Chapter 4 & 5

Chapter 3


Two week had gone by really fast and it was time for Lacy to start work with Dr. Smithe. She had met with him a few days ago to go through all the paperwork and what not…Since she had dual citizenship it made it a little bit easier…good thing about living in the states til she was 5.

She was really excited and wanted to get to work early to set up her station. She would be one of two nurses working on Dr Smithe service and couldn’t wait til she got to see patients.

“Good Morning Lacy…you’re here early” Dr Smithe said as he walked in.

“Just excited to get started.”

“That is great. I forgot to tell you one thing.”

Lacy got a little paranoid because this was how her conversation with Jan had pretty much started.

“I see patient all the way up to age 18 so if you see some older kids today that is why. And also Dr. Klontz retired last month and I am taking on some of his patients as well.”

“Sure thing.”

“If you need anything else just let me or Erin know.”

Before she knew it she was going to get her her first patient of the day.

“Alexa”

Lacy took Alexa and her mother back to do all the normal prescreening stuff before they got into a room.

When they got back to the room Lacy asked “So Alexa what brings you in today?”

The little girl didn’t answer you could tell she wasn’t feeling well.

“Well she has had a fever for the last few days and now she is complaining about her ear and throat. She gets step really easily so we wanted to make sure.”

“That is a really good plan” and the Lacy continued to take vitals for Dr. Smithe and get the other things ready that he was going to need.

“Are you new here. I have been bringing my kids here to see Dr. Klontz and now Dr. Smithe since my oldest was little. I haven’t seen you around before.”

“Uhhh yes I am new. Today is actually my first day and Alexa here is my first patient.”

“Oh well it’s nice to meet you. I’m Natalie.”

“Lacy nice to meet you as well.” She couldn’t shake her hand because she was working with Alexa. But they continued to talk while Lacy finished up.

“Ok Alexa, Dr. Smithe will be in her in just a few minutes.”

Alexa nodded and then fell back on to the table.

After a while Lacy was just doing some paper work on some other patients when Natalie walked up to her.

“Lacy I just wanted to thank you. Alexa usually isn’t very good around Doctors but you really helped her in there.”

“Oh its not a problem…just doing my job…but your welcome”

“Well I am having a get together at the end of this week. I know you said that you are from Quebec and I actually know a lot of people from around there. How about you join us?”

“O I don’t know. I don’t want to intrude on anything.”

“Don’t be silly..There is always people around your age at the house. It will be a great way to meet some new people from back home.

Wow this woman is convincing because the next things Lacy knew she was agreeing and getting details from Natalie about the party. When Natalie walked out with Alexa in tow Lacy noticed that Erin was just staring at her.

“What”

“You do realize who you were talking to right.”

“Just a patient and her mother”

“No that was Natalie Lemieux. Wife of Mario Lemieux.”

“And” Lacy didn’t really see what the big deal was.

“He is like a god in this city…the owner and former player for the Pens” when Lacy just looked at her she continued “…hockey”

Now that that Erin mentioned it the name did sound familiar but she didn’t watch that much hockey even if she was from Canada, her parents never allowed it. She only watched when Max was there or playing. But ever since he decided on that stupid day that he was leaving for juniors that he couldn’t have a girlfriend to hold him down she stopped watching…she didn’t care.

She just shrugged her shoulders and went back to work but Erin wasn’t done.

“and you call yourself a Canadian….but damn girl you are lucky as hell about every single guy on the team goes to those functions and every single one of them is HOT as hell”

For the rest of the day Lacy tried to not think about it too much or the memories of Max that somehow were fighting its way to the surface.

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Friday got here faster than she thought it would but Lacy was actually excited about going to the party tonight. Not to mention she was getting sick of Erin telling how lucky she was to be going to a party with the Pittsburgh Penguins…she didn’t see what the big deal was even though the apparently won the Stanley Cup last season.

Natalie had called the office and told her it was casual. So after work she stood in front of her closet while she tried to figure out something to wear…who knew it would be that hard to figure out.

Before she knew it, it was time to head over…she grabbed the pie she made…and laughed that she actually did learn something from her mother. On her way there she started to get nervous because of all the hype that Erin had given these people. She was really worried that they were going to be the type of people who looked down at her because she wasn’t like them….just like her parents had been.

She was amazed when she pulled up to the house but knew that at least her car would fit in when she saw all the range rovers parked in the driveway and along the street.

She knocked on the door and sure enough Natalie answered the door which helped ease some of Lacy’s nerves.

“Lacy you were able to make it come on in everyone is out back.”

“Hi, I brought this I wasn’t really sure…”

As if picking up on her nerves Natalie cut in..O that is really nice of you the boys don’t get to eat like this often.

