Chapter 6
I've got all of my pads on and I'm pulling on the black practice jersey from my stall over my head when Kirk gets here. He extends a hand to me and smiles.
"Hey, I'm Kirk Maltby," he says, sounding friendly, and the race of my heartbeat calms just a bit.
"Hi, I'm Andy Ference," I reply, and I decide that this time, I'm going to get to know my teammates. I'm going to have someone to talk to in the locker room.
"So, where are you staying?" he asks me as he pulls his sweatshirt off.
"I'm at the Mariott right now, until I find something more permanent," I explain as I lace up my skates. "I'll have to look around for an apartment or something soon."
My voice trails off as a shadow appears on the ground near my feet. The hair on the back of my neck stands on end, and my racing pulse changes direction and misses a few beats. I look up slowly, and find myself staring into two intensely blue eyes. Not the cold, icy blue that of Johan's, more of a sparkling blue, warm as the ocean in the Caribbean.
"Andy?"
I nod, "Hi."
He shakes my hand and smiles at me, "I'm Curtis Joseph. It's nice to meet you," he pauses for a moment, searching my eyes. He winces at the look of my right eye. "That looks like it hurts," he comments.
I shrug, "It's okay. I...um...I took a punch during our last game," I lie, averting my eyes and watching the room filling up. All of the guys greet me as they come in, and I'm growing more anxious with each handshake.
I hate this. I hate knowing that I am going to let all of these guys down. Especially Curtis, who had smiled so sweetly when I held my hand out to him. I am going to disappoint him. Unless...unless he can remind me to do better. Without the punishment, I'm lost.
"Andy," Joey Kocur greets me, and I stand. Nick Lidstrom is behind him, and he smiles at me. "You're going to play with Nicky tonight. Unfortunately, due to the holiday, you're only going to get to skate with him for about an hour now, and then the pregame skate later this evening. But I think it should work out alright; I think your styles will mesh well."
Joey explains the system quickly, and then Nick and I talk for a while, and then we get on the ice. We practice together, and as Nick and I work, I find myself relaxing. Nick is very easy to play with. I'm facing practice shots from Sergei Fedorov and Brendan Shanahan. Chris Chelios is giving me advice. Luc Robitaille is complimenting me. Steve Yzerman is asking me to run through some skating drills with him.
I really hope I don't mess this up.
When we get off of the ice, I take a glance around the empty arena. In a few hours, it will be full, and I can already taste the excitement in the air. As I walk towards the dressing room, I notice Curtis waiting by the doorway, and my stomach clenches when he looks up at me.
Then he smiles.
"Good luck out there tonight," he tells me, patting my shoulder as I walk past him.
I smile hesitantly, searching his eyes. I hope that the warmth in them will still be there--I hope that the friendliness there isn't lost when I can't hide my imperfections.
