When you talk about your childhood, about Ottawa, you hardly mention the rain. The rain was there, more days than it was not, bringing along brown puddles and muddy grass, too thick and messy to play in. But all of your rain soaked, soggy memories still felt warm and dry because they didn't just belong to you, but to your best friend JG Pageau.
You two could make the best out of anything: staying inside all day was just an extended game of hide and seek, going to school was simply hero training and running errands was completing high risk missions as Canadian spies. Everything he touched was magical and amazing and you know you wouldn't adore your childhood as much without his presence in it.
Even as you got older, you still clung to him, going to watch his hockey games after school and he, in return, came to all of your performances and musicals. You two were inseparable and you couldn't foresee that changing. Ever.
Eventually, your intense friendship turned to pining. You loved him and you were almost positive he loved you in return, but you both were too afraid to speak first, to ruin something beautiful. And before either of you could work up the courage, hockey did what it always did and pulled him away from you and left you behind to be forgotten.
You were certain that's what had happened exactly: he had forgotten you. You had tried on your part to keep in touch, but you both had busy schedules. Your daily phone calls turned weekly, then monthly, then not at all.
Although the communication stopped, you didn't stop thinking about him. You saved every news article and watched every highlight video, looking at a once familiar face in all of his glory succeed without you by his side.
But then something crazy happened. You always knew JG was good, good enough to make it where ever, but that still didn't stop the shock and excitement from consuming you when JG got drafted into the NHL by none other than the Senators!
You knew you should be a little bit mad at him for forgetting you as soon as he got a little bit famous but you couldn't hide the happiness that consumed you when you got the news.
JG was not only getting his dream but he was getting it at home, near you. It was wonderful.
As soon as you could, you bought his jersey and saved up to get front row seats to his first home game. You didn't quite know what you expected to happen, but you were excited to see the game, see him play.
He didn't notice you at first or during warmups, albeit your loud cheers, but you were still thrilled to be so near to him after so long. When the game was over, you thought he hadn't seen you at all and you got up to leave. You were disappointed, but figured it wasn't meant to be. It had just been a crush, right? You could get over him. At least, you hoped you could.
As you were walking out, you were stopped by a guard who informed you that your presence was requested outside the Senators locker room.
As you waited for JG, your heart raced with nerves and excitement. You hadn't spoken in over a year, things most certainly would be different. What if he didn't like you anymore? If this was just a formality? Every bad possibility surged through your mind but dropped when you saw the familiar smile emerge.
Even sweaty, JG looked amazing. You could help but smile in response as he rushed over to give you a gross and sticky hug. You loved it.
"(Y/N), I missed you. So much"
You were shocked at his words but just melted into his hug for one more second before letting go.
"I tried calling but I thought you didn't want to hear from me anymore. But then I saw you here today and..."
"Wait you thought I didn't want to hear from you? I thought you didn't want to hear from me!"
JG looked confused, squinting his eyes.
"Why would I do that? I thought you figured out I was in love with you and got freaked out and left!"
"Well I thought you figured out I was in love with you and decided that now that you were famous that you couldn't associate yourself with me!"
You both stared at each other for a moment, registering each other's words before laughing.
"You are an idiot" he said, smiling.
"Ok, stupid" you smile back. Definitely still child best friends.
"Can I kiss you?" he said, stepping closer.
You nod, anticipating his lips against your own. They are soft and sweet when they come, just as you had imagined when you were 12 (hell, you still imagined this now).
"JG?" You say against his lips, not bothering to pull back.
"Hmm?" He mutters, also not willing to break the kiss.
