Does the moment make the man, or does the man make the moment?

Monday, March 8, 2010

29. Rise of the Underdog

Maybe it was the song choice for the end of this one… or just that today was randomly fantastic… but I’m really giddy about this update, and I don’t know why lol. Hopefully you guys like it!!

And as per a few comments on the ‘I suck’ post… the next story that’ll be starting within the next month, is located
here!

White Liar - Miranda Lambert

This was it, her sanctuary. She couldn’t believe how quickly they’d found it, and how quickly Alex was able to secure it for her.
Max and Jordan had made a stop off at Jeff’s house to get the rest of her stuff, without incident; mostly due to the fact that Jeff’s mom had been there at the time.

But now everything she owned was boxed up, scattered around her new loft, her new home.
It was only a fifteen minute walk from Alex’s, and even though she wasn’t sure how she felt about that right now, she was sure she’d come to appreciate it eventually.

She was looking forward to spending the rest of the day and night getting everything unpacked and set up. It was a nice distraction from the game that would be going on that night. The Flyer versus Pens game, to be exact.
Evan was almost positive that Alex could feel her unease about the whole thing. He hadn’t even asked her to go to the game, something he would normally always do.

Evan wasn’t disappointed or upset about that in anyway, if anything, she was happy she didn’t have to try and find a way out of it.
So, as it was, she tried not to think about the game, or Jeff, or the fact that he’d be in the same town as her soon…


The landlord had been dropping in periodically throughout the remainder of the day, switching light bulbs and making sure she was getting settled ok. Which she was.

She had the kitchen and den completely set up by supper time, but she didn’t stop to eat. Instead she moved into the bedroom and began to put some sheets on her bed and hang a few pictures.
She had just finished the last one when the phone rang and her landlord, Lou, knocked on the door - again - at the same time.
Evan grabbed the newly connected phone, not bothering to check the ID as she headed towards the door, only Alex had the number. “Hi…” She drawled, a small grin appearing on her lips as she crossed the kitchen.

“Hey, just wanted to see how you were making out…” Alex breathed into the phone, commotion in the background around him; the kind only fully-grown, immature men can make.

“Good, good. Kitchen and den are done, and…” She said as she pulled open the door and stopped. “Umm… I-”

Jeff reached out and pulled the phone from her numb fingers, hitting the flash button and disconnecting Alex. Jeff and Evan stood there staring at each other, for an incomprehensible amount of time. “What the fuck is this?” He finally asked, his eyes darting into the warmly, decorated room behind her.

“It’s my apartment… wait… why are you- how did you- ?”

“Bank account. Your money is still in the joint one so I was notified when you took a bunch out and spent it at some realtor place. I went in, asked them about it, and they gave me this address.” He explained calmly, stepping into the entryway and moving past her. “So why are you here?”

“… they gave you my address?” Evan finally snapped, completely sure some kind of civil right had just been violated. A confidentiality agreement, at the very least.

“Why aren’t you living with him?” Jeff continued, turning around to face her.
At first Evan wondered if she should scream, or get out the apartment and away from him, but he appeared composed, so she didn‘t.

“Because…” She finally answered, for lack of anything else to say. She didn’t exactly feel like having this conversation, and she didn’t feel like Jeff deserved the answer. “Is there a reason why you’re here?”

“Yah this…” He explained, going back out into the hall and retrieving a large box. He carried it in and set it down on the kitchen floor, at her feet. “Just more random stuff I found, and figured you might want.”

She nodded, not bothering to look inside as she folded her arms across her chest. “That was nice of you… but I think you should go.” She tried to sound civil, not wanting to flip out and cause a big scene; there was always the change that Jeff would lose it at that.

“Whatever… I just came to drop your shit off.” He turned around and headed for the door, not stopping until his hand was on the doorknob. “You know what? I was gonna beat the shit out of him tonight… until I saw that you were living somewhere else.
I almost change my mind… thinking… he’s already been put through enough by you, but… I think I will anyway, just cause.” He laughed, loudly, causing Evan to cringe. “I mean, what a sap… guess that’s what it means to be an ’underdog’. Spending how long sniffing around you and never getting more than a fucking peck. Idiot.”

“For your information he did get more than a peck. We had sex. In your shower… that night after I left you in the hotel with Sarah Hartnell…” Evan said, hissing the name.

