Assaulting Jason

Camila's POV

The call connects and rings. He picks up on the fourth ring.

"Hello," he answers. He's breathing fast.

"Hello. Are you okay? Why are you panting?"

He takes a deep breath. "I'm at the gym. What's up?"

"Oh, I didn't mean to disturb you. I'll call back later. Bye." I'm about to end the call when he speaks.

"We can talk now. I was about to go for a fifteen-minute break. We can talk within that time, can't we?" He asks.

"Oh, would that be okay with you?"

"Yes. What is troubling you? Tell me."

"How do you know this?" I chuckle.

"Your voice. It doesn't have its usual warmth. Have you been crying?"

I gasp. "How do you know?"

How does a person who barely knows me manage to pick up on the changes in my emotions and tone when the man I've been dating can't even tell when I'm angry?

"Is this about Dave? What happened? Tell me."

I sniffle as I remember my last encounter with Dave. He left before I returned to the room.

"It's Dave..." I confirm.

"Hmm?"

"He visited last night, and I let him in."

I go on to tell him about Dave's visit, including how Dave tried to seduce me into forgiving him and how I refused. After telling him everything, I expect him to give me some advice, but he doesn't.

"Hello? Are you there?" I ask when he remains silent.

"Make sure you don't miss practice on Saturday. I'll be waiting for you there," he says.

"Huh? Is that all? Won't you give me some advice or at least console me?"

"I'm heading back now. Let's talk later," he says before ending the call.

Wait... why does he sound different? It hasn't even been fifteen minutes. It's only been seven, yet he ended the call so quickly. Is he perhaps mad at me? Why? Is it because I let Dave into my house?

But it was really late at night, and nothing happened between us. He should know that Dave is someone who's difficult to reject, but I still rejected his advances.

"So, are you waiting to be praised?" A tiny voice asks in my head, but I shake it off.

The door opens, and a woman enters the bookshop.

"Hello, welcome. Please feel free to pick any book you'd like," I tell her.

***

Saturday comes, and I wear one of my favorite dresses. A floral dress with black boots. I brush my hair, take one last look in the mirror, smile, and pick up my bag.

I drive to Silver Creek's ice rink in my old car and smile when I get there.

"Hi, I'm here," I text Jason.

Seconds later, Jason appears before me and nods.

"You look good," he says as his eyes roam over me.

"Thank you." I smile as I run my fingers through my long curls.

"Dave isn't here yet. He's late. Do you mind waiting inside until he arrives?"

"Yeah, of course."

I follow Jason inside and take a seat in the front row of the spectator area.

The team members are all here, including the coach.

I notice a girl sitting a few seats away from me. She's young, probably the sister of one of the players. Her eyes are glued to her phone. I don't pay much attention to her and instead focus on the players.

The team scrimmages for a while, and when an accident almost happens, the coach immediately asks the player involved to leave the ice. He replaces him with Jason.

"I know I asked you to stay on the bench until the start of next season, but I need you on the ice now. I'll give you five minutes to put on your gear," he instructs.

Jason disappears and reappears in full gear seconds later, and I barely recognize him.

He looks bigger. More powerful.

There's an aura surrounding him. It's so unique... so commanding. It's something the other players don't have.

Not even Dave.

He looks like he was born to be on the ice. He fits there so naturally, and I can't help but stare at him in awe. I'm not the only one.

The young girl, who looks about fifteen years old, is now recording him with her phone.

Wow... Is he an angelic being? She gasps.

Even his teammates can't take their eyes off him. I think everyone can sense it. He's different. He's in a different league.

Some of them don't seem pleased and keep their distance, probably intimidated by his aura. But others surround him.

"Wow, I've missed seeing you in full gear."

"You look awesome as always."

"You're truly the best."

"Welcome, brother."

"Welcome back to the team," the others echo.

"What are we doing? Are we here to throw a damn party?" The coach yells as the players continue surrounding Jason.

"In your positions! Now!"

Everyone immediately takes their positions, Jason included. But I notice the way he looks at me before skating to his spot.

Actually, he's been glancing at me ever since I got here.

Maybe he's trying to make sure I don't go back on my word. That's the only plausible explanation for his intense gaze.

The scrimmage resumes, and Jason scores within the first few seconds.

Damn.

That's the fastest goal I've ever seen.

His teammates try to celebrate, but the coach doesn't give them the chance.

Play continues, and Jason scores again. And again.

And again.

What?

My jaw drops as I stare at him in disbelief.

Who the fuck is this man? What kind of monster of a player is he? Why does he keep scoring? And so effortlessly too.

I've watched enough hockey to know his teammates aren't taking it easy on him. If anything, they're targeting him the most.

Yet he keeps scoring anyway.

I thought Dave was the best player I'd ever seen.

But this...

This is different.

He is different.

He's in a completely different league.

Fuck...

The second period of the scrimmage ends, and the coach doesn't hesitate to roast the team.

"Seriously? Jason scored a total of eight goals, and none of you could stop him?"

"Did you all forget he's been off the ice for a year? How is it that someone who's been on hiatus is playing better than the rest of you combined? And why the hell are some of you smiling? Why are you happy? Are you proud of your failures?" The coach yells.

"Come on, Coach. You know Blackwood is in a different league. We can't compare ourselves to him even if we trained for a hundred years," one player says, making several others laugh.

"Yeah, take it easy on us, Coach. Comparing us to Blackwood should be considered a crime," another adds.

Their reaction only seems to irritate the coach further. He opens his mouth, clearly about to tear into them again, when his phone suddenly vibrates.

He excuses himself and answers the call. After ending it, he walks back to the team.

"Jason, you'll be the temporary captain since Dave isn't here. Lead the team. You're the only one I can trust with this. I'll be back as soon as I can." And with that, he leaves the ice.

Practice resumes shortly, but not long afterward, Dave arrives.

My heart drops into my stomach, and I shift uneasily in my seat when I see him. He's wearing his full gear, but without his helmet.

Some of the players stop what they're doing as soon as they notice him. Some.

I don't think Dave notices either Jason or me at first as he stops to talk to his friend.

Daniel.

Yes, I know him.

Daniel points Jason out to him, and Dave's entire demeanor changes.

"Hey, jerk. Get off the ice. You're not allowed to be here."

Dave quickly skates over to Jason and stops in front of him.

I rise to my feet as my heart starts racing.

Why is he attacking Jason the moment he sees him? Are they enemies? Well, it certainly seems that way, considering how Jason spoke about him and how Dave reacts to him.

But they both spoke as if they knew each other well. If they know each other so well, then why are they enemies?

Or are they rivals?

Since Jason is obviously the better player, does that make Dave uncomfortable?

There are so many things I'm curious about. And I won't hesitate to ask Jason about them as soon as we leave here.

Jason says something to Dave. I can't hear what he says, but I have a feeling it has something to do with me because Dave immediately turns to look in my direction.

My hands tighten around my dress the moment our eyes meet. And what Dave does next completely shocks me.

He grabs Jason, rips off his helmet, punches him in the face, then starts choking him.

I'm not kidding. He actually has both hands wrapped around Jason's neck.

The players immediately rush over and try to pull Dave away, but he continues choking Jason. 

Jason doesn't fight back and just lets Dave attack him. What the fuck is happening?

Jason did say Dave could lose his shit, but I never imagined it would be like this.

"Dave!"

"Dave, stop it! Stop it right now!"

I find myself screaming as the situation escalates and Dave slams Jason onto the ice.

It works.

Dave freezes the moment he hears my voice. He turns to look at me, and when our eyes meet, I nod desperately.

"Stop... please stop."

But the bastard doesn't listen and continues his assault.