(Kristina's P.O.V.)

A million thoughts enter my head as we slowly descend into Tampa. Matt and I would soon have to separate forever. I slowly calm down as we get closer and closer to the ground, but there was a little voice inside my head saying one thing over and over again.

I can't live without him.

As soon as the plane touches the ground, we look at each other before we taxi into the gate. Even though the flight wasn't the smoothest (both literally and not so literally), it was all the time we had together. Flight 2422 was one of the best experiences of my life, and it's because I got to know him. I didn't have to worry about Bobby or Brit or anyone else finding me. It was the two of us against the world. As soon as the lights turn on in the cabin, we unbuckle our seat belts and Matt grabs his carry on bag.

"Well, it was wonderful meeting you, Kristina," he tells me.

"'We may never meet again, but we'll always remember each other.'"

Matt laughs because I 'borrowed' his quote from earlier and used it against him. The aisle slowly empties, and I can finally reach my backpack in the overhead compartment. Matt, being Matt, grabs it as soon as I open the overhead compartment.

"Thank you, Matt," I tell him.

"This isn't goodbye just yet, we've still have a walk to the terminal," he responds.

"True. I have to call my ride and let them know I'm here."

"We really must be twinning today, because I have to do the same thing."

As soon as we walk out Gate F-5, I look all around Tampa International Airport. It is bigger than I thought it would be, and I start to turn on my phone as I take in the sights and sounds. My phone, after it is on for a second, blows up with notifications, because apparently Bobbina doesn't take no for an answer even when I'm on a plane. Stupid idiot!

I call Shannon, and she picks up in two seconds.

"It's about damn time you've landed."

"Nice to hear from you as well, Sammy. I'm here."

"Which airside are you coming from?"

"Airside F."

"Perfect, we're already there."

"See you soon, Sam."

She hangs up just as Matt gets off the phone with his ride as well. It is just past two in the morning and the festival starts at 11 AM today. I am actually here in the middle of it all and it feels like home to me.

Matt leads me to where the tram is and it takes about ten minutes to get there. We are the farthest away from baggage claim, but that doesn't bother me one bit. It gives me a few more moments to spend with Matt. We sit down on the tram, and as soon as it is in motion, he asks me a question.

"Got any big plans for today?"

"Yup. I already told you I'm going to the carnival. What about you?"

"Great minds plan alike, huh?"

We both laugh and I smile at him as he pulls out his phone and asks, "Can we take a selfie?"

"Sure. Can we also take one on mine?"

Matt nods as I face his phone and right as he snaps the picture, the tram stops suddenly and we laugh about it. The photo turns out to be glorious because it isn't planned or anything like it. He decides to rip out my number napkin and text that photo to me as the tram picks up speed once again.

I hand him my phone and this time, we actually cooperate for the picture. Two smiling people making their own light in a world full of darkness. I text the photo to Matt as soon as we take it. After we receive the pictures, we arrive at baggage claim.

We exit the tram and he says, "See you later on today?"

"I hope so, Matt. If not, thanks for making yesterday's flight amazing," I reply.

"No, no, thank you, Tina."

"For what?"

"Making the whole day amazing already. Hope to see you...." Matt begins to speak and someone shrieks when they recognize him.

"I found Matty! Matty here Pally!" a bearded Russian squeals out.

"Kuch! It's too late, and how are you so hyper??"

-----------------

(Matt's P.O.V.)

"Good grief, this is going to be fun," I mumble to myself as I look up at Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat.

Kristina smiles and rolls her eyes, "Good luck the next couple of days, Matt."

I look at her ocean blue eyes again and reply, "Have fun the next couple of days."

"You as well."

I go up one side of the arrival side and she goes up the other. I fidget with my phone and look at the two pictures of Kristina and me. As soon as I hit the top, Kuch almost tackles me and Pally sighs.

"Kid had way too many cookies yesterday, sorry Matty."

I laugh and respond, "It's okay."

The two of them help me up and lead me to baggage claim so I can pick up my one suitcase. And seeing her talking with her friends and I guess her twin sister makes me smile all over again. Especially when she waves at me.

------------------

(Kristina's P.O.V.)

I go up the escalator, and Shannon tackles me to the ground along with Evelyna. The two of them quickly help me up as they squeal, "Team Fangirls is together once again!"

We walk over to baggage claim and immediately Evelyna asks, "What happened on the flight?"

"With who?"

Shannon blurts out, "You know who!"

