| Penguins 2, Admirals 1. Brielle was in a great mood, as was the rest of the team. They were playing like a whole new team, and Brielle was extremely proud of them. Right after she congratulated the team and they all hit the showers, she headed to her temporary office to call the front offices to give them quotes for the articles in the newspapers and on the team�s website. But the instant she picked up the cell phone, it rang. She glanced at the caller ID in confusion as it registered a number with Pittsburgh�s area code. �Hello?� she asked, sitting down and putting the phone to her ear. �Oh, hi Craig. I didn�t recognize the number� Oh, it�s the office number, that would explain it� Oh yeah, we played great tonight, we won two to one� Yes� A call-up? That�s great, who is it?� Upon hearing the name her superior said, Brielle�s face registered nothing but shock. �Yeah� I�ll have him on a flight to Pittsburgh as soon as we get back to Wilkes-Barre, I�ll get him one for tomorrow morning so he has time to get his stuff in order. Thanks, bye.� Brielle closed the flip phone and leaned back in her chair, trying to figure out how to take in the news of the call-up. Toby suddenly poked his head in the office. �Ellie, when does the bus leave?� he asked, rubbing his wet hair with a towel. Toby was always one of the fastest in the showers after games. �Hum?� she asked, slightly distracted. �The bus,� Toby repeated, walking into the office. �What time does it leave?� �Oh, in an hour,� Brielle muttered, putting her hand to her mouth and beginning to chew on a fingernail. �What�s wrong?� Toby asked, raising his eyebrows in concern. �Nothing� Do me a favor and go get Eric for me, would ya?� �I think he�s still in the shower-� �Then drag his ass out, it�s important that I talk to him right now,� Brielle looked up, a flash of anger passing through her brown eyes. Toby blinked in surprise. �Okay, I�ll get him,� he said slowly, backing out of the office. Within moments, Eric was in the office, wrapping the rest of his towel around his waist. �Baby, what�s wrong, Toby said you were upset.� Brielle looked to her desk and closed her eyes as she answered Eric. �You�re going to Pittsburgh.� Eric�s mouth dropped open. �You�re kidding me,� he said after a few moments, when he was finally able to form a coherent word. Brielle�s head was still hanging and her eyes were still closed as she shook her head. �No, I�m not.� She lifted her head to look at Eric. �You�re on a flight tomorrow morning, you�ll be at Mellon Arena in time for their Morning Skate.� Eric sat down across from Brielle. �Elle, I-� �Eric, you deserve this,� Brielle interrupted, shaking her head, not wanting to hear what Eric had to say about the call-up. �This is what you wanted, more than anything� You�re an NHL�er.� She gave a slight smile despite the fact that tears were threatening to spill over her eyelids at any second. �I�m proud of you.� �I love you, you know that,� Eric said, frowning. While Brielle sniffed and shook her head , Eric suddenly stood up and walked around the desk to kneel in front of Brielle. �Everything�s gonna be alright,� he said, wrapping his arms around her, trying to comfort her. �I know,� Brielle replied, throwing her arms around Eric�s neck. �I just� I�m being so selfish� But damnit, I finally found you again, I don�t want to let you go so quickly,� she said, the tears finally finding their way to her cheeks. �It�s not selfish, I want you to be with me, too,� Eric said. �Everything�s gonna be alright, I promise.� Brielle sniffed and brushed away a few stray tears as she let go of Eric�s neck. �I know. Just do me one favor.� �Anything.� �Score a goal for me.� ~*~*~ Colby sat in the back of the bus, watching Brielle sleep on Eric�s shoulder. He was one of the few awake on the long bus ride home. News of Eric�s call-up had spread quickly, and before he was even out of the shower, Colby knew. He wasn�t sure exactly what to think or how to take the news. He was still hurting from Brielle breaking up with him for Eric, but he wanted her to be happy. And she was happy with Eric. But now Eric would be up in Pittsburgh, and from the way he had been playing as of late, he would be there for a while. In the midst of his blatant staring, Colby felt an elbow jab into his side. He glanced over at MacDonald, who was sitting beside him grinning. He fought the urge to roll his eyes and asked quietly, �What�s up, Mac?� �You gonna hit that while Meloche is gone?� he asked, barely containing the grin on his face. Colby hesitated with his answer, which only fueled Mac�s grin. �I knew it.� �I�m not doing anything,� Colby hissed, trying to refrain from yelling. �Ellie is with Eric, and she�s obviously not breaking up with him anytime soon. And I�m not gonna be the one Meloche comes back to beat the hell out of for sleeping with his girlfriend.� �But that doesn�t mean that you don�t want to, does it?� Mac asked. This time Colby didn�t hesitate with his answer. �No, it doesn�t,� he sighed, glancing back to Brielle. �I miss her. But what can I do about it? Nothing, that�s what.� Colby paused and looked Mac in the eye. �She's with Eric now. And besides... I'm supposed to be supportive about this whole mess, right? Gotta keep up that image.� Colby looked back to Brielle. �Even if it�s the hardest thing I�ve ever done� It can�t be harder than hearing her say that she doesn�t love me the same way she loves him.� Mac scoffed. �You mean to tell me that, even though you�re clearly in love with the woman, you�re not even gonna try anything while her boyfriend is five hours away? Christ Colby, grow a set already. If you want her, then get her.� Colby frowned. �I have a set, ask Ellie.� �I doubt she even remembers if you do or don�t,� Mac muttered, watching Brielle snuggle up against Eric�s shoulder. Almost to the point of disgust with the display a few rows in front of him, he turned back to Colby. �Look kid, all I�m saying is that if I were you, I�d make some form of a move. I�m not saying to jump her the instant Eric�s flight takes off, I�m saying to start off small and work your way up. Casual dinner, rent a movie, go back to her place, turn down the lights� You get the drift. She�ll be putty in your hands in two days time, I promise you.� �Maybe,� Colby muttered, getting another good look at Brielle and Eric. She was leaning against him, sleeping peacefully. There was a troubled look stretched across her face, probably dreaming about being away from Eric, Colby thought. He frowned at the idea, crossed his arms in front of his chest and closed his eyes, intent on getting some sleep before the bus pulled into Wilkes-Barre. |
 |
|
|
|