Comfortable

(Okay, so I'm writting more of the Anna and Max saga. I have a few stories planned for them. Maybe Sid and Jenny. Hope you enjoy it.)

He sat around the table flipping slowly through an old photo album. He stopped, smoothing out the page lovingly, he stared at the one picture staring out at him. It was her, in all her fun loving, crazy glory. She was making a face at the camera with his viking hat on, her hair in pig tails. He chuckled slightly before turning the page, knowing he would find pictures of the bonfire.

~flashback~

“Oogachuca Oogachuca!” She cried dancing around the fire with Jordan and Sid right behind her. Suddenly she stopped flinging her arms in the air. “Iiii-Iiii-aIiii'm hooked on a feeling!” She burst into a fit of giggles as Jordan, who was half cut, ran right into her. “Jesus, Jordan! I'm singing here!”

“Oopsh... Sooorry, Anna banana..” Jordan grinned hugging her tightly. She pulled out of the hug and turned towards her man, Max.

“Max, come dance.” She pouted, slowly walking towards him.

“To 'Hooked on a feeling'? No thanks.” He grinned at her, as her hips sashayed side to side.

“How about....” Her pout turned into a seductive smile as she continued forward. “'YOU MAKE ME FEEL like a natural woman'...” He chuckled and shook his head... Her smile grew as she was only steps away from him. “'My boyfriend's back and you're gonna be in trouble'...”

“Should someone be in trouble?” He asked as she closed the gap and straddled his lap.

“'Let's get physical.. physical'...” She whispered in his ear, grinning as she felt him tense. She instantly jumped up and pulled him with her, jumping and dancing around wildly. “OOOHHH!!! I wanna dance with somebody! I wanna feel the HEAT with somebody! Yah! I wanna dance with somebody! With somebody who loves me!” She laughed as he stopped her long enough to plant a passionate kiss on her lips.

~end~

His thoughts lingered as he remembered all the fun things they did together, how comfortable they were. But his heart tugged as he thought about the instance. Lexi. He sighed, he knew he messed up. But she wouldn't let him explain. Lexi... Lexi was just too much for him to turn down. Anna was beautiful, and kind, and crazy, and tonnes of fun. But Lexi... Lexi was wild, and passionate. And not at all like Anna. Besides, Lexi and him, it was just sex. Nothing more, and it was over. As soon as Anna had left, he ended it.

God he missed her. He missed everything about her. How she laughed, how she smiled. How even though he was completely into doing the wild and crazy, she could always one up him. How her mouth was worse than his. How she could light up the whole room with just one look, or how she could put you in your place. If you needed to be.

His cellphone rang suddenly and he slammed the book closed before answering. He already knew who it was.... Nichole.

“Hey Cole... What's up?” He answered, knowing it should probably be more intimate, but he just couldn't bring himself to it.

“Nothing... Just finished Bible Study. The girls and I are thinking of going camping this weekend, all of their boyfriends are coming, you should come too.” She squeaked through the phone.

“I don't know, Nichole, we leave for Montreal on Sunday night... I should probably get some ice time in that weekend.” It wasn't a lie... per sey... He should get ice time in... But really, he just didn't want to be around her all weekend. “You know, gotta get my shit together.”

“Max...” She sighed in an condescending tone. “You know how much I hate that.”

“Sorry, Cole..” He mumbled.

“That's ok. God forgives you, Maxime.” He could hear her smile over the phone. “Well, I've got to go... I'll call you later tonight ok?”

“Okay, bye Cole.”

“Bye, Max.” She blew a kiss into the phone and hung up. He sighed as he sunk his head into his hands.

“Was that Nic?” Jordan asked coming into the kitchen. Max was so wrapped up in his own shit he didn't even hear him come in. Max looked up at his friend and nodded. “Good choice, man. She's a good kid.” Max nodded absent minded as Jordan sat at the table and opened the photo album. “Is Nic coming to Montreal with us?”

“Nah, I think I need a couple days to just chill out. No girlfriend, no phone, just friends and hockey.” Jordan nodded slightly flipping pages slowly. He chuckled slightly falling on a picture of Anna playing street hockey with the boys.

“Can you believe that Anna beat all of us in that game?”

