Fated To My Hockey Childhood Bully

BLOOM

"I really can't wait for Saturday's match" Daria squealed, staring at her phone as I picked up a bottle of pills, checked the composition before dropping it into my bag.

"Everyone knows who the winner is going to be. Definitely the Bleeds Team but it's still going to be fun to watch" She continued and I smiled a little.

"Look at that smile, look at that smile. I can't even mention the Bleerds without that smile showing up on your face. You are down so bad for Hunter" She teased and I could feel my cheek instantly heating up with a blush.

"That's not it." I argued shyly. "I was only smiling because of the match"

"Right, you weren't smiling because of the captain of the Bleerds at alllll" Daria laughed teasingly and I huffed, zipping up my bag of medical supplies.

"But you know if Dante was still in the pack, the Clarion team would be winning."

The huff on my face turned sterner the moment she mentioned that name. I didn't give a response.

"Are you sure you don't miss him at all, not even a tiny bit?" She moved closer to me, peering into my face.

"Why would I miss him at all? Why?" I questioned, a pissed off look now on my face. "I don't even think about him at all and anytime I mistakenly do, I desperately pray that he never ever returns to this Pack"

"Bloom, he treated you specially and..."

"He bullied me specially" I corrected Daria.

"I personally think he was just being cowardly with how he showed you his feelings for you."

"Daria, he didn't have any feelings for me. Dante hated me. He bullied me and made sure he stayed around me long enough every single day to do that enough. He hated me and I hate him too. And that's enough, I don't want to talk about him anymore" I began walking towards the door, not waiting for a response from Daria but immediately my hand touched the door knob, she said something that made my hand still.

"He is coming back"

I froze for a second, gulped down and then blinked to ease the tension that had just seeped into me so quickly.

I glanced back at Daria and she was standing there with an expression that told me she wasn't joking. I waited a few seconds, expecting the expression to fall away, for her to laugh and tell me it was a joke but that never happened.

"I don't know when exactly but there have been rumors flying around that he will be back soon"

I blinked again and this time pushed my chest forward a little, straightening my back and shoulders.

"I don't care about him" I said, turned and walked out of the room.

It didn't matter if he was going to be back or not. It had been six years since he left and I was no longer that timid 16 year old girl that he could push around or bully. Dante already lost that grip over me and I would never let him have that again. Never.

I knocked on the boys' resting room, twice, still trying to push the thoughts of Dante out of my head.

"Who is there?" It was Hunter's voice and I felt my heart flip.

I tightened my grip on my bag of medical supplies and responded with a yes.

"Come on in" Hunter replied and I quickly opened the door and walked in. He was the only one left in the resting room, seated on a sofa. He was manspreading and his hair was dripping water from a likely face splash.

"Hi, Hunter" My voice barely had any volume to it. I just couldn't help how shy I got around Hunter.

"My head is splitting still" Hunter groaned and ran a hand through his wet hair, an act that made me gulp down nothing.

"You should take it easy on yourself. It's just an in-pack match and you know you are going to win so why are you training so hard?" I dropped the bag, unzipped it and brought out two bottles of pills.

"You are so certain we are going to win?" Hunter asked as I opened up the bottles and I looked at him with slight confusion.

"The Clarions can't possibly beat your team presently, that's what everyone says" I replied and Hunter chuckled, a beautiful gentle sound that I always looked forward to.

"I am not so sure this time" Hunter reached his hand out to collect the pills from me. I handed it over.

"Is there something different about this match? I haven't seen you worried about a match in years"

Hunter just smiled at me, took the pills with a bottle of water and rose up to his feet. At 6'2, Hunter towered over me. I hated how easily his presence made me forget every sensible thought in my head."

I wish I could tell Hunter how I felt about him but somehow, I think he knew. In fact, I think everyone knows that I have a big crush on Hunter but I couldn't tell what he felt for me in return.

Hunter placed a hand on my hair and patted my hair gently. "It is nothing for you to worry about, beautiful"

My heart pounded again and I lowered my gaze to hide the blush rising on my cheeks. "The match is not going to be any different. I am going to lead my team to win, as always and you are going to be there to hand me a bottle of water and that refreshing drink of yours, hm?" He tilted my head to make me look back up at him.

"Hm" was all I could give as a response.

"Good" Hunter ruffled my hair, smiled at me and then just walked away, leaving my heart pounding.

Every single encounter with Hunter for the past two years left me exactly like this, flustered and confused about what he felt for me.

'Hunter is only paying her enough attention so she remains all over him. He just wants her attention, he doesn't like her enough to date her, I mean who would?' The words I had heard variations of over the past two years repeated in my head, making me press my lips into a thin line.

"They are just being mean. Hunter isn't like that and I know it" I whispered to myself. I was about to pack up my bag when my phone beeped in my pocket.

I reached into my pocket and pulled it out. I had a message from an unknown contact. At first, I was going to ignore it, thinking it was just another message from mean girls mocking and insulting me but something pushed me to click this message open.

The message was short and simple.

'Hello, Dumbie'

My heart stopped. Only one person ever called me that and he had made sure no one else ever dared to. Only one person.

Dante Romano.