Title: When the World Falls Apart: Chapter One: While I was Waiting
Author: Foxy Finn ([email protected])
Rating: PG-13 for chapter, possibley NC-17 in later parts
Archive: @ my site http://www.geocities.com/foxy_finn44/ email me if you want it anywhere else....
Category: Sports, RPS, NHL, Comire/York, Comrie/Guerin
Feedback: It'll give me something to do at work
Summary:Suppose Bill Guerin hadn't been traded for Anson Carter...
Author's Note: Not true, not mine. Oh, and I can't control the weather either (shakes fist.) Artistic license knew no bounds when I came up with this one. Oh, and facts schmacts.

He was late again. Or maybe I�m early. The thing is, whenever we plan to meet somewhere, I�m always the first one there. I don�t know if it�s because he likes to make an entrance, or because I like being early. I can�t see why I like being early. The minutes stretch out forever while I�m waiting.

I played with the sleeve of my shirt as I sat at the bar. It hurt to sit alone. People stare, even though they try not to. It�s not like I�ve been stood up, but for those agonizing moments before he gets here it feels like I have. Those moments, though, are the furthest thing from my mind when I�m in his arms. He holds me, and I forget about all the heartache I go through nearly every time we meet to go out together.

I�d finished my drink a few minutes ago. I was shredding my napkin when some one sat next to me. I didn�t look up. If she wanted to buy me a drink, I wouldn�t accept it.

�Rough day?� He asked. He?

I turned with a small smile on my face. �Not really.�

�Then what�s with the depressed look?� He asked. �You must be waiting for some one.�

�I am.� I couldn�t help but grin. �I�m always the early one.�

He finished his drink, and set it on the bar. �Well, you should stop being early if it makes you sit here and look miserable. I�m getting another drink, can I buy you one?�

I hate getting drinks bought for me, but that�s normally from the cougars that roam this upscale place looking for young blood. But it felt okay from him. He was just offering because he was buying himself one. I was nodding before I could think twice.

�Good.� He smirked. �I wouldn�t have taken no for an answer.�

I laughed.

He looked serious. �I wasn�t joking.�

He burst out laughing at the stupid looked that was obviously plastered across my face. I blushed wildly, suddenly wanting to disappear. �It�s okay,� he smiled. �What do you want?�

�Just a beer,� I replied, still wanting to slide under my chair and hide.

He smirked, taking a quick glance at the bottle I�d finished before he got here. He ordered two more and took one for himself.

�Have you told whomever you�re waiting for that you�d be here early?� He asked.

I shrugged. �I�ve dropped the hint a few times. I�m always the first one anywhere.�

�Why don�t you ride together? Take turns picking one another up.� He narrowed his eyes. �It doesn�t make sense to have you sitting here, looking available.�

I looked at him, expecting him to blush, but he didn�t.

He just smiled. �Just tell whomever you�re waiting for that I said that.�

A shy smile broke across my face. �I think I will.�

�Good.� He smoothed his hair. �So you live around here?�

I nodded. �I�m actually thinking about moving in with him.�

There, I�d it slip. But it didn�t faze him. He just nodded, still looking interested. In fact, a look of concern passed by his face.

�You really think that would be a good idea?� He asked.

I shrugged. �We�d go out more, and he�d have to come with me since we�d be going together. I wouldn�t be alone so much.�

He�d propped his chin up on his hand. �There�s an easier way to solve that.�

I looked at him with wide eyes. �I can�t break up with him.�

�Nothing would change that fact?� He asked. His eyes seemed to brighten when he looked at me. I stared back at him, feeding off the energy deep in his green-blue eyes.

�I�m not sure.� I finally replied.

Two firm hands suddenly were on my shoulder, squeezing me. �Not sure of what?�

�Bill!� I gasped, sitting up straighter.

�Yeah, it�s me.� He grinned. �What are you not sure about?�

�About another drink.� The stranger quickly answered. �We were just thinking about another drink when you came along.�

�Hmm.� Bill smirked, and then turned back to me. �Ready to get out of here?�

I cocked my head. �Where are we going?�

�How about, anywhere but here?� He smiled, rubbing the back of my neck. He brought his face close to my ear. �Finish your chit-chat and I�ll see you outside.�

He quickly turned and left. My heart hadn�t stopped pounding the entire time he was there. I looked back at the guy and shook my head.

�Sorry.� I apologized. �I�d better go.�

�Hey, no problem.� He pulled out a pen from his pocket, and wrote something on a napkin. Holy shit, he�s giving me his phone number. �Here, I�m staying at a hotel for a friend�s this week for his wedding. Give me a call if you want to get some dinner or something.�

I shyly took the napkin. �I might do that.�

�I�d like it if you did�.� He trailed off, looking at me expectantly.

He didn�t know my name. �It�s Mike.�

�Same here.� He smiled. �You better get going.�

I thanked him for the drink, and then tucked the napkin into my pocket. I left the bar, and stepped into Bill�s car. I�d taken a cab from my place, knowing that we�d be going out afterwards, and I�d just be ending up back at his place anyways.

He started the car when I got in.

�Do you know who you were just talking to?� He asked, with raised eyebrows.

I shook my head, a stunned look on my face.

�That was Mike York, he plays for New York.� He explained, as he pulled away from the curb.

�What? How did you know that?� I quickly thought back, trying to match the face to a jersey and a number.

He looked at me with a grin. �I notice these things, Mikey. Wait, have you even played against New York yet? I guess that doesn�t matter, but he did go to college in the same state as you did. You�d think you would�ve recognized him from there.�

My mouth was dry, but Bill turned away with a smug look on his face. He wasn�t jealous at all. He looked proud of himself while he drove to the annoying little bar him and Doug used to hang out in, and he now drags me to. This didn�t faze him.

Some times I wished he would be a little more protective of me. Then again, there�s a lot of things I wish he�s do that will never happen.

He never apologized for being late. Maybe I should make him sorry.

-End Chapter One