The coach benched me for my lack of concentration... which I guess was for the best because my priority right now was to try and find Casey again.
I noticed she wasn't in the place I originally spotted her, but after a minute I saw her return to her seat, accompanied by someone who was apparently a leafs' fan.
The number on Casey's jersey matched mine and I smiled involuntarily.
She was watching the players move around on the ice and her eyes gave away how much she was enjoying the action. It was insane, what could change in two years. Casey actually enjoying hockey? That was not something that I can say I had expected to happen.
And I definitely didn't expect to see her in Buffalo at one of my games wearing my jersey.
I scanned the ice, but finally noticed that Derek was on the bench. My fault. His coach had undoubtedly been mad about his obvious change in focus. I didn't even want to be there, let alone be the reason the Sabres lost the game.
After a few minutes, I got lost in the excitement of the game and didn't even notice that Derek was back in.
I could practically hear Rick Jeanneret (the official commentator of the Buffalo Sabres) giving the play-by-play as Derek skated at top speed through all of the opposing offense-men and fired a shot at the Leafs' goalie, who obviously had not been trained to handle the likes of Derek Venturi, because he let it slip by him and into the net for the first goal of the game.
I couldn't help myself. I jumped up and cheered at the top of my lungs. Something I did in the privacy of my own home all the time.
In that moment, I forgot all about earlier when Derek and I had shared a 'moment' as Milly had described it.
With seven seconds left in the first period, the action was mostly around people were leaving to use the bathroom or get snacks.
Milly and I stayed in our seats and she was eying the Leaf players as they left the rink into the locker rooms.
"Me thinks you're getting into the game, missy." Milly wiggled her eyebrows.
I glared at her, "Me thinks you're stupid." I folded my arms across my chest.
She just laughed.
"Fine." I gave in as her cackles grew louder and more obnoxious. I wanted to punch her in the face. "I'm getting into the game. I mean, of course I am. My favorite player just scored the opening goal!"
"Your favorite player, and... love of your life?" She added.
I was yet again tempted to cause physical harm to my best friend, "I'm going to kill you, you know."
"Oh, calm down, Cay. You know I'm just pullin' your hair."
"You could have cost us a goal, you know?" The coach was laying the law.
"Yes, coach. I'm sorry."
"What on Earth were you staring at that was so god-damn important that you had to direct all of your attention to it?" He didn't give time to answer, "I mean, I know you're a hit with the women, but keep that shit out of the rink. You know better than that, Venturi."
I just nodded.
"Great goal, by the way."
I smiled; he always did end with the good.
I couldn't bring myself to care about the fact that I had messed up. After knowing Casey was in the arena, I found myself needing to do better. I played my heart out, and I didn't plan on stopping.
I just wanted to find Casey. I wanted to know why she was here; what she was doing; why she was wearing my jersey; what she was up to nowadays... everything.
But all of that would have to wait.
The end score was 8 to 3, and of course, the Sabres won.
I was following Milly because she said she had scoped out the layout of the arena online and knew a shortcut to avoid the mobs of people leaving simultaneously.
"Are you sure this is the right way?" I asked, we seemed to be going the opposite way of where we had entered the arena. I was just worried we'd get lost.
"Positive. Just through this door!" She announced and opened the door to see a group of men, sweaty and rambunctious, entering the same hallway from a different door.
I spotted one right away and the color drained from my face.
"Casey?"
"Derek."
There was that overwhelming feeling of wanting to inflict pain upon Milly, again!
AN: I am glad to see all of the amazing feedback on this story! I'm so happy to see you all enjoy what I've got so far! I've got more written. The next chapter should be up tomorrow! :D Sorry for the wait!