I laugh and I tell them, "Well, he helped me get through the rough winds and we just talked. The tram on the way here was hysterical though! We were trying to take a picture, but the tram stopped and so it looked like we were laughing."

Shannon snatches my phone out of my hands and finds the two pictures, "You two are so cute!"

Evelyna looks and states, "You two are cuter than Kuch and Pally!"

"It was funny, the flight attendant in Nashville thought we were already together," I tell them as soon as I see his hazel blue eyes from across the room.

I wave at him just as the bags start to come out. My suitcase is the third bag to enter the carousel, and I quickly grab it and walk away.

Evelyna leads Shannon and I to her car, and Shannon tells me, "Since Eves entered us into the contest, she gets to hangout with us the whole time and we get to have a sleepover with one another as well in the hotel!"

"That's awesome!"

Evelyna starts the car, and all I hear come through the radio is a familiar country tune.

https://youtu.be/V6c8a90PWIM

And in the morning I'm leaving, making my way back to Cleveland, so tonight I hope, I will do just fine.

And I don't see how you could ever be Anything But Mine.

There's a local band playing....

Evelyna flips to another station, and I look out the window as we approach Downtown Tampa. It feels like the only good thing in my life was just taken away from me. Although, we could run into each other at the carnival later on today.

We park underneath the hotel, and I grab my small suitcase and my carry on bag. Shannon grabs her duffel bag, and Evelyna grabs her suitcase as well and we find the nearest elevator so we can check in and sleep. We find out that we were right next to the elevator the whole time even though we decided to walk around the whole darn parking lot looking on it. Thankfully, Shannon pointed it out to Evelyna and me and we laugh at our late night shenanigans.

We wait for it and it arrives, and we hit the button that will take us to the lobby. It quickly brings us there, and the desk attendant knows exactly who we are and hands us our keys and our tickets to the carnival. We thank him and head up to our room. Shannon and I have our own room that joins together with Evelyna's room. That's not an issue for Shannon and I since we are twins after all. Shannon and I are in Room 5544, and Evelyna is in Room 5542.

Even through all of that, I couldn't seem to escape my thoughts about Matt. His kindness and he is so helpful, but I could never see those eyes again. Or hear his voice, or anything like that.

"Apparently, there are different theme days to Bolts Fest," my sister tells me.

"What's tomorrow's theme then?"

"Country music, of course."

"Cass help us all," I giggle out.

We get ready for bed and I drift off to dreamland once again thinking about Matt.

------------------

And sure enough, you're there.

I am as well. It's just the two of us against the world.

"Long time no see, huh?" you said.

I laugh as you engulf me in a hug. Your hazel-blue eyes lock with mine as we embrace. There's nothing around us, just a white blank landscape surrounding us.

I was about to kiss you, but it grows dark as I hear their voices echo throughout.

"Hope all the fans throw you away just like the trash you are," she spits out.

He smirks at the two of us, and I grab your hand as I scream out, "Run!"

You nod as we try to escape, but the darkness comes in closer and closer. She looks at me, and her eyes are black as the night around us.

He barely touches your shoulder, and you flinch much to his delight. I glare at him and whisper to you, "This is my story, it'll be a good one."

I let go of your hand and punch him. You smirk much to your delight of my actions. She starts to run at you full speed ahead, but I yank you out of the way and take her hit.

Good thing she had no muscle behind that and I bounce back up. You look at me, as she starts to get ready to charge again. She was about to run, but not before she met my arm.

They both are on the ground, and the light returns once more as their bodies fade out of the room.

You smile at me and say, "Back to what we were doing then?"

"Wouldn't have it any other way."

Our lips lock, a different darkness creeps around us as reds, oranges, blues, greens, and more explode into the night sky. I hear the ocean waves behind us and the sand beneath my feet. A ferris wheel sits behind me as we take in the night sky at the carnival.

--------------------

(Kristina's P.O.V.)

The sunlight hits my face as I feel my sister shake me awake, "Cmon! Amalie is about to open up for Bolts Fest! Let's go!"

I shoot out of bed and she hands me a chocolate chip muffin to wolf down as I get ready. Evelyna wanted to be over at Amalie by 10:30, but good thing we are only a five minute walk away from Amalie Arena. I am ready to roll in about fifteen minutes, and Evelyna knocks on our door.

"Ready to meet the Bolts?" she asks the two of us.

"Heck yeah!" I yell out.

