Me and my cousin are known for dancing with each other, especially since his girlfriend isn’t living with him. Yet. Brandy is amazing, and I love her to death. They just aren’t at that stage in their relationship yet.
And when it happens, I’ll be finding a new place to live. I’d just feel weird living with Andrew and Brandy when they move in together. I’d feel like I’m impeding on their relationship.
But, so far, that isn’t happening quite yet. She’s busy working in our hometown. I hope Andrew marries her though. Since we’re practically siblings, she’d be like a sister to me. And I really want a sister.
Andrew and I danced to the music in the bar. Technically, this place is like a bar and a club, but it has bar in the name, so whatever.
I looked around and spotted the Frazzle Dazzle himself. I waved him over, along with his girlfriend, before I tackle hugged him. I haven’t really gotten to see much of him since I moved down here. And it’s now January.
“Hi, Frazzle!”
Carley snickered as I used his nickname. I just grinned cutely.
The fro-man, another nickname, laughed and ruffled my blonde hair. “Hey, Mini Ladd!”
I laughed and Andrew put his hand on my shoulder, pulling me back against him, giving his childhood friend some space. “I’m glad I finally get to actually talk to you,” I teased, getting Carley to laugh.
Colin Fraser laughed, his arm around his boo’s waist. “Well, that may have to wait a little while longer. I owe Duncs, Wis, and Bur a few rounds. I lost a bet.”
“Again,” Carley added with a laugh.
I raised an eyebrow and Colin just grinned before walking by me towards the bar.
“He needs to learn to stop making bets against them. He never wins.”
I laughed and rested my head on my cousin’s shoulder, trying to ignore tall, dark and handsome a few feet away talking to Steeger and, yes, Rhyne. After about twenty minutes of convincing after the game, she agreed to come. I couldn’t help but laugh at the glass of water in her hand. She’s such a cutie.
Andrew poked me in my side, causing me to jump. “What?”
“Are you even listening to me?” he asked, his eyes narrowed.
I grinned sheepishly. “Uh, no?”
He sighed and looked to where I was looking, a smirk appearing on his lips. “Can’t keep your eyes off of my teammate?”
I elbowed him hard in his ribs, getting him to cringe. “Shut up,” I snarled, making my way towards the bar, shoving through the masses of people.
I took a swing of a shot, and Wis made his way up to me, leaning against the counter. “You ok, Mini Ladd?” he asked, requesting a shot for himself.
“Been better,” I admitted, absently rubbing my knee.
Wis looked down. “Knee bothering you?”
“I guess.” I shrugged. “What’s up?”
Wis laughed. “The reason I came over here is to see what’s up with you, little lady.” He cracked a grin but I just rolled my eyes. “Is it this whole battle you have with dear Seabrook?” I tensed and he chuckled. “I seem to be right. Why can’t you guys just call it a truce? I mean, that fight you have the other day, that was wicked.”
Yeah, we got it in again after practice a couple days ago. I don’t even remember what started the fight, but plenty of bad words were said. And to be honest, he even looked like he didn’t want to be fighting with me. I know I didn’t want to fight with him. There’s just something about him... I want to be nice and to get to know him, but when we’re together, the past pushes itself in our faces and we can’t help but fight.
It’s exhausting.
“Wis?”
“Yeah?”
“Just shut up.”
He laughed. “Ok, pretty lady, but~”
Wis didn’t get to finish his sentence, because a very familiar scream ripped through the bar. Both of our heads whipped in the direction of the scream, just in time to see Steeger being thrown over the bar.
I jumped to my feet, my mind racing and my body reacting. Andrew and Seabs were pushing against some guy I’ve never seen before, with Rhyne pushing herself up from the floor.
Wis helped Steeger off of the bar, and I noticed the way my best friend cringed in pain. He hurt his ribs from the impact, I could tell.
I watched as another, really big man slapped at Seabs for punching the pain who threw my best friend, and I lurched forward to grab Rhyne by her arm. She squeaked, a frightened look in those pretty eyes, as I yanked on her to get her away from the brawling men. I couldn’t help but gasp when the big man made contact right where Seabs had the bruise from a puck.
There weren’t too many people in the bar to begin with, but now, all that was here was the Blackhawks, and the gang that dared to mess with them. The girls all fled outside, probably at the orders of their hockey playing men, except for me and Rhyne.
