Klinoa- I could just see Silky getting annoyed at always being told to behave and mocking her while drunk. LOL Hope you enjoy this update.
Meadow567- I thought it'd be funny for Craig to deal with them drunk for a change. They are cute when drunk.
Emador- Deep breath, glad you enjoyed last chapter. It made me laugh to write it. Hope you enjoy this chapter too.
Flowersc781- I am glad you like their first time. I wasn't sure how to write it. Craig is a bit tricky to write sometimes. And the idea for the girl in the bathroom I got from the concert venue I work. Groupie will do anything, ANYTHING!
Strangexbutxtrue- I don't think the groupie was after Craig so much as any famous person. At the concert venue I work, girls will chase around just about anybody whose remotely famous. I'll never forget this girl who kept hanging on a local band's lead singer, LOL.
Prettypinkcheer5- Hope you enjoy this update. It took awhile to get done because I just couldn't seem to get started. LOL
February 20, 1980, Lake Placid, NY
USA Vs. West Germany
I hugged Craig as the other boys skated off the ice towards the back. We had just beat West Germany and qualified for the medal round. My head was spinning.
"Kylah we need to talk." Herb said.
"Herb, what do you need?" I asked.
"I am not going to the press conference tomorrow." Herb said.
"What? We just qualified for the medal round. They will be announcing the matches. Why aren't you going?" I asked.
"I don't want to be in the spotlight." Herb said.
I sighed. "Is this because that spoiled little brat reporter said you weren't allowing the players at press conferences to keep the spotlight on yourself? Trust me I felt like slapping the little snot."
Herb half-smiled. "That is part of it. This way I can quietly make my point. And I feel my place will be with the team, preparing for the medal round. I'll have Craig to the press conference in my place."
"If you think that is best, you got it." I said.
"You'll do fine. And Walter will be there too." Herb said.
I hurried to the back to talk to the media. They were everywhere in the hall. It was worse than a David Cassidy concert.
"Miss Jenkins, Team USA just qualified for the medal round, what is the team's reaction?"
"The boys are thrilled. They've worked very hard to reach the medal round and they are very anxious to see who their next opponent will be." I said.
"Does the team feel vindicated in anyway about the critics that predicted Team USA wouldn't place better than 5th?"
"Coach Brooks and the boys have never listened to the critics. They knew what they could do and forged ahead. I am very proud that they have proven that they were underestimated." I said.
"Will Jack O'Callahan get to play in the medal round?"
"I have not been notified of his status at this time. Please speak to Coach Brooks, Coach Patrick or Dr. Nagobads about that." I said. "No more questions at this time. We will be hosting a press conference in the morning."
I walked into the locker room. The boys were scattered around getting dressed, so I kept my eyes down and made my way to the back. Craig was getting coffee.
"Hey, done with the media already?" Craig asked.
"Yeah, I told them to come to the press conference tomorrow." I said.
"Herb talked to me about that. I guess I am going in his place." Craig said.
"So I get to prep you for a press conference in the morning." I giggled and hugged him.
"Personal attention from the press agent." Craig said and kissed me. "I believe I promised to take you downtown at night and look at all the lights and decorations."
"You did." I said.
"Since I am done with the boys and you're done with the media, why don't we head downtown for awhile?" Craig asked.
"That sounds wonderful." I told him.
xxxXXXXXxxxXXX
"The lights are so pretty at night. The decorations are great." I said. Craig and I were walking around Lake Placid.
"Kylah, I think we should talk." Craig said.
"Is something wrong?" I asked.
"No, of course not………you know a lot of the boys are getting calls from the NHL." Craig said.
"I know. This winning streak we're on and they're so talented, lots of them have gotten calls." I said.
"I got a call myself today." Craig said.
"You're going back to play in the NHL?" I asked.
"No, not play. But the New York Rangers want me to be their head of operations." Craig said.
"Craig, that's great. That is a great opportunity for you." I said. "You gonna move to New York?"
"No, I'm going to keep my home base in Detroit. I'll probably just get an apartment in New York City." Craig said.
"I'm really happy for you. You love the NHL." I said.
"Yeah, but I love this team too. It's kinda sad to see it's almost over." Craig said.
"I know how you feel. I am going to miss these boys something terrible." I said.
"But the good news is I'll be in New York and LaGuardia Airport and JFK Airport are right there, so I can hop a plane anytime." Craig smiled.
"And you better do that often." I said.
"So what are you doing after the Olympics? You never talk about it." Craig said.
"It's because I don't want to think about it." I sighed. "My contract with the USOC ends at the end of the month. But I'll still handle a lot of the stories involving the team. I'm going home for awhile. Every newspaper in North Carolina wants me to write guest articles for them. I'm just going to see what happens from there."
"I am sure some sports team or sports organization will be offering you a job very soon." Craig smiled.
"Verchota suggested I go in professional wrestling and challenge the ladies champion." I laughed.
