Fifteen minutes later, I come back in a dry shirt with a too tight ponytail, holding my head up high. Most everyone has left, other than my little group lounging by the wall of the gym a few yards away, and- unfortunately- Tristan, who ambushes me just as I slip out of the door of the locker-room.

My face immediately slips into a scowl. As my hand tightens around the strap of my bag, I shoulder him aside roughly. "Get out of my way."

He winces, face stricken. "Alison, wait-"

I whirl around. "Don't call me that. Only-" I stop myself before I say his name. "Just don't."

"You mean your name?" He looks more than confused. "What else should I call you?"

"Ali." I snap. "Actually, it'd be better if you didn't talk to me at all."

Tristan frowns, grabbing my wrist as I go to turn away. "Wait, please." Gritting my teeth, I glance at him through narrowed eyes and rip my hand away. "I-I wanted to talk with you."

I keep my expression empty and unyielding, and my surprise at his demeanor remains hidden. "Then talk."

Shuffling his feet nervously, Tristan clears his throat. Behind him, the boys have noticed our interaction. They watch on protectively, with Hunter leaning against the wall with his arms crossed and his eyes glued to us, and Caleb getting off the ground and taking a single step closer. Tyler stares on with distaste while Will looks between the three of them nervously.

Tearing my focus from them, I look up at Tristan, whose uncharacteristic awkwardness permeates from his whole body. "Look I just..." he rubs the back of his neck, his gaze drifting from me to his feet and back again. "Sorry for giving you a hard time. I'm... not used to being beaten in anything, much less hockey related stuff."

"Especially by a girl, right?" I scoff, glaring up at him angrily. "I don't need to hear it again, jackass."

He's shaking his head before I even finish. "No. I swear, it's not that."

I shove my face close to his. "I don't believe you. You've made it clear since we first met that you don't think I can be a good hockey player because of my fucking gender."

Tristan frowns. "I've never met a girl who played varsity-"

"You came from fucking Canada!" I shout.

"-with guys before." He finishes in a frustrated tone of voice. "Of course you could play on the team, I just didn't know you did! I mean do!" He shakes his head and swears under his breath. "Usually girls' have their own team separate from the guys. It just surprised me it was different here."

"They cut the girls team because of funding eight years ago." I snap.

He frowns. "Well that sucks." My eyes narrow into slits, and he's quick to back track. "Not because I want you to leave or anything, just because it's not fair."

I agree, but I'd rather play with my friends anyway.

Tristan searches my face with his eyes, which are wide and earnest and more innocent than anything I've seen from him since we met. "I just, I don't want any issues between us. Honestly. And I'm sorry it's taken me this long to say it, but I'd like to be friends."

A little late for that.

I want to say the words. I want to spit them at him like they're poison, make him flinch and avoid me and be rude enough that I can hate him without my friends saying to move on. I don't like moving on; I like to hold grudges for many, many years, and I hate being called spiteful or bitter for it.

But prolonging a stupid feud with this guy, who is going to be my teammate for the next three seasons whether I like it or not, won't make me feel any better.

Staring up at him with an expression like stone, I finally say, "Fine. I'll give you a clean slate. But one wrong step and I'll gut you like the eel you are-" I hesitate then sigh- "Like the eel you were. Okay?"

Tristan nods. He seems relieved, and even though it could be a front, I don't think it is. I know I'm hard to handle, especially when I actively try to make someone miserable. He's probably just glad I won't be picking fights with him as long as we're friends, and that I won't be sending my actual friends after him. "Okay great, thanks."

Don't thank me, I want to snarl like a damn wolf, but I've only just agreed to being friends. It's too soon to give up on that, so I bite my tongue and force my face to relax. Instead, I give him a jerky nod and plan to escape this very second, but I don't have the chance.

Either from feeling concerned or nosy, the four idiots I call my friends have made their way over to us. Caleb leads the pack, and Hunter trails behind the two brothers who are talking to each other in low voices. Throwing his arms around Tristan and I, Caleb yanks the two of us close to him. Tristan looks rather surprised, but I'm used to Caleb being all touchy-feely, and I just scowl up at him as he says, "Aw, are our two favorite sophomores finally making nice?"

