15
The gala room opens up before us and the music blares as Emily and I enter arm in arm. It”s a wonderful feeling to no longer have to hide my affection for her. Our torrid embrace has literally galvanized me and I feel ready to take on the world.
The twinkling lights and the cheerful murmur of the students present create a pleasant atmosphere. The ambiance is chic yet relaxed. Rhythmic music vibrates through the speakers without being deafening.
We cross the room to join our friends we”ve spotted near the bar, and behind us a few heads turn. Still, we”re a long way from the big buzzwe thought we”d generate by showing up together. Phew!
As I order us something to drink, I notice out of the corner of my eye an all-too-familiar curly redhead - what the hell! One of my ex-girlfriends glares at us and my heart rate quickens, but I decide to ignore her.
We grab our drinks and hang around the counter to enjoy the atmosphere. Our friends, who seem to like each other, are out on the dance floor, doing their best choreography.
I really need to tell Chase he can”t dance...
I can”t help laughing as I watch him do it, and soon Emily joins them.
Suddenly, I feel a presence beside me, and I excuse myself by pushing back my stool to make room. A throat-clearance pulls me from my observation and I look up at the person in question.
An uneasy feeling overcomes me when our eyes meet.
My ex again...
The expression on her face is hard to interpret - a mixture of surprise and maybe also displeasure. I can”t deny that she and I didn”t part on the friendliest of terms. Still, water has passed under the bridge, and I hope she”ll get off my back. I don”t need that tonight. I just want to enjoy Emily and my friends.
“Liam, hi,” she finally says, smiling falsely.
“Sara,” I answer soberly.
“I”ve heard that you have a chance of being drafted, congrats!” she continues.
I nod and we talk for a few more minutes before I feel it”s time to end the conversation. I don”t think it”s right to talk to one of my exes on my first date with my official girlfriend. It also has to be said that Sara has never been the best date in the world. And I don”t want to be associated with her. Campus rumors are rife, and already my arrival with Emily has aroused a bit of curiosity, so I”d like to avoid a scandal along the lines of ‘Liam Scott was seen with his ex at the End of Spring Gala, were he also introduced his new girlfriend’.
“I”ll leave you to it and go dancing with my friends.”
I don”t have the nerve to say that this meeting was a pleasure, and Sara nods before looking towards the group.
“Sure... Have fun, Liam.”
I take my leave politely and head for Emily.
As we dance, laugh and enjoy our evening, I always feel a gaze upon me. And every time I turn my head in the direction of the bar, I see my ex staring bitterly at us.
She”s gonna be all over you, man...
Sara took our separation very hard. But I couldn”t cope with her addiction problems. As an avid sportsman who wanted to become a professional, she wasn”t helping me. I tried to reach out to her, but every time I did, she turned to drugs. I picked her up several times in a bad way, and one day that was the last straw. But that”s all in the past, and I”d hoped that running into her again wouldn”t arouse so much anger on her part.
As Emily and I head back to the bar for a breather, Sara approaches us with a determined step.
What the hell is she up to?
“So, you”re the ‘new girl’?” she asks, mimicking quotation marks with her fingers.
Emily pauses in surprise and turns her eyes to me for a moment before returning to Sara.
“Uh, the new what?” she says, as if trying to understand what my ex is referring to.
“What did he say to get you? That you were important? That he wanted you in his life? He probably fucked you pretty hard, huh? It”s a good fuck, you”ve got to admit.”
Emily opens her mouth in shock as I try to come between them. Sara seems to have had a few too many drinks while I was dancing, and her breath is now quite heavy.
That, and the coke she must have snorted in the bathroom...
“You”d better shut up, Sara. And get yourself a glass of water. You”re in no condition now,” I growl menacingly.
“Or what? People might find out that you got high with me once or twice?”
My eyes widen.
I would never touch that shit!
All around us, people are starting to gather to find out what”s going on. Inevitably, you always attract vultures in this kind of situation.
“What did he say? Did he fuck you before or after he told you he loved you? For me, it was before. Liam”s not exactly known for keeping his dick in his pants!”
