Will it be you?- Chapter 25(Part1)

"Aaylah get up babe, it's 7 o'clock," I hear Sid saying.
Rolling over, I open my eyes to see him looking down at me.

"Morning, i'm your alarm clock," Sid says as I smile and sit up in the bed.

"Thanks Sid," I say as I get up from the bed heading over to my bag.
Kneeling beside it, I unzip it and pull out a pink sweate.

"Your just changing your shirt?"

"Yes, there is no need to change my jeans. I haven't even been in them for 24 hours,'

"Yeah thats true. What would you like for breakfest?"

"Just a pop tart if you have it,"

"Ok,"
He smiles as he opens the door then closes the door as he walks out.
Shaking my head, I stand up and take off my jersey as I throw it on my bag as I place the pink sweater on.
Since i had my hockey clothes in the car, why not wear this.
I then I put the jersey in as I take out my brush to put my hair up.
Placing that back in, i grab out my tennis shoes as I zip it up for the final time.
Opening Sid's bedroom door, I walk out as I head to the living room.
No one was up, so I sat down quietly as I begin to put on my shoes as I hear the door opening.
i look up to see Sidney standing there with my pop tarts in one hand and a water in the other.\\

"This ok?" Sid asks as he comes around as he sets the items down to sit beside me.

"It's fine. We are going to have another date soon," I say as I finish tieing up my shoes.

"Yeah we diffenately are. So what time are you leaving?"
I look up at the clock thats reads 7:10.

"In five minutes," I say as I begin to eat.

"Alright, good luck in your first pratice,"

"You too Sid," i say as I swallow my food.

"Sorry about that,"

"Your fine babe,"
After I ate my last bite, I stood up as Sid does as well.

"Well I gotta go, so I'll see you later one before you leave tonight," I say.

"Alright. See you later," Sid says as he gives mme a kiss.

"Bye,"
I then open the door and walk out of his wing to the main house.
Walking through the halls, i find the front door.
As I open it, i hear foot steps from behide me.
turning around I see Sidney standing there.

"My bag is in your car. I didn't get it out last night," Sid says.

"Its ok. Follow me," I say as I smile as we head out of the house together.
Walking over to my car, I take out my keys from my pocket as I unlock the trunk.
Sidney leans in to grab his Penguins logo bag as he closes it.

"Thanks babe. See you later on after pratice," Sid says as he kisses me.

"When is your over?"I ask.

"About 1 to 1:30. do you know yours?"

"Not yet but I will,"

"alright call me to tell me,"

"Will do. Bye Sidney,"

"Bye Aaylah,"

I smile as i head over my car door.
Using my keys, I unlock the door and sit down into the drivers seat.
I began the car up as I close the door and buckle up.
Putting it into reverse, I back out the place it in drive to drive to the end of the driveway.
I then turn left as I head down to Southpointe rink.

Since it is going to be a long ride, I lean over alitte to turn on the radio to some music that will get me motiviated for pratice.


35 minutes later
I pull into the parking lot and i turn and park in my normal spot by the building.
turning off the car, I get out and head to the back of the car.
Taking my keys, i unlock the trunk and grab my hockey bag and one hockey stick.
I close it as i place the bag on my shoulders as i head onto the sidewalk.
Taking a deep breath, i open the door and walk in.

"Morning Aaylah, praticing?" Mark asks.

"Yeah but with my new team," I say.

"Congrats. The tigers are in the backrink, not the bigger rink. The Penguins will be in that one,"

"alright,see ya later.

"Enjoy your pratice,"

I head back to the last rink, I turn as an older lady turns around to look at me.

"Hello there. you part of the Pittsburgh Tigers?" she asks.

"Yes," i reply.

"Well i'm Coach Ginger. Who are you misses?" coach asks.

"Aaylah Thomason," i say.
She smiles as she hands me an ungly orange jersey.

"You are playing center today," she says.

"alright, is there any changing rooms around here?" I ask.

"yes right behide you. You can just leave your things in there,"

"Ok, thank you,"

I then turn around and walk over tothe dressing rooms.
Walking in, I saw a empty stall in front of me, so I walk on in and close the door.
Putting my bag on the ground and my stick in the corner, I sesure the door by locking it.
Kneeling down I put the jersey on the bench like thing, then I turn around unzipping my bag.

I pull out my shoulder pads, pads, helmet, my hockey bottoms, gears and of course my skates.

Changing from my jeans and sweater, I got in all my gear, which this is only my second time beinging in it.
Then i place all my stuff into the bag and zip it up.
Taking the orange jersey off the bench, I place it over my head as I look into the mirror.

