Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Score ❯ Chapter 6 ( Chapter 6 )

A/N: Hi, hope you like. Please R&R, thanks.

 

Disclaimer: I don't own the Edmonton Oilers. All characters belong to me, except Craig MacTavish, because he's a real person.

 

Chapter 6:

 

“Ronin, Tora! You two get you're butts down here right now!” Aiko yelled from the bottom of the stairs.

 

“Aiko, dear, what's the yelling for?” Mrs. Tanaka asked, appearing from around the corner.

 

Aiko shot her mother a panicked look and said, “Tony said he'd be picking us up at 9:00am sharp. It's now 8:55am and those two have not come down yet!”

 

It was an early Tuesday morning; Aiko and her siblings were about to spend it watching the Oilers practice.

 

Aiko had been only slightly surprised when the phone rang the previous day and it was none other than Tony Nieminen. He'd called to ask if she'd want to come watch them practice and then maybe have lunch afterwards. She'd agreed but asked if her two siblings, who were on spring break, could come along too. And that's why she was now making herself hoarse trying to get them downstairs.

 

“They'll be ready,” her mother chided.

 

Aiko gave her mother a `yeah right' look and turned back to the stairs. “Oh come on you two!” she yelled again. “All right, if you're not down here by the time I count to ten you both aren't coming. One, two, Three-“ She was cut off by the sound of her siblings thumping down the stairs.

 

“We're here, we're here, stop you're whining,” Ronin announced.

 

Aiko took in the sight of her brother and sister and her mouth dropped open in shock. On top of wearing their jerseys and baseball caps, each ones arms were piled high with flags, cards, pictures, posters, anything and everything that could get signed.

 

“Mom!” Aiko cried, appealing to her mother.

 

“I know, I know. Ronin, Tora, you two march right back up those stairs and don't come back until your hands are empty,” Mrs. Tanaka said sternly.

 

“But mom, we want to get autographs,” Tora whined.

 

“Fine, you may take one thing each. Now go!” she answered.

 

The two started up the stairs grumbling all the way up.

 

“And hurry!” Aiko called after them, just as the doorbell rang. “Aww, crap!”

 

“Better answer it honey, before your dad does. You know how he feels about this,” Mrs. Tanaka reminded her.

 

How could she forget, they'd argued over it all the night before. He not wanting her to go and she insisting she would. She'd told him she was an adult and she could make her own decisions. And now he was giving her the silent treatment.

 

Aiko hurried towards the door, giving a silent prayer that her sister and brother would be down within a minute. Taking a deep breath she pulled open the door and came face to face with Tony.

 

“Hello,” he said, smiling widely at her.

 

His smile was contagious and she was grinning right back at him. “Hey.” She continued to smile and then realized that he was still standing outside. “Come in.” She gestured for him to follow her inside and she led him to the living room where her parents were seated.

 

“Mom, Dad, this is Tony Nieminen from the Edmonton Oilers,” Aiko introduced.

 

Tony shook both their hands and replied, “It's nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Tanaka.”

 

“It's nice to meet you too,” Mrs. Tanaka said, smiling politely, while elbowing her husband in the side.

 

“Yes, it's nice to meet you,” Mr. Tanaka said, rather reluctantly.

 

Just in time, Ronin and Tora ran into the room. “Oh my God! It's him!” Tora shouted.

 

And that's when they ambushed him for autographs.

 

It took them another ten minutes until they were able to get out of the house and into Tony's SUV. When inside Tony commented, “I told the guys about you. They're all eager to meet you.”

 

“Really?” she asked.

 

“Yeah,” he replied.

 

She couldn't help but remember her own telephone call to Matthew McKenzie, right after Tony had called her.

 

“Hello?” Matthew answered.

 

“Hey! Guess who!” Aiko said brightly.

 

“Aiko, how are you?” he asked affectionately.

 

“Wow, right on the first try,” she said, pleased.

 

“There's no way I can forget your voice,” he flattered.

 

Aiko was glad that he wasn't able to see the furious blush on her face. Still she had to clear her throat when she spoke again. “Guess what.”

 

“What?” he played along.

 

“I'm going to see you tomorrow!” she exclaimed.

 

“Really?” he answered sounding happy. “How come?”

 

“Well, Tony invited me to your practice tomorrow and for lunch too,” she replied.

 

“Oh, on a date,” his tone clearly changed.

 

“Well, if you usually take your sister and brother with you on a date then sure,” she said.

 

“Oh good! That's great! I can't wait to see you tomorrow!” he exclaimed.

 

“Me too! So I'll see you tomorrow!” she replied happily.

 

“I look forward to it,' he confessed.

 

The conversation was just so giddily happy; she couldn't wait to see him. She felt a little guilty because it was Tony who essentially had asked her out and yet she was thinking of someone else. But it was just really hard to say no to these two.

