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.