CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

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we luv hockey (players)

lola🤍
holy shit finding red horns is hard

stassie😜
your fault you waited this long to buy them

sofia
ive had my costume for a couple days now

lola🤍
ok now you didn't have to go on brag..

stassie😜
lo where are you even shopping

lola🤍
spirit halloween...

sofia
girl go to walmart😭😭

stassie😜
that's where i got my whole costume

stassie😜
minus the corset

sofia
yo stassie are you at your dorm

stassie😜
ya ... all alone

sofia
on my way😈

lola🤍
making plans without me😨

stassie😜
you're literally ditching me tonight right before the party i don't even wanna hear it

lola🤍
not my fault mark wants to go to dinner before

sofia
i'm still here!!

stassie😜
AND YOURE DITCHING ME TOO

stassie😜
both of you guys stop talking to me✋🏼

lola🤍
we're not ditching you...

sofia
not my fault luke wants to take me to the party

stassie😜
i hate to pull this card (no i don't)

stassie😜
but on my birthday?????

lola🤍
stop acting like you're upset ethan's picking you up

stassie😜
but i am😔

sofia
no ur not

stassie😜
😔

lola🤍
alr so final plans:

lola🤍
sofia & i meet u at the party. ethan's picking u up around 9ish 10ish and then we get shit faced!

sofia
YAY SHIT FACED!

stassie😜
u rlly think u getting me shit faced is gonna make my feeling of abandonment go away?

lola🤍
...

sofia
...

stassie😜
well ur right!

stassie😜
just as long as whatever frat we're going to has pink whitney im good

lola🤍
GOD i have memories with pink whitney

sofia
ones that include mark?

stassie😜
OH SHIT

lola🤍
OUT OF POCKET.

lola🤍
but yeah

lola🤍
HOLY SHIT I FOUND HORNS

sofia
the world has healed🫶

stassie😜
since it's my bday

lola🤍
when she's observant🤭

stassie😜
shut up

lola🤍
🥱

stassie😜
sofia

sofia
oh god what

lola🤍
i can just picture stassie giggling at her phone rn

stassie😜
how big is luke?

sofia
OH MY GOD???

lola🤍
OH MY GOD😈

sofia
THAT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE??

stassie😜
did it though?

sofia
YES????????

lola🤍
ok but why am i curious too

sofia
you actually expect me to answer this question

stassie😜
nah,, it's ok if you really aren't comfortable

sofia
thank you, stassie

lola🤍
NAH FUCK HER HOW MUCH IS HUGHESY PACKIN

stassie😜
oh, lo

sofia
lola. i will see you tonight.

lola🤍
oo why are we using proper punctuation?

lola🤍
am i in trouble

lola🤍
😔

sofia
stassie, i will see you tonight birthday girl 😊

stassie😜
awhhh see you tonight🫶🫶

lola🤍
fuck you guys

sofia
i love you lo

stassie😜
i love you too lo♥️

lola🤍
i guess i love you guys too🙄

hockey bros😈

Ethan
God this gc name is awful

Mark🛑
It's been named this for over a year bud...

Ethan
Doesn't give it an excuse

Duker
Well it's not leaving

Duker
This shit staying until our senior year

Mackie😴
Unlike Luke

Luca
DAMNNNNNNNNN

Rutger
GYATTTTTTTTTTT

Hughesy
Too soon.

Mackie😴
Anyways what do you want Eddie

Mackie😴
You've awoken me from my pre-game nap

Hughesy
Mf we know we can hear you snoring from downstairs 😭

Duker
I find it quite comforting!

Ethan
Stfu Duke

Mark🛑
Why is mama trying to kiss his ass

Rutger
Bc it's so beautiful 🤩

Ethan has removed Rutger from the group!

Hughesy
Thank you

Hughesy
I didn't know how much more I could take

Ethan
You're welcome bud🫡

Mark
Ok but actually what do you need bro?

Ethan
Idk I can't remember

Luca
Dude

Ethan
I remember!

Hughesy
Spill

Ethan
Everyone got their costumes for tonight?

Mark🛑
Yeah

Mark🛑
Lo's gonna be so pissed

Mackie😴
Why?

Mark🛑
BC WE'RE DRESSING UP AS SCOOBY DOO???

Ethan
It was Duker's idea

Duker
Don't drag me into this

Mackie
Bro you literally bought the onesies

Mark🛑
Lola's here

Hughesy
Is Sofia w her?

Mark🛑
Literally come downstairs and see yourself dude

Ethan
You guys give me a headache. I'll see you in an hour

Luca added Rutger to the group!