I blush. It could not get any worse!
“In fact, as soon as he dumped me, he was banging one of the cheerleaders in the rink”s locker room. Who knows if he wasn”t already sleeping with her when we were together. He”s like that... pretty sexually hyperactive! In fact, I don”t know how long you”ve been together, but not so long ago, he was banging the yoga teacher...”
Well, it could be worse...
Suddenly, Chase bursts in between us and grabs Sara by the arm, pulling her back.
“Get lost...” he intimates, raising his eyebrows and giving her a sufficiently convincing look.
“That”s it, the cavalry”s coming! The bisexual on duty is your knight in shining armor again!”
My best friend doesn”t loosen his grip and carries Sara, who is still screaming horrors, out of the room.
The students present have not missed a beat, and I can see some of them filming with their phones.
I”m overcome with disgust and turn to the livid Emily, who hasn”t moved a millimeter.
“I... Em...”
“It”s okay, Liam. Don”t say anything,” she says, her voice trembling.
She smoothes her dress with the flat of her hand, and without another word leaves the gala. I follow her with bewildered eyes, wondering whether to chase after her or let her digest the whole thing.
My anger at my ex bubbles up inside me, I’m also mad at myself, because I should have known what was going to happen. Sara has always been a pain in the ass, and this was too good an opportunity for revenge.
When Chase returns, he puts my hand on my shoulder, pulling me out of my dark thoughts.
“What”s up, man?”
“I should be asking you that. Fuck, I”m sorry, bro.”
“Oh, don”t worry, my bisexuality”s no secret, and I don”t mind being flaunted,” he replies with a smile. “On the other hand, the other slut didn”t miss you. Where”s Emily?”
He looks around, puzzled.
“She”s gone...”
“Rha shit... Is she mad?”
“I guess so. When the other person”s past jumps in your face and throws horrors at you, I think you”re entitled to be. Or at least, she must be hurt...” I sigh.
“She”ll soon see through this bullshit. She knows you, Liam, and she loves you.”
“We”ve never said it before...”
“That you love each other?” asks my best friend in surprise.
“Not officially, not in person,” I explain, scratching the back of my neck.
“What the fuck are you waiting for, man? For another Sara to beat the shit out of you in public? You know you”re opening yourself up to a pro career, and there”ll be dozens of chicks like that. And just for the fun of it, they”ll come and ruin your life and relationship, because you”ll be more famous than ever. If you don”t do it...”
I nod. He”s so right.
Right now, all I want is to get out of here. Get out and calm my mind. I”ll talk to Emily, yes, but I”ll let her digest this. I know she won”t respond to my messages anyway, and there”s no point in joining her in her room. Incidentally, I notice that Cassy and Maddie have left, and I assume they must be cheering her up.
I struggle with my feelings. Anger, worry, confusion - they all collide inside me. The next few weeks are going to be exhausting. The training sessions will come and go and I”ll hardly have time to see Emily, let alone if she refuses to talk to me. It”s frustrating.
I sigh and rub my face.
I hope we can settle this quickly. I hate being left with misunderstandings. And this girl is under my skin...
***
The next morning, I get up early. Chase and I have an intensive training session today to prepare for the upcoming games, and for the scouts who will be coming to observe us.
When we”re on the ice, I focus on hockey and my thoughts take a back seat. The cold of the rink beneath my skates, the sound of the air whistling in my ears, the clash of the puck - everything feels familiar and in its rightful place.
Our movements are synchronized, our passes are precise, our shots are powerful. It”s still an incredible feeling. The tension of the previous weeks dissipates for a moment. The sweat beads on my forehead, my muscles are working hard, and that gives me a certain satisfaction.
After the workout, I feel exhausted, but in a good way. I decide to text Emily to see if she”s okay. The silence between us gnaws at me.
But... no reaction.
I”m about to give up hope when her answer arrives.
* I need time.
* Let me at least explain, Em. You don”t have my side of the story!
* Not yet, Liam.
* Don”t be fooled by what that girl said. Nothing was true!