We lock the hotel rooms and head to the elevator, and it is already waiting there for us. We enter it and head to the lobby, and exit the hotel quickly. Tampa's sunshine hits the three of us, and I couldn't help but smile because I am here.

I turn on the chat from NHL Fans 365 and send a quick message to the group as we approach Amalie.

Me: I'm home.

Adam: Enjoy!

Fabs: Yit! Go Shannon and Tina!

Berto: LOL find a nice guy....... ;)

Shannon: Really, Berto?

Adam: Or a Newfie!

Me: Y'all are freaks lol.

Shannon: No kidding....

Bobby: Have fun.

Me: Thanks Bobby!

Shannon: Thank you!

As soon as Bobby sent that message, I get a message in a group chat with him and Brit in it.

Brit: Ugh, go have fun with the uggo Tampa fans.

Me: Why thank you!

Bobby: Maybe you'll come crawling back to Dallas before you know it.

Me: Doubt it.

Before they could send any other messages I mute the two chats and the gates open up to let us inside Amalie.

"Let's get this party started!" I tell Evelyna and Shannon.

As soon as we enter the main concourse from Gate C, there is music playing throughout the building, and it looks like any old convention from CMA Music Festival. Small stages are placed throughout the arena, and there are plenty of games and activities to keep people like me entertained for hours. Plus, don't forget the players as well!

"So, what do you two...?" I start to ask Evelyna and Shannon, but they don't reply.

Instead, I get a text from Shannon saying they went to go find Pointer. Does it look like I'm a ditchable person to you? Apparently, their answer is yes, I am very ditchable.

I sigh as I try to find an area that would be something I would end up doing. I wander around instead and look at all of the blue jerseys blending seamlessly into the crowd of fans and staff.

As I walk towards the floor of Amalie Arena, I feel a familiar hand touch my shoulder. I turn around and I see a set of hazel-blue eyes meet mine.

"Matt?" I mouth out.

"Told you I would find you again," Matt whispers to me.

Not many people know who Matt is thankfully, so they just think he's some random fan in a Crunch jersey at Bolts Fest. I know differently though, and I smile at him.

Matt says, "Glad to see you made it."

"Thanks. This feels like home to me," I reply.

"Smashville you mean?"

"Haha, and I guess so. Except we're in an arena and I'm surrounded by people," I joke with him.

"Follow me!" he exclaims and we start to weave through the crowd together.

I squeal out as folks turn around and think we're just an overexcited couple that couldn't wait to find their favorite players. He leads me down to the main stage on the floor of Amalie Arena, and I look at him.

"What are you doing?" I question him.

"Want to sing a couple of songs with me?" he questions me back.

"What?"

He mumbles something to the host on the stage, and the host announces, "Ladies and Gentlemen! Starting off our duet competition are Kristina and Matthew Peca! Come on and blow the house down you two!"

The spotlights blind me, and I can barely make out Matt on the stage. Matt waves to the small crowd as I try to see if my sister or Evelyna is in the area. The music starts to play, and it is not a classic country duet song. Instead Luke Bryan's Roller Coaster begins to play and he starts to sing.

Matt can sing with the best of them, even if he was a little nervous. I start to make out the shapes and faces of people, and Evelyna is watching with Shannon and two men stand behind them. I laugh and join Matt with the first chorus.

https://youtu.be/AxVKTwAkv1k

And we spent that week wide open

Upside down beside the ocean

I didn't know where it was goin'

Just tryin' to keep my heart on the tracks

I should've known that kind of feelin'

Would last longer than that week did

Blown away and barely breathin'

Sunday came and it was over

Now she's got me twisted

Like an old beach roller coaster

The rest of those days
Turned into long crazy nights
When the music got loud
We'd sneak away from the crowd under the boardwalk lights
And with all the things we said
What I just can't get past
Is the way we let it end
Now I'm wonderin' where she is
Knowin' I can't get that goodbye back.

Those lyrics meant the world to me because I feel like that describes my relationship with Matt right now. We have feelings for one another, but we could never be something. As soon as the song ends, my sister rushes up on stage as Matt gets off and takes the microphone, "When did you sign up to be his partner?"

"I was voluntold to be Matt's partner, sis," I tell her half-heartedly.

The music starts up and I see Evelyna filming us, and I recognize the tune as Maddie and Tae's Sierra. As we finished the goofy little tune, we walk off stage and Matt is there at the bottom waiting for me along with Evelyna and the two men.

Matt looks at me and says, "This is Brayden Point and Vladdy Namestnikov. And are these two your friends?"