"Hey!" Will snaps. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Caleb laughs, throwing a happy grin Will's way. "Sorry baby, I forget you're only a sophomore. You're very mature, you know."

Will flushes immediately, Tyler makes a noise of complaint yet again for the flirting, and Caleb ignores them both as he turns expectantly back to us.

I punch him in the abdomen hard enough to take his breath away. "How dare you. I am very mature, and we all know Will is everyone's favorite sophomore." Not to mention your personal favorite.

Caleb chokes out a laugh, wincing as he lets us go. "Oh, you're definitely mature."

My eyes narrow into a glare at his sarcasm, but he just flashes another smile and pats my arm in a friendly gesture as he backs away.

"In all seriousness," Tyler glances between Tristan— who has been uncharacteristically quiet— and me. "We didn't see any flying fists or threats. Everything good?"

"You guys are nosy," I scoff. "Mind your own business." I'm sure they'd be glad to hear we're working on possibly developing a friendship, especially Hunter, but then they might want to hang out with him. Tyler likes Tristan, and I can tell they would get along like a house on fire, but I don't want to spend any more time with him than necessary. Honestly, it's probably better for our "friendship" if our contact is minimal.

Tristan glances at me, and I meet his gaze with my own steady one. He doesn't back off, however, and keeps watching me, even going as far to raise an eyebrow in expectation. He obviously expects me to tell them, but he doesn't try and force my hand by saying it first. Instead, he lets me work myself up to it.

I sigh. "He apologized, and we're going to try and... be friends."

He has the audacity to look amused at the tightness of my tone.

"Wonderful!" Caleb says through a laugh. "We don't have to worry anymore about you committing a murder every time you're in the same room together!"

"Oh fuck off," I snap. "Now I just have more time to plan your murder."

Caleb laughs again. "Aren't you sweet."

This time, I ignore him.

Will is watching me carefully, gauging my every reaction like I'm some sort of science experiment. I can tell by his expression that I'm going to have to give him a lot more information later, which I am sure as hell not looking forward to. However, I will definitely give it, not only because he's my best friend, but also because he makes a point to change the subject, thereby saving my sorry ass. "Can we please go eat now? I'm starving."

I instantly feel relieved. I don't usually mind being the center of attention, but right now I'm desperate for a different conversation topic. "Yes, please."

"Okay." Tyler turns to Tristan, who still has yet to say or do anything. Maybe, if he keeps this up, our friendship won't be such a disaster after all. "We're going to Moes. Do you want to come?"

Fucking hell Tyler.

Tristan seems surprised to be invited. "Uh-"

"We can give you a ride and take you home," Caleb offers brightly, his eyes flickering between Tristan and me in quick flashes. "Either of us can take you, or Hunter and Ali."

My hands tighten into fists at my side, and for a moment I think I may break this friendship up already with a too-harsh retort, but I never have the chance to fuck this up before it even starts because Hunter says, "I would recommend going with Caleb. Not only does Alison's gear smell like shit, but she also sounds like a dying bird when she sings along with the radio."

I round on him immediately. This whole conversation has put me on edge, and my temper is fried with frustration over the last thirty minutes, so my reactions are a lot more impulsive than usual. "You piece of-"

"That's okay," Tristan cuts me off easily, and I look over to see him watching Hunter with an expression that is a mixture of thoughtfulness and amusement. "I'll go with Caleb."

Honestly, as much as I don't want him to come with us— because I need this car ride to rant for a whole ten minutes straight with only Hunter as my witness— I don't really want him going with Caleb either. I don't have a filter when I'm mad, but Caleb doesn't have a filter ever, and he knows far too many embarrassing things about me. Not to mention he enjoys my discomfort a lot and would not be above making up a lie to stir the pot.

However, I can't do anything about any of this, so I just stand there with gritted teeth as my friendship group plus Tristan splits up. Only Hunter stays at my side, and he waits until the others clear out to gently take my arm and lead me away. "Come on, let's go."

