Chapter Four

"Where are you taking me, Armstrong?" I laughed as I asked the question for the millionth time. We had just hopped into his car and taken off down the highway, and he still hadn't told me what our plans were for the night.

"My place." He finally responded, a grin hinting at his lips.

"Well, you don't waste time." I said with my eyebrows raised as Colby chuckled and pulled up in his driveway. He ran out of the car to go around to the other side and open the door for me with a hand extended.

"Thanks," I said as my cheeks flushed as I grabbed his hand and stepped out of his car. He unlocked the door to his house and took me on a little tour of his bachelor pad before sitting down in the kitchen with a beer and an old Whitney Houston CD.

"Now, for the main event." he said, grinning as he turned up the music and reached for ingredients in his cupboard. 

"We're cooking?" I asked, a little shocked, "I think I should warn you, I burn water."

Colby chuckled and shook his head, "No, silly goose, we're baking. It's much easier."

"And what exactly are we baking?" I asked, curiously.

"BROWNIES!" Colby screamed, "Now, there's a rule in this household. All guests who plan on baking in my kitchen must wear this apron."

Colby pulled out an obnoxious yellow apron with the lettering 'KOLBEE PWNS' in black on the front, which sent me into a fit of laughter.

"Are you serious?" I asked, still laughing hard.

"Quite." Colby said as he placed the apron over my head and tied it around my neck.

"You're crazy." I said, shaking my head and chuckling a bit.

"Maybe, but that's why I make such a good date." Colby said as he preheated the oven and began to mix the brownie batter together.

Two hours, two bottles of chardonnay, four burnt sheets, three CDs, one flour fight, three cartons of eggs and three pounds of butter later, we had 6 trays of brownies all finished. I wiped some sweat off my forehead and whistled as I looked at all the plates spread across the kitchen.

"There's no way we're eating all these." I laughed pointing to the plates.

"Oh no, coach wouldn't allow it." Colby said patting his stomach, "This plate here, is for us."

"And what are we doing with the rest of them?" I asked as a devilish grin appeared on Colby's face.

"C'mon. I'll wrap these beauties up then we're getting back in the car." Colby said as he reached for some tin-foil.

We quickly wrapped up the brownies and headed back into the car, and I just kept wondering what possibly could we be doing now. We drove for a bit before pulling up to an apartment building in Southside. Colby parked the car on the side of the street and grabbed 5 sheets of brownies in one hand and my hand in the other as we made our way up the elevator.

"Where are we going?" I asked as Colby pressed all the buttons on the elevator.

"A bunch of guys have apartments here. We're dropping them off some brownies." Colby said, smirking.

"Well, aren't you thoughtful," I grinned and pushed him slightly. 

"Ow," he said, rubbing his arm, "And yes, I'm really, quite thoughtful."

The elevator opened up on the first floor and we walked down the hall do the apartment 107 where we put one plate down and wrote a note on the brownies. 

Kris, baby, thanks for last night. I baked you some brownies. ;) <3

"You think Tanger will eat them?" I asked as I placed the note on top of the plate.

"Oh God, no" Colby said laughing, "The last time he ate something made by a fan, he was sick for 2 weeks."

We continued up the apartments leaving brownies on Max, Jordan, Tyler, and Geno's doorsteps with notes from apparent one night stands. 

"5 bucks say that half of the girlfriends break up with them after seeing these." Colby said as we headed back down the elevator.

"I'm not arguing that. Those notes looked pretty realistic. Especially in your horrible handwriting." I laughed.

"Hey! I personally love my penmanship. I think it's very manly." Colby said assuming an heroic pose.

We headed back to his car as he began to drive me home. We talked about everything from Cole Harbour, to Saskatoon, to hockey, to Amy Winehouse's latest meltdown. It was really easy to talk to Colby. He was such a genuine person. When we got back to my building, Colby offered to walk me up to my door, ad I didn't decline. Once we reached my floor and stepped out of the elevator, Colby proposed something.

"I'll race ya again." he stated.

"Hm, you gonna cheat again?" I asked laughing.

"Whaaat. Noooo." he grinned and pushed me back slightly before taking off down the hall way with me running and laughing after him. Sure enough, he had one.

"Again, you're cheap, Armstrong." I said, out of breath.

"Oh, c'mon. You're jealous." he smirked.

"And why would I be jealous." I asked.

