Thundershowers

The First Night

"I told you last night, I've got my first day on the job today." Presley grumbled towards her roommate, who had been insisting for the past hour to take her shopping. "Get your boyfriend to take you."

Megan groaned, slamming her hand down onto the counter for dramatic purposes. "He's like a child, though. I swear, he has ADD, and he's not going to tell me the truth on whether the jeans I'm trying on actually make my butt look big."

"That's 'cause he's a genius," she retorted, ignoring her roommate pretending to pound the back of her head with one of her high heels. She grabbed her text books she needed for the night to complete her homework, and shoved them into her brown messenger bag, throwing the top flap over to close it.

"You at least, better find some juicy details about Kesler."

"Megs, I told you. I'm not going to snoop around to find some sort of deep dark secret for you to die happy with," the brunette rolled her eyes, pushing her body up off the couch and throwing on her black leather jacket. She had gotten a call from Ryan just two days following her interview, and was asked if she could start right away. Right away apparently meant the day after, but Presley wasn't about to complain. She wanted some extra cash, and she didn't want to lean on her father for it. He was already paying for her schooling and the full rent and utilities bill for her apartment, she'd feel bad asking him for spare change so she could go shopping.

She heard the same groan again, and laughed to herself. Her friend could get a little overdramatic at times, but as she would say, it was just 'part of her charm.' After slinging her bag over her shoulder and slipping on her tan booties, Presley turned to her friend. "You live such a hard life, Megs. Sorry."

"Hardy-har-har," the blonde rolled her eyes, finally slipping her high heels back onto her feet.

"See you later, alligator."

** ** ** ** **


"So there's not a lot of food in the fridge..." As soon as the words left his mouth, Ryan realized just how sad this was starting to look. He hoped the girl wouldn't turn and call social services on him. Generally in previous years, his kitchen would be overflowing with options, but he spent so much time on the road. With no one at home while he was gone, he didn't see the point in stocking up for anything. It wasn't as though he were some five star chef either; Andrea usually took care of the groceries and meals. "But I'll leave some cash on the counter if you get hungry. Makayla loves Kraft Dinner, and Ryker's food is over here." He opened up the pantry doors to show her, though it wouldn't take much effort. There were only a few spots on the empty shelves that had food on them. "I know what college life is like, you can't survive without liking pizza, right?"

"Uh, yeah, for sure." To be honest, Presley's eating habits were far from a typical college student's. Sure, she could often get caught sneaking tortilla chips with salsa while studying, and starting her day with several spoonfuls of ice cream as her breakfast, but she had lived with professional athletes for most of her life. She was an athlete herself, so she knew all about treating her body as a temple.

"Right, okay." She could tell he was flustered, and still hadn't gotten the hang of his new routine. It must be hard having to suddenly change so drastically in such a short amount of time, she figured. Especially with his odd schedule of traveling almost every other day. Her fingers played with the strap of her book bag as she watched the centre forward look around the room and think over if there was anything else he hadn't mentioned.

"If there's trouble, you can call these numbers here." The piece of paper hanging on the fridge had three numbers scribbled onto it. One was Nancy Burrows, Ryan's teammate's wife; the other two being neighbors that Andrea had at one time invited over for a barbecue. He figured if there was a severe emergency, they'd come running even if he didn't really know them that well. Alex and Nancy didn't live as close to him as his next-door neighbors did.

"Any questions?" he turned to face her, startling her a little as she was forced to balance herself.

"Nope, I think you covered it." she smiled, trying to make him feel better about the effort. The last thing he needed before his game was thinking he wasn't doing a good job. Presley vaguely remembered how her own dad was when her mother left.

"Okay then, I guess I should go." Ryan grabbed his suit jacket off the back of one of the bar stools sitting in the large kitchen, slipping it on. "Makayla likes it when you read her a book before bed, so she might ask you to do that."

Presley nodded, showing her understanding and watched him then put his wallet into his back pocket. He said his reluctant goodbyes to his daughter and son, giving them each a hug and a kiss on the forehead. Makayla didn't want to let go of her father; she didn't want to be left alone with some stranger. Her little arms clutched to her father, even as he stood back up and he was forced to pick her up with him. "I gotta go, princess." he whispered, his back to Presley as she noticed Makayla look at her.

"Don't go, Daddy." Ryan's heart broke as his daughter begged him not to leave. He knew she'd be giving him the cold shoulder--much like she had for most of the summer after she realized mommy wasn't returning with them--for the next few days until he could redeem himself.

"Daddy's gotta go to work," he told his little girl, kissing her forehead comfortingly once more. "Be nice to Presley and I'll be back before you know it."

