CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

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ANASTASIA WAS NEVER one to be clingy, or to have attachment issues. But when it involved her best friend, suddenly she was like a koala wrapped around a tree branch. It was a gloomy morning in Ann Arbor Michigan, the sky painted grey as rain clouds dropped drizzle over the city. The high for the day was only supposed to be 54 degrees, so Stassie opted on a pair of sweatpants, and one of Mark's hoodies that was a couple sizes too big on her. It was something about his clothes that just seemed to warm her up faster than her own.

The last time she saw Lola was just a couple hours ago, when the curly headed girl couldn't seem to unwrap her arms around Mark's neck, her lips making their residency known on his. To an outsider, it looked like she was sending him off to war. But, the Michigan beanie that covered his hair gave them away– that he was leaving just for a hockey game.

It was their first game against Minnesota for the season, the other not being until March. And if she was being honest, Anastasia was really looking forward to her first away game. Being gone from her dorm for a couple days, not having to worry about school given then fact that she talked her professors into giving her extra time to turn in assignments. It was pure bliss. That, and the fact that she got to be around her friends and the sport she's grown to admire.

She knew the intensity of it, all the work and time her friends put in. She looks up to them, knowing how hard they work, especially with all the sleepless nights she's spent basically nursing them back to health when they would show up at her dorm at night.

It had happened a couple times– one time in particular where Mark, Dylan, Ethan, Luke, Mackie, Rutger, Nolan, and Luca interrupted the girls' nightly routine. Lola had answered the door in just a towel, claiming that their 'children were here', before she made her way back into the bathroom to change into her silk pajamas. Anastasia spit out her toothpaste before she appeared in front of the group of exhausted guys; they hair wet due to their quick showers they took after practice at Yost, and tired expressions tugged on all of their faces. Sure, she was a little annoyed that the boys just basically appeared in her room, bust she couldn't blame them. Not when she pretty much offered her assistance to the whole team. It's just she didn't actually think they would take her up on her offer.

She watched as Lola placed one more longing kiss on Mark's lips before she bid him goodbye, him joining the rest of the team in grabbing a few snacks from the provided table. Lola wrapped her arms around her friend, "Can't believe coach prefers you over me," she mumbled into Stassie hair, which caused a scoff to erupt from her. "Can you blame him?" She pulled back from Lola, her hands placed on her forearms as they still embraced. "You're always skipping out on practices for your rehearsals, or to get your nails done–" "Not my fault my director schedules them at inconvenient times... or that i chip a nail so often," Lola defended, a smile tugging at her lips knowing that she had been caught.

It wasn't that she didn't not like being one of the team's trainers alongside her best friend; it was just that she didn't find passion in it like Anastasia did. Whenever one of the guys came up to them with a sore shoulder or a stiff knee Stassie was quick to leap to her feet to help them out. Lola knew since they were freshman in high school that her friend was going into the medical field. And she couldn't be more proud.

Anastasia knew her friend wasn't actually upset over the fact that she wasn't going on the away games, but she still couldn't shake the feeling that she was leaving her friend behind. "You're not leaving me behind, Stas," It's almost like she could read her mind. "How did you–" "I know that look in your eye," Lola smirked, as she leaned in and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Now go, before I force you to stay back with me." Anastasia laughed at her friend before they embraced once more.

Stassie watched as Lola made it all the way to the doors of the small airport, a small smile on her face when her friend turned around to bid her one last goodbye. That's what Anastasia loved about her best friend, she may be dating Mark, and be in love with him and all, but Lola made sure to never neglect her best friend, the girl who's been there for her since they were little.

A small bump on her shoulder broke her from her thoughts. She looked up to see Mark, looking longingly at the doors in which his girlfriend just walked through. "You gonna be able to survive?" He teased, as he stuffed a handful of chips in his mouth. Anastasia grimaced at the sound of his crunching. "Are you gonna be able to survive? If I didn't know better I would've thought you we're heading off to war." She snorted, as she started to walk in the direction where the rest of the team sat.

