Chapter 10. I think...I'll Keep My Eyes Closed

Our plane landed. I tried to stay mad at him but it was pretty hard since he made really cute puppy faces and told ridicilously funny jokes. And before I realized I had broken my ultimatum of not speaking.

"Not fair. You're too good at making me laugh." I sighed.

We got our luggage, well Sidney got our luggage while I tried to walk with the crutches. He piled them on a trolley. I just watched him and I almost had to pinch myself. Sidney Crosby was handling my luggage! Crazy! I still wasn't quite used to this. Cellphone "relationship" was much easier. I wasn't constantly reminded who he was. He was just a great guy who I loved to talk to. But like face-to-face it often felt surreal. He caught me staring and I felt bit embarresed.

"What?" He asked amused.

"Nothing." I lied.

"Are you ready to go?" He asked. I just nodded. We started to walk towards the arrival hall.

"Seriously?" He muttered. Then he quickly stopped.

"Seriously what?" I asked not sure what he was talking about.

Without an answer he stepped behind me and tightly put his arms around my waist. Before I could say or think anything he lifted me up and I found myself sitting on top of our luggage.

"Oh." was all I could say.

"You really are pathetic with the crutches." He laughed.

"I know. Why are we not moving?" I asked sarcasticly.

"Oh, sorry mademoiselle." He started pushing me and our luggage.

His car was parked outside the airport. And it was no Toyota Corolla. He opened the door for me and helped me get in. Meanwhile he was putting the luggage into the trunk I switched the CD-player on and some rock band started playing. Sidney sat on his seat and started the engine.

"What band is this?"

"I have no idea. I guess it's Max's CD. He said I have to listen to this. I guess he likes it."

We drove trough the city listeng this unknown rock band. We couldn't even check the name since the CD cover was nowhere to be found.

"How are you going to return it to Max if you can't even find the cover?"

"I guess I just have to buy a new one."

"How are you going to do that when you don't know the name of the band whose CD you'd like to buy."

"Oh Netsie, have some faith. I just play the first song and they'll find it for me at the store."

"Remind me never to borrow you any of my CDs." I said.

"Why?"

"They are like my babies. Not a single scratch on any of them." I answered proudly.

"Remind me never to borrow any of your CDs" he laughed.

I noticed how we were in the suburb and really nice houses were in perfect lines with their perfect gardens.

"Are we almost there?" I asked excitedly. I was about to se his home. I was curious. Was it a bachelor man cave or something that could only be accomplished by really expensive designer.

"Yep." He parked the car on a drive way. Though it was getting dark I could see that the house was in new paint. And it was pretty big just for one person.

"So you guys live together with the team." I joked and he chucled. The house was stunning from the outside.

"You like it?"

"I love it. It's beautiful." He looked pleased. I wondered wether it was because of the homecoming or because I liked his house. He opened the front door and he gently pushed me in. It was dark so I couldn't see anything.

"Sid?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you put the lights on?"

"I'm trying. Looks like they don't work. I guess the safety fuse has broken. I think there's a flashlight somewhere."

He took my hand and pulled me with him making sure not to hurt my knee.

"Do you have a new one? Or do we have to go and buy a new one?" I asked and squeezed his hand tightly. I must admit that I am afraid of the dark. Always been since a little kid.

"Yeah I have one. Are you okay?"

"Yep. Walking in the dark is not my thing especially with this knee."

"I have an idea. Let's get some canldes and you can sit on the living room coutch and I'll change the fuse." He suggested.

"You have candles?" I asked surprised.

"Yep."

"Wow. Guys don't usually have candles."

"I like candles. Besides my mom always buys them when she's here. So my stock is full." He said and though it was dark I could hear from his voice that he was smiling.

He took me to the livingroom and while I sat down he went to look for the flashlight and the candles. Soon he came back.

"Here. This box is full of candles. You can light them with these matches. I'll go and change the fuse."

