The Beginning to the End

"Well folks, we made it. We are now in Sunrise, Florida. God have I missed the warmth."

"We'll only be here for a few days then we're off to Tampa, but while we're here, we're meeting with some old friends and hopefully will make some new ones." Ricki closed out, turning the Flip off.

Since reaching Florida, the girls rolled down the windows and pulled out their sunglasses. It was about time to give the heater in their car a rest.

"I am so pale." Ricki stated looking at her white arm that hung out the window.

"Why do you think I'm wearing sunglasses? You're reflecting." Bobbi teased.

"You're no better! So what time are we meeting the guys?"

"I told them around dinner time. Figured we wanted to relax a little after the trip."

"I could defiantly go for a nap." Ricki said, reclining in the passenger seat.

"That's all you've done since I started my shift." Ricki waved her friend off and let the smooth ride lull her back to sleep.

Ricki and Bobbi were staying at an old friends place in their short stay in Sunrise. Having worked with the Rochester Americans, who were at the time associated with the Panthers, they made some friends on and off the ice. Joelle worked along side the girls until she took a job with the NHL team. She was their go-to girl when it came to finding a place to stay.

The girls opted to drive the twelve hour trip through the night so they would arrive at Joelle's in the afternoon. Joelle left the girls a key seeing as she would be working when they arrived. Ricki and Bobbi let themselves in where they found a note, "Hey guys, sorry I couldn't be here when you arrived. Make yourselves at home, I know you've had a long drive. Maybe I'll see you guys tonight. I know the guys haven't stopped talking about seeing you two again. -Joelle"

Both girls crashed not long after they dropped their things off in their room. Being an apartment, they had to share a bed. Neither cared as long as they had someplace to sleep.

Bobbi set her alarm to go off at 5:00, giving her time to jump in the shower, Ricki to go in right after. They were suppose to meet their friends at the Cheesecake Factory at 6:30. Having a Factory in Rochester, it had become traditional to eat there for big events; beginning of season, end of season, birthdays, holidays, any excuse to gather and eat.

Once dressed, Ricki plugged in the restaurant address into their GPS and drove in the first direction. They found it about fifteen minutes later and parked. As they walked up to the entrance a loud cheer broke out. Sitting outside with drinks already in their hands were some old faces.

"My god, all of you got old." Ricki teased as she and Bobbi walked onto the patio to embrace their three old friends.

"Oh how we missed you, Bobbi." Shawn Matthias said, bypassing Ricki for her comment.

"You're just as beautiful as I remember." Jason Garrison complimented as he wrapped both arms around the girls.

"It's been long." Keaton Ellerby said.

"Well, when you guys go off and do stuff with your lives it feels like forever. It wasn't the same without you guys. We had to train the newbies." Bobbi joked.

"Are you guys gonna introduce us?" Ricki asked, noticing the other members of their groups that the girls recognized only from TV.

"Right, guys this is the famous Ricki Martin and Bobbi Hull. They worked with the Amerks when we were in Rochester. Girls, this is Jack Skille, Scottie Upshall, and Kris Versteeg, but I'm sure you already knew that." Jason introduced.

"It's nice to meet you all." Ricki smiled at all of the Panthers players that joined them for dinner.

The boys had been waiting for Ricki and Bobbi for ten minutes before they arrived. The three old Amerks had nothing but good things to say about the two travelers. They had heard about them on Twitter and even on TV, "You're gonna love them, they fuckin' hilarious. And I've been following them on their blog, it's awesome!" Shawn told them just minutes before the girls pulled into the parking lot.

Now that everyone was gathered, the girls took the two open spots in the middle of the table, flanked by Shawn beside Ricki, and Keaton beside Bobbi. The four other guys sat across from them. A waitress came over, eager to take the guys orders, "We'll just have a Bud." Bobbi said to her, breaking the waitress from her goo-goo eye session with Kris. Looking between Bobbi and Ricki, the waitress suddenly turned not as eager.

"Right, sure."

"There's only two girls I know that could scare away any unwanted females and it's these two," Jason started, "I couldn't tell you how many times Ricki and Bobbi scared the shit out of girls that would hit on us."

"There was one time after a game, a bunch of us went out and Ricki and Bobbi came with us. We just went to a bar, I think we were drowning our sorrows after a bad game, and there was this group of girls that came up to us saying they were at the game and if we needed anything to give them a call." Shawn told. Jason and Keaton were already cracking up, remembering the situation as if it happened yesterday.

