Within a few months, Viktor's name was commonly included with the best college free agents, the Hobey Baker award for the top player in men's college hockey, and fangirls alike.

Yes, he was pretty fucking attractive, but he also had a girlfriend, thank you for asking.

He was pissed off at the world, and he took every ounce of it out on his opponents, making Winterview a could-have-been contender for a title if it weren't for the postseason ban. He was also pissed off that people expected him to do media now that he was a star.

He hated interviews, but no one would ever be able to tell. He handled them with a smile and that foreign charm everyone loved.

Although I wasn't allowed, a lot of the time, he let me sit just out of the camera's view to listen to what he had to say. He stumbled over his words every once in a while, but anyone would if they had a couple microphones shoved in their face, even if English was their only language.

With only a few games left in the season, Viktor was still going strong. (Mostly. He was sore everywhere, and his shoulder was bruised up pretty nicely.) I sat in the locker room, waiting for him to finish up his interview, so we could grab something to eat before heading back to our dorms.

A small flock surrounded him, demanding his thoughts on the game, his future, and whatever other questions they could put together to waste everyone's time.

"Do you plan on signing a contract after this season or returning to Winterview for your senior year?" one voice asked.

"Uh, it's too early to say. I'd like to explore my options a little and decide what's best for me moving forward. It's not a decision that only affects me, so I want to get it right," Viktor replied.

"Will you take a contract if you're offered one?" another voice asked.

Viktor visibly cringed. "Like I said, I don't know at this point."

Sassy. I liked it.

"Your production has increased dramatically from last year. Why do you think that is?" someone asked.

"Lots of reasons. I have good teammates, a coach who wants me to succeed, and I'm not hurt this season, so I think actually playing is helping that," Viktor replied.

I covered my mouth before a laugh escaped.

I lied. It was very clear he hated interviews, but since they were so funny, who could possibly have an issue with it?

"There also have been some rumors regarding your personal life. Would you care to address those?" another person asked.

"I'm sorry, I'm not really sure what you mean by that," Viktor replied.

"Some reports have described your past as 'problematic.' Is it true?"

"Oh, um, I think it goes to show how good my life has been, really. Yeah, the injury was tough, and there were a few other things going on, but it's nothing compared to what some other people have been through. I've been lucky enough to have supportive friends and family."

I looked away from Viktor to the dirty, fungus-infected floor.

"I really would like to keep my personal life personal, though, so please don't ask me anything like that in the future," Viktor continued.

My mouth fell open, and I looked back up at him again.

He really wasn't fucking around. That was about as firm as he ever got.

"Noted. What has that support meant to you?" the same person asked.

"I wouldn't be here without it. Next question?"

"He's done answering questions for today. Thank you all for your time," I interrupted before I could think better of it.

He was clearly in distress, and if he didn't want to talk, then he didn't have to. I would make sure of it.

"You can't—" someone began, but I grabbed Viktor's hand, and together, we walked out the door into the hallway, leaving their fake news behind.

"I hate it. I hate it," Viktor mumbled. "It's all fake. They don't care about me."

"I know," I said.

"I can't stand the fake attention," Viktor continued, slightly louder.

"I know."

"It makes everything so much harder. I don't know what I want to do, and they're not helping by pressuring me into answering questions that I can't answer."

"It's fine. You have plenty of time to make up your mind and to decide what's best for you. Don't worry about it. It'll come to you."

"But I don't—" Viktor hesitated, then changed his thought. "I want a career, but I'm still young and need some work. Maybe I'm not ready."

"There's nothing wrong with that. That just means you get to spend another year with me," I said.

"But I can't really do any better than I have. There's nowhere to go but downhill from here. I kind of have to take the next step."

"Oh." I blinked a couple times. "That's, uh, okay too, as long as you pick a good organization. Who's interested in you?"

Viktor shrugged. "A few teams, but I haven't had any serious talks with anyone. I would tell you if that was the case."