I put the candles on the coffee table and lighted them. 20 different sized candles gave so much light that I was able to explore the living room. It was quite empty but the furniture looked expensive. It looked like he was too busy to decorate the room. Like he had just ordered the furniture without thinking small details like artwork, things that turn a house into a home. 1000 ideas ran into my mind. SIdney should get some pictures to hang on his walls.

Apparently Sidney fixed the light problem since all the lights came on. I clapped my hands when he came to the living room.

"Can you cook too?" I laughed.

"Not well."

"Damn. You would be perfect if you could."

Though the lights were now working we decided to switch them off since the candles were so beautiful and created great athmosphere.

"Are you tired?" he asked when he noticed how I tried to hide a yawn.

"A bit but I couldn't sleep if I went to bed now. It's too early."

We both sat on the sofa. We were facing each other because we were both leaning on the armrests. I streched my feet so they were next to him and he did the same thing.

"This is nice. I haven't been this relaxed for a long time." I sighed and closed my eyes.

I felt how he put his hand on my healthy knee and gently rubbed it. I kept my eyes closed so he couldn't see how that little gesture made me feel... I don't even know a word that feeling.

"Are you glad you came with me?" he asked.

I nodded still keeping my eyes closed.

Chapter 9. I Think... I'm A Wiseass

I didn't know what my "okay" really meant before I was sitting on a luxurious business class seat with flight attendants bringing me every existing drink from Martinis to English tea. I took a deep breath and thought about everything that had happened during last four hours. When I had told the girls I would be leaving them for awhile I had actually felt a lump in my throat. They all hugged me and especially Filippa gave me meaningful looks. And I had meaningfully tried to made her stop since Sidney was just couple feet away and most likely had seen her winks and other ridiculous gestures. Oh Fippa. I was going to miss that little nut case. After a goodbye we drove to the airport and from the airline counter he bought an extra ticket for me telling me to shut up when I almost whined about the price.

So now I was sitting in a very very very fine plane seat with two designer blankets around me. The other one was Sidney's, which he had offered me since one couldn't do the trick of warming me up. I'm always cold. One more ridiculous feature about me since I come from a country where winter lasts 20 months per every year, as I put it when someone (stupid) says that she loves Finnish winter. Ḯ'm a summer person. Unfortunately.

"Maybe you should order something hot to drink." Sidney suggested. I was holding a class of coke with ice on my hands.

"It's alright now. I'm getting warmer. Besides I need my daily coke."

"How's your leg?"

"I think I still have it with me." I smiled. He chuckled. He seemed to be in very good mood.

"I have a game tomorrow but my whole morning is free. I canceled all interviews before the game so..."

"Oh no! You shouldn't have!" I panic-ed.

"Oh come on Nets. Of course I did. If I have a close friend or a family member visiting I always do that."

"Yeah but I could've survived without a babysitter for couple hours." I insisted.

"Well... I wanted to babysit you and I don't do it for the money. I actually like kids."

"Haha! That's very funny." I snorted.

"I am a very funny guy." He said with a straight face. He was, but there was no way I was going to admit that now.

"But as I was saying before you so rudely interrupted me, tomorrow morning we could do something fun together."

"Fun is a limited word right now for me."

"I know. Fun means some activity without any use of female left leg."

"I know! We can hop on one leg! What a great idea."

"Wiseass." He laughed.

"I am extremely wise and, as I've heard, I have a pretty great ass too." I shouldn't have joked like that because what Sidney was about to say next got me cheeks turn into a very dark shade of red.

"I'm not sure about the wise part but yes, your ass is pretty fine." He laughed at my respond. And for a second I thought he was Filippa trapped in a man's body (very fine body) since that teasing look he gave me was quite familiar.

"Oh Netta. What's wrong? You look... I don't know... blushed."
I rolled my eyes. It didn't seem to work the way I wanted because he just continued on this butt matter.

