Emador- Hold on tight because this is Norway. I am so glad you enjoyed last chapter. I laughed while writing it! Take a deep breath…now read! LOL
Shelbers- Thanks for the review. I love cliffhangers, sorry. And I promise everything about Kylah's past will be explained in time.
Klinoa- Dad is home and I have some more time now! I could not imagine the surprise if you bought Rocky Horror randomly. That is so funny.
Strangexbutxtrue- So glad that you're that excited that I came back. I hope you see Rocky Horror soon.
Beautyqueen321- I would never give up on this story. I have big plans and lots of plots unfolding.
B- Everyone has their favorite they want her to have!
Lia06- Have you seen Rocky Horror? I was nervous people who hadn't seen it would be lost last chappie.
Meadow567- Those Pens aren't doing great but you can't get tickets to Mellon Arena to save your life because everyone wants to see Crosby and tickets are going out the window fast.
AngelOnSkates- Hope the suspense didn't kill you. I love cliffhangers!
Prettypinkcheer5- Is Bah your favorite Miracle boy?
Katie- Yes, things are better. I am so glad you reviewed. I love feedback but know people are busy with school and life.
Just a few comments before you read this chapter. I have had a lot of reviews of people saying I hope Kylah dates so and so. It made me question who to put her with. I have decided to go ahead with my original plans for this story because it works better with the plots already in progress. I hope no one quits reading the story, because there is a lot left to happen. I enjoy all reviews and feedback, I am not saying to quit reviewing. I guess I am apologizing because I know a few of you are going to be unhappy. Thanks for letting me explain. Peace and Love!
Oslo, Norway
Airport
"Kylah, you can let go of my arm now. The plane has landed, no terrorists took over it and Chuck Norris is no where in sight." Craig said as we walked off the plane.
"Well excuse me. I get nervous flying. My luck I'd be hijacked and look Jewish or something." I said.
"Relax, we're safe." Craig said.
"I know. I have to meet with local media two hours before the game. And the USOC wants a publicity picture taken outside the arena when the boys arrive for the game." I told Craig.
"Sounds like you'll be busy before the game." Craig said.
"Yes, do you know where I'm staying in the hotel?" I asked digging through my purse.
"Your room is right next to mine. I requested that because I knew how nervous you were about the trip, your fear of terrorists and the boogeyman." Craig laughed.
"Yeah right……wait, I never said I was afraid of the boogeyman." I said.
"Just seeing if you were paying attention." Craig smiled. "Our bus to the hotel should be waiting outside the terminal."
"Great, the minute we get to the hotel, I have to call the Embassy and have a few photos of you and Craig taken with some ambassadors." I said.
"Herb will love that." Craig rolled his eyes.
"I'll be right back." I told Craig noticing some of the boys walking ahead of us. I ran to talk to them.
"Boys, listen. We are in a foreign country and we're guests so be on your best behavior." I told them.
"Does that mean no screwing the local girls?" Verchota asked.
"Yes, I don't expect to be answering allegations of paternity suits in a few months!" I told them.
"But this is our first big game, we wanna party." OC said.
"Remember, you're team USA. Whatever you do reflects on the United States. Behave, or I'll spank you with your own hockey sticks." I said.
"Careful, you'll give Ramsey a hard-on talking like that." Buzz said with a wink.
Game
I sat on the end of the bench near Doc watching the game. I was taking notes on things I thought the press might bring up to me following the game when I met with them. The game was tied and Herb was pacing like a caged jungle cat.
"Oh wow, dynamite." I heard Bah say to Buzz then turn to Verchota. I looked over to see several of the boys looking at girls in the stands. "Look over here Philly, section two about fours rows up. Two girls blonde."
"Man they're gorgeous." Verchota answered. I shook my head and noticed that Herb was also eavesdropping on the girl watching.
"Twins about seventh row up." Verchota and Silk told Bah.
"Lovely blonde girls." Bah said to Buzz.
The buzzer rang. Herb said something to Craig then took out onto the ice.
"I am going to meet with the press. What should I tell them the coach's opinions are?" I asked Craig.
He looked over to where Herb was walking on the ice. "Whatever you want." He said.
I shrugged and headed up the stairs to see if any media wanted to speak with me. Herb and Craig would obviously be unavailable because Herb was up to something. In the lobby just a few local journalists were waiting to speak with me. I knew it would be a light crowd because there were no big stories on the team.
My interpreter was waiting for me. "Miss Jenkins, are you ready for a few questions from the media?" he said.
