Homework, Hockey and Hell

The next three days were hell. After my breakdown, I decided I couldn't postpone all of my assignments so I wound up staying up late Sunday to finish what I could, and finished everything else on Monday night. Tuesday I was given another history essay due by the end of the next week. Ten pages! A ten page paper in a week. I had heard Mr. Smith could be a hard ass, but it was getting harder and harder to keep up. It seemed that the heaviest part of his coarse load was near the end of the semester instead of the beginning. I wanted to stay home from the game Wednesday to work on it, but I didn't want to leave Chase hanging.

We didn't talk too much over the last few days due to homework, as well as my current issue at hand. I was ashamed of the conversation that I needed to have with him. I was also tired of Will. He was definitely using an app. He called or messaged me from several different numbers. A new one every day. He never went into details in a message besides a "Hey" or "why won't you answer me" probably baiting me into thinking it was somebody else so I would respond. I didn't bother responding to him. I just blocked the numbers and went about my day. I had no proof it was him so there was really nothing I could do.

Except there was. I could tell Chase. I could send Wyatt the screenshots of my last conversation with him. However if Wyatt believed me, it could jeopardize his spot on the team if it turned into anything. If he didn't believe me I would subjected to his attack again. Chase would believe me, but with his temper it could jeopardize his spot in the league. There was a reason why very few people actually tried to fight him. He was even angrier than he was tall. I hadn't seen much of it off the ice, but on the ice he could be terrifying. His own team mates gave him more space than needed if he was having a bad game. He never started a fight or acted cheap because he was mad; In that sense his temper was in check. But as soon as someone swung, it was all over. He had no control of his temper at that point. He took every challenge head on with a running start. He has never backed down from a fight. However, if I told him about this he may finally start one, and it would get ugly.

I told Olivia and Cass about what happened, minus the choking topic, and made them swear not to tell Callum or Owen. They both had the same idea and I hated it.

"Just tell Chase. He can deal with it,"

"We've only been dating for like a week,". I sighed, pulling my maroon turtle neck over my tank top. Olivia was laying on my bed, trying to convince me to bring him into it

"More than that if you count the weeks you spent being friends,".

I grabbed my mascara off the dresser and tried my best to talk and apply it at the same time. "That doesn't count, and I don't need him being kicked out of the league. It would ruin his career before he could even get drafted. He's worked too hard,".

She snorted. "Do you think he's an idiot? He won't be stupid about it. He keeps his spot and Will fucks off. He'll figure something out,".

"No, he won't because I'm not telling him,".

Now it was her turn to sigh as she rolled off the bed. "Fine, but you need to figure something out. You may think it's nothing, but he sounds unstable. He was fine again until he found out you were dating Chase then he flew off the handle. I don't have a good feeling about this. The second I think he's gone too far, more than he already is, I'm telling him,".

I opened my mouth to tell her it wouldn't get that far, but was interrupted by Cass. "Chase is here!" she called up the stairs.

"We aren't done talking about this,". She warned as I breezed past her, in a hurry to get out of the situation. I was downstairs with my boots and jacket on, and out the door in thirty seconds, bumping into Chase on the step. He looked so professional with his black dress pants and grey button up, complete with a black tie. He hated the game day dress code, but I kind of liked it.

He pulled me to him with a grin. "Hey you,". He leaned down and kissed me softly, holding the side of my face. I kissed him back, the guilt already settling in. "Ready to go?" I nodded, letting him lead me to the truck with a hand on my lower back. He pecked me on the lips once more before going around to the drivers side.

Since it was an away game he was much earlier picking me up so we had time to stop and get a coffee on the way. I had to reassure him it wouldn't keep me up all night several times before he agreed. If there was one thing I was addicted to it was caffeine. I'd quit smoking twice now, my last pack being the one I bought a few weeks ago, but I could not cut out caffeine. Those headaches were not worth it. As a nice side effect I could drink a cup of coffee and still fall asleep two hours later without a problem. It was a gift in my opinion.

My phone went off several times throughout the hour long drive there and I was becoming increasingly annoyed by it. I had to block two more numbers. Maybe if I didn't block the next one, or unblocked his real number he would cut it out. Whichever one his real number was. Any time he called it showed up as unknown caller. I just assumed they were all him since he never left a voicemail. It went off once more as he pulled the truck into the arena. Thankfully this one was from Olivia.

