Chapter 7

 His POV



I open my eyes to knocking, someone must be here.

Quickly, I get up off the floor and check on Anna to see if it has woke her up and it hasn't.
I grab my robe as I open the door and exit the room.

"Come on Paulie, I've been standing out in this cold for awhile,"
It's Joey.

Placing on the robe and tieing it, I rush over to the door and open it.

"About time dude, your not even dressed?" Joey asks as I shake my head.

"I just got woken up to your knocking, so whats up?" I ask.

"Come on follow me,"
 I slip on my shoes that are by the front door as I walk outside, closing the door behind me.
Going down the stairs and turning onto the sidewalk I see this black Chevy Tahoe sitting in my driveway.

"Whats this?" I ask as Joey smiles and hands me a key and alarm thing on a key ring.

"Since James couldn't be here, me and him chipped in and got you this. You better be at practice today,"

"Oh I will be, thanks Joey,"
He hugs me as I see Brianna in the car in front of my driveway.

"See you lat practice Paulie," Joey says as I watch him go down the driveway and gets into the awaited car.

I turn and I look at the car they just bought me, it's a nice car and I'll be able to find it in the snow too.

Turning fully around, I head back up the sidewalk and into the house were it's warm as I close the door.

"Good morning Paul, who was outside?" Anna asks as I see her standing there in front of me, still in her pj's.

"It was my teammate Joey, he wanted to give me a present as in a car," I say.

"He got you a car? That's good,"

"Sure is, not more car pooling with Nealer,"
She just smiles and laughs a little bit.

"Do you want to come to practice with me this morning? There's alot of people who would like to meet you if thats ok,"


Her POV



"I'll love too Paul, but I don't have any clothes besides what I wore yesterday," I say.

"Wear your jeans again and I'll give you one of my shirts to wear plus a sweater too since it's cold outside," Paul says as I follow him into his room as I watch him place a shirt on the bed as he digs in his closet as I watch him pull down a grey sweater, well button up sweater.

"Will this be ok? Another penguins shirt and this sweater?"

"That's fine Paul, thank you," I say as I watch him going over to his dresser then cloest as I knew he was getting his clothes.

"I'll be in the bathroom down the hall,"
He walks out of the room as he shuts the door behind him.

I change from the shirt and shorts back into my jeans as I place the shirt and sweater on over top of me.
Sighing, I place my shoes on as I walk over and open the door.

"I'm upstairs,"
I hear Paul says as I make my way to the stairs as I climb up them as I see him making coffee.

"You want a cup?"

"Sure, but do you have vanilla creamer?"
I watch as he opens the fridge as he pulls out the creamer that's my favorite.

"I'm in then,"

Me and Paul sit at the long counter as we drank our coffee and a cereal bar for each of us.

"I usually cook in the mornings, then James comes over," Paul says as that causes me to laugh alot.

"Your like a big brother to him it sounds like," I say.

"You can say that,"
Me and him just smile at one another as he leans down and presses his lips down onto mine as we both kiss one another passionately.

We smile as we break apart as I down the last of my coffee.

"Let's head on to the rink, we have about a 20 minute ride into town," Paul says.

"Where are we going too?" I ask as I hop down off of my stool as Paul places both cups into the sink.

"Pittsburgh, we are going to the Consol Energy Center where we play at,"

"Oh," I say as I see Paul smiling.

"It will be ok, I promise,"
I believed him as I followed him downstairs as he opens the front door for me.

"Thank you," I say as I walk out and all this snow is falling down as I walk the path to the driveway and to the other side of the car.

"It's open, or should be,"
I quickly open the door and get in as I'm not used to the cold.

"Cold or something?" Paul asks as I nod my head as he begins the car and turns the heat on.
I grab and buckle up.

"Ready?"
I nod my head as he backs out of the driveway and heads down the road.

"If you went the other way, Nealer lives in the circle back there,"

"Ahh ok, so what do you do at a practice?" I ask as I didn't know.

"We practice for the game that is tomorrow night at home,"

"Ohh ok, where am I gonna sit at?"

"On the benches behind the glass, most players done bring their wives or girlfiends to practice but I just wanted to take you,"

"But I'm not a wife or girlfriend,"

"Your someone who I care about alot and all the boys know this,"
I smile at the fact that Paul has cared about me since the accident.

15 minutes later of talking and driving, Paul moves the wheel and parks into a parking place besides this nice little sports car.

"That's James's car by the way," Paul says as I unbuckle and get out of the car carefully so I didn't hit the car.

"How can he afford that?" I ask as me and Paul walk and head into the building.

"No idea and I really don't care. I couldn't afford the car I have right now, Joey and James bought that for me,"

"That was nice of them,"

"I was in need of one a vehicle,"
I follow Paulie through the hallways as I turn behind him into the locker room but before I could make it into the locker room, I get knocked down.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry," A lady says as I climb up onto my legs.