* * *

I'm silent the whole walk to the car. Every muscle in my body is frozen and stiff, and if I clench my jaw any tighter I might pop a tendon. Each step I take is jerky, and it takes all my restraint to not book it as fast as I can to Hunter's car. Only his calm, consistent pace— as well as the nearly crippling pain in my body— keeps me moving at this speed.

As soon as the car doors close behind us, and we are finally alone where no one can overhear, I explode.

"How dare he just try to shove it all under the rug just because he's tired that I haven't fallen over myself to kiss his ass?! He wants to just move on from all the shit he started? Just like that? And now he's acting all innocent and will work whatever bullshit Canadian charm he has on everyone I know just to-"

Hunter sighs loudly to my left, but he doesn't object to my rant. He just turns on his car, making adjustments to the vents and the heating system before pulling out of his parking spot. Further into the student parking lot, two other cars also pull out, trailing behind us as Hunter steers his car onto the street.

Surprisingly, he lets me go off for a full six minutes, only speaking when I pause long enough for him to get a word in.

"Are you done?" He asks in a voice that's far too calm and indifferent for my liking. He should either agree with me wholeheartedly or scold me, not act as if none of this matters. It only makes me angrier.

Slumping in the passenger seat, I scoff. "Not even close." Sinking lower, I let the volume of my voice drop. "But I'm too tired to keep going." And I am. My entire body hurts from today and the other four days of Hell Week. Any other situation, the pure elation from doing so well would keep me going even in my exhaustion, but the anger is draining.

Flicking his hand and turning on his blinker, Hunter shifts the car into the next lane. "Not even ten minutes ago, you agreed to try and start fresh, but you're still holding on to the past far too tightly." I'm scowling even before he says the next part. "So you lied in the gym, not just to Tristan, but to the others and to yourself."

I flinch. I was not lying to myself. I knew damn well when I agreed to his proposition that I wouldn't be able to forgive and forget, that I would likely hold on to every piece of our history until the day I die. In other words, that there would not be a fresh start or a new beginning for us. Still, I feel uncomfortable after his words, which only leaves me more exhausted and frustrated. "Stop judging me, Hunter. How the hell am I supposed to let everything go? He's a sexist fucking pig-"

"Tell me again, how he is sexist?" He has no trouble interrupting me now, and it irks me. Not to mention he's still far too calm. He doesn't even seem to be disappointed in me.

My jaw drops. "How? Other than the fact that he didn't believe I was part of the team when we first met? Or how he's constantly made excuses for my successes? Or how he enjoys riling me up by bringing up my size and gender? Or-"

"Why wouldn't he be surprised you're on the team?" Hunter cuts me off yet again, and I have to physically bite my tongue to stop myself from swearing his ears off. "No one told him beforehand that the team is coed. And it is coed, Alison. There are guys and a girl on the team. Two genders. That makes it coed, and that doesn't make it any less of an accomplishment for you that you made the team. But hockey is so big in Canada that practically every school has a girls hockey team. In fact, the girls team at his old school won states several times. To him, he couldn't imagine you needing to be on the boys team, and it wasn't because you're a girl."

Yeah, that's what Tristan claims now. I don't buy it, though. He seemed genuinely surprised, not just taken off guard.

"Even if that's true, and I don't think it is, that doesn't change the fact that he keeps making excuses as to why I do good! I mean, he legit told me that you're the reason I did so well."

Hunter eyes me with an uninterested expression. "I am." A snarl pulls at my mouth, but he keeps speaking before I can rip him to shreds. "You would've stopped if I didn't egg you on. You know that, Alison."

"Yeah but-" I huff. Suddenly, all the very valid reasons to hate Tristan are smothered by the very childish reason of "I just do." Arguments that I've gone over several times in my head are forgotten in the face of Hunter's collected and mature responses, and I have absolutely nothing else to say.

When he speaks again, his voice almost seems gentle and understanding. He doesn't make me feel stupid for being unable to start fresh. "I know it's hard to let stuff go, but you should at least try. I know you don't want to hear this, but you two are actually quite similar, and if you could let your petty disagreements go, you might actually become friends."