Blood was seeping from the other girl’s nose, and I ripped a piece of my shirt in order to dab it at her nose. Tears fell down her cheeks as she watched the Hawks wrestle the gang members, but her eyes led her to where Kris was being tended to by Wis. Or more like being guarded since he was punching any one who came close.
“What the hell happened?” I murmured, becoming extremely angry as I watched the people I care more about then anything get beaten upon. They are hockey players, but there are more of the gang members then them.
They came in and Steeger was in the way,” Burish said, taking up a place in front of us. Wow, I never had a personal body guard before. “He wouldn’t move because he was dancing with the little lady, and when the man that Laddy is dealing with threatened him, Steeger turned on him and told him to get lost. The guy punched him, then picked him up with scary ease and tossed him into the bar.”
Rhyne whimpered as she cowered in the corner.
I let out a tiny scream when Andrew was socked right in the jaw, taking him to the ground.
Then my blood began to boil, and I rushed out from behind Bur and launched myself at the bastard who dared to hurt my cousin. I didn’t even hear Adam’s strangled cry as my fist made contact with Mr. Muscles nose. I savored the feeling of his nose breaking beneath my knuckles.
Of course, that just severely pissed Muscles off.
“Vanna, no!” my cousin’s strained voice called out, just as Muscles swung at me.
But I am an Olympic competitor. I am an athlete.
I ducked and dodged, growling like a rabid animal. Muscles here snarled and tried to swing again, but where he has strength, I have speed.
Most of the gang guys fled, realizing they picked the wrong people to mess with, but they were now with their respective girlfriends and wives, making sure they were ok.
They didn’t notice me having my showdown with Muscles here, since their worry for their girls came first. They were outside anyways
I snarled and lashed out with my good foot, connected with the side of his knee. Muscles grunted at the contact, but he quickly brought down his hand against my neck.
I let out a strangled cry as my neck whiplashed to the left, my body falling to the ground. I groaned and pushed myself up, seeing Andrew try to pull himself to his feet to help me as he yelled my name, but he gasped and collapsed, holding onto his ankle. “Vanna!”
Muscles grabbed my long blonde hair and pulled up, getting a whimper out of me even though I shot daggers at him with my eyes. “Bastard!” I gasped, trying to kick him, but he only smacked me. “Why don’t you flee like the rest of them!”
“Shut up, bitch,” he snarled, dropping me to the ground.
I howled as my knee crumbled under my weight, and I looked up, just as his own knee was coming straight for my face. I prepared for impact...
Only it never came.
I was suddenly rolling away from the man on the ground in someone’s arms protectively wrapped around me. Once we stopped, their heavy body rested on mine for a moment before pushing themselves up.
Brent Seabrook’s hazel eyes met my own as he stared down at me. My breath caught in my throat as I stared at him. I hope he didn’t notice the blush that crept to my cheeks.
I’m sure he didn’t because he quickly pushed himself up and threw a wicked right hook at Muscles, sending him down to the ground.
Which was all the time that was needed for the police to burst in and grab him.
Brent Seabrook looked back at me, just as I vomited while trying to pick myself back up.
The tall defenseman made his way over to me in three long strides. “Vanna,” he said quietly, taking me into his arms. I didn’t realize I was crying until my cheek rested against his neck. I felt the wetness.
He picked me up and walked outside towards the ambulance that awaited. Steeger was already sitting up in the medical vehicle, shirtless, while comforting a panicking Rhyne. I saw the desperate tears just before he wrapped his arms around her tightly and Seabs set me down just a little ways away.
“Are you ok?” he asked, his eyes forcing me to look at him.
I nodded, but I knew he didn’t believe me. He took my knee and straightened it, causing me to cringe. He smiled slightly before one of the doctors on the scene shoved him away.
While they wrapped up my knee, I watched as the injured made their way over. Andrew sprained his ankle, Kris has a few bruised ribs and one sprained one, Frazzle Dazzle gained a black eye and a bloody nose, and Sharpy fractured a finger.
No crazy serious injures, but enough to bring tears in my eyes. Brent stayed by my side and wrapped his jacket around my shoulders. I don’t know if it was peace offering forever, but at the moment, I’d take it. Because I needed someone. And he is my someone right now.
Especially since I met Daniel’s eyes amongst the crowd of onlookers, staring straight at me.
The bar brawl revealed my Chicago presence.
This will not be good.