Mark mocked her tone, which caused Stassie to shove her elbow into his ribs, a groan coming from his mouth. "Chew with your mouth closed, stop sign," He smirked at her before he opened his mouth to show her the chewed up chips on his tongue. She gagged, and before she could walk away he slung an arm around her shoulders and brought her into his side, lowering his head down to her ear so he could purposefully chew in her ear. "Mark I swear to god–" She scrunched up her nose at the noise as he swallowed the mush. Stassie couldn't help but gag once more. Mark chuckle and squeezed her body into his tighter, his lips pressing a kiss on the crown of her head, "And I love you too, Stassie."

She mumbled a 'whatever' playfully, of course, before she finally detangled from Mark's arm and headed over to Sofia who was sat on Luke's lap. She couldn't help but look back at Mark to see him smiling, she returned it, loving how their teasing nature never faded. Even when they got older.

"Hey babe– why are you so pale?" Sofia questioned. She was sat sideways on her lover's lap, her calf's dangled off the arm of the chair. Anastasia took the free seat that was next to Luke. Sofia was quick to re-stretch out her legs on Stassie's lap, which only received a glare from the freshman. But nonetheless, Anastasia placed her hands on Sofia's shins, and started drawing mindless patterns as she leaned her head back, the sound of Mark's chewing still lingering in her ears.

If there was one thing she hated, it was the sound of people chewing. And she could thank her mother for that.

"Mark was just being annoying," Stassie waved off, closing her eyes as she swallowed the small amount of bike that came up her throat. She wasn't actually upset, it was just something Mark has done ever since he found out about her pet peeve to get under her skin. Sofia gave the younger girl an apologetic look even though she had nothing to apologize for, before she spoke up. "Did you bring the make up I got you?" Anastasia nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "That's like the one thing I remembered," She chuckled.

"I'm guessing you're bad at packing?" Luke quipped from below Sofia. His sarcastic remark only earned a slight glare from the freshman. "Ignore him," Sofia slapped his chest lightly, before she made her way off his lap and in front of Anastasia. "He's just in a pissy mood because I didn't give him head this morning." Sofia snorted, as she gestured her hand for Stassie to take. She did, her friend pulling her to her feet as she suppressed a giggle at Luke's face, who was still sitting down. "I did not ask you to give me head this morning!" He defended, his eyebrows furrowed as he held his hands out to his sides. Sofia and Anastasia grabbed their bags that surrounded the chairs they were sitting in, ignoring the arguments that Luke was using to defend himself.

The two girls dragged their suitcases and backpacks over to the table that provided the team with snacks and such. They had talked earlier and decided to let the guys choose before they did. They were such thoughtful girlfriends.

"God it's like they're pigs," Stassie groaned, seeing nothing but a couple bags of pretzels left on the table. She was a proud pretzel hater, and the thought of the chip made her stomach churn. Suddenly, she could do without snacks on the couple hour long flight. Plus, she could just steal some of the guys'.

Last night, it was around 10 pm when Lola and Stassie burst through the doors of the sophomore house. Stassie, with her packed bags already in tow, and Lola, with a tote bag that carried her needs for the next day. Mark had texted them and asked if they could come over and help them pack. His excuse was that he needed more time with his girls.

And it was true. As time goes on and the regular season begins to pick up more, they hadn't been able to spend much time together. And not just the trio, the entire group of friends. Well expect Stassie and Ethan, but Mark didn't need to know that.

When most of the guys had their suitcases and duffel bags packed thanks to the help of Lola and Anastasia, the obsidian haired girl made her way up to her boyfriend's room.

It had been a week since her birthday party and their sporadic day-trip up to Lansing. And it seemed like ever since then, the fluttering that appeared in Stassie's chest each time her boy was around was only intensifying. She felt like a broken record at this point– she loves him but couldn't show it except behind closed doors. It was a cliche that she was tired of living.

It also didn't help that her and Ethan hadn't really talked about when they were going to tell their friends, specifically Mark. Anytime the couple found themselves together any negative thought was swept away from her brain. And who could blame her? Especially whenever Ethan's napping on top of her between his classes.

