[five]

Max's POV

There was an extra hop in my step that day as I walked into locker room. "Eh, you finally got her Talbot?" TK shouted over to me as he noticed the permanent smile on my face. It had been nearly a week and a half since I last saw Lily at my place, and it had taken me just as long to convince her to come to the game she said she would attend. "Not yet, she will be here tonight though," I continued to smile and was very happy with the way my stall looked. My gloves were finally pointing in the right direction, this was going to be my night. I sat on the bench and took a minute to collect my thoughts, push them aside and focus on the game at hand. I couldn't let knowing she was there get to me during the game. I figured I would go out for warmups look for her, and that would be it. I don't need my ass getting rammed yet again for playing stupid.

We headed out for warmups and I looked in the section where I knew she would be sitting. She stuck out like a sore thumb and I couldn't help but laugh. She looked terrified. She had that friend from the Starbucks with her, and she also looked terrified. They looked like two poodles surrounded by pitbulls. I was a little scared for them myself as well, she had no idea what she was about to experience. I truly do believe the fans in Pittsburgh are among the loudest in the whole league, so this sure was going to be a wakeup call for her. I could only hope that she enjoyed herself and that she would remember to wait for me after the game.

After warmups I headed back into the locker room and she was completely out of my mind, I was 100% focused on the game. "Let me guess, you told her you would score her a goal," Flower smiled as we walked toward the door. "Oh come on Flower! Damnit!" I bent over, resting my elbows on my knees, hanging my head down. Get back in the game. She's not here. Who is she anyways? Your goal for tonight is to score in the net, not score in bed. C'mon Max, get into the game! I jumped up and gently punched Flower right in the mask. "Alright let's go!"

We jumped out to an early lead with goals coming from Malkin, Crosby and Sykora. I was proud of myself for setting up the beautiful Crosby goal. That Avery guy though, what a prick. His stick found my shin every few minutes and I wasn't going to put up with it much longer. I knew going into the third period with a nice four to nothing lead, that if his stick found my shin one more I was going to beat the crap out of him. Half way through the third period Satan went off with a hooking penalty and Crosby, Letang, Orpik and I stayed on for the first shift of the penalty kill. I got lucky with a sloppy pass and went skating up the ice and tossed the puck past Turco for a short handed goal. As I jumped against the glass to celebrate Avery's stick came crashing down on my shin. I threw my stick and gloves on the ice and took one punch at him. It landed on his chin, but then he threw one that landed right on my cheek bone. I lost my balance a bit but landed an upper cut and he fell to the ice. I hated that asshole. I know hate is a strong word and my mother would shoot me if she heard me saying that, but I really did hate him. He doesn't belong in the league.

What was starring back at me in the mirror was not what I wanted to see. A nice little shiner under my left eye. I headed back to my stall and pulled my cell phone out. So what do I do now? A smile came over my face and I shot a text message back, if you are still at the arena meet me outside of section G in ten minutes. I quickly grabbed my things and headed out. I walked up to where I told her to meet me and I saw her leaning against the wall. "What a beauty," she laughed as she caught sight of my growing black eye. "So did you want to do something?" I asked hoping she would say, 'yes Max, take me home with you. I want you Max.' "I could really go for a beer," she smiled. Well maybe afterwards, I won't let my dreams die just yet.

Lillianah's POV

What does one wear to a hockey game? Have I ever been to a hockey game before? I wasn't trying to impress anyone, so I just wore what I would wear on any cold day, skinny jeans, boots, a sweater, my red pea coat and grey scarf. "Is this appropriate for a hockey game?" I asked Alicia as she walked into my apartment. "I have no idea, luckily I dressed the same way," she laughed and I turned to see her wearing a grey pea coat with black scarf and black jeans. "We don't have to go you know," I sighed looking down at the tickets. "You like him, you really like him. Oh wow. Lil, what the hell happened?" I glared at her, "I do not like him, he's interesting. I'm still getting to know him." "Yeah whatever, Lil you like him, but of course you are too stubborn to admit that to yourself."

I stuck out like a sore thumb with my red pea coat in the sea of black, white and gold. The players took to the ice in I guess what looked like warmups. What number did he say he was again? I looked around and spotted him grinning up at me. "Holy shit Lil, you're blushing." I looked over at Alicia and rolled my eyes. "I'm not blushing," I insisted, but I could feel the burning sensation in my cheeks. "Whatever you say, so there he is, smiling at you. Number twenty-five. He likes you, and you like him. Have you slept with him yet?" I really did love how straight forward Alicia was, but not like this. "No." That was all I said, that was all I needed to say.

The puck went from one end to the other, and I had no idea what was going on. All I knew was that Max scored a goal and then went on to beat the crap out of somebody. That for me was a turn on, probably the first time in a long time I was turned on by something. The buzzer sounded and the game came to an end, the Penguins winning the game five to nothing. "I'm leaving you here, so it's up to Max to get you home," Alicia smiled as she disappeared into the crowd. I took a deep breath and stayed in my seat. So what do I do now? I sent a text to him not knowing if I was suppose to go home or if I was suppose to stay and wait for him.

Black eye, it was beautiful, and I told him so. We made our way out of the arena to his car, and I could already taste a cold beer on my lips. "What happened to your friend?" he asked as he pulled out of the parking lot. "She said it was up to you to get me home tonight," I laughed looking out the window. I kept my hands in my lap, but I could see him straighten out his right arm, as if he was offering his hand to me to hold. I acted like I didn't noticed and we pulled up to a cool looking brewery on the Strip. "I've never been here before, how did you find this place?" I asked as we walked in to a beautiful bar. "I know the owner," he smiled as he took me over to the bar.

Beer after beer, and I could feel it flowing through my blood stream. I was going home with him, there was no denying that. I was there, after some liquid courage I was so there. "Take me home," I whispered into his ear getting up off the stool. His head popped up and he looked at me before turning to the bartender. "Brad, I'm in no shape to drive, can I leave the car here with you?" The bartender laughed and nodded his head, then Max handed over his keys. I pulled my pea coat on and we headed out the door. "Okay so it's like a seven block walk to your place, want to call a cab?" I looked over at him, "my place? Who said I wanted to go to my place?" That smile came over his face and he started sliding all over the ice.