I don't bother objecting to what he's saying. It won't do me any good, and if he ends up being right, I'll end up looking very stupid.

"I'm not saying he's perfect, Alison. In fact, it's quite the opposite. He's brash, hotheaded, and competitive to the point of fucking up friendships before they even start. He lashes out at you when you beat him because he hates to lose, and honestly, he reminds me a lot of you."

My whole face is burning with a mixture of fury and shame, and I wish I could sink into the car seat to avoid Hunter's piercing green eyes. But that's cowardly, and I refuse to be a coward, so instead I plaster on an expression of anger and glare across the car at him. Unfortunately for me, Hunter is more than accustomed to my anger, to my glares, and so he ignores me as if I weren't even looking his way.

"Look..." He sighs. "Not everything is black and white, especially not people, and especially not feelings. It's not all hate or love or whatever, okay? You don't always have to be on one side of the extremes. Instead of making flash judgments and sticking with them so intensely, give someone a few chances to make an impression. Start in the middle, and allow each situation with someone to move your opinion of them one or two notches to either side."

Inhaling slowly, I give the words a chance to sink in before, as Hunter put it, I make a flash judgment. What he says makes sense, it does, and its something I've tried before, but...

My temper never lets me move someone over just one notch. My temper pushes me off the deep end, where I can't logically decide what's too far of a reaction.

But making excuses won't get me anywhere with Hunter. He understands my anger issues but only to an extent. There's always a point where he stops letting me bring them up as a reason for my behavior. More than anyone, more even than myself or Dr. Shaw, Hunter thinks I'm better than letting my emotions control me rather then the other way around, as it should be.

I try not to let them have power over me. I really do. Sometimes having Hunter there, telling me without any doubt that he thinks I'm better than that, helps.

But not always. Sometimes I just want to be allowed to be angry. Figuring out when its acceptable to be is hard, though.

"I'll try." The two words sound strained, even to me.

Now, Hunter looks over at me. There's a softness in his gaze, a lift to his lips, and the sight of his approval and his gentle pride makes me feel a bit better. "That's all I can ask of you." He reaches across the center console to pat my knee with his hand, which lingers an extra second before drawing back to his side of the car. "Now lets try to have a somewhat peaceful dinner, okay?"

All I can do is nod. 

* * * 

Caleb and Tristan beat us there, which doesn't surprise me much; Caleb is notorious for driving like a speed demon. What does surprise me is that Tyler and Will pull in right after us. He must've hit some lights on the way because Hunter is definitely an old man when it comes to driving. Usually, we either leave far earlier than the others and get to our destination early, or we are just the last to arrive. If I weren't so used to it, or if I didn't like riding with Hunter so much, I'd probably go everywhere with Caleb or Ty.

Will lingers a few seconds so I can catch up with him. Tyler found a parking spot nearer to the door, so he's already there, opening it up and waiting for us, and when we slip through Will thanks him, as do I.

"Are you okay?" Will says quietly as Hunter and his brother follow behind us. Caleb and Tristan are already in line, and the former is already chatting up the kid who used to be my worst enemy as if they've been pals for months rather than fifteen minutes.

I glance over at him. "Fine. Just... trying to seeing more than black and white, I guess."

Will raises an eyebrow.

"We'll talk later," I say just as we reach the other two members of our group, drawing Caleb and Tristan's attention away from their conversation.

A grin stretches across Caleb's face. "Ooh, keeping secrets are we? Feel like spilling?"

I laugh. "Not particularly, no." Not when you're fraternizing with the enemy, dick.

His grin widens. "Are you talking more about who's the hottest?" Will groans at my side, and even I find myself rolling my eyes. There hasn't been a day that's gone by since that first conversation where he hasn't asked about our answers, and I'm ready to throttle him for it. "Because there's no use hiding it. I know its me."

"Shut the fuck up, Caleb," Tyler scoffs. "You need an ego check."

"Can you both shut up and move so we can order?" Hunter interrupts before they can really get going, and he's right. The line has moved since we arrived, and now only one person is left before our group. "I'm hungry and tired and still have to take Ali home before I can go home, so lets stop wasting time."