Jeff visibly deflated for a full minute. His entire body, sagging where he stood as his eyes zoned out of focus.
Evan stood still, waiting for him to explode, but it never came. When he finally stood up straight again, his eyes were blazing and his jaw was locked.

She stared back at him, her courage dwindling as he took in a giant huff of air.
Evan stood frozen. Her heart beating so hard she could feel it in her throat, as she tried to remember why she'd just said that. She watched with glazed eyes as Jeff spun, slamming the door behind him loudly.

Finally finding her legs, she turned and moved towards the phone. “Alex?” She breathed, after dialling in his number.

“Hey, disconnected or something?” He asked, not at all worried. Not at all aware that Evan was about to have a nervous break down.

She took a deep breath before diving into what had just occurred. “No, no, Jeff was here… he knows where I am cause the landlord told him but… now he says he’s going to beat you up tonight so please, please, please, be careful. Please, please, please?” She begged, hopping slightly on her feet.
She pulled in another breath as she waited for his answer, her air completely spent.

Alex was quiet, his fingers going white around his cell phone as he clutched it against his ear. “He was there?” He managed to ask quietly. “Where is he now?”

“He just left… he was going to the rink.”

Alex took a deep breath, when he spoke again he sounded more composed, but also more determined, something that wasn’t lost on Evan. “Alright look, I’ll just… I’ll call you after the game, ok? Please make sure you deadbolt the door though… in case he comes back.”

Evan tried to speak, tried to tell him not to do anything bad or get into trouble, but she couldn’t get a word in. By the time Alex was done talking, he’d already hung up.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Underdog - Spoon

“I don’t know… she seemed like a pretty cool girl, so I figured, whatever… plus if Gogo’s with Evan you could probably fuck Amelia, she seems nice.” Jordan was saying to Max, as they walked into the locker-room, both of them oblivious to the tension rolling off Alex.

“I’ll have to ask him if she’s any good I mean… yah, she’s nice but… I can’t exactly put my dick in a personality.” Max shrugged, glancing around the room to see most of the guys getting into their gear.

Alex probably would have been angry to hear Max talking about Amelia like that, if he had of been listening. Not that he had a problem with someone else wanting to sleep with her, they were over; it was more the lack of respect when he did so. Regardless, Alex was so caught up in what had just occurred, he didn’t notice.

He clutched his phone in his hand, staring at the blank screen as he re-ran Evan’s words in his head. He was furious.
Beyond furious.

Alex was so angry he couldn’t even comprehend it, couldn’t make his body do a single thing, besides sitting still, holding his phone.
He sat in silence, quietly feeling the rage burn inside of him, until Max sat down next to him; slinging an arm around his shoulder. “Hey Gogo, I need to ask you something…”

On hearing someone speaking to him, Alex snapped his head up, pushing his half-dressed body off the bench, until he was teetering on his skates.
He slung his arm back and propelled it forward, sending his phone rocketing across the room, until it hit the other wall.
The impact from the concrete bricks, caused the phone to smash into several different pieces; the sound of breaking plastic drawing the attention of everyone in the room. “All you had to say was no!” Max shouted defensively, standing up and take a few steps away from Alex.

“What?” Alex spat, turning around the stare at Max. “No to what?!”

“Umm… Ce qui? Je ne parle pas anglais!”

Alex spun back around, not really caring about Max or anything he had to say at that moment. He headed towards the locker-room door, making up his mind as he moved; each foot step reaffirming the decision that had already formed in his head.
He was reaching out to push the door open when it swung in towards him. “Where ya going Alex? Get your helmet on… we’re on the ice boys. Max! Why aren’t you dressed yet?” Their coach shouted as he pushed Alex back towards his stall.

“Jordan’s not dressed either!” Max said quickly, pointing over at the pouting, blond man.

“Tattle-tale…” Jordan muttered under his breath as he grabbed his gear.

“Where were you going Alex? What’s going on?” Kris asked quietly as he followed Alex back out into the hallway, towards the ice.

Alex shrugged. Normally he wasn’t such an ass to Kris, but he didn’t want to be talked out of his plan. He turned back to look at the quiet French-man, letting out a loud sigh before speaking. “I’m gonna kick his ass… end this shit, once and for all.
Even if she doesn’t want to end up with me, even if all of this was for nothing… he deserves his, and I’m gonna make sure he gets it.”