"But those girls wouldn't leave us alone! They kept coming back trying to hit on us and we weren't in the mood after the loss. The next time they came back, Ricki and Bobbi sat with Shawn and Mike Caruso, who were getting the most attention, so when those girls came back they had to see these two." Keaton continued.

"Oh my god it was the funniest thing. I had to not laugh during the whole time and it was hard! I had Bobbi sitting on my lap and she was suppose to be whispering something in my ear, you know something sexy to make the girls jealous. Well Bobbi decided she needed to do the complete opposite and she's making fun of these girls, all the while rubbing my knee and actually look like she's being sexy. When those girls finally took the hint, I just broke down laughing. I couldn't even tell everyone what she was saying, I was laughing so hard. It defiantly made the night better." Shawn finished, everyone at the table having a good laugh.

The group shared their funniest stories, a dull moment never circling the group. Even when their meals arrived, the conversation flowed easily. The boys learned a lot about the girls, seeing as it had been several years since three of them were in the same city as Ricki and Bobbi. The three guests that joined the reunion instantly fell for the girls, loving their carefree vibe. They were two girls that were heading into the real world and they wanted hockey to be a part of it. What hockey player wouldn't want that?

Especially a guy like Kris Versteeg. The quiet forward only came out of his shell around those he felt comfortable with. When it was just the guys, he was good, his normal self. When Ricki and Bobbi arrived, he got quiet but from the stories his friends shared and the ones the girls told, it was like he'd known them for years like the old Amerk players. He liked these girls; they were funny, outgoing, and beautiful. And the one that caught his attention was Bobbi, the quirky girl who's smile never got old to Kris.

Long after their plates were cleaned, the group remained out on the patio, not wanting their good time to end, "What do you two have planned for tomorrow?" Jack asked.

"Probably hit the beach, maybe walk around and see what Sunrise has to offer."

"You know what we should have a party tomorrow night. Rent a spot on the beach that way you guys can meet the whole team." Shawn suggested.

"We have a game the next day." Kris pointed out.

"Then we won't drink."

"Woah, woah woah...no drinking? Why torture us? We're not playing?" Bobbi teased.

"Then bring your own boozes."

"Ugh fine! Well we should be heading out. Some of us are still tired from the drive." Ricki and Bobbi stood, the boys following suit and walked the girls to their car, "It was great to see you guys again." The girls hugged their old friends.

Ricki and Bobbi hugged the three new guys, wanting the boys to feel comfortable with them. As Bobbi got to Kris, it felt...awkward but in a good way. Pulling away, he gave her a shy smile, almost innocent, "See you guys tomorrow." She said looking at Kris then turning her attention to the rest of the guys.

In the car, Ricki took the drivers seat but faced her friend once Bobbi secured her seat belt, "What?"

"What do you mean what? What was that?"

"What was what?"

"You and Kris. I was just waiting for 'Kiss the Girl' to start playing. I was tempted to start singing it."

"What are you talking about? There's nothing going on."

"Were you not there? He couldn't take his eyes off you."

"Will you please start the car? I'm kinda tired." Ricki gave her friend a skeptical look but did as she was told.

"You sure have a thing for Kris's."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Good morning my lovelies! Ricki and Bobbi here in the beautiful state of Florida where we are spending our free time heading to Fort Lauderdale for some shopping then to the beach."

"Last night we met up with some old friends of ours back when we worked with the Rochester Americans. They are currently playing for the Florida Panthers and graciously took some time off to have dinner with us." Bobbi said.

"We're hoping to see them again tonight along with the rest of the team. We promise to take some pictures while we're here and some video. Until then, be great!"

"I am so ready to shop till I drop!" Bobbi said as the girls packed away their Flip and headed for the Galleria Mall. They had gotten up early to spend some time in the sun. Going from shop to shop, slowly making their way towards the beach.

The girls took various pictures of the place, capturing the moments for their family and friends. They picked up a bunch of souvenirs for their families and put it in their car before changing for the beach.

Tweet from Bobbi Hull:
Finally a day at the beach with @RickiMartin7 #gettingourtanon #lovinFlorida #RickiBobbiRoadTrip pic.twitter.com/48Fwk23GDE

Tweet from Max Talbot:
@BobbiHull9 @RickiMartin7 Vous recherchez des filles chaudes! Je souhaite que nous jouions en Floride #RickiBobbiRoadTrip

Tweet from Bobbi Hull:
@Max25Talbot English Max #sillyman #RickiBobbiRoadTrip

Tweet from Max Talbot:
@BobbiHull9 @RickiMartin7 haha sorry. I said you two look beautiful and I wish we were in Florida so we could see you two #RickiBobbiRoadTrip

Tweet from Bobbi Hull:
@Max25Talbot @RickiMartin7 aww how thoughtful! We wish you were here too! #forbiddenlove #RickiBobbiRoadTrip

Tweet from Patrick Kane:
Careful @RickiMartin7 Tazer might be on his way to Florida ASAP. @BobbiHull9 looking hot #missyoubabes #RickiBobbiRoadTrip

Tweet from Ricki Martin:
Miss you too @88PKane #RickiBobbiRoadTrip

"I totally bet that's Tazers desktop for everything!" Bobbi teased Ricki.