* Oh, I think there was a bit of truth, and it hurts. Of course, I knew that you”d had relations before
me, but it”s always funny when someone spits it in your face in such a crude way. That and
other things, she said... Anyway. Give me time.
I let out a sigh. It”s understandable that she needs to think about all this, but also unfair. She didn”t get my side of the story!
I wish I could reassure her, hold her close to me, and tell her that I simply love her.
***
I sit down in front of my computer, tense, to consult the results of my latest exams. My fingers tremble slightly, which is rather unheard of considering how little interest I had in my studies before.
Fuck, I did it!
The grades are unanimous, and I feel a new joy welling up inside me. It feels good to know that at least something in my life isn”t going wrong!
It”s all thanks to the hours I spent with Emily at the library when she patiently took the time to explain to me how to study better. Now, at least, I can see the fruits of all her efforts.
A bittersweet smile spreads across my face and I take a deep breath.
You”re on the right track, Liam.
With every new challenge in training and every successful exam, I feel I”m growing - both as a hockey player and as a person. I just wish I could share it with her...
I hope Emily realizes how much I”m working on myself, not just in my career or studies, but in our relationship as well. I want to prove to her that I”m a good man, that I care about her. Now she just has to accept seeing me.
As I check my cell phone with the urge to send Emily a message, I receive several notifications that suddenly darken my mood.
What the hell?
Several students have shared an article from the campus newspaper, tagging me. My heart suddenly starts beating faster when I read the subject in question.
The title alone gives me a shock.
‘A ROCKY ROAD TO THE NHL: LIAM SCOTT”S DARK PAST REVEALED.’
I can”t believe it! The article not only contains details about my childhood that I”d never made public, but also shocking statements about my past, about my exes, especially Sara. It”s suggested that I”ve been in contact with drug addicts, that I”ve used drugs myself and even that I have been dealing!
It”s completely crazy!
Anger wells up inside me. How can someone spread such lies? How can someone manipulate my past and slander me like that? I feel betrayed, as if my story has been stolen and distorted.
And then I see the author”s name. Everything stops. I can feel the bile rising in my mouth. I want to throw up.
Emily Hansen.
I can”t believe she”s behind this rag. No, not her! There must be some explanation for all this. She can”t be that mad at me for having ex-girlfriends, she can”t be that mad at me for what Sara said when she was completely stoned, she can”t blame me for the scene she made, damn it, to the point of jeopardizing my future! Especially since she was full of shit! And I never had a chance to explain myself, to tell her what was going on!
She, whom I believed to be honest and upright, has written an article exposing horrible lies. It”s just insane!
My hands clench as I reread her writings. The words burn into my brain, and I feel helpless and hurt.
Why did Emily do this? Did she not trust me and our relationship enough? Did she want revenge? No... This is so unlike her...
I need to get some fresh air and try to sort out my emotions, which are spiraling in my head.
I make my way to the campus bar where Chase works. I can feel the stares coming my way, and this time they”re not appreciative like the last few articles extolling my virtues.
Chase greets me with a smile, but quickly loses interest when he sees my face.
“What”s going on, man? You seen a ghost?”
I hand him my phone so he can read the article. I can see the same shock on his face. His eyes scan the lines, and I can see the moment when his thoughts take the same direction as mine.
“Fuck, Liam... This sucks. It really does.”
I just nod silently, unable to find the words to express what”s going on inside me.
“No but wait. She couldn”t write that. Not Emily! Did you call her?”
I shake my head negatively.
“I”d rather calm down first,” I say.
Chase nods in understanding.
“I understand, yes. Would you like a drink?”
“No, it”s a bit early for that, and we”ve got practice later, so thank you, Brother. I”m gonna go home and crash for a while. I need to think.”
“Take care of yourself and let me know if you learn anything.”
I greet my best friend, and return to my room, my heart heavy.
I need to be alone to sort out my ideas, to know how to deal with all this, and above all what impact it might have on my career.
Coach Franklyn is going to have a fit too...
Finally, I reach for my cell phone and dial Mr. Turner”s number.
He has years of experience in the world of professional ice hockey, and this certainly isn”t the first shit he”s had to deal with. I need his advice, and I think I can trust him.