I couldn't believe I am on a actual hockey team.

Bending over, I pick up my helmet(well sids helmet) and I place it on over my head.
It was loose but I didn't mind.

Grabbing my stick, i open the dressing room door and head out of the room the nacross the way to where the team is praticing at.

"Go ahead and warm up, Thomason," Coach Ginger says.
I nod my head as I hop onto the ice as I begin a skating routine that i normally do when I get onto the ice.

After I skate for a bit, I go over to a few girls who are shooting pucks.

"Can I shoot too?" I ask.

"Sure, I'm amy by the way and this is Ally and Melissa. Oh and our goalie, Haley," Amy says.

"It's nice to meet you all. I'm Aaylah," I say as I get into the back of the line.

"Nice to have you on our team, let's see what you got," amysays as she pushes the puck over to me.

Looking at Haley, I begin to pick up speed as I capture the puck on my stick as I whiz through Haley.
She is looking at me as I found a hole and shot the puck into the net.

"Wow that impressive,"
I skate around to face them.

"Thank you. My boyfriend showed me that. He's a hockey player too," I say.

"Well tell him thaks,"

Then a whisle blew as I skate behide the girls over to the side.

"Welcome returning and new Tigers. I'm pleases to say I can't wait to our season which begins on Saturday, so we will be meeting here for a bit. Our next practice is friday at 2 and Saturday before the game at 12, game is at 2.We will be playing at Mellon Arena on Saturday. So let's begin practicing. Ok team one is Thomason center, Johnson left wing, Knight right wing, Nichols and Sanderson defense and Haley as goalie. Second team is Sadler center, Malone right wing, Havens left wing, Stewart and Meyers defense and goalie is jacki,"

I skate over to center ice as I see Amy, Ally and Melissa are on my team.
I turn around as I get in position as a refree comes over.
I look at the puck and place my stick were it goes on the ice.
I was getting excited to actually play on a team.

"Ok 30 minutes a game. Begin!"

the puck drops as I pass it to skate up the line near the goalie.

"Pass it!!" I exclaim as Amy passes it to me as I skate but before I knew it, I am on the ice.

"Stewart box, 2 minutes checking. You ok Thomason," Coach asks as she comes onto the ice.

"Yeah I'm fine," I say as I get up and head for center ice to begin again.

About three hours later, I come skating off the ice beside the benches.

"Good work this morning ladies. I would like to see you back here at noon for training outside. We will meet at the University of Pittsburgh stadium which means Heniz field at the front door.
Get you something to eat and I'll see you at Heniz field in a couple hours," Coach says.

I begin to walk as I hear "Aaylah wait up,"
Looking behide me, I see Amy walking up.

"Nice prctice today. You play pretty good," Amy says.

"Thank you, you play well too," I say.

"thanks would you like to grab some lunch with me a few ofthe girls from the team?"

I look up at the clock, it was 10:45 and I didn't have anything planned today but, maybe going to see Sid practing for his game tomorrow.

"Sure why not. I need to know my teammates,"

"Ok meet in the lobby in say 7 minutes. that ok?"

"Yep, I'll be there,"

I head back into the room I once occupied when i had changed the first time.
Closing the door, I sit down on the bench and placing my stick down as I lift my bag onto my lap.
Unzipping it, I pull out my pink sweater, jeans, and tennis shoes and place them onto te floor as I set it down as I unlace my skates.
As I take them off I place the guards onto the them. I put them into the bag as I begin to strip from my hockey uniform.
Placing everything into my bag, I zip it up and change back into my normal clothes and shoes.

After changing, I pick up my bag from off the floor and place it on my shoulder as I grab my hockey stick.
I head out of the room and head tothe front lobby.

Walking back out to the lobby, I see Amy and a few of the girls standing there.
Taking a deep breath, i walk over to the girls.

"Seven minutes flat, nice. So since we are heading to Pittsburgh, where should we eat at?" Amy asks.

"How about to TGI Fridays on the North Shore by Heniz Field? It has a good river view," I say.

"Ok sounds good Aaylah. Oh this is Jacki, Jessica Sadler and Kkik Malone. Girls this is our new forward Aaylah Thomason," Amy says.

"Nice to meet you all," I say.

"You too. Welcome to the team Aaylah," Jessica, the blonde says.

"Thank you,"

"So what are driving arrangements going to be? All in one car?" Haley asks.

"Um well I can fit four people into my car and someone else will have to drive their car too so we all can get there," Amy says.

"I have to exclude myself. I have to pick up a friend after training," I say.

"Alright thats fine. Wait, one of us could ride with you and come back here with the other car," Haley says.