Kris mulled his words over for a minute, before giving a slight inclination of his head. “Makes sense, I mean, I assume he probably has the same idea… you know? This has all blown up and now, there’s not really a whole lot left to say.”

Alex stared at him, before turning back around. “He’s got no idea what’s coming Kris.” Alex said quietly, his eyes focused on the ice as the Penguins moved towards it. “He’s about to witness the rise of the underdog.”



Jeff Carter scored for the Flyers, within fifteen seconds of the first puck drop. Alex was furious, but there was nothing he could do about it. He stood beside an amused Jordan Staal, as the Pen’s announcers, named Carter with the goal, Scott Hartnell with the assist. “Why the fuck are you laughing Jordan!?” Cookie snapped, smacking him on the back of the head, hard.

“Carter scored with an assist from Hartnell… does anyone else find that funny?” Jordan asked, incredulity, as he glanced up and down the bench.

Sidney sighed, shaking his head. “Not really… they just scored…”

“Well, yah I know but… in real life Carter scores with an assist from Hartnell too, get it?” Jordan laughed, glancing around again, at his team-mates as he shoved his padded elbow into Alex. “Ugh, you guys suck…” He sighed as Hartnell skated by the bench. “Hey Hartnell! Your wife’s a slut!”
Hartnell stopped, turning around to stare at Jordan. “Yah that’s what I said…” Jordan jested, shrugging in a ’so what’ manner.

Alex shook his head and waited for his turn on the ice. It was three shifts before he was able to get out at the same time as Jeff.

He skated towards the face off, standing on the outside of the puck-drop, as Jeff moved in to take it with Sidney.
Sidney won, slapping the puck back to Alex, who sent it flying back to Sidney once he was free.

Alex didn’t even follow the full journey of the puck. By the time he heard it connect with something, his eyes were already focused on Jeff; who was staring back with just as much hatred in his eyes.
Skating full force towards him, Alex completely forgot about any hockey game, it wasn’t even till the crowd began to erupt around him, that he even realized he had lost his gloves and stick.

Jeff was shaking out of his when they collided. Alex attacked with a fierce gusto. His arm pumping towards his target; hitting flesh, teeth, helmet, jersey - anything that he could reach.
He tried to dodge any blows that Jeff directed at him, but he was too focused on the attack, too focused on all the pain and rage and hatred that was exploding out of him.

Alex could feel the stagger pain, each time Jeff’s fist connected with his face; each blow tenderizing the skin, until the hits became almost unbearable. But Jeff was experiencing the same pain; only where he was beginning to get tired, Alex was only becoming more and more infuriated.
Jeff was fighting to defend himself, Alex was fighting to defend the woman he loved; there was a difference.

Finally Jeff tried to take Alex down, grabbing onto him with a half hug and leading him down to the ice, but that didn’t stop him. Alex fought to free his right hand, pulling it out and resuming his full pummel of Jeff’s face.
It wasn’t until Jeff turned away that Alex felt a crunch and allowed out his first muffled grunt of pain; as his fist ricocheted off Jeff and slammed into the surface of the ice. “FUCK!” He screamed, the ref and linesmen closing in on him. He threw one last punch with his mangled hand, this one drawing a large splatter of blood from his opponent.

Alex couldn’t even comprehend what had actually just happened, as he allowed himself to submit to the pain. The only thing he could make sense of was the sound of the screaming fans, and one voice that stood out the most. “I fucking called it! I said that he was gonna punch Carter in the face tonight! I so fucking called! GOGO!!” Rupper was screaming, as the rest of the guys leaned out of the bench, slamming their sticks along the panel.
Alex tried to look happy as he came off the ice past them, but it may have appeared more as a grimace.


His hand was fucked. “Jesus! Why couldn’t you stop punching him after it was a bloodied mess, Goligoski?!”

“I don’t know…” Alex sighed, wincing as Jon, the team’s trainer, wrapped it.

“Well you need to go to the hospital. This needs an x-ray. I don’t think it’s broken but… fuck.” Alex sighed again, unable to really care about what was going on. He could hear the guys coming off the ice for the end of the first period, but he was already changed out of his gear, he knew he wasn’t going back on any time soon.