"I will answer questions for just a few moments as there is no big news from the team and Coach Brooks wishes to keep the boys spotlight limited to no player gets too much attention." I said.
I listened as he told the reporters that in their native language and took a question.
"Miss Jenkins, how does Team USA feel about their first outing?" he asked.
"It was our first game and we have a long way to go. This team is still getting to know each other. But it's a long road until the Olympics, I'm sure we'll see great things from this team." I answered.
He gave my answer to the press and took another question.
"Is it true that Herb Brooks is trying to arrange an exhibition game with the Soviets?" he asked.
I was stunned. Neither Herb nor Craig had said anything to me about playing the Soviets.
"Our schedule is still being worked out. Herb has many plans for the team, so the best I can tell you is to wait and see." I said and the translator relayed the message.
"Any news on when players will be cut? Only 20 players can be on the roster for the Olympics?" the question was asked.
"The roster is the coaching staff's department. Herb has not informed me of any team cuts at this time." I said. "If there are no other questions, I thank you for your time and hospitality."
I left the reporters behind and started back to the ice. As I walked closer, I could hear Herb yelling and a whistle blowing. I stepped up the pace wondering what was going on. At the top of the stairs, I saw Herb in the middle of the ice, the boys were skating drills. Walter was walking up the stairs.
"What is going on?" I asked him.
"I don't know what the hell Herb is doing. I may have to talk to the USOC about replacing him." Walter said and walked away.
I looked at my watch. The game had ended 15 minutes ago, why would Herb have the boys skating drills now? They should be showering up and getting ready to leave the arena. I rushed down the stairs to where Doc was standing with Craig.
"Doc what is going on?" I asked.
Doc shook his head and didn't answer.
"Craig, what is going on?" I asked.
Craig blew the whistle and turned to me. "Herb wants the boys to skate drills. He's trying to make some kind of point."
"Oh for heavens sakes. These boys are tired from the game." I said. Craig stopped himself from saying something.
"Kick it in the ass, Verchota. You want to go home early. You want to go home, Suter. All the way to the line and all the way back. It's not that difficult! AGAIN!" Herb yelled.
Craig blew the whistle and the boys took off skating. The boys were looking tired. The rink manager approached Doc and talked to him for a few moments.
"Herb!" Doc called out, walking across the ice. "The rink manager, he wants to clean the ice and then go home."
"Tell him to leave me the keys, I'll lock up. Again" Herb said. Craig hesitated.
"Again!" Herb called.
Craig blew the whistle and the boys took off skating again. Doc made his way back across the ice. Doc went to talk to the rink manager.
"Is he nuts?" I asked Craig, starting to panic. "We're guests in this country. The last thing he needs right now is bad press."
Craig shook his head.
"You keep playing this way and you won't beat anybody who's even good let alone great." Herb yelled. "YOU WANT TO MAKE THIS TEAM; YOU BETTER START PLAYING AT A LEVEL THAT IS GOING TO FORCE ME TO KEEP YOU HERE! Again!"
Before Craig could blow the whistle, the arena went dark. The rink manager must have shut down all the lights in an effort to get the team off the ice. We all kind of looked at each other and around the dark arena. A few of the boys started to skate away from the line.
"Hey, where you going?" Herb asked them. "Back on the line."
Craig and Doc looked at each other. "Again!" Herb called out. Craig hesitated, knowing that this was going too far and that there could be serious consequences. "Send them." Herb called and Craig blew the whistle.
"What is he doing? If the press gets wind of this, I won't be able to explain it away. No amount of 'He has an unorthodox method' is going to answer for this." I said to Craig.
"I don't know what he is doing." Craig said.
"Try doing something. Right now he is being incredibly rude to the staff of this arena that has gone out of their way to be hospitable. I don't want to deal with this team getting a bad reputation." I said.
"How about it Silky, you gonna be the first one to quit on me?" Herb yelled. A few of them falling on their knees. "How about you OC, you ready to go down? I think I got my money on you Verchota. Course you got a hot date in about an hour, but you're not looking to good for that right about now, now are you? Send them."
Craig shook his head. "Again." Herb called and dad blew the whistle.
I watched as the boys skated several more drills up and down the ice.
"Doc, you know this is madness right?" Craig said to Doc. Doc nodded in agreement.
"If one of these players gets hurt, the media will tear Herb apart for this." I told Doc.
"I am afraid that might happen." Doc said.