"Then wait it out. It's only February, and you still have plenty of time."

"That's probably the smartest thing to do." He wrapped an arm around me. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You'd probably be dead in a roadside ditch with birds eating your corpse," I said.

He looked at me with an eyebrow raised.

"Sorry," I mumbled an apology.

He smiled. "Thank you."

"For apologizing?"

"For everything. I didn't want to answer any more questions, and you were the only one that figured it out."

"They knew. They just didn't give a shit. I think they forget that you're just as human as the rest of us."

"That's ridiculous. I'm nothing special."

"But that's something you're going to have to live with. People really lose perspective on what matters in life, and as long as you're a player in their game, you're going to lose a little bit of humanity. Sad, but true."

"You're making this sound like The Hunger Games. Hockey is just a game," Viktor said.

"For some people, it isn't." I shook my head. "For some people, it's a game, a lifeline, that they can't afford to lose."

"That's extreme."

"It is, but that's human nature. You've lived it a little. This whole season has been do-or-die for you."

He nodded. "I see what you mean. I think you're right, Candy Cane."

"And you're surprised?"

He laughed. "Not at all. You're the smart one. I just play a game."

I played a different kind of game, but didn't we all?

***

When June came around, Viktor, Matt and I all knew that a decision had to be made.

Winterview or the pros?

Viktor's family (especially his sister Annika) knew what they wanted for him. Why waste another year in school if he could be making money during that time?

I rolled my eyes at their point. And what if something went horrifically wrong and he couldn't play anymore? A degree was a good thing to have, almost a necessity, in this world.

But I knew where Viktor wanted to go. He was done with school and ready to move on. I didn't agree with him, but it wasn't my decision to make.

However, I could definitely push him in whatever direction I wanted. There were a few organizations that Viktor had on his list that he wanted to be a part of, and one of them stood out as the best possible option for us.

My Minnesota Wild.

To sell my point, I dressed in my Wild jersey, and I made sure Matt agreed to do the same. We were playing hard, and if there was one thing Matt was good at, it was manipulating and controlling Viktor.

And picking on me, but that was beside the point.

To discuss the options Viktor had, the three of us decided to sort it out in the basement. And when I got down there, Viktor sat on the couch, sifting through pieces of paper and scrolling through something on his computer.

At least he was taking it seriously.

"Hey, Vik," I said, drawing his attention away from whatever he was looking at.

"Hey. Why are you wearing that?" he asked.

"Wearing what?" I looked down at my jersey. "Oh, this? Ha. I didn't even realize. I just look really cute in this shade of green. You know how I would look even cuter?"

Viktor raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "How?"

"With your name on the back of the jersey."

He smiled. "Nice try, Candy Cane. But you would look cute like that, especially if it was our name."

"Our name? Like—"

"Yes, like that." He smiled again. "Unless you still wanted to be Amanda Jayne. That's fine too."

He actually wanted to marry me?

What a goddamn idiot.

We were far too young for that shit, but I would have been lying if I said that I hadn't given it an ounce of thought. I already added a note, Number 51 to my list, to our wedding present from Mom, who somehow knew that we'd end up like this, with her gone before she could ever see us together.

She was really missing out, but I knew that from wherever she was, she could see the way we lit up the world.

I decided to change the subject, and I sat down on the couch next to him. "So, what are you thinking?"

"How much I love you."

"That's lovely, but we really do need to figure out where you're—what the fuck do you think you're doing?"

Before I could start my case for why the Wild organization was the best option (which I was sure he already knew), he tilted my chin to face him.

"You know that no matter where this road takes us, it'll always be you and me, right?" he asked.

"Sure, as long as the road follows the goddamn map that I've laid out for us," I replied.

"Amanda, I'm serious. I'm not going to start off in the NHL. That's just not possible. I'm going to play in the minors for a few seasons at least until I get my chance, and no matter where I go, that's not going to be in Minnesota."

