Lived and Learned --4--

I apologize for taking forever to update this. Swim season and musicala re now over so I have more freetime, which means more posts hopefully.




*KRIS'S POV*

I sighed as she practically ran out of the room. What the hell had I done? Mario glared at me from outside the room as April ran away. I seriously would love to know what I said or did to make her run. I was trying to be nice and find out more about her.

As I watched Mario walk out after April, TK came into the training room confused.

"Tanger, seriously, what the hell did you do?!" He was looking out the door trying to see where she went while he spoke. I kept my head down, trying to figure out exactly that.

"Merde. I don't know TK. I guess I said something she didn't like." TK rolled his eyes and went back into the locker room.

*APRIL'S POV*

I walked out the doors at the end of the hallway and was met by the cold, crisp air and light rain. I stood up against the wall, eventually sliding to the ground as I cried. Who the hell was this guy to think he had any right to know my life? Who was he to question me? I sat in the cold rain for a few minutes until I heard the door open.

"April?" I recognized the loud, but gentle voice. Mario.

I immediatly jumped to my feet to face his.

"I'm so sorry Mr. Lemieux. I just needed a second. You know with the air in the locker room, needed some fresh..."

"April, we've heard about Bryan from your professors. We heard you took it hard."

I froze and turned away. New tears were forming, on the verge on spilling over.

"I'm sorry to hear about your loss," He walked towards me and put a comforting hand on my shoulder, "I've lost close friends in life too. But I've lived and learned. There comes a time when you must let go. You may not want to, but you have to live and learn what Bryan never will." He looked at me understandingly while he spoke.

"Thank you. You can't understand how much that means." I wiped away my final tears before Mario pulled me into a hug. He walked me back into the locker room towards the training room, where I froze in my tracks.

"Tell Kris your story. He's a great kid, he'll understand. He lost his best friend." Mario pointed me in the direction of the training room.

As I walked in, Kris looked up, confusedly.

"April..." I cut him off before he could start.

"My fiance died a few days before I met you. I still haven't grasped it. That's why I flipped." He continued to stare at me with that same confused look before he finally spoke.

"I lost Luc..." He stopped mid-sentence to stare off into space.

"Kris, tell me. Like, about him." He looked at me and I gave a small smile back.

We spent the rest of the intermission exchanging stories of Bryan and Luc. Before we walked out of the training room for the third Kris stopped me.

"Listen, I know you love Bryan still, but that doesn't mean you don't have room for a friend, no?" He smiled at me and I knodded and watched him walk back to the ice.

After the game, I hopped in my car, but didn't drive home. I drove for a while thinking, before I finally pulled up to the cemetary gates. I parked my car and walked up the hill to the stone marked "BRYAN ANTHONY MANTAGLIA." I sat on the wet ground, millions of thoughts in my head. I laid my head down and cried in the rain for a good while, I don't even know how long. I finally sat up and pulled the ring off of my left ring finger and set it on the stone, leaned down, and whispered "I love you."

Tears Won't Let You See the Stars --3--

The first month without Bryan passed by faster than I ever could have imagined. It wasn't easy, but my family and friends helped more than I can say. My professors knew what had happened, and did all they could to make me focus on my studies so I could graduate with the honors I had hoped for. When it all came together, I had too much work to do to think about Bryan. It was almost the new year, which meant we would be getting internship assignments at Pitt. Since my major was Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine, and my grades were far above average, I was lucky enough to be selected for an internship at a Pittsburgh sports team.

I was assigned to be a physical therapist for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Two other students were assigned as trainers and, unfortunately, I was the only girl assigned to the Pens.

Over the next few days leading up to the holidays I had meetings with Mario and Ray and the coaching staff. I also had to sign confidentiality agreements and had to sign an agreement that I wouldn't date any of the players.

My first night with the Pens was against the Senators. I met with the training staff at the arena early on game day. They gave me a quick tour of the locker room and told me what I would be doing during the game. I would be waiting in the runway from the locker room and anytime a player was injured, i would take them back to the locker room and treat any minor injuries.

Before the game started, Mario took me to the locker room to introduce me to the team. As soon as I walked in, I was met by a familiar voice.

"Hey! April, right?" Jordan Staal was lacing up his skates when he spotted me and yelled.

Every player turned at looked at me after Jordan spoke, which caused Mario to look at me confused.

"Uhm, I ran into him once. Guess he remembered" Mario knodded at my excuse and turned to the team.