"That's a good idea Haley, so do you wantto tag along with her to the resarant?" Amy asks.

"Yeah I'll ride with here to the resturant," Haley says.

After a few more minutes of talking, they figured out who the second driver would be.
I then walk out of the door to the outside air of November.

"So which car is yours Aaylah?" Haley asks.

"The black BMW by the building to your right," I say as I head over to my car.

"Pretty nice car, how did you get this spot by the building cause I can't get this good of spot," Haley says as I head to the back of the car.

"I don't really know. I normally park here whenever I come to practice by myself," I say, opening the trunk up as I place my hockey bag and stick in.
When everything is in, I close the lid and heading to the driver's door.
Using my keys again, I unlock the car, which automatically unlocks all the doors as i use the keys.

"Go ahead and get in Haley. It's unlocke," I say as I climb into the car and began it up, closing the door.

"Nice interior. It's better then my cars interior," Haley says.

"I love the car, it works nicely,"

Turning around a little, I look both ways as I pull out out of my parking place and turn the wheel as I drive to the exit.
Flipping my blinker on, I turn right heading to downtown Pittsburgh.

"So where are you from Aaylah?" Haley asks.

"Pittsburgh, I've lived here my whole life. I am probably going to die here too. What about you?" I ask.

"Cleveland, Ohio. Don't beat me up,"
She begins to laugh as I laugh along side her.

"I won't do that. I'm too nice, so when did you decide to become a goalie?"

"Ally my life. My father played goalie in the AHL since the time I was born until he died five years ago,"

"Aww that's sad but, the good thing is that your a goalie for a good team,"

"Thanks, so when did you want to become a hockey player?"

"Actually I wanted to become on after my father died in 2002. Him and I would for hors just watch hockey and nothing but,"

"Aww, so actually when did you become a player?"

"About three and a half weeks ago,"

"Wow your a fast learner,"

"Yeah and i head some help from my boyfriend,"

"Aww that's nice of him to do that,"

"Yeah, I thank him alot for helping me. He was the one who go the try-out for the team,"

"I'm glad he did. We needed you,"

We begin to laugh as we just countine to talk somemore.

35 more minutes of driving later, I pull into the river front TGI Friday's by Heinz Field.
As Haley gets out of the car, the girls began to drive into the parking lot.

"Their here. They must have followed you," Haley says as I grab my keys out of the ignite and climb out of the car.
Closing thedoor shut, I head from theblack top the the concerte sidewalk.
As I look up, Amy was getting out of her car.

"I never knew this was even here," Melissa says as she follows Amy and a few others onto the sidewalk.

"I found it the other day when I was out here last," I say.

"Well let's not just stand here. Let's head inside. I'm straving," Ally says.

"Alright, I'm paying for todays lunch," Amy says as we head into the building, one following the other.

"You don't have to pay for me Amy. I can do it," I say as i get up beside her.

"It's alright Aaylah. We all pay for at least one dinner or lunch whenever we go out," Amy says.

"Well I'll feel bad if I let you pay for my lunch, when i have my own money,"

"Alright since your new, you can pay for your own but be warned, whoever is paying next pays for you to,"

"Alright,"
I give a quick smile.

"How many do we have today?" A waiterss asks.

"We have eight today but we have one paying for herself today," Amy says.

"Alright that is fine. Let me show you all to your table," she says as she leds us into the building as we head to a large table.

"A Waitor will be with you soon,"
She walks away as i sit inbetween Haley and Amy.

"So Aaylah since your new to our team, tell us a little about yourself," Jessica says.

"Ok, the first thing my name is Aaylah Thomason. I was born and raised in the Pittsburgh area. I have no slibings, only child is what i am. I am majoring a career for Early Childhood at the Community College of Allageny County. I like to read and write, i know I'm lame. I live life as I comes, not like year after years. Been an hockey fan all my life, well a Penguins fan all my life. I was a big fan of Mario Lemieux. Hockey became more important when my father passed away in 2002 and I've only been playing for three and a half weeks," I say, thinking it wasn't too personal.

"Three weeks?!" Kiki says.

"Yep i know it's a short time but, I've been getting help with it and all," I say.

"Well welcome to the team Aaylah. We are thankful to have you," Amy says as a waiter walks over to us.

"Hello ladies, here are your menus. What would you all like to drink?" he asks.

"Water," I say as i open my menus to look at it.
I might get the chicken style pasta.

"Ok I'll be back with your drinks,"
He walks off.

"So can you tell me about yourselfs?" I ask.

"Sure we can. I'll begin," Amy says.

