Round 1 Game 7

I was hearing voices and they weren't quiet. My head hurt, and I didn't want to open my eyes. I recognized the voices as Jordan's and Jared's. Jordan was yelling; he wanted Jared to tell him something.

"God, can you two keep it down!" I yelled.

"She's up!" Jared said, and before I knew what was going on, they were both sitting on either side of me.

"Can't you let me sleep?" I whined.

"Oh No, I got punched in the face over you. You need to get up Now!"

It was Jordan's voice I heard, and my eyes sprung open. As was able to focus I could see the bruising around Jordan's eye and cheek.

"Oh my God Jordan! What happened." I placed my hand gently on his cheek.

"Marc punched me in the face."

"What? Why?" I asked innocently.

"I was hoping you could tell me." Jordan replied. His voice was stern, and I could tell he was pissed off.

My eyes glanced to Jared who looked a little scared waiting for my response.

"Well Jordan, did he say anything when he hit you?"

"Ya, he accused me of sleeping with you again."

"Son of a bitch." I mumbled under my breath.

"Look Caitlin, I know something's going on that you're not telling me, and I know Jared knows. So you better fucking tell me. I'm your best friend."

I gave Jordan my 'I'm just a stupid girl' look, but this time it didn't work. Jared's eyes were wide. I was trying to get some type of telepathic advice from him, but it was no use.

"Jared, can you give us some time?" I asked.

"Are you going to tell him?"

"I don't think I have a choice now do I."

"He'll never forgive you." Jared added referring to Eric.

"I'm getting what I deserve." I said as Jared walked out of the hotel room.

"OK now you're freaking me out." Jordan said.

I took a deep breath. "Jordan if I tell you this, is there anyway you would promise me not to tell anyone or discuss it with anyone, no matter what. I mean even if your really mad? Even if it affects people you love."

"I always keep your secrets." Jordan said with a crooked smile.

"Jordan this isn't like my other secrets, and if other people I care about find out my whole life, their whole life could change dramatically."

"Damn Caitlin, what did you do?"

"Do you promise?" I asked.

He shook his head.

I leaned in and gave him a soft kiss on the lips. "What was that for?" he asked.

"I'm afraid once I tell you it will be a long time before I can do that again."

"So the last week when I was at Marc's, and he called you. He asked you if we were sleeping together."

"Right. I told him no, but he wouldn't explain why he asked. Then that's why he hit me."

"Well you see Jordan I have been sleeping with one of your brothers."

Jordan's face went white. "What? Which one, if it's not Marc." I could see him going through the thought process ruling out Jared. "You've been sleeping with Eric?" he yelled.

I didn't answer, but he could see the answer written on my face.

"Dear God Caitlin!" He put his hand in his hair and yanked on it, just like his brother's do when they are frustrated. "What the hell were you thinking. There isn't a guy you know that wouldn't be with you, but you went after Eric. He's fucking married, and you love Tanya!" He stood up and walked around the room.

"Jordan it wasn't like that!"

"Well what the fuck was it like then? Make me understand Caitlin."

"It started way before Tanya."

"What do you mean way before?"

"Jordan, I lost my virginity to Eric."

Jordan's jaw dropped. The shock on his face was undeniable. "Do you love him?"

"I love him, but not the way you're thinking. Jordan, it was just sex."

Jordan looked disgusted.

"Don't look at me that way Jordan."

"Like what?" he spat.

"Like I'm a whore!" I yelled.

"You are a whore Caitlin!"

I didn't say anything. I stood up and grabbed my bag and went to the bathroom closing the door behind me. I put on my jeans and dug though my bag for something that didn't have the Penguins, Rangers or Carolina on it. I pulled out a clean tank top and put that on. I looked in the mirror and came face to face with the evidence that Eric, and I have been having sex since I was 17. Looking at the brownish red mark I realized Jordan was right. He was absolutely right. I put on my sweatshirt and zipped it up to hid the Mark. I walked out of the bathroom, past Jordan who didn't even look at me and out of the hotel.

Jared came back to the room, and looked around. "Where is she?" he asked.