"Boys, this is April Miller. She's a senior at Pitt and she'll be interning as a physical therapist with us until she graduates. She'll be taking care of any minor injuries you may get during the games so make her feel welcome."

I noticed Kris Letang was staring at me the entire time Mario spoke. I remembered how rude I had been when he helped me after Bryan died, and figured that was why he was staring.

The game went along fine without much work for me, but during the second intermission Dr. Burke called me into the training area.

"It's time for your first job," Dr. Burke smiled at me and led me into the training area, "Kris has a cut on his hand. We're a little busy so we need you to check it out."

I walked into the room to see Kris sitting in a chair with a towel around his hand. He scoffed when I walked in, so I tried to ignore him, grabbed some gloves, and got to work. I didn't say anything while I cleaned the cut, and I guess that annoyed Kris.

"So, you're not going to ask any questions about what happened? Isn't that generally what people do?"

I rolled my eyes and responded, "What happened to your hand Kris?"

"Not really sure, I guess a puck hit where my glove didn't cover."

"Why did you want me to ask if you didn't know?" I glared at Kris, who looked away.

"Why are you so angry all the time?"

I stopped what I was doing as I tried to think what to say, instead I acted like I had no idea what he meant.

"I don't know what you mean, Kris."

"That's a lie. Why were you so upset at that apartment?"

"That's nothing you need to know." I finished stitching his hand and stormed out of the training room, the tears blocking the faces of those watching me.

Can't, Won't, Ever Let You Go --2--

I reaaaally apologize for taking sooo long to do this chapter, another will come soon. I REALLY PROMISE THIS TIME! School got canceled for me tomorrow, so excpect a chapter tomorrow sometime. Oh, COMMENTS HELP <3



I knew I recognized this guy from somewhere, I just couldn't put a name with the face. He seemed really familiar. He didn't say a word to me most of the time he helped me get the boxes out of Bryan's apartment. Eventually, he got sick of silence, and spoke up.


"So, why are you moving out?" He looked at me curiously when he spoke, like he was trying to read my mind. It wasn't until then that i noticed his accent.


"I'm not. This isn't my stuff" I kept my face burried in what I was doing so I wouldn't have to draw out the conversation with a complete stranger.


"Oh," He confusedly tried to understand why I was doing this, "are you helping a friend?"


I didn't have time to respond before I heard running down the stairs. It wasn't long before shouting followed.


"KRIS?!?!? WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?!?!"


I looked at the stanger helping me. I knew who he was.


"Shit, I'll be right back." Kris ran out of the room and up the stairs.


Kris Letang. Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman. He helped me move my boyfriend's stuff. He stood in Bryan's apartment. Kris Letang.


I finished what I was doing and packed the last box, hoping to be out before Kris came back. I really didn't want an awkward 'Oh hey, you're famous' moment to erupt. I hurried to lock up and pack the car, but whatever Kris had to do finished first.

"Hey, need some help?" He was out of breath like he had just run to help me.

"No, I'm fine" I tried not to look at him, but once i knew who he was it was hard not to glance.

"Oh, um, well, I'm Kris by the way." He held out his hand with a smile.

"I know." I fumbled with my keys, not really thinking about what I had said.

"Oh," he put his head down as he spoke, "hockey fan?"

"Yeah, I used to go to games with my fiance..." I whispered the last few words, fighting back tears as I spoke. Kris started to say something, but a tall blonde walked out of the building. I knew this one instantly. Jordan Staal.

"Kris, dude, you HAVE to see this apartment......ohhh," He looked at me when he spoke, "who is this?" Jordan winked at me then looked at Kris for an answer. Kris looked at me confused since I had never introduce myself.

"April. April Miller." I started to unlock my car to leave while I spoke.

"I'm Jordan, Jordan Staal." He threw in another wink for good measure.

Kris looked at Jordan like he wanted to punch him, "Gronk, she's a hockey fan." Jordan looked like he had gotten hit by a train. He rolled his eyes at Kris as he walked back into the building.

"So, you sure you're alright?" Kris seemed genuinely concerned with my well being, but I continued to brush him off."

"I'm a big girl, I can handle myself" I climbed in my car, not waiting for a response. I started up and drove towards Oakland, every second passing a memory of Bryan.

