I stood at the the counter in my hat and apron trying not to fall asleep. It had been busy all day but I had spent a good portion of the night rewriting a paper that I didn't feel was up to standard. I hid a yawn behind my hand as I heard the door open and I turned around to wait on the customers and was surprised to see Marc walk in with . I was surprised to see him and he smiled at me as he walked up to the counter.
" Hi."
" Hi."
" You haven't been to a game in almost three weeks. How am I suppose to turn you into a Ranger's fan if you don't come to see us play."
" Sorry. I've been too busy with classes and work to do much of anything."
" Maybe I can take you out to dinner sometime and prove that I'm not such a bad guy."
" I don't know if that's a good idea Marc."
" Why not?"
" I'm not exactly the type that is comfortable going to fancy restaurants or hanging out with celebrities."
" Who said it had to be fancy? We can go anywhere you want. It doesn't matter to me."
" Are you going to order something or not? There is a line forming behind you."
" I'm not moving until you agree." He crossed his arms over his chest and I hated to be bullied but my co-workers were starting to stare and it was getting embarrasing.
" Okay fine, but I get to choose where we go."
I grabbed a scrap of paper out of my apron and scribbled my number on it and shoved it at him across the counter. He gave me a look of triumph as he grabbed it and shoved it into his pocket.
" We're going on the road for a couple of games this week, but I'll call you and try to figure something out."
I nodded as I asked the man behind him what he wanted. I guess going out with him once wasn't going to be that bad.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Garden Of Eden Chapter Two
The start of classes was hectic, just like I had expected but it was nice to get back into a routine. I had found a part time job at a local starbucks to help pay the bills. My other two roomates were nice but I didn't really see to much of them since they also had jobs and classes. I was trying to study for a chem exam when I heard a knock on the door.
" Come in" I yelled as I closed the book in front of me
" Hey, I got tickets for the game tonight. I was wondering if you wanted to come with me."
"I don't know. I still have to go over my notes for the exam I have in a couple of days."
" Oh come on. You've been locked in this room when you aren't in class or working. You gotta live a little. Besides you can meet my dad and some of the guys if you want."
" Fine, but I don't have anything to wear."
" Wait right here. I have something that you can borrow."
He turned around and left and came back with a piece of blue fabric in his hands. He threw it at me with a smile. I shook it out and saw that it was a Rangers jersey that had the name Staal and the number eighteen on the back.
" If I have to wear this in public at least you gave me one of the most non-offensive players on the team."
" Get ready. We have to leave in a half an hour to make pregame skate.
I dragged my ass out of my chair and went to get ready. It didn't take long since I didn't see the point in getting all fancied up for a sporting event. We managed to grab a cab and got to the garden in plenty of time. We had to wait in line at will call and the lady greeted him by name as she slipped our tickets through the little window.
" We can go say hi to my dad after the game."
We went to find our seats and I was amazed at how good they were. We were only a couple of rows behind the players bench. The guys came out to warm up and I had to admit that even though it was the Rangers I was just glad to get out of the house. They were playing against the flyers who I hated even more so I decided that cheering for the Rangers wasn't so bad. The game went well and I found myself cheering. At the end the Rangers had lost but it was in overtime so at least it wasn't a blowout. We waited until the arena started to clear out before heading down to the locker rooms.
" Hey Tony. Your dad should be in the equipment room." a man that I didn't recogonize said as we walked passed security. He nodded and grabbed me by the arm so I wouldn't get seperated from him in the throng of people that were roaming the hallway. He led me to a room that was full of equipment and various other things. I saw a man sitting at a table and I could see the family resemblance right away. He looked at us and smiled as he stood up.
" Hello Papa. This is my roommate Hannah."
" Hello. My name is Acacio Marques."
" It's nice to meet you Mr. Marques." I took the outstretched hand in mine and gave it a firm shake.
" So you go to school with my son?"
" Yeah. I transfered from Chicago this year."
" You must be smart or my son wouldn't be hanging out with you."
" Thank you. I think."
" I have to go to the locker room and grab some stuff. The guys should be showered and changed by now if you want to go meet them."
My stomach twisted into a familiar knot. I hated meeting big groups of people where everyone already knew each other and I was the odd one out. I followed into the locker room where most of the guys were still putting on their shirts and ties and I tried to hide behind the two large men but I might as well have been wearing a neon sign over my head. Every pair of eyes turned to stare at me and I could see the questioning look in everyone's eyes.