Jordan didn't reply.

"Jordan where the hell is Caitlin?" he yelled.

"I don't know, and I don't care." Jordan replied.

"You are such an asshole. All that talk about being her best friend. You judgmental prick; you don't deserve her."

Jared grabbed his bag that was sitting on the chair and walked out of the room.
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My phone rang; it was Jared. I didn't answer it. I just needed to get away. For the first time in my life I didn't want to see any of the Staals, but there was one more I needed to see before I could leave.

"Caitlin." Eric said as he answered the phone.

"Eric, I'm coming to your game, but I can't come early. Can we talk afterward?"

"Oh is that what we're calling it now?" he teased.

"Eric. I'm coming to the game, but I have to leave right afterward, so I'll only have a couple minutes. Leave me a ticket, and give me 3 minutes after the game."

"It takes longer than three minutes." He was teasing, and I was in no mood.

"Eric!"

"Is everything OK?" he asked.

"I don't know Eric." I hung up the phone.
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Game 7 - Round 1

The Canes and the Devils were so well matched. They battled from one side of the ice to the other. New Jersey was ahead by one going into the third period.

I promised myself I wouldn't; I told myself I didn't want to know, but my eyes went to the out of town scoreboard. The Rangers were playing game 7 against the Capitals. The score - tied 1-1.

I sat on the edge of my seat. With two minutes left I began to give up hope. Maybe the hurricanes would be going home. With 1:20 left on the clock Jokinen scored tying the game. I was jumping around and screaming. The New Jersey fans were not happy with me so I tried to contain myself. I'm not sure why, but in my excitement I looked over at the Ranger's score. 1-2 Final in favor of the Capitals. This loss put the Rangers and Marc out of the playoffs. NO! Marc must be devastated. I instantly wanted to go to NY, but I knew I couldn't. He wouldn't want me there.

I heard the fans boo, and the Hurricanes huddled in celebration. I looked at the scoreboard. With 30 seconds left one of the Canes had scored. Which one. "Who scored?" I asked the person next to me. "Eric Staal" someone answered from behind me. I jumped into the air. Yes! Carolina was going to Round 2.

I took my seat and felt like I could burst into tears. I was so excited for Eric who scored the winning goal, but I felt awful for Marc. I wanted to call Marc or change my plans and just go to NY, but Marc didn't want to see me. That was the one thing I knew for sure. Despite everything that had happened over the last couple weeks, I still love Marc, nothing had changed. It killed me knowing how much pain he was in and not being able to go to him. I pulled out my phone and sent Marc a text: I'm still here for you if you need me. Then his send.

My phone buzzed. It was Eric texting me to meet him in the Workout Room in 5 minutes. We had met there before so I knew just where to go. I also knew that the press was going to want to talk to Eric after that goal. He was taking a big risk coming to see me. I got past security giving them nothing but my name. I pushed the workout room door open and walked in. I prepared myself for what I knew was coming.

Eric grabbed me lifting me off my feet and kissed me fiercely. As I expected he was in his under armor and dripping sweat, and it took everything I had in me to break away from him.

"Caitlin, you are my good luck charm, and you make me crazy!" he whispered in my ear. Then started kissing my neck.

"Eric, wait, stop." I said louder than I should have.

He pulled a way, a little. "What?"

"I told Jordan."

He put me down. "You what?" he asked, sounding less mad than I expected.

"Well I had too. It doesn't matter. I just wanted you to know from me."

"Caitlin," he said sounding more disappointed than angry.

"I'm leaving Eric." I said.

"What do you mean you're leaving?"

"Everything is screwed up. You know me, I can only stick around for so long before I have to leave. It's time now."

"Where are you going?"

"Costa Rica. It's time for me to get back to work."

"Run away you mean."

"Whatever Eric. I just know it's time for me to go."

"What are you running away from?" he asked and sounded like he sincerely wanted to know.

"You, Marc, Jordan, everything is wrong."

"Don't run from me Caitlin. I need my good luck charm," he said pulling me to him.