“How is Alexa feeling.”

“She is starting to feel better…she hasn’t stopped talking about you.”

Lacy couldn’t help but smile. Alexa had made an impression on her as well.

“Go ahead out back. Just let me put this in the kitchen and I’ll be right out to introduce to some people.”

“Ok thanks” and with that Lacy made her way out back but she stood off to the side. Not to long after Natalie came out as promised and started showing her around. She met some of the girlfriends and they all seemed really nice. Lacy made a mental note to come back and talk to Vero…because they were from around the same area.

Next thing she knew she was being introduced to Mario.

“Mario. This is Lacy”

Mario turned around with a big smile on his face.

“So you are the one who charmed my daughter into behaving at the doctor.”

Lacy was starting to feel more comfortable and wasn’t afraid to speak up now. “That would be me…she really is a great girl. I’ll have to make sure I find her in a little bit.”

Mario just chuckled… “Have you met any of the guys yet.”

Lacy just shook her head no.

“Well lets get started then. They really are a group of characters.”

Before she knew it she had been introduced to a bunch of the players like Kris Letang, Tyler Kennedy, Sidney Crosby, Evengi Malkin as she was walking around with Mario she couldn’t help but think that Erin was right when she said all of these guys were hot.

“And this is the guy who scored the two most important goals of his life in June…”

But Lacy just stopped and interrupted him….

“MAX…”

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 4

All the color drained out of her face when she saw it was him…she didn’t even have to see his whole face to know…that Max was standing in front of her.

“You know Max Lacy?” Lacy looked up and Mario and nodded as Max heard this he turned around. He didn’t remember a Lacy off the top of his head…he had so many girls around all the time it was hard to keep names straight…but he was always up for meeting a new lady friend.

Lacy turned her head away from Mario and wanted to look down but those eyes stopped her. Yup he still has those amazing eyes that to this day she still thought they were the most amazing eyes ever. Lacy wanted to run and was looking for a way out…as she as she found one she turned and made a run for it but not before Max saw her face and remember Lacy. He started to follow her both of them leaving Mario dumbfounded.

Lacy finally weaved her way through enough people she hoped that she lost him even better she made it to the house so she could leave. So many years but those wounds still hurt. She was looking for Nat when she felt a pull on her dress. She looked down to Alexa who standing by the door watching everything.

“Hi, you’re the nurse from the Dr”

“Yup…my name is Lacy”

“ I remember. Is the party fun”

Lacy wanted to give her real answer but decided against it. “Yes it was a lot of fun…but I have to go now and I can’t seem to find your mum. Can you tell her that I had to go and thank you for me?”

Alexa nodded and hugged Lacy. “Thank you for your help”

Lacy just smiled “Your welcome sweetie…” and made her way towards the door.

Max’s POV

I made it into the house just in time to see the front door closing and Alexa standing there watching everything.

“Hey Lex who just left?”

“Lacy. She was the nurse who helped at the doctor.” With that she walked away because her mother had walked in and she had an important message to deliver.

I just sat down at the table. I couldn’t believe Lacy was here in Pittsburgh. I hadn’t seen her since I was about 15 and in juniors in Quebec. I have to call my mum later and see if she knows anything I know that they don’t get along with Lacy’s parents but maybe they have some information.

In the meantime I went back out to the party. Even though I couldn’t get Lacy off my mind. I tried to replay everything in my head but a lot of the details were fuzzy to me now. So I sat down and began to think…

She looked so good…she was beautiful even back then but she sure has grown up a lot. Lets see I’m 25 almost 26 that would make her 24 almost 25 because our birthdays are week apart in February. I wonder if she is in Med School down here…but Alexa said that she was a nurse which makes no sense because the Lacy I know was going to be a doctor…hell we used to play doctor all the time. That made my mind wander I would love to play doctor now with Lacy.

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Lacy’s POV

As I made my way into my apartment I couldn’t believe it…I just saw…Max the one person …I never thought I would have to see him again. God even seeing after all this time and my mind still can’t form coherent thoughts…GOD I HATE HIM…no I don’t. Even though I played it off like I was over Max I never really did…I lied for so many years to everyone…

I collapsed on the couch there was no stopping the memories now:

The first time I met him. I think I was five which would have made him six and it was right after we moved to the neighborhood. Grampy was still sick and we had moved to be closer to him and Grammy. His whole family came over as a welcome to the neighborhood things. The kids ran off to play…my brothers hit it off with his brothers and barricaded them self in their room to play, Lana was following mom around because at the time she wanted to be just like mom. That left me and Max. We didn’t have a lot in common but we sat on the stairs and listened to our parents we were both very curious. I had wanted a friend so bad other that my siblings that I was willing to do just about anything.