He got off the examination table and pushed himself away, before Jon could stop him. Alex opened the door, getting ready to apologise for his behaviour, for getting a penalty, and for hurting himself enough that he was going to miss some games.

But he was drowned out by the sound of Jordan before he could form a word. “Gogo! You’re my fucking hero!”
Alex stopped, looking around in surprise as the guys moved in on him, slapping him with congratulations and excitement.

“What did they say about your hand?” Sidney called, the only one not in the circle surrounding him.
Alex moved up on his tip-toe’s trying to see around his taller team-mates.

“It’s busted pretty bad, I’m done for tonight, for sure.” He explained, hoping his captain wouldn’t be too angry.

Sidney nodded, looking more resigned then upset. “Alright well, what are you still doing around here? Go get your woman.” He laughed, nodding towards the exit.

Without another word to anyone, Alex took off down the hallway. Even with the increased speed, his confident swagger was visible. He turned around, his feet never stopping as the team-mates that had congregated in the hallway, all of them smiling as he turned around and ducked his head, pushing the door open with his hip. He allowed it to blow open all the way, the metal exterior colliding with the side of the building; resounding in a loud crash.

Heading out into the night towards his car, he felt lighter than air. His left hand was starting to sting horribly now, but he didn’t care in the least bit; after all, it wasn’t a battle scar, it was the price of victory.
At that thought, Alex balled his bruising, busted hand into a fist, and threw it up above his head, his grin threatening to take in his ears.

14 comments:

  1. omg. best ending ever! this chapter was worth the wait!

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  2. it's about time some one fucked up Carter. I mean my god, my douche radar was off the charts every time he spoke!!!! I'm happy he got his ass beat, and now Gogo's gonna get his woman. He's like a dog claiming his territory, no one pisses on Gogo's fron lawn and gets away with it......

    I love gogo
    and i love this story
    I'm very impressed with how its turning out, most stories about Defensemen / 3rd & 4th liners SUCK and have no factual data about ANYTHING ( team included ) but yours is very good....
    Keep it up

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  3. Alright ladies, all together now, start the "slow clap" this chapter deserves it!

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  4. Oh thank fucking god!! someone needed to beat up carter and tell hartnell that his wife is a whore.
    soo, jordan is my absolute favorite(:

    “Jordan’s not dressed either!” Max said quickly, pointing over at the pouting, blond man.
    “Tattle-tale…” Jordan muttered under his breath as he grabbed his gear.
    ^^haha just like kindergarden, Max and Jordan in the same kindergarden class would have been EPIC oh my god, that would have been amazing<33
    haha and I love that Jordan is pouting

    “Carter scored with an assist from Hartnell… does anyone else find that funny?” Jordan asked, incredulity, as he glanced up and down the bench.
    Sidney sighed, shaking his head. “Not really… they just scored…”
    “Well, yah I know but… in real life Carter scores with an assist from Hartnell too, get it?” Jordan laughed, glancing around again, at his team-mates as he shoved his padded elbow into Alex. “Ugh, you guys suck…” He sighed as Hartnell skated by the bench. “Hey Hartnell! Your wife’s a slut!”
    ^^so thank god someone finally mentioned to Hartnell his wife was fucking his teammate, bout damn time. I love that the flyers score, and Jordan finds the humor in it. haha he is probably my favorite penguins- no I take that back I love all of them equally(:
    and Sidney: always the voice of reason.

    Gogo! You’re my fucking hero!”
    ^^exactly

    this update gets an A+++++++++++++++ hahaa, amazing job!!!

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  5. omgomgomgomgomg!!!
    Loved it! Loved it SO MUCH!

    When Jordan told Hartnell his wife was a slut, and then 'yeah, that's what I said" I laughed so hard!!!!
    Glad Goose beat the shit out of him! That kind of made me day too*
    And Evan told Jeff what happened in the shower! AWESOME!

    GREAT CHPATER!!!!!

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  6. Oh god.
    I giggled like a FOOL over Max and Jordan in the locker room together.
    When Alex threw his phone and Max said "you could have just said no" HAHA

    Man, when Carter was outside of her door : |
    I didn't know WHAT to think!