" Hey everyone this is Hannah. She is a friend of Tony's so be nice." his dad said loudly
I was lead around the room and introduced to a few of the guys, who admittedly seemed nicer than I would have guessed.
"Hey Marc. I have your biggest fan here." he said looking at me and smiled with a devilish smile
" Wait, what?" I hissed as he practically dragged me in the direction of where Marc was still standing by his stall.
" So your my biggest fan?"
" No I'm not. Honestly I don't even really like the Rangers but Tony convinced me that I should come with him so he gave me this jersey to wear. But you played really well tonight." I added quickly not wanting to hurt his feelings
" If you aren't a Ranger's fan then who are you a fan of?"
" I love the Hawks and the Pens and am a huge fan of Joe Thornton."
" I guess we'll have to work on that." He smiled at me and I wasn't quite sure what to say but I was saved from the akward silence by Tony yelling across the room letting me know that it was time to go.
" Will I see you around?" he asked as he adjusted his tie. It hung a little bit crooked and I had to control the urge to reach out and straighten it.
" We'll see" I said as I turned around and walked out of the room after Tony without looking back
" Come in" I yelled as I closed the book in front of me
" Hey, I got tickets for the game tonight. I was wondering if you wanted to come with me."
"I don't know. I still have to go over my notes for the exam I have in a couple of days."
" Oh come on. You've been locked in this room when you aren't in class or working. You gotta live a little. Besides you can meet my dad and some of the guys if you want."
" Fine, but I don't have anything to wear."
" Wait right here. I have something that you can borrow."
He turned around and left and came back with a piece of blue fabric in his hands. He threw it at me with a smile. I shook it out and saw that it was a Rangers jersey that had the name Staal and the number eighteen on the back.
" If I have to wear this in public at least you gave me one of the most non-offensive players on the team."
" Get ready. We have to leave in a half an hour to make pregame skate.
I dragged my ass out of my chair and went to get ready. It didn't take long since I didn't see the point in getting all fancied up for a sporting event. We managed to grab a cab and got to the garden in plenty of time. We had to wait in line at will call and the lady greeted him by name as she slipped our tickets through the little window.
" We can go say hi to my dad after the game."
We went to find our seats and I was amazed at how good they were. We were only a couple of rows behind the players bench. The guys came out to warm up and I had to admit that even though it was the Rangers I was just glad to get out of the house. They were playing against the flyers who I hated even more so I decided that cheering for the Rangers wasn't so bad. The game went well and I found myself cheering. At the end the Rangers had lost but it was in overtime so at least it wasn't a blowout. We waited until the arena started to clear out before heading down to the locker rooms.
" Hey Tony. Your dad should be in the equipment room." a man that I didn't recogonize said as we walked passed security. He nodded and grabbed me by the arm so I wouldn't get seperated from him in the throng of people that were roaming the hallway. He led me to a room that was full of equipment and various other things. I saw a man sitting at a table and I could see the family resemblance right away. He looked at us and smiled as he stood up.
" Hello Papa. This is my roommate Hannah."
" Hello. My name is Acacio Marques."
" It's nice to meet you Mr. Marques." I took the outstretched hand in mine and gave it a firm shake.
" So you go to school with my son?"
" Yeah. I transfered from Chicago this year."
" You must be smart or my son wouldn't be hanging out with you."
" Thank you. I think."
" I have to go to the locker room and grab some stuff. The guys should be showered and changed by now if you want to go meet them."
My stomach twisted into a familiar knot. I hated meeting big groups of people where everyone already knew each other and I was the odd one out. I followed into the locker room where most of the guys were still putting on their shirts and ties and I tried to hide behind the two large men but I might as well have been wearing a neon sign over my head. Every pair of eyes turned to stare at me and I could see the questioning look in everyone's eyes.
" Hey everyone this is Hannah. She is a friend of Tony's so be nice." his dad said loudly
I was lead around the room and introduced to a few of the guys, who admittedly seemed nicer than I would have guessed.
"Hey Marc. I have your biggest fan here." he said looking at me and smiled with a devilish smile
" Wait, what?" I hissed as he practically dragged me in the direction of where Marc was still standing by his stall.
" So your my biggest fan?"
" No I'm not. Honestly I don't even really like the Rangers but Tony convinced me that I should come with him so he gave me this jersey to wear. But you played really well tonight." I added quickly not wanting to hurt his feelings
" If you aren't a Ranger's fan then who are you a fan of?"
" I love the Hawks and the Pens and am a huge fan of Joe Thornton."