"Because, I won. So, I get to kiss you know." he said as he leaned in towards me as my stomach did summer saults. As our lips touched, it sent an electric shock to me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and deepened the kiss as he pulled himself closer to me. I felt him push me up against the wall and I pressed my lips down on his harder. This felt right. There was no way to describe it. I finally found the will power to pull away as a grin formed on his and my face. 

"I'll see you at our extravagant second date," he whispered into my ear and placed another kiss on my lips.

"B-bye." I muttered, finally unlocking my arms from around his neck.

Chapter Three

I stared at the clock. 7:59. I'd already showered and gotten ready for the night, putting on grey distressed skinny jeans and a short blue and black dress. When the clock struck 8, I heard a knock on the door. Huh, not bad, I thought as I went over to open the door. As I opened the door to let Colby in, I saw him standing there with a giant grin on his face and a bouquet of roses in the other. 

"These are for you, Madam." He said, handing me the roses. "You look beautiful."

"Thanks," I said smiling as I raced for the kitchen to put the roses in a vase, "Come on in for a second." 

I was putting water in a jar as Chelsea emerged from her room, wearing sweats and a t-shirt and sporting her new glasses going over her article. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Colby next to me. 'Is that him?' she mouthed to me pointing her head in his direction. I laughed and mouthed back 'Who else would it be?' 

She raised an eyebrow at him in approval as I nudged Colby to introduce them.

"Colby, this is my roommate Chelsea."

"Well, Helllooooo there." he said extending his hand.

Chelsea giggled, "Hi."

"Well, we should get going gorgeous, we're going to be late." Colby said extending his arm.

"Late for what?" I asked curiously as I locked arms with him.

"You'll see," he said as a grin came over his face, "I have stuff planned."

"Well, let's get to it then," I said heading for the door.

"I'll race ya." He said, a smile creeping on his face.

I raised my eyebrows, "You'll lose," I said, smugly.

"Yeah, we'll see." Colby said laughing as he pushed me slightly to his left and took off down the hall.

"You're cheap Armstrong!" I screamed, taking off my heels and sprinting after him. He spun around at the elevator doors and stuck his tongue out at me. I narrowed my eyes at him and smiled. It was impossible to stay mad at this guy.

"I won." He stated, simply.

"You did," I pointed out, defeated.

"Do you know what that means?" he asked, ushering me into the elevators.

"Um, no?" 

"It means, no matter how bad I do at taking you out tonight, you have to go on a second date with me. Even if you can't stand me at all."

"Oh, really?" I asked laughing and shoving his arm a bit.

"Yes, really." He said as a smug grin crawled over his face.

 

Chapter Two

I got home after practice and smiled to myself. I'd had a great time with Colby messing around with Sidney at the Iceoplex. We'd used him as target practice, just like he used to do with me back in Nova Scotia. I tossed my keys on my dresser and headed to the shower. I needed one after completely obliterating Sidney on the ice. Once I was done, I figured I'd just pull on a pair of pyjamas and watch the OC reruns with Chelsea. I put on my Penguins t-shirt and flannel PJ bottoms and plopped down next to Chelsea on the couch.

"Hey, where were you?" she asked, rummaging through our DVDs looking for Season One.

"Went to the Iceoplex, messed with Sid for a bit," I said as the opening credits came on.

"Oh, did you meet the new guy? I can't remember his name but he got called up from Sranton yesterday."

For some odd reason, my cheeks flushed when she brought him up. What the hell? I thought, I don't BLUSH.

"Oooh, you're blushing, you like him don't you?" Chelsea asked like a 12 year old at a sleepover.

"Oh, do not!" I yelled, "I just met the guy today!"

"Ever heard of love at first sight?" she retorted.

"Shut up, Chels." I said, hitting her in the arm.

"When do I get to meet this undercover lover you've got then?"

"Again, NOT my lover." I said, agitated now.

"You're acting defensive. I can see right through you. You like him." she stated.

"Chelsea, again, shut up." I said, feeling my cheeks turning more red than before.

"Fine, I'll leave you alone, but I know you do." she said and turned up the TV.

He's nice, and funny and everything, he's kinda cute too, in a nerdy kind of way. He plays hockey, which is a bonus. He seems to get along really well with Sidney. Great personality... Awh, hell. I do like him!! 

I was beating myself up in my thoughts, and Chelsea could tell, she peered over at me and started laughing.

"See! I told you!" She laughed. 

"Okay, so maybe I do. A bit." I said as I hung my head, defeated. 

"We should double! You and Colby and me and Sid!" she said in spite of it all.