Sorry its so crappy :( Let me know what you think tho! <3

Coming Apart at the Seams --1--

It wasn't supposed to happen this way. I was supposed to graduate with him in April. I was supposed to become his wife in June. I was supposed to be by his side. Forever. I never dreamed that I would be sitting in a funeral home, looking at his body in a coffin. Not now.
I was walking to class on a cold November morning when I got the call that I wasn't expecting. It was from Bryan's phone. I wondered why he was up this early, but I answered anyway.
"Hey Babe! I wasn't expecting you to be wake this early," There was a pause on the other line until I recieved a response from a voice I didn't recognize.
"April Miller?" It was a deep, sinister voice that asked. A lump formed in my throat as I tried to answer.
"Ye...ye...yes. This i..is she."
"This is officer Tim York. Mr. Mantaglia was involved in an accident this morning and he's being taking to Mercy South Side. We contacted his mother, who gave us your number. We suggest you meet him at the hospital."
My heart sunk to the pit of my stomach. How serious was the wreck? Where was it? Is he ok? "What's his condition? Is he ok? Will he be ok? Where is he now?" I could tell I was speaking in a panic, but I couldn't help it.
"Ms. Miller. I suggest you come to the hospital before we tell you that information."
I sprinted back down Forbes to ge to my car. I hurried to throw my books in the back seat before starting the car and racing to Mercy. The entire drive, I attempted to convince myself that everything would be ok. It had to be.
After parking in the lot, I raced into the emergency area where I was met by who I assumed to be Officer York.
"April Miller?"
"Yes"
"Follow me please."
I thought we would be going to whatever room Bryan was in, but instead he led me to the chapel. Immediately, I knew why we were in this room. I knew before Officer York even opened his mouth to tell me.
"Ms. Miller, I'm very sorry. Mr. Mantaglia passed away at the scene of the accident. However, in Pittsburgh it's standard procedure that he be taken to the hospital so an attempt at revival could be made. It's also standard procedure that we tell all loved ones of the condition here at the hospital. I'm very sorry for your loss. If you need anything, the ladies at the desk can assist you as well as give you some forms that need signed. I'm so very sorry."
I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. I couldn't do anything. It didn't hit me until I had been sitting alone in the dark chapel for a while. The tears wouldn't wait any longer. The full impact of what had just happened washed over me all at once, and I broke down into hysterical sobs. He couldn't be dead. My Bryan. Gone.
I never realized just how much I needed him until he wasn't there. Until all I wanted was for him to hold me and tell me I would be fine. That everything would be fine. The only thing I wanted was for him to get out of the coffin and hold me. I wanted him to tell me he loved me, that we would be together forever. As much as I wanted it to, I had to face that fact that it wouldnt happen. So I sat in the funeral home, getting hugs and sympathies from everyone. Most of the people had never met me before, but they all knew how much Bryan loved me. I sat there and took it, when all I wanted to do was curl up next to him and will him back to life.
For weeks, I strongly considered killing myself. However, I realized that would make everyone around me feel just as I did now. So I did the only other thing I could do. I locked myself away from everyone and everything. Anything I did would remind me of Bryan, and that would bring on sobs.
The hardest part was cleaning his apartment. It didn't seem right to go through all his things and pack them into boxes. It was our memories being packed away, like Bryan's death meant everything was done. It's like it meant that everything should be locked away, never to be seen again.
I wouldn't let it happen that way. I couldn't let it. Bryan and I had been together since the 9th grade. I couldn't just let go. As I left Bryan's place, I was met by a tall man with gorgeous brown hair. He was so tall compared to my 5'5" frame that he almost knocked me over as I juggled boxes.
"Oh, sorry." he said with an odd accent. "Would you like some help with those boxes?"
I looked up into his welcoming brown eyes and nodded as I handed him a box filled with my heart.

Info

I'm going out on a complete limb with this. I haven't written anything to share with people in quite some time. Everything's just been stashed away in a notebook under my mattress. So here we go:

Characters.
April Miller
Age: 22
Hometown: Pittsburgh
Background: Senior at University of Pittsburgh.
Lives in Oakland neighborhood.
Fiance, Bryan, recently died.
Hockey fan.

Kris Letang
Age: 22
Hometown: Saint-Julie, Quebec
Background: NHL hockey player for Pittsburgh Penguins.
Best Friend, Luc Bourdon, died 2 years ago.
Lives in South Side neighborhood (not really, just for this story he does :P)

I hope you seem somewhat interested. The story will probably start at Bryans funeral, so we'll see where i take this.