"like stars on a cloudy night"

⋆✧⋆✧⋆

I sit in my now second home, the library next to Sterling, and I finish reading his report.

"It's good, Sterling, I'm impressed"

But instead of a cocky response he would normally be quick to deliver, he just mumbles a thank you.

I feel his gaze on me, burning into the side of my face, so I turn to him.

A small smile lifts the corners of his lips up.

"Sterling," I start, my voice in a warning tone.

"Laney," he responds.

"I need your attention."

"Love, you always have my attention," he says in such a sincere and honest tone, I barely know how to reply.

So instead I just stare back at him, studying his features, trying to memorize every little detail.

I look into those mysterious eyes of his as they meet mine and travel down my face, stopping at my lips.

Butterflies swirl in my stomach from his action and I feel every inch of myself come alive under his watch.

My cheeks betray me as their now rosy colour brings a smug grin to Sterling's face. He clears his throat and turns back to the papers in front of us, "Back to work, Sweetheart."

We finish in the library and, like always, get into his car so he can drop me off at home.

I open the door and hop out, "Thanks for the ride."

"Anytime, Laney"

Before I close the door and walk away, Sterling continues, "Are you coming to my game tonight?"

I can't help but smirk at the fact that he wants me there, "I wouldn't miss it, darling."

⋆✧⋆✧⋆

The girls and I decided to all go and watch the guys play, mostly because I didn't want to go alone but also because we wanted to support the boys.

Like usual, I get there early to meet with Sterling so I leave my friends and wander off alone to find him.

"You look good," he pats the pompom on my hat. His words ignite a fire within me and I can't help but grin.

"Thank you, darling, you do too."

"But there's one problem." My smile falls at his words.

He notices and quickly explains what he means, "This jersey. It's Owen's," he spins me around, looking at the letters stitched on spelling 'Pierce' and his number 10.

"Mhm, what about it?" I slightly tease.

"Why are you in it?"

I shrug my shoulders to bother him further, "He asked me to, I thought it was sweet."

"Well, we need to fix that."

"We do?"

He nods, "I'll give you one of mine."

Sterling disappears back into the locker room and reappears a second later, this time carrying a spare jersey.

He pulls Owen's jersey off my body and tosses it on the ground. Then, he puts the new piece of clothing over my head, helping me get it on.

He tucks my now messy hair behind my ear as he looks into my eyes, "Perfect."

"Okay, I think I have to get going now, Laney."

"Alright," I give him a sweet smile, "good luck out there #6," I sing as I walk away.

I meet the girls and sit down in the seat they saved for me.

The announcer's voice starts on the loud speaker a pit forms in my stomach when I realize I forgot to kiss him good luck.

I've always been a little superstitious — I guess it started when I would do certain things before my gymnastics meets — but this time it was different. This wasn't just superstition, something felt wrong.

Nevertheless, I try to focus on the game and get out of my head, and I quickly spot Sterling.

It's nice to see him so in his element; doing something he loves and clearly enjoying it.

I'm not oblivious to the fact that he doesn't love studying, and when he's seen around campus he's usually not in the best mood, but he's so different on the ice.

He looks free. He looks at home.

It's seconds before intermission and the team is winning by 1.

However, that sense of peace is immediately gone and my intuition is proven correct when a player on the other team body checks Theo who goes flying to the ground.

I wince when I see how hard he hits the ice and my heart falls into my stomach when I see his motionless body lying there.

Mason, Owen, and Luke rush over to him followed by coach.

They crowd around him, assessing the scene and despite my need to know what's going on, a part of me is grateful they're blocking it. I don't think I can handle seeing Theo like that, and I know Aspen must be thinking the same thing I am.

And then, just as I thought I couldn't get more worried, Sterling skates over to the player responsible for Theo's current state.

He rips off his gloves and throws the first punch. The two players fight each other, and with every hit my head spins with worry.

From my seat in the stands, I can't tell if he's okay or what's going on until a ref breaks them apart while the medics take Theo off the ice.

Both teams leave the ice and I look over to Aspen who has the same look of terror evident on her face. She quickly gets up from her seat, making her way to whoever will give her information about Theo.

A couple minutes later she sends me a text letting me know the details she managed to pry out of one of the assistant coaches. Not knowing exactly what his injuries are, she heads to the hospital to figure out exactly how he's doing.

Someone I recognize as Sterling's manager comes into the stands and he walks straight towards me.

