Ella

Two years ago

The wheels of my carry-on whirred as I made my way down the carpeted hall. I checked my phone again before scanning the metal numbers on each door that I passed. These college dorms were a lot more spacious than the ones I was familiar with. But I guess that's what you get when you select a school that prioritizes athletics over academics.

That was the main reason Liam, my boyfriend, had decided on a college out of state. All the way in Texas to be exact. Brite University had offered him a full ride as long as he agreed to play on their hockey team. That was a no-brainer. Liam had been dreaming of playing for a college and developing his skill set before getting drafted into the NHL. Then I would graduate and join him wherever he ended up and work for a law firm. We had it all planned out.

I paused near the end of the long hall. This was it. Taking a steadying breath, I parked my luggage next to me while I smoothed out the white crop top I was wearing. When I felt like my outfit was presentable I tugged my hair out of the bun I had put it in for the flight over here. While I had spent the better part of the day traveling across the country, I didn't want it to seem that way, you know? I fluffed at my hair, fingertips massaging over my scalp. My roots were screaming from being contained all day.

Then I raised my hand to knock.

I could only imagine what Liam's reaction would be. We hadn't seen each other in months. It had been winter break the last time I was able to put my arms around him. During that time we were home, we talked about me making the trip out to Texas to visit him at school. The plan was to have me visit over spring break, but that fell through when his coach organized another training camp for the team that same week. He promised he'd make it up to me, but I decided to take things into my own hands. For all that he knew, I was preparing for finals back in New York, just like I had told him. He wouldn't expect me to make the trip out and surprise him.

When no one came to answer the door I began to worry that he was out. I checked the time again. Perhaps he was in the shower? From inside the dorm room I could hear the faint sound of rap music. It was definitely Liam's taste in music. I tried knocking again, but I was left with the same result.

Well, this wasn't how I envisioned things going.

Pursing my lips I considered my next steps. Should I call him and let him know I was standing outside of his dorm room? That wasn't exactly the romantic movie moment I was picturing.

Down the hall, two boys peered at me from their dorm room. They exchanged curious glances that made me feel a little less than comfortable. Wanting to get out of the open hallway, I took my chances and tried the doorknob. My lips parted a fraction when it moved under the weight of my hands. I pressed further and pushed the door open.

The heavy bass I heard in the hall filled the main living quarters. The smell of body spray hit me almost as hard. It was pretty clear that there were three college aged men sharing the space. Leaving my carry-on by the entrance, I stepped through the kitchenette and over an old pizza box on the floor. I scrunched up my nose. The conjoined living room was just as gross. A pile of unfolded laundry sat in a basket that had been abandoned on the faux leather couch and the coffee table was littered with beer cans, solo cups and a few crumpled receipts. I sent a silent thank-you to whoever was listening that I lived in a sorority. Which, honestly, had its own host of problems.

The ceiling to floor windows that lined the shared living room was the only satisfying feature. Natural light filtered into the space and highlighted the dust that coated the hardwood floor. I turned my nose up at the limp sock laying by my foot. Where was he hiding? The two bedroom doors to my left were wide open. I balanced on the tips of my toes, rocking forward to peer inside.

Nothing.

The song that I was listening to in the hallway ended, a new one taking its place as I moved to the other side of the room. I made my way towards a closed door.

I placed my hand on the doorknob before calling out. "Liam?"

Muffled noise came from the other side. It would be just like him to be passed out in the middle of the day. Turning the knob, I pushed the door open and poked my head inside.

I squinted into the blackened room. It took some time for my eyes to adjust, but when they did I wished they hadn't. On the half-made bed was a woman who couldn't have been much older than me. Her back was pressed into the mattress. Wild dark hair splayed across the pillow as she gripped onto the dark blue duvet. My heart dropped to my stomach. It felt like I had been shoved off a skyscraper in the middle of New York city. My gaze swept across her body and down her long, slender legs were wrapped around something–or rather someone.

His head was buried deep between her legs. Strong arms wrapped around her thighs and holding her squirming body in place. I turned my head, ready to pretend like I was never here and tell Liam that I had walked in on his roommate. That was until I registered the ink on the guy's right shoulder.

"You got a tattoo?" I asked when he appeared in my bedroom doorway that evening. The sleeves of his t-shirt were rolled up. A sheet of plastic wrap lay over the top of his shoulder. "My boyfriend has a tattoo? Oh my god, that's so hot."