When he takes the call, I try to keep my voice calm and measured, even if my thoughts are racing.
“Liam! How”s it going? Training going well?” he asks, picking up the phone.
“Things are going well on that front, yes. But I was calling you about something else...”
I tell him the problem and he listens attentively.
“Liam, I understand your concern. But you should know that this kind of article is unfortunately part of your new reality. Especially if you get in the NHL. Journalists, even university journalists, are always on the lookout for sordid stories, and sometimes they cross the line. Don”t let it get you down.”
His words reassure me a little, but the uncertainty persists.
“But this article is a pack of lies!”
He sighs.
“Unfortunately, it happens more often than you might think. The public loves scandal, and some journalists will do anything to get attention. You have to learn to deal with it and concentrate on what”s important: your performance on the ice. The best thing is not to read this kind of crap.”
Tired, I rub my face.
“Do you think this article could influence my chances of being drafted?” I ask, unsure.
His voice is firm when he answers.
“No, Liam. It”s your performance on the ice that”s judged, not what you do with your private life, whether it”s true or not. What the teams are interested in is your ability as a player and your professionalism. Don”t let things like that affect you.”
I breathe deeply as his words slowly percolate through me.
“Thank you, Mr. Turner.”
“No problem, Liam. If you have any questions or need support, I”m always here. Just keep doing what you do best: playing. The rest, you don”t care about.”
After hanging up, I feel a little more relieved. His words bring me comfort and help me see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Come on, man, hold on!
When it”s time to train, I feel a bit better. On the ice, I can put my thoughts aside for a while and concentrate on the sport. A temporary relief.
When I arrive at the rink, my eyes are immediately drawn to a mass of blond hair sitting in the stands.
A twinge runs through my heart.
Emily...
Chase notices my gaze and follows. Without hesitation, he moves towards her before I can stop him, and I watch helplessly as he strikes up a conversation with her.
What the hell is he telling her?
A few minutes later, which seems like an eternity, she gathers her things and leaves without even looking at me. What little hope I had of explaining ourselves leaves with her, and I wonder more and more whether she wrote the damn article or not.
When Chase comes back to me, the lump in my throat seems to have grown out of proportion. Still, I need to know.
“What did you say to her?” I ask point-blank.
He sighs.
“I told her she wasn”t welcome here at the moment. She seemed very uncomfortable and tried to explain several times. But we”re about to train, and we need to focus. If you need to talk, make an appointment, but don”t do it on a stretch of bench between two practices. If you”re upset, it”ll upset the whole team, you know that.”
I lower my eyes to the ice.
“You”re right, man. We”re acting like a couple of kids. She can”t avoid me anymore, or at least doesn”t want to. But for all that, she hasn”t tried to call me or sent me any messages.”
“So, you know what you have to do when you get out of here,” Chase replies.
I thank him for looking after me and getting my head straight. Turner told me too: nothing must interfere with my goals when I”m training. And Emily is unfortunately one of those disruptions.
He puts a comforting hand on my shoulder.
“It won”t be easy, but you have to get through it,” he adds more gently. “And now, focus!”
Together, we take to the ice. I feel the energy and concentration gradually returning to me with each skate.
The other team members join us, and they all have the decency not to talk about the article. I guess Chase must have told them to keep their mouths shut, because even the most talkative ones don”t say anything. I”m relieved and give it my all. A pleasant warmth spreads through my muscles and I focus on every step, every movement.
Training lasts two hours and the intensity doesn”t let up for a second. By the time it”s over, I”m totally exhausted. We”ve worked hard together, and this also strengthens our team spirit.
As I leave the rink, I can feel the tiredness in my limbs, but also the confidence in my ability to fight. It”s a confidence I haven”t felt in a long time.
I search for my keys as I turn the corner of my university building and when I look up, my heart freezes.
Emily stands in front of the door, her head turned skyward.
I stop abruptly, unsure of what to do. I examine her for a moment and remember the positive feeling I had after practice. Taking a deep breath, I straighten my shoulders and approach.
It”s time to face her too.