"Oh shut up and hand me the sun tan lotion."

The girls laid out their towels on the sun chair, the beautiful view of the glistening water and the group of guys playing beach volleyball before them, "I love Florida." Bobbi nodded in agreement.

On cue, the volleyball rolled over to the girls causing two tall, muscular guys to jog over, "Hello ladies."

"Hi there." Ricki covered her mouth to hide her laugh.

"Wanna join?" The girls gave each other a look but nodded, joining in a game with the guys. They split the girls up with three guys on each side. Both girls struggled keeping their eyes on the ball with all these good looking, sweaty, hot, young men moving around them, but they were able to focus enough to stay in the game.

Ricki's team ended up winning, meaning Bobbi's had to buy drinks. Of course the girls got a picture with the boys posting it on Twitter and their webpage. When the tweets began to come in they silenced their phones just for a bit.

"So how long you ladies in Fort Lauderdale?" The cute one with big brown eyes asked.

"A couple weeks, then we head to Tampa Bay."

"Must be some vacation." Added the hot green eyed guy.

"Oh it's something."

"We need to get going. It was nice to meet you two. Maybe we'll see you around." Ricki and Bobbi watched them, and their tight butts, walk away.

"I miss them already...Time to tan." For the next hour the girls tanned before heading back to Joelle's. Shawn had texted that he would swing by and pick them up around 6:15, "Dress to impress ;) "

"What does that even mean?" Bobbi turned back to her phone.

"It means dress hot. Apparently we're going to a fancy dinner than to the beach house." Bobbi explained.

So the girls showered and dressed, just waiting for Shawn to pick them up. Joelle already had plans with a group of her friends, unable to come with the girls, "But they are certainly looking forward to tonight. They kept teasing Versteeg about you Bobbi. I guess the guy has the hots for you." Bobbi rolled her eyes, Joelle and Ricki laughing.

While the girls cleaned up their make-up, Joelle answered the door, "Hey Shawn."

"Woah Joelle. Got a date?"

"No."

"Want one?"

"How sweet? But I'm off for a girls night. Ricki and Bobbi should be down in a sec. Have fun, but not too much fun."

Ricki and Bobbi came down the hall to be greeted by a sharp dressed Shawn Matthias; nice dark pants, a dark blue button up, and a black tie.

Three words: Sharp, dressed, man.

"Hot damn. I'm gonna have the hottest dates in the house. Ladies?" He offered each girl an arm and walked them to his sleek sports car. Arriving at the restaurant, both girls were on his arm again as he strutted into the building where the entire Panthers team was waiting in the back party room. The guys let out whistles and cat calls once they entered, "Guys please, I'm taken." Shawn said.

While some of the guys oogled the girls, Ricki and Bobbi were doing it right back. So many guys looking hot in one room was too much for a girl. Shawn walked them around, introducing them to the guys and their dates, "Impressive Shawn, two girls. Didn't think you had it in ya." Brian Campbell joked. "Especially these two."

"You know me Soupy, I have my way with the ladies." Bobbi rolled her eyes.

"I'm gonna get a drink. You want anything?" She took Ricki's order and ignored Shawn's, "I can't afford a drink for you and your ego."

At the bar, Bobbi ordered two glasses of wine, "$17.00 please." Bobbi was about to reach into her purse when someone stopped her.

"I got it. Add another glass." Bobbi smiled at Kris looking dashing in his suit.

"Thank you."

"Anytime. You look beautiful."

"Thanks. You look very nice."

"This old thing?" Bobbi smiled, "So you seem pretty close with Shawn and them. Must of been a heck of a year working with the Amerks."

"Those boys were harmless. I can't vouch for how they act now," Kris cracked a grin, "Ricki and I lost touch with them not long after they were called up. They must of heard of our road trip or something because it wasn't till around...St. Louis Shawn tweeted making sure we met up while we were in Florida."

"That's cool that you're still in contact with them. I still talk to some of the guys with the Hawks."

"They're good guys."

"So how long are you in Florida?"

