nineteen

Mandy and Roxy felt like their legs were going to fall out from under them any second. It was the first presason game at home and things had gotten busy. Running here and there, grabbing practice jerseys, gloves and anything else they could manage to even carry.

Mandy's mind was still hooked on Taylor. She was still feeling the effects of their shower encounter. And Roxy, she was starting to adore Lander more and more, but of course she would never admit that to anyone, not even herself.

Finally as the game grew closer, everything slowed down, and the girls were at least able to watch the game. As they made their way out onto the Hall managed to give Mandy a quick wink, which caused her to smile back. She was so hooked on him, maybe even more than before, and she had no idea why.

--

After the first it was already 2-1 Edmonton, and even for a preseason game, the building was pretty electrifying. This city was so excited for the potential in this team, with the number one draft pick, Jordan Eberle, Mr. 5.4 seconds and the Swedish kid, who nobody really knew about, but were already starting to see. He already had 2 points in the game, a goal and an assist, and people were starting to notice the name Magnus Paajarvi.

The second period wasn't that exciting, except for the fact Magnus scored again. Mandy was starting to see something she never really considered before, he actually wasn't that bad. She'd never really seen Magnus play, and already with 3 points in the game, she was starting to see a guy who might actually be a valuable key to this team, and this city.

It was the third period, a 3-1 game and the atmosphere in the building wasn't dying down anytime soon, even in the third period.

About 8 minutes into the period, the Lightning turned over the puck to Taylor and with the goalie diving out, hoping to snatch the puck away, he basically put it into a wide open net, making the game 4-1.

Mandy squealed excitedly as she saw the focus back on Taylor again, she was proud of him, scoring his first unofficial goal in the NHL.

"It wasn't that great" Roxy mumbled.

"Don't take this from me" Mandy shot back, "And don't pretend I can't hear you, you purposely mumble loudly so I can hear you"

She just rolled her eyes, "A monkey could have scored that goal and you know it"

"Roxy, will you please stop it?!"

Roxy finally zipped her lips and focused her attention back on the game, but in her head she was more worried about her best friend.

Then the unthinkable happened. It was a 4-1 game in the third and it was pretty safe to say that they had this game in the bag. It was halfway through the period, and Magnus nonchalantly took the puck up the ice, harmlessly shot it and all of a sudden the horn was going off and he had a hat trick.

"Did you see that?!" Roxy exclaimed grinning widely as she watched the scoreboard change to 5-1.

Mandy's eyes simply stayed on Magnus, she watched him celebrate with his teammates and skate back to the bench as a few hats here and there hit the ice. Suddenly his eyes somehow made their way to hers and her heart stopped. There was something in his eyes at that very moment that made Mandy forget about Taylor, for even just a second, and that feeling scared her.

She finally looked away and then looked towards Roxy, "What?"

"Don't tell me you missed that"

"No...I saw it"

"What got into you?" she scanned my face and a smirked appeared on her face as she looked towards the bench, "He so wants you"

"What?"

"Don't tell me you missed that" she smirked.

"Missed what"

"You so want him too"

"Can you say that any louder?" Mandy snapped.

"Mandy, it's not a bad thing...at least he knows how to treat a girl" she huffed glaring at Taylor.

"I'm not talking about this" Mandy replied, "Not right now"

For a change, Mandy was actually starting to question her feelings not only for Taylor, but for Magnus. That look in his eyes was not one friends give to each other, he meant for Mandy to feel something from that gaze, maybe the same thing he was feeling. She had to admit that this may have made him a bit more desirable, but going there could cause a whole lot of problems, no matter how much both of them may have wanted it.

The game ended 5-2 and the girls quickly kept up by cleaning and tidying after the game was over and done with. Most of the guys were out, but some of the rookies stuck around, one in particular Mandy was concerned with.

"Magnus" he turned around and immediately his cheeks flushed a slight red. She noticed it every time she came around, and she loved it.

"Hey Mandy"

"You were really great tonight"

He smiled shyly, "Thanks"

It was hard for Mandy not to see the slight muscle under his dress shirt. No, he didn't have a six pack, or chiseled...everything, but it was just enough to make her go a little crazy thinking about what she could--

"What are you thinking about?" he asked, finally drawing her attention back to his face, interrupting her thoughts.

"...alot" she said quietly, "you have no idea"

"Do I want to?"

"Maybe"

Magnus may have been the shy, sweet type but when she was standing there in front of him, fully within his grasp he had to have her.

"Mandy..."

She was not so focused on his face so much as everything else, what was under the dress shirt she was admiring, what she took advantage of the first night she had him. Everything she took advantage of when she had him, because she was angry.

"Yah?" she again looked back up at him, and saw a look in his eyes she had never seen on him before, almost desperate.

"Maybe you can--"

"Mandy" Taylor came up, wrapping an arm around Mandy's shoulder, causing Magnus to back down. Mandy saw the look turn to sadness and immediately she knew what Magnus wanted in the first place.

"Hey Taylor"

"We're all ready to go if you want to head home"

"Yah...sure thing, just let me finish up, I'll meet you in the car"

She watched as Taylor left, and looked around the hall to make sure it was empty. She got up close to Magnus, and her lips trailed his ear gently, "Leave a key" she whispered, "midnight"

She didn't look at him, she just quickly walked away leaving Magnus in a daze that he didn't want to shake out of.