"The Wild's minor team is in Iowa. That's not too far, really. Except, fuck, it's farther than—I didn't think this through, I guess. God, can't you just stay one more year at Winterview?"

"I know you don't want to be separated, but—"

I interrupted him. "Of course, I don't. I've already proven that I can't handle a long-distance relationship for fuck's sake."

"I know this is tough, but that's why I feel like the best option is the Boston Bruins organization."

My mouth fell open. "What? Boston?"

"They've liked me since the beginning, and if Matt goes back to school, then he'll be close to me. That's the best solution I could think of."

I shook my head and stood up. "So you're rewarding a fucking team's loyalty to you by stabbing me in the back? Is that what you're trying to do?"

"Please don't get mad. I just want to talk about all of the options."

"Where the fuck is Matt? Maybe he can talk some goddamn sense into you." I shook my head, then called for Matt as loud as I could. And pissed off Amanda could get very, very loud.

Matt's footsteps came running down the stairs, and finally, his distressed face appeared. "What the hell do you want?"

"Even you betray me. You're not wearing your Wild jersey like I told you to," I said.

Matt rolled his eyes. "You'll be okay. What's the fucking issue?"

"Your dumbass best friend thinks it's a good idea to sign with the Bruins organization, because he's a goddamn dumbass," I said as I crossed my arms.

"You covered the fact that he's a dumbass already. So what's the problem?" Matt asked.

"Well, my other problem is that you're blatantly ignoring the completely obvious problem."

"And he knows a little bit more than you do, so maybe you should shut up for a second and hear him out."

"No matter what he says, I'm going to think it's a horrible idea. I don't give a shit if he wins the Stanley Cup every single year if he has to leave me to do it."

Viktor finally piped up. "I'm not trying to upset you, but I need you to listen to me, just this one time."

"I listen to you sometimes," I said.

"Sometimes. Look, they told me that they're looking for young, fast talent, and I fit into that. It's a good option that I have to think about."

I let out a breath and looked down at the floor. "You know, I've been through hell the past few years, and I never thought that you'd be the one to try to break me. I won't let you, though. I won't let you win."

"What are you talking about?" Viktor asked.

"If you want me to cry or beg to feed into your ego, I'm not going to. You can go to Boston, or whatever their minor league team is. I don't give a shit."

"Don't listen to her. She's trying to make you feel guilty," Matt said.

Viktor hesitated before speaking. "It's working."

"I just hope the money can buy you a new bitch. Maybe someone nicer," I said.

"I haven't decided anything yet, Amanda. I was just trying to explain that it's an option," Viktor said, and his tone had clearly run out of patience.

Those words gave me a little relief, though, and I took a deep breath and a step back to collect myself.

"An option that's hours and hours and hours away from here. This isn't Sweden, Viktor. You can't get anywhere in the US as fast as you can back home," I said.

Viktor's eyes softened as my voice did, then he replied, "I know, but if Matt and I could be friends across an ocean for ten years, I think we can—"

"I'm not Matt, though. He's much more patient and kind than I am. I tried the whole long-distance thing with Blaine, and everything collapsed within a few days. There's only one person to blame, and that's me."

"I'm not Blaine, though."

I looked over at Matt for a moment, and he pointed to the couch.

"Sit," he said.

I glared at him. "I'm not a dog, Matthew. You can't—"

"I said sit."

I sat down on the couch.

"I've learned something with the triplets. It's that whatever I think Mom would say is automatically right. And you know what she would tell you right now?" Matt asked.

I didn't want this speech, but I went along with it anyway. "What?"

"She'd say that you've carried Viktor for so long, and it's ridiculous that you'd try to hold him back right now. It's okay to be afraid of this change, but it's not okay to scream until he feels guilty and you get your way. Viktor is a good dude, and you don't have to question his loyalty. Hasn't he already proven that he'll always stick with you, no matter what?"

