Chase, help me

CHAPTER ONE  - Chase, Help me 

 Stella’s POV  

 I had just finished my own match.  

 My skates were still cold against my skin as I settled into the upper viewing section, watching the arena fill again for Chase’s game.  

 Chase was next and I already knew he would win, because I made sure of it.  

 To Chase, I was just his girlfriend, a supportive one, a quiet one,a girl who smiled after every match and kissed him like he earned every victory himself.  

He didn’t know I was the reason he never had to struggle for long, my  fingers rested lightly on the railing as I watched him warm up below.  

 No one knew that my father was the commissioner of the National Hockey League.  

His face appeared on television every season. Coaches answered to him, team owners respected him, officials were careful around him.  

If I wanted to use his name, I could.  

One phone call from my father could change how people looked at a player. One recommendation could open doors that would otherwise remain closed.  

That was exactly why I kept my identity a secret. I wanted people to see Stella, not the commissioner's daughter but  when it came to Chase… My rules became flexible, whenever he struggled, I found myself stepping in.

A quiet conversation with my father, a suggestion passed to the right coach, a word placed in the right ear at the right time.

I stayed invisible, I couldn't afford what they would say…

 “She only got close because of her father.”

  “That fat girl thinks she belongs here.”

 The word never stopped sticking, fat. Like it defined everything I was before I even spoke, my weight was the first thing they saw and the only thing they remembered, so I learned to ignore it, to accept the looks, the whispers, the laughter and still stand where I wanted to stand.

 Chase isn’t a bad player, he’s  just inconsistent.

 He tries hard, but pressure gets into his head. One mistake and everything collapses. I’ve seen it too many times.

Whenever he struggled, I found myself helping him, a quiet conversation with my father, a recommendation for a training camp, an introduction to the right coach,a chance to prove himself when others had already written him off.

Chase still had to step onto the ice and earn his victories himself and I simply made sure people gave him the chance and every time he smiled after a win, I convinced myself it was worth it.

 Everything to make sure Chase wins, everything to make sure he stays happy.

 I leaned forward slightly as the crowd began chanting.

 “Chase! Chase! Chase!”

 I smiled. “He’s going to win today,” I whispered.

 Then it faded. “Jaxon.”

 The name came through the announcer’s system as the opposing captain stepped onto the ice.My expression changed immediately, Jaxon wasn’t just another player.

 He was dangerous, fast, controlled, observant, the kind of player who notices things other people miss.

 I exhaled slowly.“Stay focused,” I murmured. “I’ve got this.”

 Just then… 

 Something hit my leg, it was hard.

 “Ah—!”

 I lost balance and fell forward. “Ow! Ow!” I hissed, gripping the railing as pain shot through me.

 The stadium noise shifted, people noticed.

 Then I heard the laughter, I looked up sharply.

 Ava. She sat a few seats away, smirking like nothing happened.

 I narrowed my eyes.n“Did you just throw that at me?”

 She tilted her head. “Relax… it was an accident.” But she was smiling.

 Around her, more laughter started, and so by then the attention turned fully toward me.

 Whispers spread instantly. “Isn’t she the fat one dating Chase?”

 “She’s embarrassing…”

 “She shouldn’t even be here.”

 My throat tightened. I pushed myself up slowly.

 “No…” I whispered. “Stop it.”

 That’s when I felt it. My trousers had torn slightly during the fall, when they all looked at me, the laughter got louder.

 My face burned. “Please…” I muttered, pulling at my clothes, trying to cover myself.

 “Chase…” I called softly.

 He was still on the ice, I stared at him, waiting for him to come

 He turned, our  eyes met, for  a second, I thought he would come to help me, then he shook his head slightly and  skated away.

 My breath caught.

 “…Chase?” I whispered, like maybe I had seen wrong.

 But he didn’t look back, something inside me cracked quietly.

 Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

 I just needed out, Then…Footsteps behind me.

 Slowly, I raised my head. Jaxon? 

 He stood there, expression unreadable, the noise behind me felt far away now.

 He didn’t look at me like I was something to be laughed at. Without a word, he took off his jacket and placed it over my shoulders.

 I froze. “Ja… Ja… Jaxon, thank you ” I whispered.