close to you - connor bedard
bella thought it was just a regular blackhawks game, but what happens when she leaves the game with the star player?
connor thought it was a normal game day, but what happens when a pretty girl in the crowd catches his attention?
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“come on, we have to hurry! i need to get a good spot,” i yell at my friend as we’re running around united center.
jade was never big into hockey, but came along to games with me whenever i got tickets. she understood the game enough to watch, cheer, and listen to my rants about the games and players. she also knew there was a specific player i never shut up about.
“relax bella, we’ll get a good spot and he’ll love your sign.” jade called out over the crowds as we walked down the hall to the ice.
i found the perfect spot for warmups, knowing that was where he spent most of his time while on the ice. putting my stuff on the chair behind me, i grabbed my phone to look at the time. i still had ten minutes before the players came out.
i grabbed my sign to make sure it looked okay, for the hundredth time that night, “it looks good. hopefully they’re in a good mood tonight.”
“i know, i know. i’m just nervous.” i sighed, hoping my sign would catch his eye.
i opened my phone and scrolled through twitter, hoping it would clear my mind. it was my first warmup with a sign and i wanted it to go well.
when the timer on the jumbotron hit zero, i grabbed my phone and set up my sign. watching as all the players skated out, i felt my heart race when he stepped out.
immediately, he came over to my side of the ice. even though i knew it was going to happen, my hands were still shaking as i tried to steady my phone for the video i was attempting to record.
he kept skating past and smiling at me.
as i was recording a video of another player, lukas reichal, he interrupted it by bumping the glass right in front of me. i was still calming down when he laughed at me for jumping.
after losing track of how many shots he tried making, he came over to me with a puck and a big smile. he pointed at me before throwing the puck over. failing once.. twice… three times it took him to get the puck over to me.
“oh. my. GOD.” i screamed at my best friend after he skated away.
“you just got a puck from connor bedard!” she yelled back as i jumped, watching her end the video she was recording, “he’s coming back, calm down, calm down.”
he pointed at me again and started pointing at my phone.
“is he telling me to grab my phone?” i turn and ask jade.
after i grab my phone he starts putting up numbers on his hands. is this kid actually giving me a number? he’s gotta be kidding. right?
i put the numbers into my messages and turned my phone towards him, asking if i got it right. he nodded and skated away, shooting one more puck before going to the locker room.
“there’s no fucking way.” i told my friend as we walked to our seats.
“are you gonna text him..? cause if not, you know i will.” jade said with a smirk on her face.
“if i don't text him, please kill me cause that would be the worst mistake of my life.” i replied, in full seriousness.
i texted him immediately, letting him know it was me and i saved his number. i got a quick text back, letting me know he got the text and that he would text me after the game. i sent a quick “good luck” text and went back to the conversation around me.
“i don’t know how you’re acting so casually about this.” jade said as she grabbed her drink.
“because if i don’t, i will mess it up and i cannot fumble HIM of all guys.” i said quietly, making sure the people around me weren’t paying attention to what i was saying.
as the game starts, i turn towards the ice, watching intently. by the second period, connor was looking good, getting shots in, and playing good offense.
we all watch as the players start lining up a goal, i watch at the edge of my seat as connor gets the puck. he starts getting closer to the net and he scores.
“he SO did that for you!” jade yells as the crowd erupts in cheers.
“stop it, he’s just playing, he wants to score no matter what,” i giggle, wondering if he really did do it for me.
the clock hit zero, with a win for the blackhawks. jade and i walked out of united center with a newfound happiness watching our team celebrate. i quickly got a text from connor asking if i was staying around after the game.
“we have to,” jade pushed me as we were walking to her car, “he’s basically saying he wants to see you.”
“okay, okay, fine. i’ll tell him we can stay,” i smile, opening our texts once again, getting ready to reply.
i asked him where he was going to be after the game as we reached jade’s car. we knew it was gonna be a while before he came out, with interviews and all that taking up most of his time after games.
finally, after almost an hour, connor texted me, telling me he was coming out. jade and i left the car, immediately missing the warmth as the cold air hit our faces, and walked towards the door he told us to meet him at.
we watched as all the other players started coming out, some of them waving and saying hi, a few of them asking if we were waiting for signatures. finally, i saw connor walking out.
“hey!” he called over to us with a smile.
“hi,” i said nervously while also trying to hide my shivering, “good game tonight!”
“thank you, i tried,” he laughed as we walked towards his car.
“sooo,” jade said, trying to break the awkwardness, “any plans tonight?
“i was invited to go out with the boys, but i’m probably just gonna go home, what about you guys?” connor replied, putting his stuff in his car and turning to us.
“well i mean, we were just gonna go home. unless maybe you wanted to hang out?” i said, immediately regretting it. this was connor bedard, the best player in the league right now.
“i’m actually getting pretty tired, i think i might just go home. plus, it’s a bit of a drive.” jade said as she lightly nudged me.
“oh really? how far do you guys live?” connor asked, looking at me for the answer.
“not that far, about an hour or so,” i said, trying to ignore his gaze.
“are you hungry? i could use some food,” connor looked at me, again. i glanced up at him this time, seeing a look of hope in his eyes.
“yeah, i could eat.” i smiled at him.
“i’m probably gonna grab something quick on the drive home, but if you guys wanna go get food,” jade said, looking at me, seeing if i wanted her to leave me here or if i wanted to go with her.
“i can always drive you home,” connor said, trying to keep whatever body warmth he could grab close.
“that’s okay, you don’t have to.” i laughed, trying to see if he actually wanted to or not.
“i’d be happy too,” he smiled.
“well i’m leaving now, so last chance.” jade said looking at connor one more time, seeing if he was being serious or not.
“come on, it’s cold.” connor opened the passenger door of his car.
laughing at him, i turned to jade, “i’ll text you?”
“you better,” she winked and walked quickly to her car.
