k a r r i s

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We were getting slaughtered.

Brampcrest Academy came onto our home turf to do major damage and they certainly were doing so. I always knew the Brampcrest hockey team were phenomenal players, but this time around, it was absolute insanity. Willowridge were struggling as they tried their hardest to steal pucks, execute plays they've practiced for hours, and win a game they so desperately wanted.

"Damnit!" Coach Benson bellowed, rubbing his forehead with his hand in frustration. I could see both fear and anxiety etched in his redden face as he watched Calum get slammed against the barricade and drop onto the ice like Skrillex dropping the bass.

Even though Calum and I didn't talk anymore, he still had a tiny place in my heart -- which sucked because I knew I was nothing to him. I was concerned for him regardless, hoping he wasn't too injured. But when I watched Calum get up from the ice and shoot Coach Benson a thumbs up, I knew he was going to be okay.

Brampcrest were in the lead by two points and they were doing everything in their power to keep it that way. Even the refs seemed to be on their side, which became a more frustrating aspect of the game. Several of Brampcrest players should've been benched, should've been penalized for playing dirty. But every time they'd ransack themselves into our players, or trip us from hooking, the refs were conveniently looking in another direction.

It was nuckin' stupid!

And what was just as stupid, were my innate anxious nerves. I had a close eye on our boys who were getting assassinated on the ice, but in watching our players meant seeing a certain Brampcrest player, notorious for things only he and I knew: Sebastian Grey, number 9.

Sebastian moved across the rink at top speed. He played with aggression and anger, as he skated circles around Willowridge. He was a predator and our boys were his prey, playing with his food before voraciously digging in. A cocky smirk would appear on Sebastian's face every time he made a goal, and it was his sick vendetta to make sure Ashton knew what he was up against.

I didn't blame Ashton at all when he decided to pummel Sebastian to the ice. I didn't mind at all that one of the best players on the Willowridge team was flagged with a penalty and had to be benched for five minutes while we played a man short. What I did care about however, was the eerie grin Sebastian flashed as his daunting eyes bore deeply into him. I swallowed, shivered, and felt my stomach drop a thousand feet. My entire body went cold and my skin prickled, peppered with goosebumps.

"Whoa! Karris!"

"She's on the ground!"

"Call a time out!"

I didn't realize I had collapsed. My vision went black for a millisecond and when everyone reappeared, I was looking at legs and skates. Confusion dripped from my face as I gazed up, finding the entire hockey team surrounding me with concerned expressions.

"Get her up! Get her up!"

I didn't have time to react or to open my mouth to speak before a pair of arms lifted me off of the ground. One arm around my back and the other beneath my legs, I was cradled with ease. I don't know why I thought it was Calum at first -- probably because he used to defend me and there was a part of me that wished he still would. But when I caught glimpse of the dark haired boy, I realized that it wasn't he who held me so protectively.

"God Karebear, can you not be such a spaz?" Ashton's eyebrows were furrowed, staring at me as he shook his head in disapproval. His facial expression was brimming with annoyance, but his hazel eyes on the other hand were glazed with something else.

Ashton sat me down on the bench just as Coach Benson and the rest of the team came to my aid. Coach dropped to one knee, holding my neck like he were looking for tenderness or a fracture in my bones.

Coach sighed, "Karris, you're pale, and you're sweating. You're not sick, are you?"

"N-no," I shook my head. "I just, I, um, I don't know."

My eyes darted from Coach Benson, to the team, to the audience who stared in our direction. My brain didn't want to, but my eyes had a mind of their own -- searching for the demon in the vicinity. On the other end of the rink, where Brampcrest stayed huddled at their bench, I found Sebastian nodding as his coach spoke. I shivered again, a pang scorching my chest and immediately my hand shot to my torso.

The entire team gasped, stepping towards me with open arms. I gazed at them pathetically, suddenly feeling stupid. When I first tried out for the Willowridge Hockey team, I did it in hopes that I could prove girls were every bit as good as the boys. I wanted to be on the team to show that girls weren't prissy and emotional; that they were strong, independent, and straight up badass. But as I sat on the bench with the entire team staring at me and wondering if I were okay, made it seem as if I were the very piece of evidence that dismissed my women-empowering claims.

"That's it, you don't look good at all. I'm sending you home," Coach Benson determined, standing up on both feet. He pulled out his cellphone from his jacket pocket and continued, "are your parents home? Can one of them come pick you up?"

My eyes widened with immense intensity. I gasped, and because I was awkward and didn't know how to handle this situation, I slapped Coach Benson's very expensive iPhone out of his hand.

"Karris!" Coach bellowed, quite puzzled.

I stood up, despite the fact that I was still feeling woozy and opened my mouth, hoping that the dizziness didn't impair my brain's ability to think fast.

"I uh, I'm sorry," I quickly apologized. "I tried to wave my hand but I'm just so dizzy, I couldn't control myself."

It was a bull crap excuse, but Coach seemed to believe it. He simply just picked up his phone before basking in the unavoidable topic,

"You gotta go home and I'm not letting you walk or take the bus."