I shot her a look when she said Sidney's name;

"Or, just you, me and Colby." She said changing her mind.

My phone beeped in front of me and I saw it was a text from Colby. How'd he get my number?

I would like to cordially invite you to dinner with me tomorrow night. Actually, I'm not inviting you, I'm coming to get you at 8 tomorrow even if you say no ; )

"Awwwwwwwwww! That's so cute!" Chelsea whined next to me.

"Shut it, Chels. Please."

Sounds good to me Mr. Armstrong. 8 it is.

Not two seconds later, he had already texted back. And reading the text, Chelsea and I both bursted into a fit of uncontrollable laughter.

Scoooooooore! I got meself a purdy laaaady :)

Chapter One

It's a very very lucky day for our organization, our city, and our fans worldwide. On behalf of Mario Lemieux and the entire ownership group, the Pittsburgh Penguins select from Rimouski, in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Sidney Crosby.

It was by those very words that everything changed for me. New city, new house, new friends, new life. I moved to Pittsburgh the summer of 2005, I was 22, and couldn't wait to get started on my new job.  Getting settled in Pittsburgh was easy, I moved in with someone who worked at the newspaper with me, and I had my cousin who was making millions. Oh yeah, my cousin. Sidney Crosby. Apparently he's some kind of a big deal in the hockey world, but whatever, I always beat him at pond hockey in Cole Harbor anyways. 

A year and a half after the draft, it was as if I'd never lived in Nova Scotia. Pittsburgh was my home now, and that wasn't about to change anytime soon.

Coming to watch practice today?

I read the text message from Sidney and contemplated if I should go or not. I had a lot of editing I had to do, but I decided to put that aside and go anyways. I told my boss I'd be going to the practice to take some shots for an article Chelsea was writing, and he let me go uninterested. I grabbed my camera off my desk and headed to my car, jotting Sidney a quick text on the way there.

Be there in 5.

I put the key in the ignition and started off, listening to my old Shania Twain album on the way there. Man, I feel like a woman, I sang in my off-key voice. I heard my phone buzz once again signaling another text from Sid.

Good, there's someone who wants to meet you.

I raised my eyebrows. Someone who wants to meet me? But I already know everyone. I arrived at Southpointe, the Penguins practice arena, and headed straight to the locker rooms where I knew Sidney would be sitting with Kris LeTang going through his iPod looking for a motivational song, like he does every practice. Sure enough, he was there doing exactly that.

"Hey Naomi," he said and pulled me into a hug.

"Ew, gross Sid, you're in your under armour." I said wiping the sweat off me.

"Ha, sorry," he said throwing his jersey on top of his head. "Hey, there's someone I want you to meet."

He guided me over to the other side of the room where I saw an unfamiliar face attempting to talk to Geno, and failing horribly. Poor Evgeni hasn't quite learned English yet.

"Colby," he said pointing to the curly-haired man, "This is my cousin, Naomi. Naomi, this is Colby Armstrong, he just got recalled from Wilkes-Barre." That explains why I didn't know him.

"Heeeeeeey!" Colby said pulling me into a hug. Wow, I thought, He doesn't waste time.

"Haha, hello there." I responded laughing. 

"Wanna come see me kick Crosby's ass?" he asked.

"Yes, definitely, but only if I can help," I said, pointing to my skates that were hanging up next to Sid's stall.

"Let's do it." Colby said, grinning, and walked over to my stall to help me put on my skates.

There's something about this guy...

Introduction

Name: Naomi Crosby

Age: 23

Hair: Brown, shoulder length

Eyes: Light Blue

Hometown: Cole Harbor, Nova Scotia.

Story: Naomi is Sidney Crosby's older, and closest, cousin. She moved to Pittsburgh when Sidney was drafted in hopes of starting over. She works at a local newspaper as a photographer for the sport and travel sections. She's outgoing, fluent in sarcasm, and a hell of a hockey player. She's comical and a hopeless romantic, and lives in an apartment in downtown Pittsburgh with her roommate Chelsea.

Name: Chelsea LaRoche

Age: 22

Hair: Dirty Blonde, medium length. 

Eyes: Green.

Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia.

Story: Roommate of Naomi, Chelsea moved from Vancouver to Pittsburgh for better opportunities to become a writer. Chelsea has always had a thing for Sidney, but keeps it concealed pretty well. Chelsea comes off as shy, but once you get to know her, you find she's the life of the party.