"I'm alright, don't worry about it," I say as I see Paul walking over.

"What Happened?" Paul asks.

"She knocked me down but I'm ok,"

"Good, This is Katie by the way. She is Robert Bortuzzo's wife. Katie this is the famous AnnaBelle,"

"I'm so glad your out of the hosptial, We all been worried about you," Katie says.

"Me too. Nice to meet you,"

"So are you staying for practice?" Katie asks.

"Yeah I am, It will be my first,"
I watched as Paul walks away.

"Well we will sit together during practice, ok?"

"Ok," I say as she walks out as I find Paul.

"Looks like you got a new friend," Paul says as he smiles.

"Maybe,"
Paul takes me on a tour as he takes me around the arena as he leads me to the main arena and all the stairs.


We walk to the very bottom as I see Katie sitting there with a few other ladies.

"This is your stop," Paul says.

"Have a good practice," I say as I wrap my arms around him as he kisses me.

"I'll be back,"
I take a sit besides Katie.

"Is Paul your boyfriend?" Katie asks.


 

Chapter 6

Her POV

A couple of weeks have passed since I've woken up in this hosptial bed and to those people staring at me. They have came back but I've always denined them access to my room. Paul has been here every single day visiting me and even staying on the couch when need be since he doesnt have a car.

A knock comes at the door as I watch it opening to see the doctor.

"Good morning Annabelle," He walks in as he closes the door behind him.

"Good morning Dr. Elson, can I got home today?" I ask.
He has been telling me today would be the day I get to go home, where ever that is at.

"I believe so but I want to give you a complete check up before I do so. Your parents are sitting outside with Paul," He says as my smile disappears from my face.

"Can you tell those people to leave please?" I ask as he starts to examine me over with a fine tooth and comb.

A few minutes later he look at me.

"Your all healthy Annabelle, I'll be right back," He says as he walks out of the room as I see those people come into the room followed by Paul.
He has a face on him.

"Billy, Sara stop," Paul says.
They stop as they turn to him.

"We will be right back," Paul says as he basically walks back out of the room with those people in toe.


His POV

Closing the door, I see their reactions.

"What is it Paul?"Sara asks.

"I know AnnaBelle doesn't want you in that room. Every time you have been in that room, she just wants to cry. I can see it in her eyes. She doesn't know you and wants nothing to deal with you," I say as I knew it was crushing both of them to hear this.

"Paul we have to take her home with us so she can remember us," Billy says.

"How about this, I'll take her home with me and she will be safe. She knows me and knows I care about her. I can come over to your house and get everything of her's. She trusts me," I say
I never thought I would be telling Anna's Parents that she can come stay with me. I hope they didn't think I was trying to make a move on her cause I'm not.

"Paul, thats a good idea," Billy says as I see Sara's reaction.

"Billy what are you doing? Having our daughter go home with him? Move in with him? We don't tatally know him,"Sara says.

"Can I talk to her in private Paul?"
I nod my head as I walk and grab the door handle walking back into her room.


Her POV

I see Paul walking back into the room as she slightly closes the door.

"Why are they here Paul?" I ask as he walks over and sits down on the edge of my bed like he usually does.

"They knew you were getting out today, so they came up here to take you home. But your not going home with them," Paul says.
Thats a relief.

"Who am I going home with Paul?"

"Me, your going home with me. I wasn't going to let you go home with them. Thats why I took them out into the hall,"
I smile knowing I was going home with him and not those other two people.

"Knock, knock I'm back," Dr. Elson says as he closes the door and walks over to the other side of the bed.

"Well you are clear to go from the hosptial but I need this man to sign your discharge papers,"
He hands the clipboard to Paul as I watch him sign the papers.

"Alright Miss Watson, you may leave. I'm glad your going home," he says.

"Me too, thank you doctor,"
He walks out of the door and shuts it behind him.

"Guess you better get dressed, I left an outfit in the bathroom the other day for you," Paul says.

"Thank you, I'll be right back," I say as I remove the covers off of me and head into the bathroom.
Shutting the door I see what Paul was talking about so I strip out of this terrible hosptial outfit and into a pair of jeans and a Penguins shirt.
I smile into the mirror as I turn to the side seeing that it's one of Paul's shirts.

Placing on the clogs on the floor, I open the door as I have a smile on my face.

"Thanks for the shirt," I say as he gets off the bed as he folds my discharge papers and places them into his pocket.

"Your welcome, I'll have to get everything for you tomorrow for my house," Paul says.

"It's alright Paul, I'll be fine til then," I say as Paul opens the door for me.

"Thank you,"
I walk into the hallway and I seen those two people as I just turn away from them as I head down the hallway.

