Friday, September 25, 2009

You Belong With Me -- Joffrey Lupul

June 25th, 2009 – One day before the 2009 Draft
“I’m being traded where?”
“Back to Anaheim.”
Joffrey couldn’t help but smile and feel a pang of excitement when he heard where he was being sent. It wasn’t that he didn’t love Philly, but he’d never gotten rid of his place out in Cali; and he loved being a Duck. And it wasn’t like there was a lot to tie him here. He’d had a few girlfriends, but nothing serious. And while he’d miss a few of the guys, they all knew that something like this could happen. It’s the way of things in the NHL. Then he thought of Annabelle, his Annie. She’d been the one constant since he’d moved here.
The day he moved into the complex downtown she was going up the elevator as well. She had introduced herself as Annabelle and by the time they’d hit his floor she promised him a welcoming dinner and to help him unpack if he needed it. His first thought was that he was gonna get some as a ‘Welcome to Philadelphia’ present. Then she followed him off the elevator and walked down the hall to the door he knew led to his teammate, Jeff Carter.
After that he did nothing but treat her as a sister, but he always had a soft spot for her down deep. He promised himself that he would never go after a mate’s girl, but she tempted him like no other. And she never once did anything inappropriate! They became fast friends and she would come over weekly to just hang out. ‘Getting away from Jeff’s insanity’ she would say. He knew that Jeff had a temper, but it hadn’t bothered him until this past April.
After losing Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, and being knocked out of the playoffs once again by the Penguins, the entire team had gone home in a sour mood. Joff went straight to his place to drink alone. He had no need or want to go drown his sorrows at a club. Just him, a bottle of Jack, and a glass. Three hours later he woke up to the sound of someone knocking on his door. Pulling himself out of the chair he went over and opened it to find a brown-haired, crying woman with her hand on her face.
“Joffrey! Are you listening to a word I’m saying?”
“Not really. And I need to start packing. Thanks for the update though.” Click.