"I did notice it in Central Park. That thief, you remember? I had a perfect view when I was following you with Jordan." His smirked.

"Shut up!" I hissed. That's when I notice how people around us were now quite aware of us. Well mainly about the Golden boy, as I teased him on the phone sometimes.

"People are looking at us." I whispered trying to make him stop.

"They are?" He looked around and nodded to people who, in my opinion, could've just minded their own business.

"But seriously it's just one great feature. But trust me babe, it's a great feature." he whispered to ear.

Damn Sidney! I blushed again and he was enjoying himself.

"If you don't stop that right now, I'm never going to speak to you again."

He just smirked. Annoying gorgeous a**hole.

Chapter 8. I Think...I Like Being A Patient

The doctor had told me not to put weigh on my injured leg. And to make my getting-out-of-the-hospital gloriously embarrassing I got crutches.

"You're pathetic with them." Filippa sighed. I wasn't used to walk with crutches so it take a while to get my legs move without falling.

"Come on Nets. I'd like to get to our hotel before the sun comes down." Victoria teased. I just rolled my eyes. Maybe they'd stop if I would just ignore them. Not a chance. They kept teasing me and my lack of body coordination. According to them it was unbelievable that it was my profession to move my body but crutches seemed to be a bit too much a challenge for me. I was all alone against this vicious punch of girls. Sidney had gone to get a taxi for us. For my relief it didn't take long for him to drive to us in one. He stepped out and waved to us. Apparently he his thoughts were similar to girls'. He smiled at me before running to me.

"I think you need some help." He laughed and lifted me up in his arms. I unconsciously put my arms around his shoulders.

"Thanks Sidney. She was slower than a snail." Filippa said dramatically.

Taxi ride to our hotel took too little time. I was sitting between Sidney and Victoria. I could feel Sidney's warmth next to me. And when he was talking he sometimes accidentally touched my leg. And when he gave me a quick glance, I felt that somehow the whole world started to disappear around us, especially Filippa's non-stopping mouth. But as I said, the driver was too good. He chose a quick shortcut and we had to get out of the taxi way too soon. This time he didn't pick me up in his arms, instead he put his arm around my waist and started to support my every step. It felt almost too good to have his arm around me. I caught myself thinking what it would feel like to have his both arms around me.

"Can you take her to our room? I think I saw a drugstore couple blogs away, so I'll go and buy her something to shut her up if the leg starts to hurt again."

"Sure Fippa." Sidney nodded.

My heart started to beat faster. I hoped he didn't notice. Alone with him. I wasn't sure if it was the best thing right now. Especially since I wasn't high anymore. Then again maybe I wouldn't call him Harry Potter again.

Elevator took us to my floor. Victoria went to her own room and left us alone. I refused to think she winked to me before leaving. I gave my room key to Sidney and he opened the door. Thank goodness Filippa had cleaned up. I sat down on my bed. Sidney put my bag down. He looked at me for awhile.

"I have an idea." he came to sit next to me.

"Okay?"

"Have you ever been in Pittsburgh?"

"Nope."

"Would you like to come there?"

Okay, call me stupid but it didn't come to my mind that he was "maybe" asking me to come to Pittsburgh.

"It hasn't been on my list of "where I need to travel before dying", but I'm sure it's a great place."

He started laughing.

"You're a bit silly."

He confused me.

"Um... wha..."

"I'm asking you to come to Pittsburgh as my guest." His smile was full of excitement.

"Huh?" My brain was going blank.

"Would you, Netta, I don't know your middle name, Taipale come to Pittsburgh with me?"

"It's Anneli." Was all I could say. Now it was his turn to be confused.

"My middle name is Anneli."

"Okay. Netta Anneli Taipale. What do you say?" He took my hand and his eyes were saying PLEASE.

"I'm on a tour." I said.

"With crutches?"

"I can't dance." I sighed more to myself than to him.