 

“We're here,” Tony spoke up, interrupting her thoughts.

 

She blinked a couple of times and said, “Wow that was fast.”

 

“Yeah,” Tony agreed.

 

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After getting into Rexall Place Tony led them straight inside where they briefly got to meet some of the players and of course the coach. But Aiko saw no sign of Matthew. They were led to their seats where they'd watch the practice, right behind the players' bench, close to the place where the players came out onto the ice.

 

As soon as the Oilers started to file on the ice Ronin and Tora instantly started to cheer. They weren't the only ones there; it looked like some of the other players' families were there too.

 

Aiko watched as Tony came out first, giving her a little wave. Aiko waved back but started searching the other players. And that's when she saw him, the last player out, number eighteen, Matthew McKenzie. As if he knew she was looking his way, he turned around and gave her a bright smile. Aiko eagerly climbed down as close as she could, very aware that she was grinning like a fool.

 

A railing separating the two, she suddenly felt a little shy. “Hey,” she said.

 

“Hi,” he replied. “I see you came, I'm glad. Are those your brother and sister?”

 

“Yeah,” she said, grin stuck in place. “Ronin and Tora, I'm sure they'll want to meet you.”

 

“I'll make sure I do right after practice.”

 

“McKenzie!” Coach MacTavish called.

 

Matthew looked over his shoulder to see everyone already on the ice starting the work out. “I've got to get out there. I'll see you later?” he asked unsurely.

 

“Yeah sure.” She nodded her head eagerly.

 

He smiled and then joined his teammates on the ice.

 

Aiko focused her attention back on the ice and just caught the look on Tony's face; he did not look happy at all. Aiko's smile wavered and she cursed her inability to say no.

 

She couldn't do anything to fix the mess she was in now, so she turned around and headed for her seat.

 

“I can't believe you talked to McKenzie without us,” Tora accused her sister.

 

“I know, I mean, I thought we were your favorite siblings,” Ronin added.

 

“You're my only siblings,” Aiko grumbled as she tried to focus on the practice session.

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About a half hour into the practice session a blond, petite woman approached Aiko. “Hi, do you mind if I sit here?” she asked politely, gesturing to the empty seat beside Aiko.

 

“No, no, go right ahead,” Aiko answered.

 

The woman sat down and turned towards Aiko with her hand sticking out. “I'm Irene Ritter, Jacob Ritter's wife,” she introduced.

 

Aiko smiled politely and shook her hand. “It's nice to meet you. I'm Aiko and this is my sister Tora and brother Ronin.”

 

The twins let out a loud, “nice to meet you,' but then focused their attention on the ice.

 

“So who're you with?” Irene asked curiously.

 

“Umm…Matthew, I mean Tony,” Aiko stuttered out cursing her stupidity.

 

Irene let out a giggle. “Well which one is it girl? Or is it both?”

 

“Tony invited us,” Aiko clarified, feeling very uncomfortable.

 

“Girlfriend?” Irene asked.

 

Aiko barely caught her question since it seemed the guys were about to play a little practice game. She watched as the players got separated and she was acutely aware of Matthew and Tony being put on opposite sides.

 

“What? No, no. I'm not his girlfriend, we're just friends,” Aiko answered.

 

“Oh,” Irene said, sounding disappointed.

 

Matthew had the puck and he was deftly skating towards Tony. He passed the puck right to Jacob, and skated around Hugh just as Jacob passed right back to him. He took the shot. It was in. He scored.

 

Aiko watched as his teammates congratulated him and she smiled proudly. But somebody else didn't look too happy.

 

“That didn't go in!” Tony shouted.

 

Matthew turned his surprised face towards Tony. “Man, it went in.” He sounded calm.

 

Tony started towards Matthew. “No it didn't.”

 

“Whatever, Tony, this is just practice,” Matthew replied, annoyed.

 

Tony placed his arm on Matthew's right shoulder and gave him a little shove. “Stay away from her!”

 

Aiko was acutely embarrassed to see that he was pointing directly at her.

 

Matthew caught his footing and followed Tony's point. Aiko looked straight at him, very apprehensive.

 

“I see what this is really about. And I'll go near her as long as she wants me to,” Matthew countered.

 

Everyone was now either staring at her or at the two guys quarrelling.

 

Tony shoved him again a bit harder this time. “I said stay away from her.”

 

“No,” Matthew answered. And that's when they got into a full on fight.

 

Aiko wanted to yell for them to stop, but nothing would come out of her mouth. It took about five of the other players to break up the fight. As soon as it was over the Coach called the practice over and said he wanted to speak to Matthew and Tony.

 

All the players got off the ice. Aiko didn't miss the surreptitious gazes her way as they walked out of sight.

 

“Whoa, I guess it really was both,” Irene commented. And Aiko had to let out a groan.

 

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Well that's it. I hope I get a review for this one. Thanks to anyone who's read this far.