" I guess we'll have to work on that." He smiled at me and I wasn't quite sure what to say but I was saved from the akward silence by Tony yelling across the room letting me know that it was time to go.
" Will I see you around?" he asked as he adjusted his tie. It hung a little bit crooked and I had to control the urge to reach out and straighten it.
" We'll see" I said as I turned around and walked out of the room after Tony without looking back
A New Start Chapter One
I slung my backpack over my shoulder as I got ready to get off of the plane. I had been lucky enough that I had been allowed to transfer from the University of Illinois Chicago. I had met a boy at a frat party and fell in love and several months later it had went horribly wrong, leading me where I currently was. I went to get the rest of my luggage and found my way outside to get a taxi. I had to make my way to University Hall, where I would be sharing a space with three other students for the year. I hadn't had the opportunity to contact any of them but I was hoping beyonf hope that they would at least be tolerable. I was finally able to elbow my way to a cab and gave the cab driver the address. Thank god I had been able to save up some money working at the Blackhawks store the past year. The cab ride alone was almost eighty bucks plus a tip I could tell the guy was expecting. I paid him and got out in front of a large building. My stomach clenched a little as I started up some stairs and into a lobby with an elevator. I pulled a scrap of paper out of my pocket to make sure that I had the apartment number right and hit the button for the appropriate floor. When the bell dinged I made my way down the hallway and found 409. I heard what sounded like music, which I was glad for, because I really didn't feel like going to the housing apartment offices and picking it up today. I knocked and waited for someone to answer. It took a minute but someone finally answered the door.
" Can I help you?" a very good looking latino man asked as he peered around the door.
" Yeah I'm Hannah, one of your new roommates
" Oh yeah come on in." he replied with a smile, moving out of the way so I could get past him.
He introduced himself as Antonio Marques but told me that everyone called him Tony. He gave me a quick tour of the apartment and when we got to his room the first thing that you saw was all of the New York Rangers stuff cramed into the small space. I must have made a face because he laughed and guessed that I wasn't a hockey fan.
" No I love hockey actually but I'm more of a Blackhawks and Penguins fans. The players on the Rangers just seem like a bunch of ass'"
" Nah. Most of them aren't that bad once you get to know them?"
I raised my eyebrows at this statement. He didn't seem like the stalker type but you could never really tell with people nowadays
" My dad is the head equipment manager for the Rangers. I've gotten to meet most of the guys at various functions and games."
I nodded my head kept on looking around.
" If you want and you have some time I can get tickets to pretty much any game. Maybe I can make you into a Rangers fan before the end of the season.
" I wouldn't count on that. But you are more than welcome to try, I guess bad hockey is better than no hockey."
" We'll see." he said as he shut the door and led me to what was going to become my room. He told me that he had to go pick up books for a couple of his classes and offered to take me along but I was so tired that all I wanted to do was lay on my unmade bed and take a nap.I was told that our other two roomates were going to be arriving in the next couple of days so I would have the place to myself for at least a little while. I heard the door shut and I did exactly that.
" Can I help you?" a very good looking latino man asked as he peered around the door.
" Yeah I'm Hannah, one of your new roommates
" Oh yeah come on in." he replied with a smile, moving out of the way so I could get past him.
He introduced himself as Antonio Marques but told me that everyone called him Tony. He gave me a quick tour of the apartment and when we got to his room the first thing that you saw was all of the New York Rangers stuff cramed into the small space. I must have made a face because he laughed and guessed that I wasn't a hockey fan.
" No I love hockey actually but I'm more of a Blackhawks and Penguins fans. The players on the Rangers just seem like a bunch of ass'"
" Nah. Most of them aren't that bad once you get to know them?"
I raised my eyebrows at this statement. He didn't seem like the stalker type but you could never really tell with people nowadays
" My dad is the head equipment manager for the Rangers. I've gotten to meet most of the guys at various functions and games."
I nodded my head kept on looking around.
" If you want and you have some time I can get tickets to pretty much any game. Maybe I can make you into a Rangers fan before the end of the season.
" I wouldn't count on that. But you are more than welcome to try, I guess bad hockey is better than no hockey."
" We'll see." he said as he shut the door and led me to what was going to become my room. He told me that he had to go pick up books for a couple of his classes and offered to take me along but I was so tired that all I wanted to do was lay on my unmade bed and take a nap.I was told that our other two roomates were going to be arriving in the next couple of days so I would have the place to myself for at least a little while. I heard the door shut and I did exactly that.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)