“Well she did have Flower... So that might have had something to do with it.” He laughed, pointing to the next picture of her celebrating her win. “She was so excited to win.”

“Max... You know you need to let her go.” Jordan coached, gently, causing Max to sigh deeply.

“I know man... It's just hard. I mean she knew me... Everything about me. She knew hockey too. I'd come home from a road trip and she'd have suggestions for the next game. Deke stick side on Brodeur, get into Rolosson's face. Take out Heatley early on. It's easy to miss that.” Jordan nodded as Max put his head in his hands. “Look, man, I'm taking Nichole out tonight. I've gotta get ready for the date, and I'll think about what you've said ok?”

“Okay, Max. Just don't hurt her ok. Nic's a good kid. And really, you two would be great together. She's good for you, Max. Really good.” Max nodded as he followed Jordan to the door letting him out. He turned slowly heading upstairs to get ready to see Nichole.


They sat across from each other at the table, right in the middle of the restaurant, that Nichole had requested. His shoulders hunched as everyone stared at them. Nichole, on the other hand, sat as tall as possible, smiling at the people are her right and left; as if to say, I caught him, don't you wish you did.

“Cole, think we could move tables... Maybe one in the back...” He asked gently as he signed another autograph. “I just want to have a quiet dinner with you.” He sighed as she pouted. “No, you're right, here's fine.”

The conversation that night was mainly led by Nichole, she went on about Bible Study, and what the church was doing, and really Max should go too. He just sat there nodding, not really listening. Constantly they were interrupted for pictures or autographs, Max would sigh gently before signing, but Nichole lapped up the attention. He knew he couldn't do this.

Finally she got up to use the washrooms and he sat there, trying to think of how to politely end the relationship. He looked up lost in his thoughts, and he saw her walking by the table. Anna...

“Anna?” He called out, causing her to stop, scared, in her tracks.

“Hey, Max...” She answered cautiously. He stood in front of her, noticing the little differences in her appearance. “You look good.” She smiled slightly, wistfully.

“You too. You cut your hair. It looks great.” He nodded as she shyly smoothed her hair with her hand. “I've missed you, Anna. I can't tell you how much.”

“Max...” She sighed. “I can't... Not now. Besides you have someone now.” She stood on her tip toes and kissed his cheek gently. “It was nice to see you, Max. Bye...” Her smile saddened as she walked towards her table. She looked back to see him sink into his chair, defeated.

“Wow...” Vero sighed, as Anna took her own seat. “You survived your first run in.”

“Barely. I miss him, Vero, I really, really do.” She sighed as she watched his beautiful new girlfriend take her seat.

Crushed

She sat comfortably behind the glass, watching him powerfully glide across the ice, joking with the boys. She smiled softly, goofily, even let a giggle escape her lips as he sent Evengi tumbling head over heels at center ice. Not hard of course. She quickly covered her mouth as she heard herself.

“Wow...” Her best friend, since moving to Pittsburgh, Vero, laughed gently. “You've got it bad girl...”

“I can't have it bad, V. He's my best friend.... He's my Jordan. My Jay... My...” She sighed sadly. “I can't love him.”

“Can't and don't are two very different things, Katie. And it's possible. You and Jordan have been together for a very long time.” Katie shot her a very dirty look and she held up her hands in defense. “Friends, you two have been together AS FRIENDS, for a very long time. It's not surprising that there would be feelings there.” Katie sighed as her friend gave her shoulder a pat, standing to head down to the locker rooms, to claim her own significant other.

Katie lifted her gaze to the ice to find her eyes locked with his crystal blues. He blushed softly, having been caught and waved shyly. She smiled softly and waved back.

“You be having fun?” Her glance was torn from Jordan's to see Evengi standing at the hallway, where they could talk without glass blocking their conversation.

“Umm.. yah, Geno, I am having fun.” She smiled, finding herself endeared to his broken accent.

“You are belonging to Staalzy?” She laughed out right at the forwardness of his question.

“No... Jordan and I are just friends....” Her gaze moved magnetically to Jordan still standing at the other end of the ice, pretending to talk to Max and Sid, but really sending daggers at Evengi as the two stood uncomfortably conversing on the stands.

