As your plane took off in Stockholm, Sweden, you couldn’t help but feel butterflies. Not because you were anxious about flying across the Atlantic Ocean, or going to America for the first time, or even because you were a young 19 year old girl traveling alone. No, the butterflies were for something else: your boyfriend. Ever since Jonas entered the NHL you have been promising him that you’ll visit, but you never found the right time, or had the money. But this year, your parents offered to pay for your plane ticket to Minnesota as an early Christmas present. You hadn’t seen Jonas since he left for training camp in August, and even though you talked several times a week, you still missed him like crazy. You put on your headphones and found some relaxing music to listen to, and soon you were out for your long flight to America
Your visit was supposed to be a surprise for Jonas, and as far as you knew, he didn’t know you were coming. As you groggily awoke when the captain announced that the plane would be landing in thirty minutes, you looked out your window and caught your first glimpses of wintery Minnesota. ‘Great,’ you thought to yourself. ‘From winter in Sweden to winter in Minnesota. Why couldn’t Jonas have played for the Stars, or the Ducks, or the Panthers?’ But you really didn’t care who he played for, you were just happy he played in the NHL, doing what he loved.
You went straight to your hotel after getting through customs and decided to take a nap. Despite sleeping for most of the flight, you were exhausted. The game was at 7, and you had plenty of time to rest. When you woke up you took a shower, slid into your brand new Brodin jersey and wore your favorite pair of dark jeans and some warm uggs. As you made your way to the Xcel Energy Center you started to wonder if this was a bad idea. What if he didn’t see you? What if he was mad that you surprised him? What if you caught him with someone else….No. You weren’t going to think about that, because it wasn’t even an option.
You made your way to your seat with the sign you’d made quickly in the hotel. It was simple, and it just said ‘I love you Jonas! <3 (Y/N)’ but you hoped it would get his attention. Right before the players came out to warm up, you joined a group of fans near the glass. You held up your sign and smiled as the players came on the ice. One by one, they all skated past you, so quickly that none of them could have read your little sign. You spotted Jonas across the ice, winding up to take a practice shot on goal, so you waved excitedly. He missed his shot, but glanced in your direction. He stopped, and did a double take. He slowly waved, but he didn’t look too happy. Suddenly everything you had been afraid of came flooding back to you, and your knees started to get weak. Shaking, you scrambled up to your seat and sat down, looking down at your lap. ‘Why was he mad?’ You thought, and tried to pay attention to what was happening, but so many crazy scenarios filled your brain that you weren’t able to concentrate on the game. It seemed to drag on forever, and you just wanted it to be over so you could talk to Jonas.
Finally, the buzzer sounded and the thousands of people around you began filing out of the arena. You remained seated for a while, trying to make up your mind if you just wanted to go back to your hotel room, or wait for Jonas and try to talk to him. At last, you found yourself heading toward the players exit, not really sure what to expect from your boyfriend. Tiredly, you leaned up against the fence put up to keep the fans from getting too close to the players as they left. Your mood did not match the excitement exhibited by the Wild fans as the players began leaving the arena in small groups. Anxiously, you glance at their faces, trying to pick out Jonas.
He was wearing a hat and a jacket, and looked like most of the other players, but he looked up suddenly and caught your eye. He almost stopped, and slowed his pace as he approached you. “(Y/N), what are you doing here?” He asked, sounding surprised, but not angry. You relaxed a little, but you were still apprehensive.
“I wanted to surprise you,” You explained, and slowly a smile spread across his face. He pulled you into a hug and held you tight for a few seconds before letting you go to look over your face.
“If I’d known you were coming I would have cleaned,” he laughed, and you finally smiled, realizing this going to be okay.
“Why don’t we get something to eat, hun, there’s a really nice place up the street I’ve always wanted to take you,” he took your hand.
“I’d like that,” you smiled to yourself as you and Jonas started walking, letting the cold Minnesota night swallow the two you of you.
-Lila