"Okay, grandpa." I slip past both Caleb and Tristan. "You snooze you lose, fuckers."

Caleb laughs again, knocking me gently with his shoulder. "Come on, as least tell us the top two."

"So you want me to say who the one ugly one is?" I shake my head. "I can be a bitch, but that's too far."

"Actually, there's four of us here." Tyler pipes up, sounding almost disappointed in himself for getting involved as he does. "So you'd be calling out the two ugliest."

I glance for half a second at Tristan, who definitely seems lost but isn't speaking up to ask what the hell we're talking about. Before he notices me looking, I turn back to Tyler. "He wasn't here when we first had this talk, so he's not included in the debate."

"Ouch!" Caleb chuckles. "That's kinda cold."

I shrug, turning my back to them. "It doesn't matter because I'm not saying anything anyways."

Behind me, Tyler says, presumably to Tristan, "A few months ago Ali admitted that all hockey players are hot, including us. Ever since, Caleb has been trying to figure out who she thinks is the hottest."

"Don't say that like you haven't been curious too." Caleb interjects with a scoff. "You play it off, but you also want to know."

"I have a girlfriend, man. I don't need validation like you do, apparently."

They break into debate as I step up to order all six of that tacos that I usually get. Will, standing at my side, shakes his head with a sigh. "I don't know how you can eat that much so soon after practice. I'd throw up."

I look over at him with a small laugh. "Good thing I'm not you." He takes a moment to start his order as I move down the line, and when we're both done I say, "Besides, I didn't eat much for lunch. I had to meet Ms. Poppin, remember?"

"Oh shit, I forgot." After paying, we take our trays and go over to the fountain drink dispensers. "How'd it go?"

I shrug. "She said the same shit about how she can only give me so much leeway when I'm not putting in the work, as if I don't go in every week for help. I can't help it if I'm just fucking stupid."

"Hey." Will's voice is sharp. "Don't say that. You're not stupid."

Snorting, I can't help the way my voice slips into a less accepting tone, one with a bit more derision than it should contain. "When it comes to chemistry I am."

Will falls silent. He knows how to get through to me in every way except when it comes to academics; for him, school has always come breathtakingly easy, so his peptalks usually ring empty in terms of school and grades. Still, he doesn't hesitate to say, "Come over tonight, and we can do the homework together."

I consider playing it off, but I'm so damn relieved about not needing to do it alone that my face relaxes into a smile. If I had brought up the idea of us working together, Will would have agreed in a heartbeat. I just sometimes have a hard time asking for help. "That sounds great."

And now he's smiling again as we walk toward an empty circular booth. "You can stay for dinner too. Mom is making Alfredo."

Shelia won't be home for dinner, and my dad, off for another weekend of clinics and coaching sessions, doesn't get back until Sunday afternoon, so spending the evening with my second family and home away from home sounds incredible, even if that includes chemistry homework. "You don't have to ask me twice."

Tyler joins us then, followed almost directly by Caleb and Tristan, with Hunter trailing behind.

"Ali is coming over tonight." Will says to his brother when everyone settles down. This booth is just big enough for the six of us, three of which are pretty large men who take up a lot of space. Hunter slips in beside me, and he has to press against me for a moment to make room for Tyler until I scoot closer to Will. Caleb sits beside him, and Tristan is at the end.

Tyler shrugs. "Okay. I figured you would want to come to Greg's party?" His gaze flickers between the two of us. "I'm going."

"Me too," Caleb adds. "It's supposed to be a good one."

My eyes widen then narrow as my eyebrows furrow. "I thought he wasn't throwing a party anymore? Didn't his parents cancel their trip?"

He shakes his head. "They thought about it but are still going so the party is back on."

I whip around to Will who is already smiling at me. He knows what I'm going to ask before I say it, but he lets me make the plea anyway. "Can we raincheck for tomorrow?" I think of the state I'll be in after a night out, and how much I hate chemistry as it is, let alone while hungover. "Or for Sunday morning?"