“I take you for eating?” She tore her eyes away from Jordan to look into Evengi's chocolate brown eyes.

“Oh, Geno, I'm sorry... I'm not really... I uh...” She shifted her gaze uncomfortably to her red Chucks and blushed in shame as he sighed sadly.

“Is okay. I am understanding.” He smiled sadly, bravely, before turning back towards the locker rooms.

“Geno, are we still friends?” She asked timidly, looking up at him through her eyelashes. His smile turned quickly to a bright, happy one.

“Yes. Friends.” She smiled leaning over and kissing his cheek.

“Thanks, Geno. That means the world to me.” She whispered before turning and heading out the the parking lot to wait for Jordan.

From the ice Jordan watched the whole interaction and decided he really didn't like the fact that Geno was hitting on his girl. Well... Not his girl per sey... But his. His best friend. She couldn't date Geno. She just couldn't. Watching her lean in and kiss his cheek almost sent him over there in a blind fury.

“Wow... Jordy.” Max called grabbing onto his arm. “What's the matter, big guy?”

“Kate's talking to Geno.” Sid responded nonchalantly.

“Shut up, man! She shouldn't be giving him the time of day.” Jordan steamed.

“Umm... Why not? Didn't she just dump that loser she was with?” Max innocently asked. Jordan's two friends watched as his eyes slowly went from Geno to Katie, walking out, to his skates. “Holy SHIT! You love her!”

“No I don't!” He adamantly spat. “I don't want a relationship. I'm 19 and in the NHL and could have any girl in the world. And I want to play. I want to be able to go out and pick up a chick whenever I want to.”

“And you don't think she loves you back.” Sid observed causing Jordan's gaze to snap up to his, glaring his stormed off the ice to clean up before heading out to his truck.

True to her word, Katie was there, leaning against the truck, looking... Well... To Jordan, pretty damned sexy. But that was just it. They were best friends. He couldn't screw that up by dating her. Plus, as sexy as she was, he knew it could never work. They weren't good that way together.

“Hey, dude.” She grinned scuffing the asphalt with her Chuck Taylors. “Good practice?” He shrugged before unlocking the door for her.

“Wasn't bad, I guess.” He climbed in behind the wheel and started the truck up. “What did Geno want?”

“Me, I guess... Whatever, it's not going to happen anyways. I'm head over heels for this guys who's going to rip my heart out and completely break me anyways.” She smiled sadly, staring out the windshield.

“Good.” Jordan stated firmly turning his own eyes back to the road. “Kate...”

“Yah, Jay?” She perked up, turning completely towards him, hopeful.

“Uhh... I'm glad you came out today.” He turned his head slightly to send her a small smile before turning back to the road.

The rest of the trip to her apartment was deadly silent except for the radio, playing what might as well have been her song. She softly sung along with the words.

Oh No it's bad
Got me feeling so weak when you're holding my hand
You smile I die
Cause I don't wanna feel what I'm feeling inside
It's to much, it's to late
I'm so into you

I'd be crushed
If you walked away
I'd be lost
I'd be drowning in gray
I'd be wounded beyond repair
If you weren't there
I'd be crushed

I swore
I would be in control of myself
What have you done with me
Your lips (your lips)
My skin (my skin)
I don't know where you end
And where I begin
I hate you
But I love you
So don't ever leave

I'd be crushed
If you walked awayI'd be lost
I'd be drowning in gray
I'd be wounded beyond repair
If you weren't there
I'd be crushed

You got me falling
And I never wanted to feel like I do
I'm so into you

Oh No
It's bad

CRUSHED!

If you walked awayI'd be lost
I'd be drowning in gray
I'd be wounded beyond repair
If you weren't there

CRUSHED!

I'd be lost
I'd be drowning in gray
I'd be wounded beyond repair
If you weren't there!

Yeeaaahhh
I'd be crushed
Oh No Oh No
(performed by Lesley Roy)

As he pulled up in front of her building he turned slightly towards her. “Don't let that creep hurt you, Kate Kat. You deserve so much more than to be hurt again.” Katie turned to him, her eyes full of tears and a sad smile on her face.

“Sometime you can't help who you love, Jay.” She whispered before climbing out of his truck and slowly walking into her building.