Cambridge, Massachusetts November 1979

We were playing Harvard. I was behind the bench wrapped up in a pink scarf to go with my pink gloves. Patti had bought me a new grey sweater and I was wearing that. We were winning and Herb seemed happy with the way the boys were playing. Rizzo was having trouble offensively but doing well defensively. Before the game I met OC's family that had driven in from Charlestown to see the game. They were such nice people. Rizzo's parents were also somewhere in the arena, but I had not met them yet.

"Great game boys." Dad said as the buzzer ended the game.

The team took out to the ice to shake hands with the Harvard team. I walked towards the locker room, expecting to deal with fans and wait for Rizzo. Dad walked over to me.

"Chev, you have fun tonight?" dad asked.

"I always have fun. That was a good game. Things are really coming together." I said.

"Yeah, with only 21 players now, eliminating that last one is going to be tough." Dad said and walked into the locker room. I shuddered at the thought of sending one of the boys home. I was so close to these 21 boys; I couldn't bear the thought of one of them not going to Lake Placid with us. And if Rizzo was the one sent home, I would be devastated.

"Hey, sir can I help you?" I asked as a gentleman walked up to the locker room.

"Yes, you're Chevon Patrick aren't you?" the man said.

"Yes, I am the assistant coach's daughter." I said.

"It's so nice to finally meet you. I am Donald Craig, Jimmy's dad." The man said.

"Oh, Mr. Craig, how nice to meet you." I said and shook his hand. "Jimmy should be out soon."

"I am so glad to meet you Miss Patrick; Jimmy has told me so much about you." Donald said.

"You have a great son. He has been a great friend to me these past several months." I said.

"I appreciate you being there for him. I am so sorry that your mother is deceased." Donald said.

"Thank you, I am so glad that my grief can maybe help him through this hard time." I told him.

"I know Jimmy misses his mother terribly, and it's hard on him being away from home so soon after losing her. But it helps me to know that he has you to be with him while is on the road." Donald said. I smiled and gave him a hug. I was afraid of crying so I smiled as a few of the boys came out of the locker room.

"Why don't you go on into the coach's office? Jimmy will be out soon." I said and waved Donald inside.

"You're Mikey's girlfriend." A woman behind me said. I turned and saw a man and woman standing behind me.

"Do I know you?" I asked.

"We're Mikey's parents." The man said. "Mikey has told us so much about you. We knew once we saw that Ferrah hair that you were Chevon."

"Oh, Mr. and Mrs. Eruzione, it is so nice to meet you." I said and his mom hugged me. "Rizzo should be out in a few minutes. Would you like to get a cup of coffee?"

"If it's no bother." His mom said.

"Oh it's no bother at all. Here let's walk to the concession area." I waved for them to follow me. "How was the drive in from Winthrop?"

"Oh it was a bit snowy but not too bad. Where is the team staying?" Mr. Eruzione asked.

"A hotel nearby." I said as I started to pour them coffee. "I am so glad to finally meet you."

"We feel the same way." Mrs. Eruzione started. "Mikey has talks about you every time he calls home. We would have spoken to you sooner, but you were with your dad and we understand about keeping things a secret."

"Thank you, but I am so glad you finally got the chance to talk with me."

"You know Chevon, we didn't mean to eavesdrop, but we overheard you talking with Jim's dad. Mikey had mentioned to us that your mother passed away when you were a baby. Listening to Don talk about how you're helping Jim…well you're just as beautiful as person as Mikey said you were." Mr. Eruzione said. "We can se why he is so crazy about you."

"Oh thank you so much." I said. It was such an amazing feeling for someone else to tell me that Rizzo cared about me. I hugged his dad.

"Hey, dad that's my girlfriend you're hugging." Rizzo said walking up to us.

"Mikey, she is just wonderful. Be good to her." His mom said.

"I will mom." Rizzo said and hugged his mom. "Besides, if I am mean to the coach's daughter, they would cut me."

I laughed at his joke. Rizzo looked so handsome in his team suit. Even though I made fun of the red, white and blue striped tie, he looked so nice.

"Great game out there." His dad said.

I smiled as I watched Rizzo and his dad talk about the game. I had to wonder just what Rizzo had told his family about me. But whatever it was, they must have approved if the way his mom kept talking to me was any indication. I felt an instant closeness to his family.

"Hey Rizzo, we got to go. The team bus will be leaving soon." I said.

We all proceeded to hug and say goodbye. After his parents had hugged me twice each, we waved goodbye and walked down the hall towards the bus.

"Your folks are really nice." I told Rizzo. I wanted to hold his hand but couldn't because you never knew when Herb or dad would show up.

"They like you too, I could tell." Rizzo said as we exited the building. The team was boarding the bus. I saw Jimmy talking to his dad. I waved at them as we walked by.

We sat towards the back of the bus. When we were seated I took Rizzo's hand and he smiled at me.

"You want to stay with me tonight?" Rizzo asked.

I wanted to more than anything. And by this time I knew that Rizzo would just hold me while we slept. Anytime he tried going too far for me, I would slap his hands and he would stop.

"Would it bother OC?" I asked.

"It hasn't bothered him yet." Rizzo said.

"What will we tell daddy?" I asked.

"Need a story for Coach Craig?" Bah asked turning around in his seat. "I am your man."

"What do you have in mind?" I asked.

"Well after ten minutes or so, I will come to get you saying Buzzy isn't feeling well. That way you can tell your dad you took care of him all night." Bah told me.

"Harrington, you're my hero!" I said. "Great plan."

"Hey what are Coneheads for?" he smirked.

Once we were at the hotel, I changed into my pajamas and sure enough there was a knock at the door. I answered it.

"Chev, Buzz isn't feeling too well." Bah said. "He thinks he may have eaten something bad that upset his stomach."

"Oh my, well I will have to see about him. Is he fevered?" I asked.

"Chev, go on and check on Buzz." Dad said. "If he's real sick, Doc is in room 224."

"Okay dad." I said and walked out of the room.

Once we were down the hall a bit, "Thanks Bah, I owe you one."

"It was nothing. " Bah said and hugged me. I knocked on the door to Rizzo's room.

"Its open, Chev." OC called. I walked in Rizzo was already relaxing in bed watching TV.

"Hey Chev, I see Bah already got you." Rizzo said as I sat down on the edge of the bed next to him. "I thought you would want to watch the news."

"Yes, thank you." I said and slide under the covers next to him.

"I wonder how much longer the hostage situation will continue." OC asked.

"I don't know. I just feel so terrible for those prisoners. They must be so frightened." I said.

The news started, "In the news today, President Carter ended all imports from Iran. Carter says that should the hostages not be released, he will freeze all Iranian assets in the United States."

"This is such a mess." I said and Rizzo hugged me tight. OC shut the TV off in disgust.

"Did you enjoy the game tonight?" Rizzo asked.

"Yeah, and your parents are so nice…Mikey." I said with a snicker.

"Don't call me that. My parents are the only people allowed to call me that." Rizzo said. I laughed and snuggled against him laying my head on his chest- our favorite position to sleep in.

"Are you sure you want me here kicking you all night?" I asked.

"Are you kidding? I sleep more peaceful than ever when you are in my arms." Rizzo said. Across the room, OC pretended to gag. I giggled but was so happy to be in Rizzo's arms.

Mrs. Rizzo- I am glad you liked the ending. Hope you liked the new chapters.

meadow567- I hope you got my message about the movies! Thanks for your reviews.