Finally, Makayla's arms fell and she made a 'hmph' sound as her father placed her back down on the floor with her Barbie doll coloring book. Ryker still hadn't quite wrapped his head around the entire situation, as he was happily pushing a toy truck back and forth on the floor. He didn't have a care in the world and waved at his daddy again before Ryan turned to leave.

"They'll be fine," Presley reassured him with a small smile, and he thanked her before heading out the garage door to get in his car and head to the rink.

** ** ** ** **


After the Canucks game had ended, Presley had easily gotten Makayla to sleep. She had promised to let the little girl stay up to watch her father play, but Ryker only managed to see the first period and half of the second before he was falling asleep on the couch and she put him into his bed. As per their arrangement, there were no fights to stay up later to wait for her father to get home as Makayla put on her PJs, brushed her teeth and went to bed.

"Your dad said you liked having bed time stories. Did you want me to read you one?" Presley asked the little girl, who just shook her head. "You can pick the book," she smiled, but still, Makayla refused.

"Night Makayla," Presley tucked her in, despite her protests and shut the light off before leaving the room.

She was listening to Sportsnet in the background as she worked on finishing up her assignments, when she heard the garage door start opening. It was just a few beats later that Ryan called a greeting throughout the large house.

When he finally reached the family room, he noticed the brown hair popping up from the back of the couch. She turned almost immediately, bringing her finger up to her lips to signal him to keep quiet, before pointing upstairs. He nodded, realizing what she meant and smiled at how well she seemed to have been able to get them to sleep.

Since the move back from Minnesota--without Andrea--they hadn't been the most well behaved kids. He added it up to the sudden change in their life, and the idea that their mommy and daddy were no longer together. It would shock any young child. "Everything go okay?"

Presley nodded, moving her attention away from her books as she closed them. "They were great," she smiled, watching his face as he had a look of pride. "Though, I did have to promise Makayla she could watch your game so she'd sleep without a fight."

Ryan chuckled in response, knowing just how familiar that deal was getting. "I hope that's okay," she added, a little hesitant.

"Oh yeah, that's fine," he grinned. Presley was starting to see just what all those girls around the city (including Megan) saw in him. He had a brilliant smile. Not to mention his body, which seemed too godly to be true. "She hasn't been sleeping very much. I've had to use all sorts of bribing tactics to get her to go to bed."

She laughed, "You might want to be careful though. If she knows she can get it, she'll always use it. When I was, like, six I had my dad wrapped around my finger. I hate to say it, but I took advantage of it."

"And when was that? Four years ago?" Ryan hadn't asked for her age, he had realized. He just knew she was over nineteen, and a student at the University of British Columbia. He hadn't done all the proper steps his teammates had insisted he should do. Manny had told him to make sure he had a criminal background check on the girl, but he figured he was a good judge of character. This girl who showed up at his door wearing a UBC sweatshirt, jeans and Converse sneakers didn't seem to be the type that had some secret motive to kidnap his children. And she hadn't thrown herself all over him like the many before her.

"Try fourteen years ago," she smirked. "I turn twenty-one next month."

He raised an eyebrow interested, "Plans to go to Vegas yet?"

"Mr. Kesler, I am a responsible young adult. I do not have plans to go down to that city to drink, gamble and perhaps go to a stripper club just to say I did," she laughed, pretending to be disgusted at the idea.

"Oh c'mon, you can't turn 21, and not go to Vegas." He watched as she shook her head, still playing that she hadn't even thought about it. "Remember now, I control your paycheck. If you were going to go, I could perhaps up your hourly rate to give you gambling cash."

She looked at him in disbelief, laughing at his suggestion. "Is this a trick?" He shook his head, chuckling. "Well, if there was a plan--and I'm not saying there is--it'd be to head down the weekend after my birthday and do all the things we're told not to do."

Ryan grinned, proud of his accomplishment at getting it out of her. "And I'm not saying we're doing it, let me repeat that part!" she added, causing him to laugh again.

"Of course not. You're too responsible, am I right?" She nodded, pushing hair behind her ear and out of her face. He noticed her green eyes then, and enjoyed how her pale pink lips curved up into an amused smile.

Presley broke the stare she suddenly found herself a part of, having been admiring his own chocolate eyes, leaning down to put her books back into her bag. "I guess I should go." She glanced at the clock, seeing it was 11:45.

"Oh, right. Okay." He stood up in time to help her up off the couch and lead her out the door.

"So, see you this Thursday?" Presley nodded, waving her goodbyes before heading out to her car.