As each girl goes, I got to know them much better but, before their intros were over the waiter walks out with someone to help him pass out our food.
It looks so good, as the waiter places it infront of me.
As I ate, I began to think about my 'hockey' life that I've been through since the day I was born.
The first pictures of myself, I was sitting in my dad's lap with a baby sized Mario Lemieux shirt on.
That picture always makes me smile.

I place my fork down as i look up at the clock that reads 11:53.
Training begins in seven minutes.

"Hey girls, dont we have training in a few minutes?" i ask.
Amy turns her head around.

"Yep, we better head on out so the coach doesn't yell at us too much," Amy says as she grabs the bigger recept out of the two as I grab the smaller one.
I get up from the chair i was sitting in and pushed it in as I follow Amy to the checkout line.
the other girls just walk pass us to go outside the door.

"Ma'am I can take you over here," A lady says as i move pass Amy and head to the register that was in front of her.
I hand the paper to her as i reach in my back pocket grabbing a twenty dollar bill that i knew was there.

"11.50," she says as i hand her the twenty.

"See you at training Aaylah, do you want me and Kiki to wait on you?" Amy asks.

"Please, so i can just follow or lead you guys in," i say.

"alright," Amy says as she walks out of the resturant.

"Eight dollars and fifty cents is your change. Have a great day,"

"Thank you too,"
I then fold the money and place it into my pocket as I head out of the door.
Grabbing my keys from my pocket, I turn to my right and head down off to the sidewalk to my car.
I unlock my door as I climb onto my combfy seats of my seat.
Placing the keys into the inginte, I grab my door hand and close my door shut.
I grab my seat belt from behide me as I cross it over my chest to clip it into place.
Looking both ways of the parking lot, I place my car into reverse as i slowly back out of my parking space.
Turning the wheel, I move it into drive as I drive to the back end of Amy's car.
I then hit my car horn to let them know that it was me.
Kiki began to move as she, Amy, and myself get into the left turning lane.
I flick on my left blinker, as the light turns to the green arrow.
Taking both of my hands, I grab the wheel and turn it to the left as i left it slip smoothly through my hands.
Since the field wasn't too far away, I figure I shouldn't turn on the radio.
To my left, I see the Carigene Science center and looking head is Heniz Field on my right side.
As the traffic light comes up, Amy's flicks on her right blinker as I turn on my mine, driving over to the far right lane.
Turning the wheel to thr right, I got onto the street then I take a sharp left into the parking lot.
The parking lot was not really full at all.
Turning to the left, I slowly park into a front parking place by the field.
Shutting off my car, I remove the keys and unbuckle.
I get out of the car, as I see the others doing the same.

"Hey Aaylah, do you have anyworkout clothes?" Ally asks.

"I dont know. Hold on," I say as I walk to the back of my car.
Using my keys, I pop open the trunk.
I see my bag and some clothes off to the side of it, so I pick them only to fine one outift of clothes.

"Yeah I do but only one pair," I say as I close the trunk with my clothes in my hand.

"Alright," ally says.

Walking in between the cars, i hop onto the sidewalk that would lead me to the field.
I see most of the girls on the sidwalk as Kiki jumps onto the walk.

"Let's get moving before coach has out heads," Amy says as I get beside Haley.

"Youready for your first intense training?" Haley asks as we follow the girls into the double doors.

"Yeah i think I can handle it," I say.

"Alright be prepared to have an ache somewhere on your body," Haley says as we walk through another set of doors as we begin walking onto the green field.
Looking up, all I see is the yellow seats the the blue sky.
Walking more in, I see the coach by the benches.

"Come on girls get in here. We've been waiting for you," Coach says as we all jog a little to make our way over to the benches.
We follow one another and sat down on the bench by our other three teammates.

"Ok I know a few of you are new, so today we will have my friend, charlie in here and we'll be doing things just like in the military so I'll be paring you up. So go change and meet me in center field, so we can begin," Coach Ginger says.
I get off the bench as I follow right behide Haley so I can find out where the changing room was.

Walkig into the same doors as before, I turn left as I walk into a room with stalla.
Passing the stalls, I walk into a room with dividers.
I got into the first stall and close the door behide me.

"Wait in the locker room after you all change," I hear Amy say.
Placing the clothes onto the bench, I strip from my sweater and jeans.
Grabbing my other clothes, I put on a black apri of exercising shorts and a purple shirt that says "Hockey Queen" on it.
Picking up my other clothes, i place them on this short bench as I open the door.
Walking out of that room and into the bigger locker room are with detailed Steeler logos.

"Nice shirt Aaylah," Jessica says.

"Thank you, my mom made it for me," i say, trying not to cry.