Coach waited for a response from me. I thought about the many possibilities, and thought about Berkley. She was home instead of watching the match and decided that my best friend was the best choice to call. But before I could relay that idea to Coach Benson, someone unexpectedly stepped up to the plate.

"I'll take her home," Ashton announced and all eyes bolted to him in shock.

"What?" Coach Benson muttered, clearly bewildered with Captain Satan's gracious offer.

"I'm already benched," Ashton noted, "and I don't wanna be here watching these fairies triple-8 themselves into yet another loss. "

"Hey!" Luke barked, "fuck you, man!"

Ashton threw his hands up in defense as if his statement wasn't at all demeaning to his teammates.

"I don't know Ashton, I'd feel better knowing Karris is in the hands of her mom or dad, especially considering her heart condition," Coach brought up, and I wanted to gag at the thought.

"It's okay," I suddenly chimed in, "Ash can take me home. I'll call my parents on the way. I'll be fine. I think I'm just dehydrated or something."

"Are you sure?" Coach questioned.

I nodded, "I promise. Also, I think you should put in Michael."

"What?" Ashton cackled, almost keeling over, "why Clifford? We're against Brampcrest, not fucking Troy Bolton and the Wildcats."

"You're a dick dude," Michael shot up his middle finger.

I turned to Coach Benson, "trust me. Michael has some tricks hidden underneath his sleeves that Brampcrest won't expect. He's your secret weapon."

"Okay, you heard Coach Karris!" Coach Benson yelled, "Ash take Karris home. Michael you'll sit in for Ashton in the penalty box then you're in. Let's beat these douche canoes!"

Cheering emitted from the team before breaking up into their respective spots. Ashton tugged onto my arm, causing me to follow him away from the bench and down the tunnel. I watched Ashton walk through the hall, wondering why he's being nice to me. It wasn't that I didn't appreciate it, it was just weird.

"Meet me out in block-F," Ashton instructed. "I'm gonna run to the locker room real quick to get this gear off and grab my car keys."

"Okay," I simply complied, not bothering to argue or to question Ashton's motives.

I separated myself from the captain as he walked into the boys locker room, and I sauntered into the corridor on the other side of the locker rooms. I leaned back against the wall, fidgeting my fingers from the inside of my coaching jacket. Even though I hated the idea of not being there for my teammates, I was relieved to not be in the same vicinity as my brother's murderer.

I waited for Ashton, drowning in my thoughts and anxious to be back home. But as I continued to wait for the hockey captain, I felt an odd and off-putting aura fill the air. The corridor became eerily silent, not even the flickering florescent light in the corner of the ceiling seemed to make its subtle clicking noise.

Then I smelled it.

The strong, musty cologne that I could never eradicate from my brain. It was clouded with sweat, but beneath that was the signature scent of a cold-blooded murderer. I felt my lungs constrict, as I desperately tried to breathe. And when I looked up, all I could see, hear, feel, smell and touch was a nightmare; a nightmare known to the world as Sebastian Grey, but to me, he was a nightmare than ripped my dream away from me.

"Karris Villanueva,"

My blood curdled from the sound of his voice and I wanted to melt into the wall behind me.

"I heard Willowridge inducted a new coach into their team, but I didn't know it was you," Sebastian chuckled, walking towards me.

"G-go a-a-away," I stuttered. I wanted to turn away but there was this evil gravitational pull on me and I couldn't avoid him.

"I got a letter in the mail today," Sebastian began, taking yet another step towards me. "Your parents want to take me to court again."

I cowered, "I-I-I d-didn't know. I d-don't know anyth-thing."

Sebastian laughed loudly, the deep resonance echoing against the walls. He laughed as if he were poking fun of my extreme fear and intimidation. But what flourished as suddenly as his laughter, was extreme anger. Sebastian's attitude switched in an instant, from amusement to anarchy. His large hand held onto my neck with a tight grip, impeding airflow into my lungs. His eyes were so evilly dark that they looked black as they pierced into me.

"I hope you're still holding up your part of the deal," Sebastian hissed. "You know what I can do to you and your entire family."

"L-leave my fam-family out of th-this. You've m-made them s-suffer enough," I protested, trying my best to protect those whom I loved the most, even though I, myself, was a weakling at best.

Sebastian's anger suddenly grew with monumental intensity, shaking my entire body with one hand. His strength was Hulk-like as he re-gripped my neck and pinned me up against the wall. The force and jolt caused me to wince in pain as my glasses flew off my face and crashed onto the floor.

"L-let go, p-p-please," I couldn't breathe and as I feebly looked at Sebastian in fear, I whimpered.

"Remember, you saw nothing and you say nothing. I will not hesitate to blow your brains out like I did your stupid brother," he threatened. "And before you run to the police and try to report me, just remember whose family has close ties with the sheriff."

Sebastian wasn't fibbing, nor was he exaggerating. He came from a long line of family with loads of money. It was his family who basically built this town and when it came down to it, it was his strong word against mine.

"Everything okay out here?!"

A loud voice boomed through the hallway that caused Sebastian to let go of my neck. In doing so however, I fell to the hard linoleum floor below me. I held onto my neck, rubbing the skin that was sore from Sebastian's tenacious grip. Ashton walked closer to us, his arms crossed above his chest as his eyes narrowed in on the snarky, Brampcrest hockey captain.

