Gentleman (Jonathan Toews)

Welcome to the Team

"Ummm yeah" I say slowly.

"Okay, then drop your pants" she says so seriously and I look around.

"Did the other guys have to do this too or..." I trail off.

"No, I'm just messing with you. I'm Payton and I'm the new team photographer" she smiles and I smile back.

"I'm Jonathan... and you had me scared for a second" I laugh as I rub the back of my neck. I was not expecting that.

"I know who you are, I work here now so I had to do my research. And that's just a little ice breaker I like to do. No offense, but hockey players are not the most comfortable in front of a camera so I usually have to warm you guys up" she jokes.

"Really, I would like to think we are quite photogenic" I tease.

"If you say so... but half of your guys couldn't even stand on the X. I like to line up a joke to loosen the tension, let everyone know we're gonna have some fun today. That line usually works, until someone actually starts to take off his clothes" she rolls her eyes.

"Let me guess... Patrick" I ask.

"Patrick" she laughs.

"Yeah, he's not used to girls turning him down" I say as she comes out from behind the camera. She untucks my jersey from my pants and smiles up at me.

"Sometimes a girl just wants a gentleman" she claims and I smirk down at her. She puts me in a pose before looking me up and down. She puts her hands on her hips and it took everything in me not to replace her hands with mine.

"What is a girl looking for in a gentleman" I wonder.

"She's looking for something new. Not the same old thing, it gets exhausting really. I'm all for having fun but that gets old real fast. She's looking for someone she wants, not someone she needs. She's looking for a change from what she's been through over and over again. She's looking for... true love" she smiles. She goes behind the camera and looks through it.

"Do you want me to smile" I ask.

"Nope, just be yourself" she says and I nod.

"So... where do you think I fall on the gentleman spectrum" I stutter.

"I hardly know you" she claims snapping some pictures.

"Then what do you say you come with me to get to know each other better over lunch, my treat" I say.

"I can more than affford my own meal" she claims.

"I never said you couldn't. But I wanted to give a nice girl something she wants, not something she needs" I say and she smiles. I smile back and she snaps a picture.

"I think I have time for lunch" she says and I couldn't help but smile bigger. She clicks once more before coming out from behind the curtain.

"Alrighty, we're done here" she announces and I become confused.

"We didn't take any pictures" I say.

"I took plenty of pictures, go look for yourself" she says and I walk over to the camera. I look through my pictures and they actually weren't terrible. None of them were and I was surprised. I didn't even know she was going but these are some of the best photos taken of me.

"Wow, you're really good" I admit.

"Thank you, but it's all about the client. You have to make them comfortable through the unnatural situation. You're an athlete, you're not made to stand in front of the camera and try to convince everyone who sees the picture you want to be here. But you are a human and if I can get that to show then I'm actually doing my job. It's about getting a genuine smile instead of a forced one" she claims.

"You make me smile" I start and she stops packing up.

"That's very sweet of you to say" she smiles.

She finishes packing up and I change out of my hockey things into normal people clothes. We meet outside of the room and start to head to the parking lot.

"Where did you want to eat" I ask as she puts her backpack on her back.

"Did someone say eat" Seab's asks and I frown.

"Where the hell did you even come from" I ask.

"Not important, so where are we going" he asks and I start to pout. This was not happening.

"I was going to go somewhere to get to know Payton better" I say pointing to her with my eyes.

"Oh hey Payton! What's up" he asks and I roll my eyes. He knew what he was doing and I wanted to kill him for it.

"Hi Brent" she giggles and I let out a groan.

"So where we going" Brent asks again.

"I dont know where you are going but we're going somewhere you won't be" I insist.

"I don't think one more would kill us" Peyton says.

"Just wait for it..." I trail off.

"Hey! I heard something about lunch, where are we going" Patrick asks and I run my hand down my face.

"Fine! Lets just get some pizza" I yell.

"Giordanos it is" Seabs says and they walk out the door.

"What just happened" Payton laughs and I look down at her.

"Welcome to the team" I laugh.