    And the fight, ohhhh boy.
    What a fight!

    This was a great update.
    It's sooo sad seeing this come to an end : (

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  7. Ok I love this story... but not gonna lie... I'm super excited about a Brooks Laich story!!!

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  8. Yay for the update! Yay for the new picture! Ugh, he is absolutely gorgeous, isn’t he? That smile is just infectious. Okay, I’ll stop the rambling and get to business at hand, namely, this amazing AMAZING update.

    I love Evan’s new apartment, HATE that Carter so easily could find her. I mean, seriously, what does Evan have to do to show him that it’s over?! He was a dick, and he cheated on her even after he swore he’d make it up to her.

    And let me say it again: Landlord Lou <3

    “Alex breathed into the phone, commotion in the background around him; the kind only fully-grown, immature men can make.” Love this line. It’s just so... perfectly true. One of those universal truths that Jane Austen would be proud of.

    “She didn’t exactly feel like having this conversation, and she didn’t feel like Jeff deserved the answer.” She doesn’t owe him a damn thing at this point. He’s the fuck-up, and she does not need to offer him any explanation after he lost her.

    Really random stuff? Or an excuse to come see her? I’m going with the latter.

    I was so glad that Evan told douchebag Carter that she and Alex had sex in his shower. Bahahaha, I got total sick, twisted satisfaction out of that. Take that, douchebag!!

    “yah, she’s nice but… I can’t exactly put my dick in a personality.” Even though I knew this line was coming, somewhere, eventually... it still made me keel over with laughter. You’re a genius, Zigh! And this is also doubles as my gratuitous Talbot quote. Actually, Max and Jordan made my life in this post.

    Gogo... angry... hot. ‘Nuff said.

    “This has all blown up and now, there’s not really a whole lot left to say.” Letang is a smart, smart man.

    “Hey Hartnell! Your wife’s a slut!” <3

    The whole fight, the whole scene leading up the fight, it just had me on the edge of my seat. I knew it was coming, and I was soo anxious for it. So glad it happened. I think Alex needed to get that out of his system, and it was cathartic for ME, too. Just, all around awesomeness.
    “His arm pumping towards his target; hitting flesh, teeth, helmet, jersey - anything that he could reach.” GET ‘EM GET ‘EM GET ‘EM!!!

    “Jeff was fighting to defend himself, Alex was fighting to defend the woman he loved; there was a difference.” Insert gratuitous ‘I love you, Alex Goligoski’ comment here.

    And, to reiterate, I hate that Goose hurt himself during the fight; however, I’m glad that he hurt his hand on the ice and not on Carter’s face. Then I’d hate Carter even more. Just sayin’.

    “I fucking called it! I said that he was gonna punch Carter in the face tonight! I so fucking called! GOGO!!” And Rupper... I love him, too!

    I love that Alex was going to apologize to the guys for his fight. It just shows the kind of guy he is, that he didn’t want to do anything to hurt the team and jeopardize the game, BUT... that was needed. He needed to fight Carter.

    “after all, it wasn’t a battle scar, it was the price of victory.” <3

    Amazing, fantastic, awesome, phenomenal, wonderful, I loveloveloved it!!

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  9. Jordan and Max!!!! Gah, so good.

    Alex beating up Carter and then running off to find his woman. <3

    Fav line:

    "Sidney nodded, looking more resigned then upset. “Alright well, what are you still doing around here? Go get your woman.” He laughed, nodding towards the exit."

    Maybe because I love Sidney, maybe because I love how inevitable it was that he would run to her, probably a combination of both. His woman, gahhh.

    Loved this update it was fantastic. I'm sad the story is about to end, but excited for the next one to start!

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  10. what a brilliant update! MAXIMEum love for Jordan and Talbot, sad that Gogo busted his hand. Annnd do not want this one to end, just make the next one even more incredible??

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  11. OMG LOVE! This chapter was ten kinds of wonderful and you had every right to be super excited about it! Gogo beating the shit out of that douche was the best thing EVER. He deserved it since Chapter...oh, lemme see, ONE!

    And and and! I wanna quote EVERY SINGLE THING Max and Staalsy said, but then I'd be here forever. Just know that you write them fantastically and it makes me smile so much.(:

    Amazing!!!!!!!<3

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