Chapter 88 - Believe it Arnott

AN - okay so I remembered most of this chapter and was able to get it out in 30ish minutes!! Now if only it goes this well for recreating the other chapters...fingers crossed!


Sasha’s POV

The trade deadline has passed and I signed a new contract. Nef had been the first person to find out besides my parents. I’d wanted to tell her myself but I hadn’t signed the contract until just before leaving for a road trip. I hadn’t had time to go see her so I called her and told her to go to my house and that my parents had something to give to her. She was excited and happy that she wouldn’t have to worry about it anymore. She’s a worry wart and the only thing that would be able to assuage her would be a new contract.

The trade deadline had also brought Jason Arnott from New Jersey. When he arrived Bruce decided that he, myself, and Marco Strum would make up the second line. After practice that day Nef had agreed to meet so that we could grab lunch. She was sitting in my stall as I was getting dressed when Jason walked over to her.

“Hi, I’m Jason. I take it you’re his girl.”

“Yes, I’m his girlfriend.”

“Well Bruce told us today that we’ll being skating together. I have to ask you a question – How well does he speak English?”

Nef giggled and looked at me.

”Did you tell him that you don’t speak English well?”

”No, I would never do that.” I said smiling. I never said I didn’t I just hadn’t spoken any English.

“He speaks English really-“ I flung my jockstrap at her to shut her up. I thought she would scream but she didn’t. She did however glare at me.

“He speaks English –“ she started again but I put my hand over her mouth preventing her from saying anything.

By now I was laughing. She tried to bite at my fingers but I wouldn’t move my hand away. By now most of the guys in the locker room were watching us at laughing. She looked at Jason and nodded.

“He speaks English?” he said.

She nodded.

“He speaks English well?”

She tried to nod again but I held her head still. She grunted for me to let go but I just laughed and pushed her toward the locker room door.

”I’ll meet you outside in a bit.” I said as I pushed her out and closed the door.

It didn’t take me long to get dressed. Before I left the locker room Ovi made plans for us to go out to dinner with the new guys that evening. As team captain he wanted everyone to feel welcome and wanted to make sure that we got to know each other. Anything would could do to develop team chemistry would be useful.

I found Nef sitting on the floor in the hallway outside of the locker room playing with Katie Erskin and her two small children. Ever since the children and family charity skate function Nef had been doing better when it came to being around small children again. She was doing better with interacting with people again.

”Ready to go?” I asked as I walked up to them. I reached for her hand to help her off the floor.

”Yep.” She turned to Katie and said goodbye to her and the kids. I told her that John would be out soon.

We had two days off and we’d been using that time to get to know the new guys so I told Nef about the team dinner plans for that night. I spent the next few hours with her before she left to go hang out with friends. She told me that she’d meet me a home later.

The team met at a restaurant in Georgetown. In speaking with Jason I learned one important thing in that practice - he talked a lot. Nonstop. About Everything that he or I or our other winger would or could or may do. He would not stop and he definitely didn't buy my limited English routine.

A few days later, after we had played several games together it had definitely paid off. We seamed to be able to play together better. When we were on the ice he understood me and I understood him. I could tell that coaches and the managment staff were happy with this and it was definitely encouraged.


Nef's POV

Boys are simple, simple minded creatures. No really. Sasha and Jason have been on a line together for two and half weeks. They've played 5 games together and they have been brilliant. Sasha has been trying to figure out why they've seemed to gel so quickly.

"I not know. He just gets it. He understand what I try and do on the ice. He even there to help and point out when I make mistake. He say 'this is the problem - try this to make it better. I don't know why but it just work."

Uh, that would be communication silly boy. It turned out that Jason was an excellent communicator and he made every effort to talk to Sasha. He made every effort to understand Sasha and Sasha in turn made the effort to talk to Jason. I mean really talk to Jason. There were times when Sasha would call me out of the blue because he was trying to explain something to Jason and he hadn't gotten the English quite right.

Everyone was hoping that the veteran presence that Jason brought would be the last piece of the playoff puzzle that this team needed to succeed.

sBad News Bears

SO the word file that had all of the chapter drafts won't open. I don't know how or why but I can't get it to work. Crud!!

I have to start over from the last chapter - I'll try to get back to where I was as soon as possible . I'm 2 classes a way from finishing my first master program and I REALLY don't have time to start over but I'll try.

Damn. :(