Will sighs then shrugs. "I guess. I don't feel like doing homework on a Friday anyway." There's a slight up-curl to his mouth, betraying his own excitement at going out tonight.

Throwing my arm around his shoulders, I hug him tightly and smile over at Tyler. "Can we ride with you?"

Tyler nods toward Hunter, who answers instead. "I'm driving, but yes."

"We can all stay at my house," I offer instantly. "Shelia will be gone. She's working the 8-8 shift." We've stayed at my house a bunch of times after parties seeing as there are often times where my dad's travel schedule and Shelia's shifts leave me alone, usually during the day but occasionally at night. I don't like staying in my huge empty house all alone, so Will stays with me plenty of times, but there's more than enough room for us all.

"Sounds great," Will agrees, as does Caleb. They'll have to tell their parents, but they won't mind. They never do.

It's only when Tyler speaks again that I remember its not just our group here at the table. "Do you want to come?"

Tristan has a bite of his taco already in his mouth, so he has to do the awkward fast chew to finish the bite before he can reply. "To what?"

"One of the guys on the football team is throwing a party." Tyler scoops up some rice and beans from his bowl, which is the next biggest meal after mine. If he didn't eat before practice, he would've had more than me. "They're usually pretty fun."

"I'll be DD," Hunter says in his calm voice. My eyes drift to his face as he talks, and they linger momentarily even after he stops. "I won't be drinking, so I can give you a ride."

Tristan hesitates. He looks between Tyler and Hunter, the only two seniors at the table, both his captains and apparently new friends. "I don't usually drink." He says it as if he expects them to revoke the offer after finding out that he doesn't drink alcohol, which would make me laugh if I weren't sitting stiffly waiting for his answer. Relax, Ali. Fresh start.

Caleb shrugs. "That's fine. It's still fun to all hang out." He gestures across the table to Hunter. "He rarely ever drinks, and never during season. He still has fun."

"That's debatable," Hunter says drily. "You all are a pain when intoxicated."

This time, my laugh comes immediately. "We're fucking hilarious when drunk and you know it."

Hunter's gaze flickers to mine. He doesn't outwardly smile, but there's a lift to his eyes, one that shows his amusement and agreement. Reaching out with his arm, he hugs me briefly, pulling me into his warm embrace, surrounding me for a moment with the smell of his deodorant and sweat. The combo should be at least a little disgusting, but it isn't. He certainly smells better than I do. "Oh shut up."

Tyler smiles reassuringly at Tristan, who seems nervous, which is so different from his behavior over the past few months I can barely recognize the boy who caused me so much stress. "No pressure if you don't want to, but it'll be fun."

Tristan looks around the table, and when his focus lands on me for an extra few seconds, I know what's holding him back from agreeing.

Or rather, who is holding him back.

Tyler, Caleb, and Will are still looking at Tristan, waiting patiently for his answer, but Hunter is staring down at me. He's waiting for the words that'll put the new addition to our group at ease, and if he's going to be here awhile, maybe I should just say them and get it over with.

Swallowing past the nervous lump in my throat, I say as calmly as possible, "Really, you should come. We always have a good time together. And there's a ton of empty rooms in my house, so there's room if you want to stay over too."

Hunter's arm, which is still draped around my shoulders, squeezes me softly before slipping away. He's happy I'm trying, even if he won't come out and say it.

A smile curls at my lips.

Tristan looks over at us again. A sense of confidence comes over his expression as he makes his decision. "Okay, yeah. Sounds fun."

"Text me your address and I'll pick you up on the way." Hunter says. "Do you still have my number from the first team meeting?" Tristan nods. "Okay, good. So text me and then we'll call when we're on the way."

And even though he could mean the whole group, when he's sitting so close, and when I can still feel the ghost of his arm and his warmth against my body, I almost feel like the we is for the two of us. 

AN: hey everyone!! i hope everyone who celebrates had a fantastic christmas and that everyone who doesn't had a great week! 

this is the second to last prewritten chapter i have, so i really need to get working on writing. maybe yall could leave some nice comments to inspire me haha

much love

soph