"Only a couple days then we're off to Tampa."

"That's too bad. It would've been nice to get to know you a little better."

"Well...the nights not over yet." Bobbi replied with a grin.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dinner was lite and easy among the Florida Panthers and their new friends. The guys had nothing but funny stories to share and the girls told their own tales from before and during their travels.

The team was spread out on a long table, Ricki and Bobbi was seated in the middle with their old and new friends around them. Across from Bobbi was Kris, who had beaten Keaton to the spot, and he couldn't take his eyes off the woman before him. Since talking to her at the bar, he hadn't a chance to strike up another conversation with her. But he had no problem just listening to her talk and laugh.

"Who's ready to really party?" A chorus of agreements rang out and everyone got up to leave once the bill was paid for.

Ricki and Bobbi caught a ride with Shawn who wouldn't stop going on and on about how much fun they were going to have, "This place is really nice. It's got a great sound system and there's a nice fire pit for a big bonfire and everyone was instructed to bring their owns drinks, except you two since you're our guests."

"But none of you can even drink. What are you gonna bring? Apple juice?" Ricki joked.

"You don't worry about us. We just want you girls to have fun and love it here enough to work."

"Are you bribing us, Matthias?"

"No, of course not." He replied with a wink. Ricki and Bobbi just shook their heads.

Drinks were set out, music was playing, and a fire was started to keep everyone toasty in the Florida night. Ricki, Bobbi, and the other ladies in the group went for the alcohol while the boys stuck with Gatorade or water. Both girls danced with their old friends, their picture being snapped as Shawn attempted to dip Ricki without actually dropping her.

"Make sure you send those to the website." Ricki told Jason who had taken her picture.

"Right after I get it on Twitter."

Tweet from Jason Garrison:
@ShawnMatthias putting the moves on @RickiMartin7#twoleftfeet #RickiBobbiRoadTrip pic.twitter.com/JefJEu7DK

Tweet from Matt Martin:
@RickiMartin7 save me a dance ;) #ifyouknowwhatimean #RickiBobbiRoadTrip

Tweet from Shawn Matthias:
Look at that good looking person...oh you're looking ok too @RickiMartin7 #beauty #RickiBobbiRoadTrip

Tweet from Ricki Martin:
@ShawnMathias @JasonGarrison52 @mattymarts17 you boys are ridiculous #boyswillbeboys #RickiBobbiRoadTrip

"Are you guys seriously tweeting when you're right next to each other?" Scottie asked. The three of them shrugged.

"So have you made any real decisions about where you wanna end up?" Brian Campbell questioned once everyone settled around the fire, curled up to their girl, or in Shawn and Scottie's situation, man.

"Not really. I mean, every place has been great and there's a whole bunch of reasons to pick there but we're just over half way. We can't make a decision just yet." Ricki answered.

"What are you looking for when you make the final pick?"

"We want a good atmosphere, a place we can wake up with a smile in. A place where it's not a drag going to work. The people have to be nice, and they all have been so that doesn't help. The teams are all in good cities so location really isn't an issue. We're just kinda waiting for that 'This is it' feeling to come over us when we get there."

"Do you think you've felt that so far?"

Ricki hesitated. She hadn't thought about it. She could see herself living in any one of those cities. And maybe she did experience that kind of feeling but was she ready to tell people? "No I haven't and if I did, I don't think I would of felt it as strongly as you'd think. With so many places left to go, I don't wanna misjudge a place."

"I'm sure you guys will be great no matter where you go and you'll be happy there too." Brian assured her.

"I think Bobbi might be happy in Sunrise." Shawn commented, nodding behind the group towards the beach. Ricki turned to see the silhouette of her partner in crime standing on the beach, but she wasn't alone.

Looking around the group, her answer was narrowed down to Kris who stood closely to Bobbi. Ricki hadn't realized Bobbi wasn't in the group, thinking she might of slipped away before everyone sat down.

The group had brushed off the two loners on the beach and went on with whatever random conversation was next, but Ricki kept an eye on her friend. Since starting this trip, the girls had plenty of run-ins with strong feelings for those hockey playing boys. Ricki could recall Bobbi's various crushes from the past cities. Even the few Ricki experienced never left her mind. It wasn't like that in every city but it certainly was becoming a heart-pulling feeling for the girls. They're final decision couldn't be based on whose lips felt best against theirs or the way their strong arms made them feel safe. Ricki knew that wasn't the boys intent but it was defiantly becoming a side-thought.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Hello everyone! I hope you're feeling better than we are because we might of had just a little too much to drink last night."

