Chapter 3

WREN

“Damn you, Dani.”

I turned around and literally sprinted to my room, my cheeks flustered. Did Dani just wink at me? I dropped my plate on the nightstand and plopped on my bed, staring at the ceiling.

I slapped myself lightly wondering if this was a dream but from the slight sting I could tell it was all happening.

“I’m not crazy, he really did it.” I ran my hand through my hair and but my lip.

All through the night I couldn’t help but toss in bed, unable to bring myself to sleep.

I spent the last hour staring at the ceiling, I turned to my side and then my back again, rearranged my pillow a thousand times because it never seemed to make me feel comfortable.

Thinking about it for another hour I slowly fell asleep.

My alarm went off at seven and I lay there on the bed for a moment with my eyes still closed.

Pushing myself up, I strolled out of the room, seeing I had woken up before them both, I used the time to shower quietly and make an actual seasoned toast unlike the disaster I made thanks to the distraction of a guy.

~~~~~~

“Hey babe.” Blake was outside my lecture hall at eleven, leaning on the wall quietly with his bag hung over one shoulder when I walked out, he had seen me just before I did. “There she is.” He waved, stepping in front of me, and placing a kiss on my lips and ignoring the streams of students flooding the hallway already. My cheeks warming up already.

I still felt the same way I had done since we had met eight months ago… in love.

He had walked up to me during a party I had attended and handed me a drink while I was lost fully thinking about the loss of my mother.

I spent four years crushing on Dani and yet Blake looked at me like I was his heaven on earth. So the moment he asked me out on a date I said yes, I said yes to being his girlfriend without hesitating. Eight months later and I don't think my feelings would change.

His fruity scent hit my nose the moment he leaned close to me, the particular scent I picked the first time we talked. “How was the move?” He asked.

“Good, the room is better.” I shrugged. “So it’s fine.”

“You should have just let me talk to the housing.” He sighed, pressing his lips into a thin line.

“I’ve sorted it out.” I stopped to look at him.

“Ross’s place?” His lips curved down in a frown. “Aren’t there other options?”

“I have no issues living with him, besides I have a room to myself so…” I stared at him before looking away, and continued walking.

“With his brother?” He frowned. “You know how I don’t like you being around other guys.” He pulled me closer. “Aren’t there other options, baby?”

“Dani lives there, he’s been there for two years, Blake, it’s his apartment.”

Blake nodded his head slowly, a tinge of disappointment in his eyes, walking down the hallway, he pushed the door to the lecture door opened, letting me in, since we both had the same course unit.

Throughout the lecture, I noticed he was quiet and barely took any notes. Once the lecture was over he walked right out, leaving me trying hard to match up his pace.

“Keep it slow Blake, I don’t have legs as long as yours.” I rolled my eyes, frowning at him.

“My bad babe.” he listened and turned to look at me. “I have a game tonight.” He said almost excitedly. “By five.”

“Well I have a study group by five too.” I spilled, pressing my lips together.

“Don't you want to see your boyfriend play? The other guys are bringing their girls over.” He stopped and turned to me. My jaw gaped open, staring at him quietly and wondering what was the reason behind this. He was never really bothered whether or not I attended his games…. Why was today any different?

“I can’t move it, four others are waiting for me and I already promised to attend.” i tried to reason with him.

“Wren.” He called my name calmly, sending chills down my spine. This time, I knew it, calm and demanding with a tinge of anger in his eyes. “Come to the game.”

“Blake… I have important things to do.” i pressed on.

“I’m not asking Wren.” His lips slowly curled into a smile, even when angry he always found a way to smile which most of the time made being with him uncomfortable. “It’s just a study session, you can catch up some other time.”

I looked at him for a second, and he looked back, still smiling. I was slowly wondering if I should go on to listen to him or not take the risk.

After much thought, I sighed. “Fine.” he was right.

He smiled. “Good.” Pulling me into a small hug before walking again with his arms around me talking about the game but everything sounded gibberish to me since I wasn’t paying attention.

“You know my rival’s going to be there.” He said like he was thinking out loud.

“What do you mean?” I raised my brows.

“Ralston’s team is playing against us.” He glanced sideways before speaking. “Calloway is their captain.”

“Oh.” I nodded… Dani's team, he’s at it again.

Dani won sportsman of the year for three years straight, while Blake always came second place, Blake was adamant on winning the award the fourth time he contested for it.

Blake also tried to sobotage Dani once, by spreading a rumor about him, and they had been at loggerheads since, they're both great at the sport, I always wondered why they needed some stupid award to proof that.

“Just so you know.” He shrugged. “Didn’t want it to be weird.”

“There’s nothing weird about that.” I shrugged, Dani being on the opposite team playing against my boyfriend isn’t such a big deal… right?

The arena was so loud before the game started.

I found a seat in the middle section, close enough to see the rink clearly but from a safe distance as well.

Blake had texted me three times on the way over, once to confirm I was coming, the other was to know where I was to sit, and to remind me not to be late.

Ralston’s team was finishing their warm-up session when I arrived, blue and white jerseys moving across the eyes, the sound of the blades cutting clean thin lines into the ice surface.

I sat down and wrapped my scarf over my head to cover my face, paired with a pair of sunglasses, while telling myself not to look for number eighteen, Dani's number.

Well my eyes didn’t listen as much as I wanted them to, I noticed Dani at the far end of the ice, moving with so much ease that it looked effortless but in reality it wasn’t.

Dani on the rink was a totally different guy, that flirtiness was replaced with a cocky attitude, his smile was cold, and he? He never missed a shot and he was part of the reason the Ralston team was the top lead nationally.

I watched him dribble a pair and take a shot, hitting the back of the net causing a handful of the team's supporters to cheer near the glass. He didn’t react, only turned toward the center ice with his jaw set and his damp hair tousling over his forehead.

I looked away, biting my lips.

What the hell am I doing? I have a freaking boyfriend. “Damn you Wren.”

I looked back at the other end of the arena, seeing Blake on the bench in his red and black team jersey, he saw me and waved. I waved back with a smile, blowing him a kiss while thinking about the study group and all the flash cards I was currently missing out on.

The game had started with a buzz sound.

From what had been happening, Blake's team was down by two goals before the second period had ended and Dani had scored a goal of his own while his team did the other. I could literally feel the intensity of the game from where I sat, both guys were literally kicking in on each other.

By the third, Blake’s team had pulled back but were still pumping with energy. I couldn't help but notice Blake’s jaw clenched every time he looked across the rink toward me.

The final buzzer sounded with Ralston ahead.

Blake was at the boards, helmet off while talking to his teammates when Dani skated past them and said it loud enough that everyone close by could hear. “Just because she’s dating you doesn’t mean you win her dimwit.”

Everywhere went silent for a moment like something more was about to happen.

Blake stopped and turned, slowly.

“Excuse me?” He said.

Dani smiled. That sneaky smile he makes whenever he is about to do something crazy. “Oh don’t pretend, I saw you stare at her.” He didn’t look at me but I felt it anyway. “She will never be your property even if she’s dating you, is that clear?”

I was shocked by the statement because no one expected it, especially me.

“Fuck off!”

Dani leaned in slightly, whispering something I couldn’t quite catch him say, and suddenly Blake threw a punch to his face.