Rutger
Missed me that much huh sweetheart

Luca
You farted on me.

Ethan
Good lord Rut

ETHAN BROUGHT HIS knuckles up to connect with the wooden door of Stassie's dorm. "One sec!" He heard her yell from the other side, which cause a small smile to tug at his lips. He fiddled with the zipper of his Scooby Doo onesie, as he became slightly nervous for some unknown reason. He hoped that she was going to like the party, that she would finally be able to let loose and have some fun. Sure, he knew that she was never one to turn down an opportunity to drink, but he also knew that she was never one to go all out for her birthdays. And, he has also been made aware that she has been strung tight recently; putting unnecessary pressure on herself in her studies, making sure she gets content for the hockey's social medias, and keeping up with her duties of athletic trainer for the team.

And of course, she never said anything to him, to anyone for that matter. But Ethan could read his girl like the back of his palm. Her shoulders seemed more tense when he was kissing her skin, and she could never seem to get rid of the small, yet adorable, crease between her eyebrows whenever she furrowed them.

He was broken from his thoughts and his hands dropped to his sides when the door in front of him swung open.

And suddenly, the Canadian forgot how to breathe.

A black, tight dress hugged her body, and glitter was scattered amongst her tanned skin. Her obsidian hair was styled in loose waves. A black halo stood from her head and black wings sprouted from her back. Her legs looked longer than they already were, due to the black heels she wore, which made her come up to just below his forehead now. Since she was already tall to begin with.

"Holy shit," he breathed, not being shy about how his eyes were roaming her body. Ethan suddenly felt oh, so stupid with his Scooby Doo onesie.

Anastasia's nose scrunched as she felt somewhat shy about how he was looking at her. She crossed her arms across her chest as she shifted her weight. "Do I look okay?" Her voice was unusually small, as her gaze was focused on his chest. Ethan stepped closer, as he brought his fore finger and thumb up to grip her chin, tilting her head up and forcing her to look at him. "You look amazing," he leaned down and placed his lips on hers, capturing them in a slow kiss. He trailed his hand down her arm and laced their fingers together. "Now, give me a little spin, hm?" He whispered against her lips.

She couldn't help the giggle that left her mouth as she obliged, her fingers still laced with his as she twirled. Ethan's couldn't help but groan lowly in his throat as his eyes were focused on her body. "My girl looks so pretty," his words made her cheeks flush and her nose scrunch up. "Not too bad yourself, Scooby Doo," she teased, as she reached behind her and closed her dorm's door. With just the way he was looking at her, and the fluttering in her chest, she almost forgot it was her birthday. And she almost didn't want to go to the party. Instead, she wanted to pull him back into her dorm and kiss him all over. Key word: almost.

Ethan was quick to throw his arm around her shoulders as they made their way down the hall of the freshman dormitories. "Duker picked the costumes, all the guys are wearing them," he sighed, as he pressed a kiss to the crown of her head, being careful of the halo that was attached to her headband. "All of the guys?" She quipped, turning her head so she could look at him.

Even dressed in a fucking Scooby Doo onesie, he was still the hottest guy she's ever laid eyes on. And her heart couldn't help but swoon over the man that was attached to her side.

"Yeah, Dylan, Mark, Mackie, and Luke." He practically groaned, as Stassie laughed at his annoyance. They didn't say anything once their laughter died out, once they got outside the dorms, the campus sidewalks being occupied by a few students making their way to the bars or to their dorms. The University of Michigan campus was illuminated by various lampposts, the cool, crisp late October air nipped at her bare skin, causing goosebumps to rise slightly.

Ethan led her to a parked car, which she assumed was an Uber he had ordered. Once he made sure the car was for them, his hand drifted down to the small of her back protectively, as he helped her in the Uber. Ethan gave the driver the address before he leaned back into his seat, and dug his phone out from the pocket of his onesie, the small screen illuminating his sharp features. Stassie leaned over, "You're the sexiest Scooby Doo I've ever laid my eyes on," her lips brushed over the shell of his ear, and she could've sworn she felt him shiver. He turned his head, a small smile on his lips, his teeth glinting in the darkness of the car. His tongue darted out to wet his lips, "You sound like you're into bestiality," he chuckled lowly, which only made her cheeks flush and a small pout to appear on her lips out of embarrassment.

"I thought it was cute, don't you worry you're pretty little head, baby." He whispered, as he pressed a chaste kiss to her cheek as they drove off.