"Exactly. You can't dance with that leg. And if you stay with the girls you constantly think about dancing and how it sucks not to do it. Trust me I know how it feels to be injured. If you come with me, you'll get the needed distraction and I'll... well you would have fun."

"Are you seriously asking me to come?" Sidney's idea hadn't completely sunk in yet.

"Oh yeah."

"You hardly know me," I said in disbelief.

"I've spent hours and hours on the phone with you. I know you enough to know that I'd like you to come. Please say yes."

Every single excuse came to my mind, but still:

"Okay."

Chapter 7. I Think... I'm Under Your Spell

Finally a new chapter. Thanks again for reading! And keep reading, for I have "great ideas" for Netta & Sid :D



I wasn't lucky. My cell started ringing and it was my sister-in-law. She was angry. Well, angry was an understatement. She was furious. She lectured at me about my stupidity and lack of common sense.
"What kind of idiot would let it go that far that that idiot would pass out on a stage?" and other questions like that. Kayley is my personal common sense when it comes injuries and health. According to her I have no idea what is safe and healthy, so she likes to remind me... a lot.
I listened quietly, because I've learned my lesson. Disturbing was something one should never do when Kayley started her healthy body-healthy life lecture. Sidney was still sitting next to my bed. He was smirking. I rolled my eyes.

Kayley finally stopped.

"Did you tell mom and dad?" I asked her already knowing her answer.

"I called them the second I got off the phone with Filippa. Your mom actually said she wasn't surprised. Are you coming home?"

"Kay I really haven't had time to think about it. But most likely yeah." I mumbled. This was not my favorite topic. Flying across the Atlantic wasn't an appealing idea. I would be really far away from Sidney. At least here we were on the same continent.

"Well, give me or your brother a call, and we'll pick you at the airport."

"Thanks Kay. I'll do that." I sighed.

"Bye Nets. Take it easy, Ok?"

"I promise. Bye."

Back home. I missed my family but still even thinking about leaving made me sad. I got lost in my own thought so I didn't hear what Sidney said to me. He gently touched my hand.

"Are you okay?" He asked. I nodded, because I couldn't lie. Not to him.

With his fingertips he touched my cheek. Something so small had an enormous effect on me. It felt like electrical shocks were running through my body. His eyes looked deep into mine. I think he noticed me reaction to his touch because he smiled.

"This is not fair." I whispered. I couldn't take me eyes off him.

"What's not fair?" He asked softly.

"What you do to me."

"What do I do to you?"

"I don't know. You have this weird power over me. You turn me into a nut case."

He smiled at me warmly. Oh boy.

"And when you do that... that smile-thing, I think I become a total lunatic. I think you're some kind of a wizard or Harry Potter-like creature. It's not normal. You are not normal."

He bursted into laughter.

"Thanks, I guess." He said.

This was so weird. I just called Sidney Crosby a Harry Potter-like creature.

"You know what," he said.

"What?"

"I don't think you're normal either."

"Well, that's nothing new." I giggled.

"You're the most interesting person I've ever met. You're beautiful, funny, caring... you're pretty much unreal."

Wow. That blew me away. He was telling me something so beautiful.

"Thanks, I guess." I said shyly. He squeezed my hand.

He started saying something else, but Filippa came in to my room just then. If she realized that she had interrupted something she surely didn't show it.

"Good news guys! The doctors think you're ready to get out of that bed and leave them alone. They said your such an annoying patient that it's better if you leave."

"I can leave? Seriously?"

"Yep. The one with mustache will be here in a sec with your papers." Filippa said enthusiastically.

She started packing my things into my back. We called her "Red Bull" for a good reason. Sidney was still staring at me. I gave him a quick smile. My doctor "the one with the mustache" came in. He gave me a pile of paper, his number just in case and description for strong painkillers.

"Try Aspirin, but if it doesn't work take one of these."

"Thank you doctor."