"Maybe I won't be gone too long. I just don't know, but I'm not coming back until I'm ready."

He put both of his hands on my face and kissed my lips softly. "I won't try to talk you out of it, but why don't you stay with me tonight."

I was completely taken by surprise that he wasn't mad, and he was just so hard to resist. Is it possible that Eric loved me more than Marc and Jordan? I wanted to believe that, but maybe it was the fringe benefits of our relationship that he loved. I'm not stupid, I know the sex probably had something to do with it. Despite that I couldn't say no. I wanted to stay with him tonight.
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I woke up face down in Eric's bed. Eric's head was on my back, and his arms were around my waist making it difficult to wiggle free. I managed somehow, knowing full well that if he woke up before I left he could convince me to stay.

I put on my jeans and my Carolina Hurricanes t-shirt, slid on my flip flops. I looked around the room for the hotel tablet and pen. When I found it I scribbled a note, and laid it on the desk. I was about to close the door but my eyes turned to Eric who was sleeping soundly on the bed. There was a big part of me that wanted to rip up the note, crawl back into bed with him but it was time that I started controlling my life, not him or the other Staal boys.
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I sat at the airport waiting for my plane, when I felt a sudden urge to make a call.

"Hi Linda. I hope I'm not bothering you."

"Your practically my daughter Caitlin. I always have time for you honey."

"I just wanted to tell you I'm leaving the country for awhile. I...."

"Honey you travel all the time, something must be wrong if you're calling to tell me. What did my boys do?"

"No, it's not them it's me."

"Caitlin, I know it has something to do with them. I've never seen you upset about anything else ever. Remember when the boys decided that because you were a girl, you just weren't allowed playing with them anymore? You sat down with me and cried. You never cry, you didn't even cry when you fell backward on the ice, cracked your head open and lost a pint of blood. So don't waste your time trying to convince me otherwise."

Damn this woman knows me better than my own mother, and I knew there was no use arguing. "I was just hoping you could let the boys know. You know, if they asked about me."

"So you're not telling them?"

"Well I told Eric."

"Honey what's going on?"

"Can you tell them I love them too. I do you know Linda. I do love them."

"I don't doubt that for a second, and my boys love you too!"

"I'm not so sure anymore."

"Caitllin, do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really. I just need to get my head together Linda."

"Why don't you take someone with you? Call Marc. I know he'll go. He could probably use a trip now."

The guilt of where my relationship with Marc was now hit me. I would love to call Marc, but that wasn't an option. "Linda, he's one of the reason's I'm going."

"Marc?"

"I really don't want to talk about it, and the plane is boarding. I need to go. I love you Linda."

"Love you too Caitlin. Come home and see us. We miss you."

"I miss you too."
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I woke up in the most comfortable beautiful bed in a five star resort in one of the most beautiful places in the world. I took a deep breath, all I felt was unhappiness. Nothing in my world is right. Now I'm here and alone. Maybe Linda was right. Maybe I needed someone here with me. I sat on the edge of my bed and picked up the phone for my messages.

Eric called wanting to make sure I made it OK. Jared called four times, begging me to call him back. I knew that Linda would tell him I was Ok, so I didn't return his call. Nothing from Marc or Jordan, but I wasn't expecting anything, just hoping. There was another message, which intrigued me. Now this was a call I'd return.

I walked to the balcony and redialed the number.

"Hi Handsome!" I said.

"Caitlin, you called me back. I didn't know if you would. Where are you?"

"Actually that's why I'm calling. I'm in Costa Rica in a five star hotel, and I'm lonely. I was thinking you might need to escape for a couple of days."

"So let me get this straight. You're inviting me to spend a couple days in paradise with a beautiful woman."

I was glad he couldn't see me blush. "That's if you think you can handle me."

"Oh Caitlin, that's an offer I can't refuse." The poetry of his voice gave me butterflies again. I gave him the details and truly smiled for first time in days. Now this is someone who might be able to get me to forget the Staals. Even if it is just for a couple days.


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I wasn't sure anyone was reading this. Now that I know you are - I promise to post more often.