"A little? You had two glasses of wine, three beers, and three shots of Jack Daniels. How are you standing?" Shawn teased the girls the next morning after the boys practice.

"You're just jealous you couldn't drink." Bobbi said, sticking her tongue out at Shawn.

"Anyways, right now Bobbi and I plan to see what else there is to do around here while the boys go about their day in preparation for their game."

"We're hoping we'll run into a few of our Ranger friends before game time as well." Bobbi added.

[font-comic-sans]"You guys are gonna ditch us for the Rangers? What terrible friends!"Keaton complained.

"Quit your whining! You'll be napping anyways."

"We'll check in closer to game time. Be great!" Ricki ended the Flip video.

Having met up with some of the guys from the Panthers after morning skate for breakfast, the group parted ways to go about their day as normal; the boys would sleep while Ricki and Bobbi visited more shops and attractions that the boys suggested.

Time flew by as the girls wandered the streets of Sunrise, staying close to their hotel so when they needed to get ready to meet with Justin Copertino of Communications, it was easy.

The girls met Justin at the time he requested. He gave them a tour of the arena on top of describing his job on and off game days, "It was a pleasure to meet you two."

"No it was great to meet you. Thank you for showing us around." Ricki said, shaking Justin's hand.

"I hope you liked Florida. We'd love to have you join our team. But I guess so is the rest of the NHL. I'll let you two go get ready for the game. Here are your passes, and I'm sure the boys will want to see you before they take the ice. Feel free to walk around. Nice to see you girls."

Before the girls went to change, they stopped by the visitors locker room to say hi. The Rangers were in town and they were certainly happy to see two of their favorite girls, "We want to wish you boys good luck but then it wouldn't be fair to the Panthers."

"Who cares! You're more our friends then theirs!" Marc Staal whined.

"Very mature, Marc."

Sadly, when Ricki and Bobbi went to the Panthers locker room saying the same thing, the boys had the same childish response, "All of you are ridiculous." Ricki said with a shake of her head.

"So what shirts do you have for the game? You guys always have a players shersy." Shawn asked, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

"Why don't we change and you'll get your answer?" Bobbi suggested.

"Why don't you change right here? It is a locker room." Both girls punched Keaton and left to get their bags.

When they came back, the boys waited in anticipation for the girls to reveal their Panthers shersys, "Well...turn around!" Ricki and Bobbi did a 180. Only two guys out of the whole team cheered, "Oh come on! Soupy and Steegs? Out of all of us, three that you actually know personally, you picked those two?!"

"Don't be ridiculous! They were the only two shirts we could find."

"That's alright by me." Kris said, coming over and putting his arm around Bobbi. Ricki pulled out her camera and snapped a picture, trading it to have her picture taken with Brian. Of course the other boys had to have their pictures taken too, even if it wasn't their names on the back of the girls shirts.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Well...here we are after the game. Sadly the boys didn't win against the Rangers and they're not taking it very good. Hopefully our awesome interview questions will cheer them up. Let's start with Shawn Matthias. So Shawn, how far east can you go before you're heading west?" Ricki started off. Shawn tilted his head in thought then stood up and began walking.

"Which way's east?" Ricki turned the camera back on her and just shook her head.

"Oh my god. Anyways," Ricki focused the camera on Bobbi and Jason, "Okay Jason, what's the best thing since slice bread?"

"Hockey."

"Fantastic answer." Bobbi high-fived Jason then faced Brian Campbell, "If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?"

"Um, I really have no answer for that."

"That's alright. Most people don't. Back to you Ricki dear."

"Thank sweetcheeks, so Jose Theodore," Ricki started, aiming the camera at she and the goaltender, "Last question, if it's true that we're here to help others, than what exactly are the others here for?"

"Isn't it like, uh, pay it forward? I help you, you help someone else, then they help another person. It's never ending."

"Sounds right to me. Well folks, that's all for tonight. We'll check in tomorrow. Till then, be great!"

"Wait you're not gonna interview me?!" Keaton whined.

"No one likes you, Keaton!" The defenseman dropped his head in a pout.

The girls joined the boys for one last hooray at a bar before the girls were making their way back to Joelle's place. Tomorrow, Ricki and Bobbi would be driving for Tampa to attend the Lightning game the same night.

Tweet from Ricki Martin:
Off to Tampa in the morning with #partnerincrime @BobbiHull9 Gonna miss Sunrise and the boys #hardestpart #RickiBobbiRoadTrip

Tweet from Bobbi Hull:
@RickiMartin7 had a great time but heading up the road to Tampa. Goodbye to old and new friends #keepintouch