Chapter 9: A Gift To Be Payed Back

Tiffany

"Justin bought you this?" Ava asks, suprise evident in her eyes.

"I specifically told him not to," I reply, letting out a sigh.

"Why would he get you a new laptop?" Ava asks again.

"Mine fell while I was at his place yesterday, and the screen cracked badly," I explain, and she nods in understanding and then smirks a little.

"I didn't know Justin was such a good boyfriend,"

"Stop it," I reprimand her as I repack the laptop. "I'm sending it back to him,"

"Huh? No, you won't... you need the laptop, how would you write your article?" Ava frowns.

"I would borrow yours... I don't need a favor from Justin," I complain.

"Gosh... Tiff.... can you stop already? I will never understand this hatred for Justin, but throwing away a perfectly good laptop because of hate is just plain stupidity. " Ava yells at me. "I would not give you mine if you return this to Justin, I fucking mean it!" She stands up from the bed and walk out of the room.

I watch Ava go as I bit my lips. "I'm not stupid," I mutter to myself.

No one would ever understand the kind of person Justin is... what he did to Glenda would forever be engraved in my memory.

The thought of her hit me like a wave and I bite the inner walls of my mouth.

I know I am betraying her by being in this fake relationship with Justin, but I really need to get on the front page.

That's why I cannot accept this, I've already betrayed the one person who brought me out of my dark hole. I don't need to take things further.

I stare at the laptop in front of me and sigh... my conscience won't allow me to accept this.

I pick up my phone and message Justin to meet with me before standing up from the bed.

_

"You asked me to come here so you can return the laptop?" Justin raises an eyebrow.

"I clearly told you I didn't need your help," I shove the laptop on him, and he holds it.

"You can pay me for it then," He replies.

"I can't afford a new laptop not to talk of that model," I snap.

"It won't kill you to accept a gift," he says.

"It would," I roll my eyes at him and turn to walk away, but Justin hurries in front of me, blocking my path

"Just take it," He gives the laptop back.

"I said I don't need it,"

"You need it to write your article, right?"

"I would find an alternative,"

"I'm giving you an alternative. You can pay me for it when you have the money, no matter how long it takes, I don't care honestly," Justin smiles.

I stare at his stupid smile, and strangely enough, I don't feel like slapping that annoying smile off his face.

An unsettling feeling engulfs me.

I take the laptop from him after a while. "I would definitely pay you back before the end of the semester," I tell him, and he chuckles a little.

"No problem, Sherlock."

"Quit calling me Sherlock,"

"It suits you since you're smart and all,"

I roll my eyes at him and walk past him, but Justin follows behind me.

"We have a practice match today with another team, and it would be weird if my girlfriend doesn't show up to support me besides, it would fit well into your article," Justin rants.

"All these just because you want me to attend your game?" I ask, and Justin nods.

"Yes, babe," He smiles.

Now I feel like slapping that smile off his face.... that's more like it.

"Text me the time," I say.

_

I regret attending this "practice" match, I thought a practice match meant much people won't attend because it's not a real game, but I was wrong.

This place is packed!

Are people really that crazy about ice hockey?

I look down at the ice.

The match had already started about a few minutes ago, and the crowd is a little calm.

The way the players move in sync caught my attention, they move in precise movements, and surprisingly, I could clearly tell which one of the players was Justin even with his helmet on.

He just managed to stand out like he always had, ever since I've known him.

His number "17" is boldly written at the back of his jersey.

The other team score first and the booing from the Ravens were so loud my ears could go deaf.

It was even louder than the cheering coming from the other side of the stadium or maybe because I am sitting here.

Justin looks calmer than I expect.

He doesn't seem to be crashing out.

That's new.

The game resumes, and it didn't even take up to 10 minutes before Justin scores, and the crowd literally loses it.

That was fast as hell.

Things seem to be getting heated up on the ice as the game resumes again, I can't fully tell what exactly was going on, but I can feel the tension.

I look at the time, and judging from the information I've gathered so far, the first period should be over soon.

Two goals in just the first period sounds crazy to me, or maybe because I know nothing about ice hockey.

Justin seems to be going for the other team's net with the puck, another goal?

He passes the puck to a team mate and when the team mate was about to pass it back to him, someone from the opposing team hits Justin hard before he could catch the puck with his stick and Justin fell on the ice, his helmet falling off.

My heart skipped a beat. Was he hurt?

Before I could even process what had happened, the buzzer sounds, signaling the end of the first period. Justin's teammates immediately rush toward him.

I stand up from where I was sitting when I see them carrying him towards the bench.

Murmurs erupt in the stadium with people wondering if Justin is hurt or not.

And I am curious too.... worried even.

Fuck no