Chapter 5: Unfortunate Relationship

Justin

I tried to help Tiffany clean the gym, but she didn’t let me.

She told me to sit and wait for her to finish if I wasn't going to leave her alone, and now I am just sitting on one of the stools looking at her clean.

"Are you sure you don't want my help, babe?" I tease, and she shot a glare at me.

"Don't call me babe when we are alone. It gives me the ick, " she says, and I smirked.

Still as feisty as ever.

It's a miracle she agreed to date me, I was ready to pressure her for weeks, but I'm surprised she agreed so fast.

I guess she really wants to make the front page.

This makes me wonder why she hates hockey so much. Maybe she hates it because of me. She has always hated me like it's a full-time job.

I stare at her and notice she looks tired, so early in the morning.

I hear she works many jobs, I wonder how many and why?

For money, obviously, but I don't really see her as someone who is lacking.

Maybe it's just me.

"We need to talk about your no touching rule," I say, and she pauses.

"What's there to talk about? Don't touch me, period!" She replies.

"There's no convincing anyone we are dating if We don't touch each other," I insist, and she pauses.

"I can't stand you, you know that, right?" She says. "I would puke out everything I've eaten if you touch me," she adds.

I squeeze my hand into a fist, her words Pierce through me like a million knives. Damn... that was harsh.

I did notice how she acted yesterday when I pulled her. She got lost for a while, which made me wonder if there is something I am missing.

"I can't stand you too Sherlock but we have to do this, I can't let coach bench me, because it's beginning to look like that's what he is planning to do," I tell her. "I can't get you to the front page if I am on the bench," I add to let her know how serious the situation was.

Tiffany runs her hand through her hair with a sigh. She turns to look at me with those dark eyes of hers.

"I will think about it," Tiffany finally says.

At least that's better than a no.

"Ohh and about what happened yesterday, I didn't mean to pull you, I was just trying to get your attention," I explain and she stare at me quietly like she didn't know how to reply.

I am genuinely sorry, I didn’t mean to scare her at all, and I hope she's okay.

I had no idea she hated me that much.

"Whatever," Tiffany waves off and walks away with the cleaning materials.

She was done, that was fast, she didn't need me to help after all.

"Don't talk to me unless necessary," Tiffany says as she walks towards me. "And by necessary, I mean when you have news that can help me, oh and I haven't interviewed you yet, I need your thoughts on your amazing turnaround win during the last game to make my article complete," She adds.

"Like I said, I have to workout right now, and I have practice after workout, I'm not free till.... I don't know," I tell her, and she blinked.

"Then how am I supposed to interview you, I am not dating you for free, Justin," she retorts.

"We would find time, give me your phone," I tell her, and she frowns. "I need to give you my number. Let me know when you're free, and I would do the same too," I explain, and she pulls out her phone, handing it to me.

After saving my number on her phone and calling it so I can have hers, I return the phone to her.

Tiffany stares at the screen and then glares at me. "My life? Seriously? You're not worth that title," she rolls her eyes, and I chuckle.

I expected that reaction.

I can't see what's she's doing on her phone, but I know she's changing the name. "Don't talk to me unless necessary," she reminds me and walks out of the gym.

This is going to be the longest semester of my life.

-

"Let me get this straight. You both started dating two weeks ago?" Aaron asks. He has been trying to fish information out of me since practice.

"Yeah.." I reply.

"Oh my God, if you told me you were dating anyone else that isn't Tiffany Holmes, then I would believe but her? I can clearly remember you saying you can't stand her attitude," Aaron states.

"People change, and we are not exclusive yet," I reply.

"Not this type of change," Grant interjects as he walks down the stairs.

Sometimes, I forget we are three in this damn house. "I know, right, and Tiff hates his guts to want to date him, or is it like those love-hate relationships or only sex kinda thing?" Aaron asked.

"Enough with the questions, she's my girlfriend, that's it!" I conclude and Grant scoffs.

"I'm guessing it's because of what coach said the last time, now you're trying to prove yourself to not get benched," Grant states.

Fucking hell, he has always been the smart one who sees through people like a book and that's why he is the captain and not me

"I won't get benched and it's not because of that," I hiss at him.

"Your father called, he wants to see you," Grant informs and everyone fell quiet.

Just the mention of him fills my body with unknown anger and I stood up from where I was sitting. "Not interested," I reply.

He always does this, calling my roommates whenever I refuse to pick up his calls.

And as if on cue, my phone rings and I turn to see my father's name on the screen.

"Speak of the devil," Aaron mutter.

"You can't ignore him forever, he is your dad," Grant says.

"I can, I have, and I will," I reply and walk out of the living room, leaving my phone on the table.