NHL Imagines

James Neal/Sidney Crosby (Nashville Predators/Pittsburgh Penguins)

"Damn, Crosby, what was that shot? Didn't even make it near the crossbar," I chirped, kicking my feet up on the boards in front of me.

"What, like you can do better?" he laughed, skating over to me to grab his Gatorade bottle.

"I never said I could do better. I just know you can,"

"That was one of the most uplifting things I've ever heard in my life," he spoke sarcastically, splashing some of the drink on me.

A small yelp left my lips as the cold liquid slid down the front of my shirt, pooling at the wire of my bra and soaking into the fabric. "Come on, Sid. This is my favorite bra," I whined childishly, stretching the wet layer away from my skin.

"Guess that means you have to take it off now, huh?" he smiled cheekily.

"Ha, ha, ha," I laughed monotonously, standing from the bench. "Is the locker room unlocked?"

"I think so. Why?"

I looked at him with my eyebrows furrowed. "My shirt and bra are wet. I'm going to change into one of your hoodies, so I don't have to deal with it,"

Sid chuckled. "My bad, it's in the way bottom of the bag that's sitting on top of the seat. The one on the floor is my equipment bag,"

Nodding, I made the short trek back to the locker room, freezing in my tracks when I heard an all-too-familiar voice. I squeezed my eyes shut in hopes of it all being part of my imagination, but I realized it was too good to be true when it started getting louder.

"(Y/N)," his eyes widened when they met mine and his finger tapped his phone screen once before dropping his arm to his side.

"James," I greeted him with a small wave, smile feeling awkward on my face for the first time in forever. "What are you doing here?"

"You know, I was just about to ask you the same thing," he pushed his hair back, leaning against his stick.

I bit my lip hesitantly. "I'm, uh, I'm here with Sidney,"

"No fuckin' way," he laughed harshly. "Don't tell me you're dating Crosby,"

"Don't you dare do that," I snapped at him. "You do not have the right to say anything to me after what went down between us. It's your fault,"

"It's not like you said anything that day either, sweetheart, so don't you dare act like you're the only victim in this,"

I sighed sadly."What happened to us, James?"

"That's up to you to answer, not me. I wasn't the one who stopped our conversations," James' face was set hard, completely emotionless. It wasn't something I was used to at all, the man I had used to call my best friend was usually always smiling and laughing.

"What's up, Neal?" Sidney came up beside me. "How you liking Pittsburgh so far?"

"It's sure as hell been something," his lip twitched up in irritation at the corner, eyes narrowing angrily.

Sidney noticed the slight tension between us and decided to step in. "How about we get you that sweater, yeah?"

Without breaking our gaze, I was pulled into the locker room, only remembering to blink when the wind of the door closing made them sting with tears. When I turned to face Sidney, he was bent over his hockey bag, digging through it in search of his sweatshirt.

"What was that about?" his voice was shaky.

"I'm sorry I never told you it was him," I whispered, the quietness in the room allowing him to hear my soft-spoken words.

The metal hooks on the bag clanked nosily against the wood of the cubbie space, making my body jolt.

"It really wouldn't have been that hard to tell me,"

"Of course it was hard to tell you. That's why I didn't. It's not like I ever thought that your next teammate would be the person I loved for almost all my life,"

The centerman flinched at my words and I opened my mouth to apologize.

"Don't say it," he interrupted me. "I shouldn't have said anything. That was inappropriate of me. It's in the past now, yeah? It's all good,"

"Baby, please don't-"

"(Y/N), it's fine," he held the Penguins hoodie over to me. "I got a few more drills to run. I'll grab a ride home with Murray if you want to leave,"

He was out of the room before I could even muster up another thought. James and I had never officially happened in the first place, but I understood where he was coming from. It had to hurt to find out that his new teammate used to have his current girlfriend falling head over heels for him throughout most of their lives.

Deciding to be the bigger person, I made my way to the ice to scope out a certain player. "We need to talk about this like adults,"

"Can we do it somewhere else? Please?" James insisted, looking around both his shoulders to make sure no one was paying attention.

The two of us ended up back in front of the locker room, the hallway being the only somewhat safe place we had to talk for awhile.

"James, I loved you, okay? And you loved me, too. That's the thing, though. I said loved. As in past tense, no more. It's been too long for either of us to think about the feelings we had for each other in middle school and high school. I love Sidney now, James. And you? You'll find someone who loves you like I never could,"

"What if I don't want anyone else?" I saw nothing but hurt in his face now, the tall brunette not wanting to look anywhere but the ground.

"Would you feel satisfied knowing that I didn't feel the same about you if we ever got together?" I questioned. "It sounds selfish, James, but that's what it comes down to. We would be nothing but a staged relationship. It would get to the point where you would finally come to see that you can and will find someone that treats you better because you sure as hell deserve more than me,"

"It's not that easy," he shook his head. "I could never stop thinking about you the entire time we were away from each other. I would constantly want to be calling you and texting you and just wanting to be with you,"

"It will be so much easier for the both of us when you find your Sidney, when you find the person who will love you and care for you. The person who will kiss you any chance they get, who will tell you how much they love you even at the weirdest of times, a person who you see spending the rest of your life with. I already have that person and I'm so, so sure that you will find yours," I reached up and kissed his cheek softly. "I do love you, James, but we had our chances when we were younger. Some things just aren't meant to be,"

Requested by AreeshaAmbrose :)