"Hey, are you okay?"

I was caught off guard. "Yeah, why?"

"You're biting your lip and not molesting me, so you're upset about something. And you're phone is clearly pissing you off,".

I thought I was doing a much better job at hiding it. "Yeah, Wyatt is just being an ass again,". Not entirely untrue because he was. . . just not today.

He pulled into a spot, shifting into park before turning to me. "Do you want me to talk to him? I doubt he would believe me, but maybe it could help,".

I shook my head "No, this is my problem. He can get over it,".

Though he never answered me Sunday, so the odds of him actually being okay with Chase and I were pretty slim. Especially with Will and Robin lying to him.

"If that's what you want,".

"Chase, I don't want you dealing with my problems. He's in the wrong here, not you. I'm not wrong either but he's my brother,".

I meant the words, but I felt like I was lying to him. He reluctantly agreed before hopping out of the truck to grab his bag. He took my hand on the way across the parking lot and I gave him his good luck kiss, which was becoming tradition and apparently for good reason.

They came out on top with another win, Chase scoring two goals again this game, and he was definitely in good spirits. I on the other hand was trying hard to put this childish game Will was playing behind me. There had been no messages since the drive here, so I unblocked his real phone number and put my phone on do not disturb. This was the only game I'd been to so far without my camera so I could enjoy it, and here I was, not enjoying any of it.

I met Chase in the lobby as usual, but this time after closing the tailgate, he surprised me with a kiss. Deep and heavy. He pushed me up against the tail gate, pulling my hair back. It was easy to ignore his post game smell with his hands all over me. He really was like this after every game, and I felt guilty. What I really wanted was for him to park on a back road on the way home so we could finish this, but I knew I couldn't. not the sex, or what ever we wanted to do that didn't involve penetration, but I couldn't even do that right now. I felt like I was lying to him, even when I wasn't saying anything.

A whistle sounded, causing us both to jump, I looked over to see Callum and Miles laughing at us and pumping their fists. I flipped them off and hid behind Chase's shoulder. He didn't seem to mind though. He dipped a hand behind me to cup my butt, pushing into me further. As much as I wanted this, wanted him, I couldn't keep going.

"Okay, I think we should get going,". I placed my hands on his chest, pushing him back lightly. I smiled, trying to keep it light, but my heart dropped. "Long drive home,".

He kissed me again. "Speaking of which, are you coming over? I have dryland in the morning, but I'm free after that,".

I was hoping he wouldn't ask, even though part of me wanted him to just take me home and let me take what I wanted. So here I am, lying to him again.

"I don't think that's a good idea. I have that history paper still and I barely started. I'm going to do some work on it tonight and finish it after my session tomorrow,".

I could tell he wasn't buying it based on my mood today and the weak excuse, but he didn't ask.

"Okay, how about tomorrow after your shoot? You'll be done around five right? We can get dinner. Alone this time,".

I smiled. "Okay,". He was planning on taking me on our first official date. Unless he counted our parking lot vent session as a date, but that was definitely not what I'd call a date. I kissed him once more before we got in the truck and settled in for the ride home.

Despite the coffee, I fell asleep for the last half hour of the drive. Chase shook my shoulder gently to wake me. "You're home, Sleeping beauty. You were not kidding about that coffee,". He laughed

"I'm invincible,". I mumbled.

"Sure, sure,".

I smiled tiredly at him, leaning across the console to give him a kiss. He held my face, lingering for a moment before pulling away.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

The compassion in his eyes had me feeling guiltier than ever. He actually cared about what goes on in my life, but right now I wished he didn't. Not until I could figure out how to tell him.

"Yeah, I'm just stressed out. Once I'm caught up on my assignments and get the Wyatt thing sorted I'll be okay,".

He still didn't seem to be buying it, but he let it go for now. "Okay. Good night baby," He kissed me again softly, then once again on the cheek before I hopped out of the truck. I waved him goodbye while he waited for me to get inside. Once inside I sighed, throwing my coat down on the bench.

"Willow?" Olivia rounded the corner into the hallway, arms crossed. Her stance was defensive, but her face was worried. Cass came up behind her and gave me the same look.

"We need to talk,"

Ah, hell