Once again only a short one. sorry... i got married last Saturday and I've been extremely busy and though there have been million ideas I just haven't found the time to write anything. But after our honeymoon, I'll promise to write new chapters.

And thank you so much for the feedback! It means alot!

hi everyone!

I'm so excited that you guys actually read my story/stories! It's pretty awesome. I'd like to hear your thoughts and ideas about anything. Especially I'd like to know how you picture the characters to look like...

Chapter 6. I Think... I'm High

This time I didn't need strong soap or Fippa's nail polish remover. Instead I saved his number in my phone. Who would have thought that I had Sidney Crosby's number.

I took me two weeks and 3 cities to gain enough courage to do anything. But one night, before our second show in Montreal, I texted him:

Good luck. Hope you'll score alteast 1
Netta

I changed into my first costume and while I was adding more black eyeshadow my cell beeped. One message received.

Now I will. I'll call u later.

He'll call me.

Yes, he did score and he assisted twice. And yes, he did call me. And after that he called me every night. We talked about everything and I realized that he got to know me pretty well. Just by listening to my voice he knew if something was bothering me. One night he asked me: "What's wrong?"

"I don't. I just think that there might be something wrong with my knee. It was quite painful to dance." I sighed.

"maybe you should let a doctor check it." he said,

"I hate doctors." I sighed.

"I bet Kayley would love to hear that." Sidney laughed.

Kayley was my Aussie sister-in-law. I had told Sidney about her and how they met with my brother.

"Well she's an exception." I laughed.

Kayley is a doctor specialized in sports injuries. Since she married my brother, Niklas, 5 years ago she's worked in a private clinic in Helsinki.

"But Netsie for real, you should see a doctor. I hate to know you're in pain."


I should have listened to him. it happened suddenly, without any warning. The pain was so overwhelming that I almost fainted. Somehow I managed to get off the stage and when I knew that the audience couldn't see me anymore I collapsed on the floor. It felt like my whole leg was on fire.

"Oh shit." I gasped.

This wasn't good. I couldn't stand up and even moving the leg hurt.

"What happened?" Our stage manager came to me.

She looked worried. And she had a good reason. I was pale as a ghost and the pain almost made me pass out.

"I don't know. Something's wrong with me knee. I can't move it." I whispered.

"I'll get you some ice. Should I call an ambul...."

That's all I heard. I passed out.

I woke up in a moving vehicle which turned out to be an ambulance. Oona, one of the Finnish dancers, was with me.

"Kauanka ma oon ollu taju kankaalla?" (How long I've been passed out?)

"15 minuuttia." (15 minutes :) ) she answered-

We were both still in our ballet dresses.

"Ne anto sulle jotain kipulääkettä." (They gave you something for the pain."

I was glad. I didn't feel any pain. But I was extremely sleepy. It was har to keep my eyes open.

"On muuten tehokas lääke." (This drug is pretty effective.)

Oona giggled because I sounded like I was drunk.

"Näyttää ja kuulostaa siltä." (Looks and sounds like it.)

I closed my eyes and fell asleep.


I spent the night in the hospital. When I woke up Fippa sat next to me on the edge of me bed. The room was full of flowers.

"Good morning you drama queen." she said when I opened my eyes.

"Morning. What time is it?"

"9.15. Girls were here but you were asleep. They brought flowers. Vicky bought white lilies though I said that they're funeral flowers. And since your breathing you're not dead."

"They're really pretty. Say thank you to the girls. How did you survive the rest of the show?"

"Vicky danced your solo. We did just fine."

"Good." I sighed in relief.

"And you're not that important." She teased me.

"Ha ha!"

"By the way, mr. Crosby called last night and I told him what happened. He was pretty upset."

"He was?"

"Oh yeah. But I told him that it's not that serious. You just can't stand pain-"

It was true. I pass out easily when I'm in pain. Once I fainted when a bee stang me. I overact but I can't help it. My body just refuses to function in pain.

"Do you know what the doctors said?" I asked because hadn't seen anyone in a white coat.