I nod, "Yes, yes they are."

"Well, good! Have fun with them!" he exclaims as they smile back at Matt and I.

They have the same look in their eyes that Matt and I do when we look at each other. It's kinda strange if you think about it, we all found somebody at Bolts Fest. Who knew we would be with our crushes hanging with them on Day 1?

Well, for the two of us, it is the second day we have known each other. Two whole days feel like an eternity to me, but I would not change it for anything. For once, I feel whole, welcomed, alive.

Alive, that's a good word, and Matt makes me feel even more alive. I am here, having the time of my life, and no one is going to bring my mood down.

Matt points at his phone, and I receive a message from his number.

Matt: Wanna see where Pointer and Vladdy took your friends?? ;)

Me: That freaks me out....why we can't disclose this information out loud lol?

Matt whispers to me once again, "I'll show you where. Just take my hand."

He drags me through the maze of Bolts Nation and we somehow made our way back to the locker room. As soon as we start to slow down, I see Shannon and Evelyna with their hockey crushes. Odd enough, all four of them are as bright red as a tomato.

"What's up Sammy?" I remark.

Shannon shoots up and replies, "Dean! Kevin is what happened?"

"The prophet?"

"Mmhm. I'll have to tell you later."

Brayden nods at her and says, "Brayden knows what happen. Shannon and Brayden were in a dream together and Brayden wanted to meet with her face to face."

Evelyna rolls her eyes, "What he means is that we saw our favorite players in a dream last night and they were amazing! And the best part was that we both had the same dream, right Vlad?"

Vladdy nods and states, "I don't normally believe intense dreams like that, but when I saw you here today, I knew it was more than a dream."

I nod, "Alrighty then. Next time, don't give me a heart attack and spook me by wandering off!"

Shannon nods, "Okay. See you around?"

Matt playfully drags me away as I say, "Of course!"

We halt inside the Tampa Bay Lightning locker room, and he reluctantly smiles, "I have to do the next panel. I'll see you around?"

"Yes, of course. I'll see you again."

He walks away, and I exit the locker room quickly and rush back into the sea of blue and white waiting for the panel. They blare the question and answer sessions all throughout Amalie, and I decide to take it all in the best I can.

As I fight through the crowds, I look around to see where the crowd seems thinner and hope to find activities and wonders to entertain me. The carnival like setup is interesting to say the least, and it is amazing to see the players and fans interacting with one another in this environment. The crowd is barely noticeable when I approach the Tampa Bay Sports Store, and I quickly check out my phone to try and communicate with Evelyna and Shannon.

Me: OMG..........guys this is actually happening!

Shannon: Where are you?

Me: Merch store.

Evelyna: I can't believe Vladdy said he has a crush on me!

Me: WHAT?????

Shannon: No way! Pointer and I.......well, we're still hanging out.

Evelyna: Same with Vladdy and me. He's trying to figure out who 'Team Fangirls' is.

Me: He'd better prepare for trouble.

Shannon: Brayden just asked, "Who are you messaging?" Got to go.

Evelyna: Same with Vladdy.

The chat silences as I tune into the panel right as the host asks Matt, "How was the journey from here to Syracuse to Tampa, Matt?"

"This time or in general?"

The crowd laughs and the host retorts, "Both, if you will elaborate."

Matt clears his throat and begins, "This journey is amazing. Being able to experience professional hockey not only with the Bolts but also the Crunch really has helped me defined my game in so many ways. Granted, this season didn't turn out like it should of with all the injuries, but it showed the organization that the future is bright for the Bolts."

He earns a cheer from the audience and once they settle, he also adds on, "Oh, and the journey last night was long and amazing in so many ways. Guess it is possible to find a girlfriend on an airplane."

I start to madly blush as he says that we're a couple already. He didn't officially ask me, but maybe he was going to ask sometime in the near future. I don't know with that boy someday, but Eves always said he was flirty.

The host fires back, "Oh, and is that lucky, beautiful woman here at the carnival today?"

Matt replies, "As they say in her home, 'Yup.'"

They move on to the next question and it feels like my heart is going to jump out of my chest. Even though it is plenty cool in Amalie Arena, the Florida heat still feels as grueling as ever. My hands are sweaty, and I don't believe the words that came out of Matt's mouth.

IthinkImightlikehimaswell. My thoughts mix together and my mind goes blank. This is already an old beach rollercoaster.

I just hope for a better ending.

------------------------------