Sofia snorted, "That's because they are pigs," she glanced over at the group of guys who were laughing. Like had seemed to get up and join them as well. Anastasia followed her gaze, and a small smile appeared on her lips as she just watched her friends enjoying themselves.

It was like Ethan could sense his girl's stare, as he lifted his head up from Mark's phone. The blond boy was showing him a Tiktok he saw earlier and he couldn't stop laughing at. But right now that didn't matter to Ethan. Not when he has his girl blushing from just looking at her.

Anastasia's breath hitched in her throat and her cheeks flushed pink; Ethan sent her a sly, cheesy wink before he turned his attention back to his friends around him. She licked her lips and inhaled deeply.

A bitch in heat, thanks, Lola.

"C'mon, you can eye fuck Eddie later. We gotta go out to the plane so we can set up for some shots." Sofia started walking, her words muffled by a bag of pretzels hanging from her teeth. Anastasia went to defend herself before the sophomore cut her off, "I see everything, trust me. Now let's go."

umichhockey has posted!

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Liked by stassiegreen, markestapa, and others

umichhockey the boys are loaded and ready to take in minnesota😈

VIEW COMMENTS

sofia.commm i shouldn't of let you write the caption
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stassiegreen i don't see anything wrong with it😔

dylanduke25 Where's my solo shot?
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stassiegreen i wasn't the one takin the pics...
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sofia.commm not my fault lukey was lookin fine🙄
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lhughes_06 Never call me Lukey

user1 LOOK AT MARKKKKK

edwards.73 Didn't make it😔
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umichhockey cry about it????
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user2 LMAOOOOOI

lola.thompson my boy lookin extra cute🙈
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markestapa I LOVE LOLA THOMPSON
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stassiegreen I LOVE LOLA THOMPSON MORE
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rutgermcgroaty I LOVE CHICKEN RAMEN
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luca.fantilli Rut...

user3 matter of fact, where's everybody from?
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stassiegreen this comment took me out😭😭😭😭
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sofia.commm can confirm she's laughing so hard she's crying

lightskin.stassie has posted!

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Liked by luca.fantilli, lola.thompson and 15 others

lightskin.stassie i miss lola and lola only.

VIEW COMMENTS

edwards.73 Glad to know where I stand
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lightskin.stassie i'm on a plane w u rn i don't wanna hear it.

lola.thompson I MISS MY LOVER (my platonic best friend) YOUVE BEEN GONE FOR YEARS (i haven't seen you in two hours)
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markestapa Yeah I sure miss you too babe!
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lightskin.stassie i don't think it's platonic of you to shove you're tongue down her throat...
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dylanduke25 Miss ma'am said what we were all thinking

luca.fantilli Sooo have we just accepted the fact that we're never gonna find out who her bf is?
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lightskin.stassie yes!
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markestapa I cant even get it out of her dude..
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luca.fantilli But I can keep a secret!!
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edwards.73 No he can't

lhughes_06 WHERE DID THAT PHOTO OF ME COME FROM?????
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lightskin.stassie welcome to the spam lukey😈
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markestapa Told you you didn't wanna make it bro..
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rutgermcgroaty A fallen soldier 🫡

sofia.commm posted a story!

edwards.73 liked your story!

lhughes_06 liked your story!

stassiegreen replied to your story!

stassie :)
FUCK PRETZELS

sofia💐
PRETZELS FOR LIFEEE

stassie :)
NO

Seen at 9:36 am

markestapa posted a story!

lhughes_06 liked your story!

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stassiegreen replied to your story!

stassie :)
i look hot asf

mark estapa
You're annoying asf

stassie :)
ok no need for the attitude 🙄

mark estapa
I learned from the best!

Seen at  9:40 am

AUTHOR'S NOTE

to be fucking honest i'm not really proud of this one but hey!

we got some stassie + mark content but a lot more coming soon w the first away game of the season!!

not a lot of stassie + eddie this chap... oops

BUT this was just a filler but lmk what you guys think