"They said it's ACL injury. Sucks to be you."

ACL injury was pretty bad and it sure did feel that way too. Thank goodness I was okay now lying on the hospital bed and heavily medicated.

"Did I already tell you that he's coming?" Filippa asked and waited for my reaction.

I almost jumped off the bed.

"What did you say?"

She smiled innocently.

"Last night when I called him, he said he was coming here to kick your ass for not taking his advice about seeing a doctor."

I rolled my eyes. " I thought you were serious."

"I am. He said he's going to fly here. I think his plane landed about 15 minutes ago."

What?! Sidney was here in Montreal! And just because of my stupid knee.

"You're not seriously telling me that he spends his precious day off by sitting on a plane to come to see me lying on a hospital bed You're just teasing, right?"

"He is coming. I'm not kidding." I wished I could rip that annoying smile off her face.

"Fippa, did you tell him to come?"

"No."

"Fips?"

"I might have said something..."

"Fippa!" I screamed.

"But it was his idea entirely. I just said that you'd like him to be here. Oh, don't give me that look. I've seen you when you're on the phone with him. You're like in seventh heaven."

"Shut up. He's coming only because he felt obligated. Thanks to you and your big mouth. This is his day off. He could have done something fun and relaxing."

Now it was Filippa's turn to roll eyes.

"You know what, he's coming and there's nothing I could've done to stop him. He really wanted to come."

"Yeah right." i mumbled.

"Trust me hon. He's really smitten over you."

i bursted into laughter.

"Who talks like that anymore?"

"I do." She said and stack her tongue out.



I hear his voice before I saw him. He was talking with Filippa right outside my room and the door was open.

"So how's the patient?" he asked.

"Stubborn, high on drugs and such a baby." Filippa whispered extremely loud so I could hear.

Sidney chuckled. I tried to calm myself down. Talking on the phone wiht him wasn't so bad anymore, but seeing him made my heart beat like it was playing a techno song. He stood in the doorway and smiled. Have I mentioned that that boy can smile?

"Hi." was all he said.

"Hi." I answered. I must have looked like a mess in a hospital gown and my hair looking like hobbit hair.

He stepped in and came next to my bed. It was so weird to see him. We've talked on the phone for hours but seeing him was quite strange. There was a chair in the corner and he pulled it next to my bed and sat down.

"Are you still in pain?" he asked. I could see concern in his eyes. I shoke my head.

"They've given me so much painkillers that it's hard to even know that I have a knee. I think they amputated everything from hips to toes." I giggled. The last shot of medicine, the nurse gave me about half an hour age, made my really giggly.

"You really are high." He laughed.

That made me giggle some more. I was high on the painkillers and him being here.

"Fippa told me it's ACL injury."

"Yep. The doctor said it might need surgery. And that means my season's over." I sighed. The thought of not dancing for months made me sad and frustrated.

He squeezed my hand. It felt so comforting. His skin was warm and soft.

"I think I know haw you feel. I got injured last year. It's so frustrating." he said. He kept my hand in his.

I started to giggle again.

"You could be playing golf but instead your at the hospital."

"I don't like golf in November." He smiled.

I like you in November. Of course I didn't say that out loud. I wasn't that high.

"Well you could be fixing your Toyota Corola." I joked.

"My 'Toyota Corola' is just fine."

He was still holding my hand. I think I could get used to this, having him near me holding my hand and looking at me like that.

"I hit a tree with a Toyota Corola once." I said.

"You did?"

"Yeah but my grandma must have moved the tree, because, I swear, it wasn't there earlier."

he laughed. I was glad I made him laugh. It felt nice.

"You do know you're pretty cute, right."

That caught me off guard. He just called me cute. Maybe there was something wrong with my ears.

"I get that a lot when I'm wearing as cool as this hospital gown."

"I'm not surprised." He laughed.

In that moment I realized what a lucky girl I was.