"You have an awesome mom, mine wouldn't do that,"

"Yeah alot of mom's done,"
I couldn't reveal my pain to people who are so new to me.

As a few minutes pass, everyone has made their way into the locker room.

"Let's move out," Amy says as we follow her out and back to the field.
Walking out this time, I see a few different things as we head to center field.

"Ok ladies we have a schedule today. So let's begin by running 10 times around the field. Go!," She says as she blew the whisle.
I begin to jog from center to the side.
This isn't going to be so hard.
As I contiune to run, I am thinking about my father and how proud he would be of me..

Dream
"Hey daddy," I say as I walk up to him as he is sitting down on our old looking porc.

"This is my hockey queen," Dad says as I sit beside him.

"Oh daddy. I have something to tell you,"

"Well go ahead and tell me. Hope it is good news,"

"It is. I made it on a women's hockey team,"

"That's fantastic babygirl. I'm so proud of you," Dad says as we both get up so he could hug me.
He is s proud of me.


"Come on Aaylah," Jessica says as I try to make the past up as I go pass the beginning to stop.

For the rest of the practice was so intense that it's painful to me.

"Bring it in girls," Coach says as I slowly begin my walk back to her, which she is all the way in center field.

Reaching center field, i fall down beside Haley.

"Bery good training work today. I want to make another training for tomorrow but, I'm not. So we will meet Friday at 2pm, the Pointe. Then be at Mellon Arena by noon on Saturday so we can have a practce before the game at 2:30. Go ahead and change.
Have a great rest of the day. Desmissed,"

Slowly getting up from off the ground, i head slowly to the locker room behide a few of the girls.
Reaching the door, i walk into the room.
I then walk over the stall/changing area.
Walking into the same stall, I close the door.
Slowly, I change from my exercising clothes back into my jeans and sweater.
Zipping up my sweater, I grab my dirty clothes and open the stall door and walk out.
I then walk into the big locker room to see the clock on the wall reads 1:05.

"See you on Friday Aaylah. It was a good day today," Haley says.

"See ya then, bye," I say to everyone as i head out of the locker room.
I walk back out the way that i came in.
Pushing open the double doors, I walk to the outside to see all the cars.
Walking down the sidewalk, I stop as I see my black car.
Turning down the driver side, I take out my keys to unlock the door.
Opening it up, I quickly get in and shut the door.
Putting my keys into the car as I began it up, throwing my exercising clothes into the backseat.
Then i grab my seatbelt, to cross it over my shoulder and clip it into place beside me.
Before I place it into reverse, I lean over my passinger seat to grab my cell phone.
Opening it up, I dial LC's cell number as I place it up to my ear before i pull out.
Placing it into reverse, I look both ways as I turn the wheel to the left to back out.
Quickly I change it to drive.

"Hey Aaylah," Lc says.

"Hey I'm running a few minutes late, but i'm on my way," I say as I turn out on the road.
I then look as I hop into the right turning lane as I click on my blinker.

"That's ok, so how was practice?" LC asks as I right, heading for CCAC.

"Practice was good, so was training. The running was the worst part of today. How was school?" I ask.

"They were alright,"

"Ok well I should be at front soon,"

"Ok see you then,"
I hit end on my cell as I throw it onto my passinger seat.
As the time passes, I turn my right blinker one as I pull into the school lot.
Taking a left turn, I pull up into the front of the building as I see LC standing there.
Stopping the car, she smiles as she walks over and opens the door up.
I then lean over and grab my cell from off the seat as she gets into the car.

"You look tired," LC says as she closes her door.

"I am. My coach pushed me so much today in training," I say as I pull away from the curb as I head for the exit.

"When is your next practice?" LC asks as I turn left to the light.

"Friday at two. She is giving us a day off plus, I couldn't go tomorrow,"
I then turn the wheel to the right to end up on the road heading to the lemieux household.

"Yeah,you have classes right?" LC asks.

"Yep, classes on thrusdays and labs on Tuesdays," I say.

"Oh got ya, since your a junior/"

"Yep, i got an advanage,"

"Yes you do, so what are we going to do after our boys leave tonight?"

"We can pack your stuff up and move you into my apartment tonight,"

"Ok, thats a good idea cause I would be alone in sid's wing while he is gone and thats no fun,"

"Ok, then perfect timing," I say.

"Yeah, so what are we doing after classes tomorrow?" LC asks.

"We can do some food shopping cause i know that food is probably bad and then we can do homework.
Near game time we could order some food,"

"That sounds awesome,"

About 20 minutes later, I turn right and pull into the Lemieux driveway.