"Craig, do something. These boys are getting sick. And in my heart, if questioned about this, I won't be able to defend what Herb is doing." I said.
"This cannot be a team of common men, because common men go nowhere." Herb said. "You have to be uncommon. Again!"
"Herb, this has gone on long enough!" Doc called out to Herb.
"Everybody on that line!" Herb told the team.
"Somebody's going to get hurt!" Doc yelled.
I could hear more coughing and gagging from the boys. Some of them couldn't stand.
"Everybody get on that line!" Herb said. "Again."
I looked at Craig and saw he was torn about what to do. I knew Craig did not agree with what Herb was doing. Craig looked down and shook his head.
"Again." Herb said.
"Herb…" Craig said but didn't finish.
"Come on Craig, blow the whistle. Again!" Herb said.
I watched Craig shake his head and slowly started to lift the whistle to his mouth. I hung my head, debating if I wanted to resign. I couldn't work with someone like Herb.
"MIKE ERUZIONE!"
Rizzo was yelling his own name out. I looked over to where Rizzo was bent down in agony. Silk was clinging onto the net trying to stand. Others were holding onto each other. Rizzo was trying to breathe.
"WINTHROP, MASSACHUSSETTS!" Rizzo yelled out.
"Who do you play for?" Herb asked him.
Rizzo struggled and stood up. "I PLAY FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!"
"That's all gentlemen." Herb said and started walking off the ice. Craig and I stood for a moment not knowing what to think.
"All this to get them to bond more as a team?" I asked.
"I guess so." Craig said. "I gotta go help these boys. I'll see you on the bus."
I sat down. Herb was not going to make life easy on me. But maybe somewhere in that strange head of his, there were good ideas.
Hotel
"I am so tired." Bah said as he stepped off the bus.
"I won't move for a month." Buzz said.
"I'm going to fall into my bed and die." Verchota said.
"You boys get some rest. If you need anything call me." I said and watched them walk into the hotel.
"I am never going to look at girls again." Silk said.
"That'll be the day." I rolled my eyes and watched him and the other Boston boys walk into the hotel.
"Can I walk you to your room?" Craig said stepping off the bus.
"Sure, your room is right next to mine anyway." I said.
Craig opened the door and we walked into the hotel.
"So what did you think of your first game as our PR agent?" Craig asked.
"I think whatever else happens from here will be a cakewalk after what Herb did tonight. He's quite the unusual character." I smiled as we walked.
"Yeah, I never know exactly what he is up to. But I think tonight brought the boys closer together and has made them more serious about their game." Craig said.
"I think this team is going to do amazing things when it all comes together." I said.
"How are you enjoying your first trip to Europe?" Craig asked me.
"It's been fun. I just wish I understood the language, and could read the signs and such." I laughed. "Although I think my translator was flirting with me today."
"Can't blame him for that." Craig winked.
"I am so tired though….I just want to relax and get some rest." I said stopping at my door.
"Yeah, I'm probably going to do the same." Craig said. "I guess I'll see you in the morning."
"Sure, we can have breakfast together." I said and hugged him. "Goodnight, Craig.
I stood waiting for Craig to kiss me on the forehead as he always did. Before I realized it, Craig had brushed a quick kiss across my lips. I looked up at him.
"Kylah, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that." Craig said.
The Coneheads' advice flitted through my mind. "No, it's okay. I…."
I leaned up on tiptoe and kissed Craig. He seemed so shocked; it took him a few seconds to kiss me back.
"I must be out of my mind." Craig said when we pulled apart. "You're quite a bit younger than me."
"I never thought of our ages before. I just know that I feel so happy and so safe with you. And that you have looked out for me since I arrived in Colorado Springs." I said and kissed him again.
"How do you think the boys will react if we start dating?" Craig asked.
"Verchota will probably buy you condoms!" I laughed.
"I don't know what might happen…but I am not going to run away because of what ifs." Craig said. "The more time I spend with you, the more I care about you."
"I felt that way too, but I didn't know what to do about it." I said. I laid my head on Craig's chest and hugged him.
"You're dad isn't going to show up with a shot gun is he?" Craig asked, hiding a chuckle.
I giggled. "No, dad has always just wanted me to be happy. Now Jake would be the one to be protect…….No my parents will be happy for me." I said.
"I guess we should say goodnight. That offer for breakfast still good?" Craig asked.
"Of course, give me a wake up call around 7 AM." I smiled.
"I will. Night Kylah." Craig kissed me again.
"Goodnight." I turned and walked into my hotel room.