Monday - December 22, 2014 - Thursday - December 26, 2014

Val's POV

When we were finished up at her mom's house, we left and went back to Dallas, where the others were. We had a plan of a Dallas Stars' Christmas with Tyler, Jamie, Kaitlyn, Evelyna, and I. It was going to be so much fun.

We darted from the airport and made it to Tyler's house. He had volunteered to host and well, he knew that I would want to see his dogs again. It wasn't a lie. I loved hanging out with Marshall and Cash.

We entered his house, which was quite nice. I mean, he was a famous hockey player like Patrick Kane. And he lived up to his fame and fortune. Kaitlyn was already acting like she owned the place and was familiar with everything. It was quite funny and I knew Evelyna was enjoying seeing her like that.

We all ate and then hung out on the couches, conversing with one another. I felt more at home now, because Tyler and Jamie I knew and Kaitlyn and Evelyna I knew as well. I was comfortable speaking with them, without the whole "need to watch myself and impress the parents" type of attitude.

After a short break and trying to figure out what to do for the evening, we all gathered around the table for a game. Tyler, after bitching and whining, got to go first. He rolled a one. It served him right for throwing a fit and being impossible. (Even if Kaitlyn didn't mind and thought he was just so "cute"...yeah, it was as "cute" as a hairless cat.)

"Whatever," he mumbled. His face was sort of red. "This game's just, it's all luck anyway, no skill."

He moved his red counter one square forward, setting it down with a vicious tap. Its slide down a long snake to the bottom of the board was swift and resentful.

"Don't be such a sore loser, Seggy," Jamie scolded.

I grinned, as I saw the young man raise his head up and stick his tongue out at his Captain. Jamie frowned, unamused by it.

After Tyler still wasn't having any luck and was getting more and more frustrated, we decided to switch games and play something else. We weren't willing to get into with the young superstar, so naturally we let him just go first again. Now Tyler sat and stewed and carefully contemplated each individual move, and he still lost the chess game he agreed to play against Kaitlyn.

It's the best thing Jamie had ever seen. And me too. And Evelyna, who was chirping him left and right. Tyler losing was the funniest thing to date. And when he got fed up again, we put the games away and instead just joked and laughed.

A little while later, Evelyna got up to get herself a drink and Jamie followed her. They walked into the kitchen and chatted some. I remained with Kaitlyn and Tyler, until the latter stood up and went to the kitchen.

"At least you didn't call your girlfriend a cow," Jamie said later, handing Tyler a consolation beer. Evelyna was standing in the kitchen with them, sipping on a peach fuzzy navel Seagram's wine cooler.

Tyler frowned. "That was one time!"

"I don't even care," Jamie mimicked, "fuck off, Amanda, you stupid cow--"

Tyler's frown shifted into more of a sheepish grin, his eyes turned soft as Jamie walked him back against the fridge. "It was years ago," he added, but they were just trading lines back and forth now.

"You're cheating--"

I was needing a drink. I walked into the kitchen, as Tyler shoved Jamie backward. The young man downed his drink and then stumbled on his feet a little bit.

"Whatever Benny," Tyler huffed, and they were both laughing into it now. Jamie pressed up against him and drunkenly kissed him. It was soft and lazy and Tyler didn't do a thing to stop it, until Evelyna walked back in and made exaggerated vomiting noises. Tyler realized what was going on, as did Jamie and they both tore apart.

I stood awkwardly sipping water from a glass.

"What the--?!" both men began to say, slowly turning around in unison to throw up into the sink.

After they apologized and everyone recovered from that moment, we all quit the drinking and returned to the family room. We sat down on the couches and then my girlfriend got this crazy new idea. Tyler, Jamie and Evelyna all released the rest of their intoxication by playing some serious NHL 15 on the TV.

Evelyna crushed but men and rubbed it in their faces big time. She chirped them with their gay kitchen kiss moment too. Man, she was on fire. I liked her spirit and it filled me too. I tried to chirp my teammate, but it wasn't as good as Evelyna's chirps.

At one point, Evelyna kick started another singing session. It was the same song as on the plane, but it was the "reprise" of it instead this time. The first time I had heard this song, I was impressed with the ending chord that the singers sung. It was so easy on the ears and I liked it.

Tyler started the song out though, after we listened to it and put on the karaoke:

"Exactly

So here's how it goes once we win--

And we will be winning--

Make no mistake."

I launched in with: "We'll be what?"

Tyler came back at him with: "We're already winning."

I said: "Right."

Tyler responded with:

"And we'll tell them straight out

They let us go or they keep getting pounded."

Jamie piped up with:

"Tyler, what the hell?

Did they bust up your brains or somethin'?

As I recall Tyler we all got our asses kicked

They won."

I nodded: "Won (the) battle."

Tyler sighed and rolled his eyes. This was the perfect character for him. He could act and he could be on Broadway if hockey wasn't his thing. But it was. He was the league leader in goals anyway. "Oh come on."

Jamie continued with:

"Tylie think about it,

We got them surrounded."

Tyler shook his head and got to his feet, as he sung:

"Here's where I think your a jerk

He's a rattle snake."

Jamie shrugged and then reached over and shoved Tyler's arm. "You're right - and you know why a snake starts to rattle?"

Tyler and I sang in unison: "No, why?"

Jamie smiled, slyly. "'Cause he's scared."

Tyler and I shared a look. "Sure."

Jamie put his arms around both of us and stood up.

"Go and look it up.

The poor guy's head is spinning.

Why would he send for the goons, an entire army?

Dozens of goons and the cops. And -"

Tyler nodded. "You know you may be right."

Jamie broke in with: "Thank you, God!"

Tyler nodded, as he exclaimed: "If he wasn't afraid -"

Jamie sang: "Exactly -"

Tyler and Jamie had a duet with: "He knows we're winning!"

All of us broke out with:

"Get those kids to see we're circling victory.

And watch what happens.

We're doing something no one's even tried

And, yes, we're terrified

But watch what happens!"

Tyler sang: "You can't undo the past!"

Jamie sang: "So just move on and--"

Evelyna and I sang: "Stay on track--"

Kaitlyn sang out, in an echo: "Stay on track!"

Then we all sang together in a weird harmony: "'Cause humpty dumpty is about to crack."

Evelyna sang out with help from her friend Kaitlyn: "We've got faith!"

Jamie sang: "We've got the plan!"

I launched out with: "And we've got Segs!"

We all sang in harmony again with:

"So just watch what happens.

We're back!"

I ended with: "And I've got a date!"

Tyler and Jamie laughed. "Yes, yes you do, Val."

We all sat back down on the couches laughing. The rest of the evening we spent hanging out and enjoying one another. There were no random song moments, even though all of us were impressed by our harmonization. It wasn't professional or Broadway approved yet, but it was pretty good for a bunch of amateurs. Tyler and Jamie got into a wrestling match and Kaitlyn refereed the thing. We opened presents and pestered Tyler about his gifts. He jokingly felt annoyed, but we knew him too well.

We were having way too much fun on the last night, before the Stars had to go back to business. Evelyna and I snuggled together in the guest room, while Tyler and Kaitlyn took his room and then Jamie had the couch.

And then we all passed out and fell asleep.