"Bet your ready for some fresh air?" Paul says as we stop by the elevator as Paul hits the button.

"Oh yes, anything is better then this hosptial crap,"
The door opens as I walk into the elevator.

"I have anyone of my teammates picking us up today and taking us to the house," Paul says as the elevator begins to move.

"Oh who is that?" I ask.

"Chris Kunitz, or Kuni as I call him,"

"I know who that is from watching all the games on TV,"
The doors open as we head for the front door of the hosptial.

"Good afternoon," A person says as we walk outside as this burst of cold air hits me.

"There is Kuni in the white SUV there," Paul says as we walk over there as he opens the front door for me.

"Thank you," I say climbing on in.

"I'm glad to see your out, I'm Chris," He says as I shake his hand.

"Nice to meet you Chris, I'm AnnaBelle," I say as I hear the back door shut as I get my seat belt on.

"Ready back there Paulie?" Chris asks.

"Yep, head on for the house,"
The vehicle begins to move as I see those people just stare at it.

"So Annabelle, I heard you met the other goober Paulie always hangs out with,"
I laugh as I hear Paul laughing.

Chris was trying to lighten the mood up.

"You mean James?" I ask.

"Oh yeah, he's usually the one who drives him to and from everything but I get stuck with it today,"

"It's your first time Kuni so shut up. James, Geno and Sid all have tooken me to and from Pittsburgh, airport and to Southpointe,"Paul says as It makes me laugh.

"Yeah, you need to get you a damn vehicle already, your wasting all of our gas,"
I can't believe these two.

"I'm planning on getting one, oh," Paul says as I see Chris exiting the Tunnel as I knew this was the spot that I had my accident at.

The rest of the ride was silence as I watch Chris pull into a small driveway.

"Well we are here," Chris says.

"Thank you Chris," I say as I unbuckle and open the door.

"Your welcome AnnaBelle," Chris says as I turn and Paul is standing right there.

"Thanks Kuni," Paul says.
I grab Paul's hand as he helps me out of the car onto the snowy driveway.

"See you later," chris says as he backs up and heads down the road.

I look up at Paul as he looks down at me.

"Thank you Paul for everything," I say.

"Your welcome Anna,"
At that moment the sparks start to fly.

"Let's go in out of this cold and get you a tour of the house,"

"Alright," I say as Paul has my hand in his as we walk up the sidewalk and into the house.
The style of this house isnt' what I'm used to.

"Let's start here,"
He goes through the whole house, the kicthen and the living area are upstairs as the bedroom's and everything else are downstairs.

"I'm going to give you my room for right now since I don't have an extra bed right now for my extra room. I'll take the couch in the living room," Paul says.

"Can you sleep on the floor near me for tonight?" I ask as I didn't want to be alone.

"Sure for you I will,"
Paul moves closer to me as I move closer to him as we stand in the middle of his room.
He wraps his arms around me as I do the same to him as he pulls me close to him as I hear his heartbeat fast.

I look up at him as he looks down at me, he cups my face in his hand as he leans over and kisses me on my lips.
He leans back and says "I've been wanting to do that for the longest time,"

"I'm glad you did that Paul or I might had to have done it,"
Since I've known Paul, I've kinda fallen for him and been wanting to kiss him for awhile.

He smiles.

"Let's go watch a movie together," Paul says as I shake my head in agreement.

We head from his room downstairs up the stairs to the living room upstairs.
I take a sit on his couch as I watch him grabbing the remote and taking a seat besides me.

He smiles as he turns on the TV then onto a movie.

"Thank you Paul for saving me," I say.
I was lost before all this stuff happened to me.

"Your welcome Annabelle,"

For the rest of the night, we just sit on the couch, watching movies and munching on junk food.

I begin to yawn.

"Paul I'm getting tired," I say as he turns off the TV.

"Alright, let me find a pair of shorts that you can sleep in," Paul says as we both get on the couch and head down the stairs. On the way to his room, he made sure the door is locked.

Walking into his room, he walks over to his dresser as he opens it and throws a shirt over to me along with a pair of his loose shorts.

"Hope that works for you," Paul says.

"Thanks," I say as he walks out of the room as I change from this shirt and jeans into the big baggy shirt and shorts that actually fit me.

Picking up my clothes, I place them in the corner by the door.

"Paul, you can come back in," I say as he opens the door and he's already in his shirt and shorts with an extra cover and sheet on his shoulder.

"Those actually fit you?" He asks as I walk over and climb onto his bed.

"Yes, thanks," I say as I watch Paul makes his plait besides the bed.

"Your welcome,"
I get under the cover and sheet as I lay down onto the bed.

"You good?"

"Yes," I say as I watch the light go off as I close my eyes.

"Good night Paul," I say.

"Good night AnnaBelle," Paul says as I smile.