My eyes fell to the floor, and I shut them to keep any stray tears from falling.

That was pretty much exactly what she would have told me.

I nodded. "I just don't want him to go. I've lived without him before, and it sucks. It's—" I swallowed. "It's pathetic that I'm upset over my boyfriend's success like this."

Viktor smiled. "Isn't it weird that we're in such a good spot, but it's still not easy?"

"Winning is never easy, Viktor. People like to pretend it's all glory, but it's agony, pain, and repeated failure." I looked up at Matt and Viktor. "I don't really know what the score is in our game against life, but I think we underdogs have finally caught up."

"What are you talking about?" Matt asked.

"Oh shit, I forgot. Only Amanda, Candy Cane, and I know about that," I said.

"You know, you could always just leave this psycho. It's not too late," Matt said to Viktor.

Viktor shook his head. "I don't think I could."

"I figured. So do you think you've made up your mind?" Matt asked.

Viktor laughed. "Nope. I still have no idea what I'm doing."

I stood up, and I took Viktor's hand. "Wherever you go, you can't get rid of me. Where's Boston's minor league team?"

"Rhode Island," Viktor replied.

"Shit. I fucking hate that state," I muttered, but I smiled anyway. "Rationally speaking, that might be your best option. They want you. They care about you. That's hard to find."

"It really is, but I have you and Matt too. But maybe it's the best option."

I smiled. "If that's what you want to do, then go for it. I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?"

I nodded. "You should know by now. I'll always be fine. It's about time I give you the keys to your own career back."

Viktor smiled, then turned to his best friend. "Matt?"

"One, it gives me an excuse to go back to college. Two, it gives you the best chance for success in the future. Three, Amanda has always hated the Bruins, so it'll be funny to see her in those colors," Matt said.

"But what about the triplets?" I asked.

"I don't think they give a single shit about hockey," Matt replied.

"That's not what I meant. They still have to get to school every day, and they require food to live," I said.

"It's been almost two years since Mom died, and they're getting older. I think you and I can take a step back and do what's best for us now. Dad needs to take care of his own kids now."

"No. No way in hell."

"Yes way in hell. You still have two more years to get your degree, and I have three. We seriously need to get on this shit. The triplets will be fine. They're a hell of a lot tougher than we ever give them credit for."

I rubbed my eyes with my hands. "Viktor, is he actually making sense, or am I just losing it?"

"He actually makes sense most of the time," Viktor replied.

"I wish I could say the same for you, but I can't. But at least you're really nice and good-looking," Matt said.

"That's so sweet," Viktor said.

I rolled my eyes. "If you two would quit flirting, that'd be great."

I messed up my own OTP, but it wasn't the strangest thing I had ever done.

"So, you're shipping up to Boston?" Matt asked, for clarity's sake.

"If you make another music reference, I'll dropkick you to Canada," I said.

Matt laughed. "Dropkick? Like the Dropkick Murphys?"

"Shut up," I muttered.

"In the future, I'll get there. For now, I'm shipping up to Providence," Viktor said.

I smiled and clapped my hands together. "Great. I'm gonna go get some ice cream from upstairs to celebrate."

"Can you get me some?" Matt asked.

"And me?" Viktor asked.

I laughed. "No. You fuckers can get your own."

"Please?" Viktor asked, and before I could reject them again, he pulled me in for a kiss.

When he finally let me go, I glared at him. "What kind?"

"Anything, as long as it has rainbow sprinkles," Viktor replied.

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever you want, since apparently, you think you're important."

But as I walked up to the kitchen, every ounce of fear inside me poured out of my eyes, and I wiped my tears away as I gave Viktor those goddamn rainbow sprinkles.

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AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! Only one chapter left! Feel free to just ignore me, just dying over here.

For our question today, what's one thing you really want in the last chapter? (I have part of it written already, but there's always room for other ideas!)