"I need you to come with me." A look of desperation on his face somehow tells me this is something I need to do. So, despite my better judgement, I get up from my seat and follow this man.

"I'm Sterling's manager by the way," he confirms my previous judgments.

"Ok," I start in a confused and probably overly harsh tone, "What does this have to do with me? Are the boys okay? Is Sterling in trouble or something? How is Theo?" I start frantically listing the questions flying around my mind.

"Sterling has lost his mind and now he's not talking to anyone. Mason said to come and get you."

I just nod and walk over to where Sterling's manager points.

I recognize their locker room, the place I was just it wishing Sterling and the team good luck.

I turn the corner and spot him standing alone running a hand through his disheveled hair. His body, usually standing tall and proud, is hunched over. I can practically feel the stress and anger radiating off of him.

"Sterling," my voice comes out quieter than I expected, "turn around."

The purple bruises scattered across his face and a large gash running down the side of his cheek takes the oxygen from my lungs. His lip is cut open and bloodied and his left eye is slightly swollen. His darkened eyes are bloodshot and I can tell how furious he is. But I know he's also scared, after all, Theo is his best friend, his best friend who just got rushed to the hospital.

"Oh my god," I whisper as I instinctively reach up, lightly holding his jaw with my thumb and pointer finger. I scan over his face, taking in all of his injuries.

"What are you doing here? You should go." His cold tone takes me aback as he looks down at the ground, not facing me.

"I was told to be here and, by the looks of you right now, I think they're right."

He looks down at me, our eyes finally meeting.

"I just got mad," he explains as if he's pleading for my forgiveness.

Yes, he's one of the tallest and most built guys on the ice tonight who could beat basically anyone until they're unconscious, but I know deep down he's a softie. He can't handle what he did — the violence of it all — and now his recent impulses to fight are filling him with guilt.

"I know," my brows furrow in sympathy.

My heart can't handle seeing him like this. Lifeless, scared, yet furious. Suddenly this 6 foot 3 man looks 3 inches tall and utterly lost.

My eyes can't help but water in fear and a tear escapes, running down my cheek. He cups my face in his hands and he wipes the drop with his thumb.

"I'm sorry," I blabber out, "I'm supposed to be the one supporting you right now, not the other way around."

"Laney, look at me," he pleads. So I do. "I will always be here to support you. Always."

I nod my head, acknowledging his words.

"Theo is your friend too, you're allowed to be upset. This is stressful and I know my actions and what I look like right now isn't helping you." Sterling rubs my lower back reassuringly.

I nod at his words and compose myself. "When I get frustrated or upset I do this breathing exercise I learned," I try and offer something to calm us both down.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, want me to teach you?"

This time it's his turn to nod.

I grab his hand in mine and lead him to a nearby bench. The two of us take a seat facing each other.

"So you breathe in for 3, hold for 6, and out for 9. Got it?" The two of us close our eyes sit like that, breathing for a couple minutes.

"Better?" I ask after we finish.

"Now that you're here, yeah."

My heart squeezes and I almost smile but then my view falls back on his bruises. I hate seeing him like this, so hurt.

Sterling notices and picks up both my hands holding them within his own.

"I'm okay, Laney, don't worry about me."

"I can't help it," I make out in a whisper.

I watch him hesitate on what to say but he opts on not talking at all. Instead, he gets up from the bench and picks me up with him.

He pulls me into his body, one hand holding the back of my neck, the other on my lower back. I hug him back, resting my head on his chest, wrapping my arms around his waist.

And for the first time in a while, not even just the last hour, I feel truly okay.

At home, almost.

⋆✧⋆✧⋆

I had so much trouble starting this because I had like no ideas going into writing this chapter. But I just started typing and then I came up with an idea and I couldn't stop so now I have a little longer chapter for you guys than normal.

Some of you guys thought my A/N last chapter implied I was setting something bad or super important up... but it was just for a chapter I want to plan in Chase and Jenna's book and the 'good luck' ritual Delaney and Sterling do, lol. Don't worry guys- I'll play nice for the next few chapters.

Also, to all you tvd fans; I used an iconic Stefan and Elena hug for reference in this chapter. For some reason I couldn't imagine it in my head (probably because I've never experienced it lol) and I needed to look at it for the description so it made sense.

Question of the chapter: Have you watched tvd and if so, are you team Stefan and Elena or Damon and Elena?

Ok, I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy and if you enjoyed the chapter votes and comments help me so much!

Bye everyone! I love you all so much <33