"Please don't. I don't want you prancing around in a swimsuit in front of toothless drunks screaming for blood." Craig laughed.
"You know my parents are very anxious to meet you." I said.
"I am anxious to meet them too. And I can't wait to see this hometown of yours." Craig said.
"Just a warning. It's a town where everybody knows everybody. So you being from out of town…you'll feel a bit on display." I told him.
"I'm not worried about it. Want some hot chocolate?" Craig asked.
"Yeah, that would be nice." I said and followed Craig to one of the street vendors selling hot chocolate.
"Are you nervous for the medal round?" I asked Craig.
"Yes and no. I know we've got a great team. But MSG keeps running through my head….and you know we'll have the play the Soviets eventually." Craig said.
"But the team has come so far since that exhibition game." I said. "I'm trying to stay positive no matter who we face."
Craig nodded and handed me my drink. "I think Janaszak has a girlfriend."
"I thought you didn't get involved in the personal lives of the players you coach." I giggled.
"I'm not involved, but I've seen this translator girl hanging around a lot lately." Craig said.
"Is she under 40 years old?" I winked.
Craig coughed and kept walking.
We finally walked our way back to the hotel. The lobby was mostly empty as we walked to the elevator.
"I wonder what the boys are up to." Craig asked.
"I think they were going to relax and watch movies." I answered as we stepped onto the elevator.
"Maybe we should watch a movie…wonder what the hotel has to offer?" Craig said as the elevator started upwards.
"I am sure we can call the service desk and find out." I said and the elevator stopped. "What happened?"
"We stopped moving." Craig said. He punched the buttons on the panel and nothing happened.
"Maybe there is a call box." I said.
Craig looked under the button panel; there was a small door that opened leading to a phone. "How does this work?"
"I don't know. I've never been stuck in an elevator before." I said.
"Uh, hello?" Craig talked into the phone. "Oh good, it works."
I breathed a sigh of relief obviously someone could hear him on the other end of that phone.
"The elevator is stuck. It won't move and the doors won't open." Craig said. "We're not sure what floors we're stuck between………..You can't get anything done any faster?...Is there enough oxygen for me and another person here for that long?...Yes thank you."
Craig hung up the phone and stood up.
"What did they say?" I asked.
"Apparently they've been having trouble with the elevator all day and it's finally broke down. And there is only one person on their maintenance crew certified to work on the elevator and they're trying to locate him at home. They said it'd be about two hours." Craig explained.
"What kind of place only has one certified employee and then he's not even on the property? Can't they call the fire department or something?" I asked.
"What's the fire department going to do? Chop us out of here?" Craig asked.
"Do we at least have enough air?" I asked.
"They said we'd be fine. Just to sit tight and wait." Craig said.
I took off my coat and laid it on the floor. "What a way to spend the evening, stuck in an elevator."
"You know, we're all alone here." Craig said.
I looked up at him. "You can't be serious. Here?"
"It can be the first on our list of unusual places." Craig smiled. "We've got two hours."
"You certainly know how to make good use of spare time." I smiled and kissed him.
Craig shrugged out of his coat and backed me up against a wall.
"Damn it!" Craig yelled.
"What?" I was startled.
"We don't have any protection." Craig said.
"Don't you have a condom in your wallet?" I asked.
"I'm not 17 anymore." Craig said.
"Today's the 20th………we'll be fine." I said.
"What?" Craig asked.
"I counted it up from my last period; I'm not fertile right now. And just to be sure I'll shower and clean up the minute we get out of here. And we can stay standing and let gravity work its magic." I said.
"Kylah, are you sure? I've heard women can be fertile anytime." Craig said.
"True, but I'm pretty regular." I assured him.
"I hope we don't live to regret this." Craig said.
"No time to worry about it now." I said and pulled him towards me, leaning up to kiss him.
xxxXXXXxxxxXXXX
"We're sorry about the inconvenience." The concierge said to us when we finally stepped off the elevator.
"Just have a case of cold beer sent my room." I said.
"Yes, Miss Jenkins. And for you Mr. Patrick?" he asked.
"Nothing thank you." Craig said and we walked down the hall to my room, carrying our coats, scarves and my nylons were somewhere in the pile.
We walked into my room and turned on the lights.
"I'm gonna shower and clean up." I told Craig.
"Yeah, that's probably a good idea." Craig said. "You okay?"
"I'm great. We should get stuck in elevators more often. But I'm also going to start carrying some condoms in my purse." I laughed.
I went into the bathroom and started the shower.
When I emerged from the bathroom, Craig was on the couch, drinking one of the beers that had arrived and watching TV.
"Anything good to watch?" I asked and curled up against him.
"Boxing. It's an encore showing of the fights I missed the other night. I opened a beer for you." Craig said.
"Thanks. You staying with me tonight?" I asked.
"Might as well. We got that press conference in the morning." Craig smiled.
Note- Because one Aerosmith song for my story just wasn't enough! LOL