During the twenty minute ride, Anastasia felt like she was going to pass out. She didn't know if it was the two shots of Tequila she pregamed by herself, or the dress that was a size too small cutting off circulation to her brain (curtsey of Lola), or perhaps the headband that completed her dark angel costume. Or, just maybe, it was the fact that Ethan had kept his hand holding her inner thigh, his thumb occasionally playing with the hem of her dress as he held a casual conversation with the Uber driver. She knew he didn't mean his gesture as anything sexual, just an act of affection that he was giving his girlfriend. But when you've been pretty much deprived of any romantic affection throughout high school, it doesn't take much for you to be squirming in your seat. Which Stassie was, as she looked out the window of the car, watching the light dew in the air accumulate on the window as they drove, tuning out the mindless conversation Ethan was holding with the Uber driver, whose name was Tyler, she had learned earlier.

When she felt the car come to a halt, she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. She was throbbing and her head was spinning, just from his touch. And the night hadn't even started yet.

Ethan got out of the car first and turned around to help his girl out of the SUV. They walked hand in hand up to a club that Anastasia didn't fell the need to learn the name of.

She remembers Lola saying the name a week ago when she told her the plans they had over the weekend. The plan that Lola had told her was that the football team was throwing a big Halloween party and basically the whole school was invited. Anastasia had thought that they (they being Sofia, Lola, and herself), were going to go together, but just earlier that day, both of them had apparently made plans with Mark and Luke, so Ethan was going to pick her up. She wasn't mad that her friends practically blew her off, she knew she was going to see them later that night. And plus, it gave her some time alone with Ethan.

The thumping of the bass could be heard from the outside, the chattering and murmuring of the crowd inside spilled through the open doors. Once they made it to the entrance, Stassie's hand tightened around Ethan's. He noticed, and placed a lingering kiss along the crown of her head. He walked up to the security guard that stood outside the glass doors of the club, and whispered something in his ear. Anastasia didn't know what he said, but all she could see was the security guard nodding his head and motioned for them to go on in. Anastasia knew that both of them didn't look to be over the age of 21, but yet again, this was a club near a college campus. So underage drinkers, (a.k.a. college students) was probably their targeted audience.

Ethan walked in first and she followed behind like a lost puppy. The familiar sound of Love me by Lil Wayne was blasting through the speakers, the air around her felt thick, yet care-free. Drunken college students accumulated on the dance floor, and some were chatting in the bar area. And no matter where she looked, everyone was dressed up in Halloween costumes. Strumming lights gave her slightly tipsy self a headache but she didn't care. The longer she and Ethan walked through the club, the more she found herself to love it, a small smile tugging at her lips as her eyes grew wide, taking in everything.

He led her deeper into the sea of dancing bodies, before he stopped and turned around, pulling her in front of him and placed his hands firmly on her waist. "Don't hate me for this," he basically yelled in her ear, due to the loudness of the atmosphere around them, and led her towards a secluded booth that was placed in the corner of the club. Anastasia was confused at first, but that all faded away when she what was quite literally the biggest fucking banner she had ever seen that read 'Happy Birthday Stassie!'

Anastasia felt her face grow hot out of embarrassment, "Surprise!" the group of people that occupied the booth yelled, which only made her flustered state even worse. The group that smiled at her was Mark, Lola, Sofia Luke, Mackie, Luca, Rutger, Duke, and a couple other guys from the hockey team that she had talked to during the weekly filming of 'Mondy questions'. Her mouth was agape out of shock. As much as she hates people making a big deal out of her birthday, she couldn't help but relish in the borderline overbearing feeling of love that washed over her.

To think that her friends went to this much trouble just to celebrate her was enough to almost make tears prick her eyes.

Ethan's grip on her waist tightened as he pulled her closer to him, his chest against her back. He leaned down and brushed her hair away from her ear. He knew she was probably freaking out about the fact that their friends sat right in front of them, with their eyes focused on the two of them, but he knew the lighting in the club was too dark for them to see his actions.

But yet, the danger and possibility of getting caught made his touch all the more erotic. "Happy birthday Stassie."

AUTHOR'S NOTE
hell fucking yeah we're kicking off stassie's birthday weekend

WOOOOOOOO

i'm so sorry for the delay😔this last week kicked my ass BUT NO MORE FUCKING SCHOOL FOR TWO MONTHS THANK GODDDDDDD i hope you guys liked this one🤭next chapter is like... yeah😃

no socials this chapter... some to come next chapter I PROMISE

i need to stop w the liam payne memes.

ALSO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR 15K ON THIS BOOK!! THATS FUCKING INSANE

but fr thank you guys so much, it honestly is mind blowing that we all love ethan edwards this much😈