"Grey," Ashton cooly muttered.

"Fâggot," Sebastian took several strides passed Ashton, purposely bumping into his shoulder.

I noticed Ashton drop his arms and his fists clenched tightly at his side. I knew Captain wanted to beat Sebastian to a pulp and while I would never wish any ill-will on anyone, I almost wouldn't mind it. Especially because not having Sebastian in my world anymore, meant that he couldn't do any harm to myself or to my family.

"Come on," Ashton held his hand out towards me.

I didn't even know he was standing before me, looming above like a tower. I saw his hand, and I knew what to do with it, but it was as if my body didn't know how to function. I wanted to grab his hand, stand up and walk away like a big girl, but Sebastian still had his anchor cast out into the dark sea.

"Karebear," Ashton dipped down onto one knee, and suddenly his cold hands, though gentle, were around my neck and immediately I flinched.

"Stop!" I screamed, pushing Ashton away who observed me through bewildered eyes. I buried my face into my jittery hands, bringing my knees to my chest.

I hated this. I hated every part about my life at that moment and all I wanted was to go back in time. I wanted to go back to how things were. I wanted to be the proud, little nerd roaming the halls of Brampcrest who was gunning for a spot at MIT. I wanted my star brother to be back scoring goals for Willowridge, and participating in stupid underage drinking with his hockey buddies. But mostly, I wanted to feel safe again.

Then suddenly, I was.

My body, which was still shaking, felt warm. My muscle stammers were subdued by a pair of strong arms holding onto me with a protective grip. A mixture of cologne, sweat, and hair pomade was a concocted aroma that wafted into my nostrils. It was a scent unlike any other, but a scent that quintessentially belonged to a hard headed, arrogant, yet sometimes fostering hockey captain.

"Fuck that guy, alright?" Ashton advised, his voice at a low whisper right next to my ear and his warm breath tickled my skin. "Intimidation is his favorite game. He's better at it than playing hockey. Don't let him get to ya."

Unbeknown to Ashton however, it wasn't so easy to renounce intimidation in terms of Sebastian Grey -- especially when my life and everyone in it, was threatened.

I lifted my head out of the palms of my hands, opening my eyes and welcoming the blurry scene before me. Though I couldn't really decipher the images that surrounded me, I knew whose face was incredibly close to mine, and I didn't know how to feel. I was puzzled mainly, because Ashton himself was a walking, teenaged conundrum.

Ashton let go of me, and while the lack of contact helped in making me feel less nervous, I oddly also missed the affection. I watched as he shuffled around for a moment, before facing me once again. Ashton placed my glasses back onto my face, just like many times before.

"Thanks," I smiled, awkward skittishness enveloping me like a wet blanket.

"Let's go dude," Ashton seized me by the hands, pulling me up off of the ground, and just like that, his gentle attitude disappeared as quickly as it came.

Ashton gave me a playful shove, just like he does with the rest of the boys on the team. But the propel was a little stronger than I could handle and I stumbled slightly. When I snapped back to look at the hockey captain, my eyebrows crinkling with vexation, Ashton stood there stifling a laugh.

"You're impossible," I scoffed.

"And you're puny," Ashton chuckled, patting the top of my head as he trekked down the hallway.

I followed Ashton, trying to keep up with his long legs. We were silent at that point, his concentration on the phone in his hand -- probably swiping through Tinder, while my head was immersed in him. My mind kept playing reruns of the numerous times Ashton has helped me out. It weirded me out. He put on such an elaborate show; an embellished Herculean facade, when he was a softie at heart.

And one of the moments that Ashton had showcased his tenderhearted demeanor was a couple of weeks ago when he warned me about Calum; then again in San Diego. I didn't listen to him at first and now I was willing to, because I had this gut feeling that Ashton knew more than he mentioned before.

"Hey Ash? I pipped up, walking faster to meet up with Ashton.

"Yea?"

"In San Diego you told me that Calum has a dark history. Care to elaborate?"

"Not a chance Karebear," Ashton shook his head with a light chuckle.

"Please?" I looked at him with pleading eyes, "I almost gave my heart and soul to Calum. He's my first heartbreak and I just need some closure."

Ashton stopped mid-step, sighing as he gazed at me, "it's not my place to say. But I will say this: Calum and your brother have some deep-rooted, dark history."

"That's... I don't... dark history?" I shook my head, taken aback by Ashton's testimony, "my brother was a good kid; a shining star -- you know that. He's not exactly the type to be part of some controversy."

Ashton shrugged, "maybe you don't know your twin as well as you thought you did."

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This chapter is DEDICATED to the wonderful _avalanche_ @Jean_Hemmings
for their gracious help in answering some hockey questions that I had!!

I hope this chapter was enjoyable. Ashton is starting to show his softer side and we got a tiny bit of information regarding Calum and Gabe. More of that will be unraveled in future chapters!

Thank you so much for all the wonderful comments and the votes. Please continue to share this story with your friends, it means a lot to me whenever you all do!!