"Who would leave J​ohnny Hockey?" T​hey all ask me that question. Everyone asks the same thing; who would risk their life and leave the chance of being with Calgary's most elite forward, Johnny Gaudreau? Most people probably think I'm stupid for leaving Johnny. We had been best friends all of our lives, from the first day of preschool up until the last day of high school, and beyond. The day Johnny got drafted to the Flames was the day that my heart decided what I had been thinking about all of my life was actually going to happen. I was going to join the United States Army. That was about 5 years ago. Johnny went 104th overall to the Calgary Flames. We weren't even at the draft. Johnny didn't think he was going to be drafted, so he didn't show up. His size told it all. Everyone doubted him. How many 5 foot 9 forwards make it somewhere in the NHL? Almost no one. They all end up hurt. Think about it literally, who are some of the best in the league? Kane, Crosby, Ovechkin, Benn, Seguin, Tarasenko, Pavelski, names like that. All of them are at least 5'11. No one in the league would take a 5 foot 9 seriously, no hockey fan would think that a 5 foot 9 player would have more points than Ovechkin, Tarasenko, Seguin and Pavelski. The day he got the call, I was with him. He was very excited, but he wasn't as excited as you would think he was. He was thinking that he would be sent back down because he wasn't good enough for them. He got the call and a huge smile emerged onto his face, picking me up and spinning me around. "I did it, baby! I got drafted!" The word baby shot daggers through my heart, pulling me into reality, helping me realize that a line from a G­Eazy song I had heard a few years ago has been the reality of me and Johnny even being more than a friendship.
"You and I we're made of glass, we'd never last."
Somehow, through every feeling I felt, the only thing I could remember were those words. Johnny would never love me like I loved him.
"You and I we're made of glass, we'd never last."
We were sitting in his basement, cuddled under a blanket, watching some rerun of One Tree Hill, about a few hours after he had gotten the call when I decided to tell him my news.
Flashback
"J, I need to tell you something." I whispered and he grabbed the XBox remote, pausing whatever Lucas Scott was saying and turning his attention to me. "What's up, cupcake?" He asked, rubbing my head. "I've been thinking about something for awhile. And now that you are going out to Calgary, I know what I have been thinking about is the best choice for me. Johnny, I'm gonna join the army." I told him and his eyes widened in shock. "What do you mean the army? You can't go to the army! Baby, please don't leave me. I'm probably not even gonna go to the minor affiliates of Calgary, I'll probably be stuck here for the rest of my life. You can't just leave for God knows how long when I have no idea how you're doing and if you're even alive!" He exclaimed, sitting up. "Johnny please, I'll be okay." I tried to tell him but he wouldn't listen. He was at his most vulnerable, and I had caused it. Was this how it would be everyday when I was in the army? I couldn't be across the world fighting when he's this vulnerable. But I knew this is what I had to do. "Johnny, I need to do this. I've been thinking about this my whole life, and I want you to just trust that I'll be okay. I'm fighting for this country. Please, I know you'll be upset when I leave but please just find it in your heart to be proud of me. And please pray for me. I'm gonna need all of the praying I can get." I begged him and he nodded, resting his head on my shoulder. "I'll always be proud of you. And I'll pray for you everyday, pray that God will bring you back to me healthy. I love you." He sighed into my neck and I kissed the top of his head. "I love you, Johnny." I told him and we sat there, frozen for a while, neither of us wanting to ever leave.
Flashback over
Little did I know that was the last I would ever see of Johnny. He left the next morning, leaving nothing but a note telling me where he went. It's hanging next to my bed. I carry it with me everywhere I go, and I think it's the reason I survived in the army. People always ask me why I have it. Wouldn't it bring me so much pain? They always ask. I want it to pain me. I want to be pained by the fact he left with no warning. But I can't. I'm too in love with him to ever hate him. The note says, in his sloppy Johnny handwriting,
"To my beloved best friend,
Please take care of yourself. I trust you each and every day to watch over this country. I know you'll be in command one day. You were always the stronger one out of us two. I'm sorry I had to leave you so early. I wanted to leave now so it wouldn't be paining on me to have to watch you leave and I couldn't chase after you. I'm sorry for never telling you how much I love you more often. I'm sorry that I never got the opportunity to tell you how I really feel, but I guess that's a story for a different day. Watch over this country beautiful. And remember what I always tell you. Your life is a video game and you're holding the controller. Please make the best decisions so you can win. I love you, J."
And that was it. That was the note he left me with. Today, after almost 5 years in the United States Army, I finally "retired" forsay from the army, and went back home. But what fun would it be to go back to New Jersey? Why not go to my real home, where I really belong, with the man I belong with? I (somehow) got in contact with Sean Monahan, and told him the situation I was in. He immediately offered to fly me out for a game, and then get me to meet Johnny after. So that's what we did. I was rockin Johnny's Boston College jersey, seeing that I didn't have his Calgary jersey yet. So when the plane came to take me to my home. I handed them my boarding pass to go home. To go to Calgary. Sean met me after the plane landed, and we got in his impressive sports car, driving to him and Johnny's place which was about 20 minutes from the airport. I managed to tell him the entire story of me and Johnny's friendship and ask him more about his life in that span of 20 minutes. I was in the middle of telling a story about Johnny's 7th birthday party (and how I ruined it), when Sean pulled in the driveway and my words became trapped in my throat. "It's gonna be okay. Don't worry." Sean whispered to me and I nodded, stepping out of the car. Sean went in through the garage and motioned to me to go in through the front door, but to knock first. So that's what I did. Sean went in and I waited for a few minutes, before I rang the doorbell. "Johnny can you get that? I'm in the bathroom!" Sean yelled and Johnny yelled back an "okay," causing my breath to go shallow and my heart to pound out of my chest. The lock turned and the door hitched open, revealing my best friend at the front door. The one who had broke my heart 5 years ago but for some reason, I was still desperately in love with. "Y/N? Is that you?" He whispered out. "In the flesh." I smiled and he grinned, opening his arms for me to run into. I ran at full speed, jumping into his arms. We were both crying messes, but who even cares. "How, what, how the heck," he trailed off to no one in particular. I looked up from his shoulder when I heard a video end. "Captured this beautiful moment on video; you're welcome!" Sean yelled and we laughed. "How did this even happen?" Johnny asked and Sean looked at me to give the answer. "I 'retired' from the army. It was a good learning experience, but 5 years there was a little much. So when I left, I got in touch with Sean. He flew me out here to surprise you and voila. Here I am." I smiled at him and rested my forehead against his. "Sean, I can't thank you enough." Johnny said and Sean nodded. "A good thing every once and awhile is good for the soul." He said and Sean smiled, eliciting one from me too. "Now if you'll excuse me, we have 5 years of catching up to do."

this is a long one to make up for all of the time away!!! I'm so so sorry I've been away for so long and I'm gonna close requests until I can catch up on them because I'm so behind! I've been swamped all week and I apologize for that. I will try to get one up this weekend. thanks for reading! :)