A/N: Hey everyone, hopefully a lot of you have read my other two stories. This one's headed in a darker...more physical direction, I believe. I'd like to think that my stories aren't ofyour typical bubbly love-struck breed, but if they are, I can say I at least tried to make them as literary as I could. Apparently my English teacher thinks I need work...BUT I'D RATHER HEAR WHAT YA'LL HAVE TO SAY! So please read and review. Oh, and if you haven't read my other stories, I highly recommend them, I enjoyed them thoroughly.

One

My name is Faye Darling, I'm twenty-one years old, I have honey-blond hair about to my waist, and dark green eyes. People always tell me that I have a great smile, and that I smile a lot. I'm not sure why— my teeth aren't pearly white like you see all the movie stars have, and there's a slight space between my two front teeth. And I have this funny thing going on with my canines; they're shorter and sharper than on most people I notice, especially the bottom ones. I don't think I smile too much, but there are times I catch myself when my cheeks start hurting. My skin's nice I guess, alabaster was the word my friend Steve Janaszak used one time. That's a two-dollar word right there.

I work at the University of Minnesota—as a secretary in the athletic office. You see, growing up my mother lived next door to Patti Brooks. Well—she wasn't Patti Brooks back then. Even though they were four or five years apart they became really good friends. I don't exactly have the ideal family situation, but when I got to spend time with Aunt Patti and Uncle Herb, I felt a little more normal. I grew up with them, I baby sat for Kelly and Danny, and Herb even helped me get this job after I graduated from the U last year.

When I was a student I always had guys coming up to me and asking if Coach was really my uncle, and what was the best way to get on the hockey team. That's actually how I met Robbie McClanahan. I guess you could say we were friends, but we weren't too close, and we've grown apart since graduation. Well the typical questions lead to a complicated answer of how there's no blood relation but it sure feels like there is. And as for the second question all I can say is: Practice! Practice! Practice!

If you were to ask me, I'd say I love hockey. I go to every game, I enjoy watching practice when I get the chance, I have friends who are hockey players, and I handle a lot of the paperwork for Coach Brooks, but the truth is I don't understand a whole lot about it. I don't sit up late at night, reading a play book by flashlight, I don't know a lot about the NHL, and the great players. I don't dream of one day disguising myself as a man and trying out for a team. It's a good thing too, I don't think I could pull that off; I've got some pretty generous curves. The simple truth is, I just like hockey.

It was four o'clock on Friday afternoon, so Uncle Herb was coming into the athletic office as I was getting ready to head out.

"Any calls for me?" He asked, as he hung his jacket up on the coat rack by the door. I grabbed the note I had made off the desk.

"Just one from Walter Bush," I explained. "He said something about the USOC, and to call him back as soon as you got in."

"Okay," Uncle Herb said. He looked real thoughtful for a moment before, "Do you talk with Buzzy anymore?" He was talking about hockey playing alumni, Buzz Schneider. He was a senior when I was a freshman, but he was one of, if not the best friends I've ever had. I nodded.

"Yea," I said. "He actually stopped by last week to check up on me." Herb nodded. "Made sure I was still perfect." He sat down at his desk and looked through some papers for a few minutes. These kinds of conversations are always awkward for me. It's like talking to a friend's parent...or a parent's friend. You don't know what to say, but you know you don't want to say anything stupid.

"Are you coming to the party on Saturday night," he asked as I started to pack up. I nodded. "Got your costume all picked out?"

"I can't wait," I said. "I'm coming as Alice in Wonderland."

"I'll see you there then," he told me. "Have a good night, Faye." I waved back to him and made my way out of the athletics building into the sunlight.

OOO

I showed up at the costume party on Saturday night around seven. Patti kept telling me she liked my costume. I left the party around nine. I don't really like staying out late, but the following Monday, Herb came in a little earlier in the afternoon.

"Hi Coach!" I greeted him cheerfully.

"Hey there, Faye," he began. "I got a call from the USOC over the weekend. They want me to coach the Olympic ice hockey team. Starting in two weeks."

"Oh wow," I began in surprise. "That's great." I paused. "But who's going to be coaching here?"

"You don't need to be worrying about that just yet," he told me. "Because I was wondering if you might like a job helping to manage the team." At that point I couldn't help but squeal in delight.

"Yes, yes, yes!" I replied, jumping up eagerly.

"Now before you go getting all excited," Uncle Herb warned. "It's going to mean some long hours, and a lot of travel. You're going to be away from home a lot. You still want the job?" That was supposed to be his idea of a catch.

"Yes," I answered firmly.

"We're going to need to get you a passport," he told me. "Maybe you and Patti should pick a day to go out." I nodded.

I Called Patti that afternoon and we decided to go to the mall on Wednesday afternoon for some food and to get my passport picture taken at Sears, and maybe get some shopping for a European winter done. It seemed like things were really starting to look up for me.