It wasn’t hard to be friends with Max…he kind of draws people in with his personality. We weren’t in the same grade so we didn’t really see too much of each other at school but when we did or after we were always playing together. He taught me how to ice skate….probably so he would have someone to practice with. That wasn’t bad I had always wanted to learn but my parents said no I couldn’t hurt my hands if I were going to be a doctor. At the time that was all I wanted to be so Max and I would play doctor all the time which wasn’t hard because he always had a bruise or cut somewhere.

We kind of drifted apart when he went to the next school and I was stuck in elementary school…I didn’t have a lot of friends Max was always my friend and Lana so that was enough for me. Lana and I were always close that whole twin thing…when we both got to junior high it was different. Boys and Girls were pairing off as boyfriend and girlfriend or at least they were starting to notice each other Lana had a huge crush on Max…a lot of girls did come to think of it. Sure he was cute but he was my best friend it was weird. Well until that day where Johnny and 8th grader came up to me and started talking to me and asked me to go out…I didn’t want to so I said no…he didn’t like that so he followed me around all day. Max didn’t like it either and pushed Johnny into a locker and got into a big fight..That was when my crush started…I felt like he saved me. That night he came over and we just sitting on my porch, he told me all about the fight and even showed me his black eye. I turned his head and kissed it…I always that was the best medicine…he just smiled. Then I felt him grab my hand and we just sat there together holding hands for what seemed like forever. He finally spoke up and told me that he liked me and wanted me to be his girlfriend. After what he had done for me I couldn’t say no…I was the happiest girl ever. I was a sixth grader and I was dating an older guy.

I couldn’t help but laugh at this part…that was when the happiest time of my life started…It didn’t take much…Max always made me happy.

Lana wouldn’t talk to me for a week. We spend all of our time together. He would sit with me when I have to practice piano or study because my parents made me and I would always go to his hockey practices where he would try to show off but always ended up in trouble. Mom and Dad weren’t happy they didn’t approve of him playing hockey so much said that he would never make anything of himself that he wasn’t good enough.

Wow what would mom and dad think now…. Probably the same thing.

So his family or my brothers would take me to all of his games. The night after he scored a hat trick we told each other that we loved each other I had just turned 14 and he was turning 15 in a matter of days. After that our parents got into a huge fight and stopped speaking to each other. Even our brothers stopped hanging out as much but my parents had a lot to do with that…they had to get ready for college and med school. But that couldn’t keep Max and I away from each other we would sneak around…make out sessions in the back yard…at the ice rink…

Then he was drafted and went to play juniors somewhere else in Quebec I was so proud of him…he worked so hard to play at a higher level. We didn’t see as much of each other and really would only get to talk on the phone. His parents would take me to some of his games but I had hard time sneaking that one by my own parents. He was my everything…there were nights where I waited by the phone for hours hoping he would call. It got to the point where I would just call him and he would tell me he couldn’t talk or he just wouldn’t answer at all…God the tears I cried. It took me weeks to get Landon to take me to where Max was playing. I was going to surprise him and I sure did. He hugged me but wouldn’t kiss me. I told him where we were staying and he said that he would come see me later. So I went back to the hotel and waited….I convinced Landon to leave for a little bit…I don’t know how I did it but it needed to happen so my plan would work. At 15 I figured that to keep him around sex was the answer. I had heard his friends teasing him about it and I heard his brothers talking about it when I wasn’t supposed to hear..If that was what it took to keep Max I was ready

I couldn’t help but cry now I was never over Max….never

I sat in that hotel room for 3 hours waiting for Max to show up…Tonight was going to be special for both of us….when there was finally a knock on the door I all but jumped right to the door. I couldn’t wait to share my plan with Max. I had convinced myself that it was the right thing to do. But when I opened the door there was no Max just a bell hop with a note saying that he didn’t want a girlfriend anymore…he didn’t want to be held down while he was juniors…there were too many options for him…it was over to go back home.

My brother found me on the floor crying hysterically…and took me back home after me convincing him that killing Max was the thing to do I just wanted to go home and cry…My parents were happy they didn’t even try to console me…He broke my heart into pieces.

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Lacy sat in her living room crying and going through all the pictures she had of her and Max she had never been able to get rid of them…that was when her phone rang.

“Lac…what it is you called like five times. I was in class I couldn’t answer.”

“Lan…he is here…he is in Pittsburgh” she said through tears

“Lacy I’m on my way Ill be on the next flight…I Love you” Lana didn’t care at that moment about class or anything. She had to be with Lacy…