He laughed at my antics. "Do you want to see it?" Liam asked, approaching where I sat on my bean bag chair.

I nodded, placing the novel I was reading down on the floor. "Of course."

Liam lowered himself down next to me and I shimmed over to make room. The scent of mint and citrus washed over me and caused my senses to tingle. There wasn't one thing I didn't absolutely love about this boy. We had one more summer together before we were off to our respective colleges.

I was going to miss him.

He fixed the sleeve of his t-shirt, pulling it up even higher so that I could get a better look. "I have to go back in for one more session, but it's done for the most part."

"Is that a compass?" I said, my fingers hovering over his arm. I peered up at him. "What's the meaning?"

Liam's dark brown eyes locked with mine. "It's just a reminder. That no matter how far apart we are, I'll always find my way back to you."

I clasped a hand over my mouth, sucking in a gasp. There's no way this was happening. There was no fucking way this was happening.

I was frozen in the doorway, aware that I needed to move, but my legs felt like cement. The light from the other room had trickled in and casted my shadow across the bed. The girl's heavy lashes parted and her eyes drifted over to me by the door. She let out a loud screech, launched herself closer to the headboard with a protective arm around her lace-covered chest.

"What the fuck!" She shouted, folding her body into herself.

Liam's head whipped around to find me standing like a deer in headlights. He rose from his knees, his erection prominent behind the thin fabric of his blue boxer briefs.

"Ella?" His voice was disbelieving.

My body finally thawed. I shook my head, stepping back. I needed to get out of there. Before he could utter another word I had spun around and headed back towards the exit.

"Ella, wait!" He called. It was the desperation that caused me to stop in my tracks. Or maybe it was the love-sick teenage girl in me that didn't want her relationship to end. Whatever the reason, I allowed him to catch up to me, hovering by the door.

I forced myself to look at him. His lips glistened with her. Evidence that what I had just walked in on actually happened. His hair had grown since the last time I saw him in December. Memories of us in my room flashed through my mind. I swallowed down the lump that had formed in my throat.

"Ella," he said again.

Liam reached out his arms. I held out a shaky hand to stop him. "No."

He raised both palms out in my direction. "Please hear me out," he started. "This long distance thing, it's hard. I've missed you."

I wanted to grind my teeth in frustration. Of course being in a long distance relationship was hard. We went from seeing each other every day to only being able to see each other through video calls for the better part of the school year. I wasn't denying that it was difficult, but I cared about our four year long relationship enough not to jeopardize it.

I cared enough about him not to jeopardize it.

"Missed me so much that you're sleeping with other women?" I couldn't hold back the scoff. "Tell me how that makes any sense, Liam."

The question was rhetorical, but tried to justify it anyway. "It didn't mean anything, Blondie. You're the only one I care about."

The sound of the pet name made me nauseous. "How long has this been going on for?"

"Ella–" He stepped closer to me, but I moved back.

I repeated the question. "How long, Liam?"

His lips parted before slamming shut. The silence was louder than the explicit rap lyrics in the background. The lump that had been forming in my throat was too big to try and force down. I swallowed anyway, a well of tears pooling behind my eyes.

"I never want to see you again," I muttered. "We're done."

This time, when I turned to leave, Liam didn't bother to chase after me. I gripped onto the handle of my luggage a little harder than necessary as I wheeled it back down the hallway. The two men from earlier were still out by the dorm room. Their hungry gazes tracked my movements.

"Hey," one of them said, a full on smirk coating his greasy face. "Need a place to crash?"

I wanted to crash something all right. Like the windows of my ex-boyfriend's car. As I stomped towards the elevator their snickers filled the hall behind me.

Fuck them.

Stupid, asshole hockey players. They were all the damn same. I jabbed my finger into the button for the elevator. My chest quacked with a sniffle. No. Absolutely not. There was no way I was going to waste my precious time crying over a jerk like Liam Doyle.

But my head lost the battle against my heart.

As the elevator doors closed behind me, I sank to the untidy floor. The dam that was holding back my emotions had burst.

I was done with Liam. And I was absolutely, one-hundred-and-ten-percent done with hockey players.

_ _ _ _ _

author's note:

Hi there!

Welcome to my new story, Shutout. Thank you so much for checking it out! I'm so excited to share Ella and Hendrix's story with you. This story contains a number of tropes and themes that I haven't had the chance to explore yet. I really hope you enjoy it. 

Updates will be posted every Friday!

Sound off in the comments and tell me what your favourite romance tropes are!