authors note!!

i wanted to make something clear that in the description it says leo is 20. so, he is actually 19 in the start of the book, as he is 19 right now, but he is turning 20 in the book, and very soon. aria turned 19 in the start of the book (before it starts). so, that makes leo technically a year older which is correct. but i've written the book in a way to make it seem like a freshman in college which he is. he was help back when he was in elementary school, so he is a year behind on learning. he got into harvard from good grades in highschool, and being an outstanding hockey player.

i just thought i'd make that clear :). enjoy the chapter!!

By the time I made it back inside, Leo had to go due to his roommates "tearing the place up". I don't know what that means, but I let him go.

Sometimes I wonder what it's like to be a man. I'm not kidding, their lifestyles are so much more different than ours.

I take a seat at my desk, the one Leo had been sitting at an hour ago. For the few minutes he had been in my room, it sure smelled a bit like him. I inhaled the minty smell that roamed around my desk. It's such a beautiful smell.

I open my laptop and begin writing for my photojournalism course. I had been told for my first writing, I had to make it about my first few days of experiencing the topic I was assigned. I had a lot to say...all good things. I missed yesterday's practice because Bri had relapsed.

Brielle had been diagnosed with anorexia when she was 17. I met her over the summer when Hailee had introduced her to me. I found out about her eating disorder before we started college. I've helped keep track of her meals, as well as, encourage her to eat, even if she doesn't think she should. I could see the look in her eyes when she looked at the food I put in front of her. I could see the way she was calculating the calories in her head.

I had gone to the coach before practice to tell him I had a family emergency, but that I would still make it to their first game. He was understanding and said he hoped everything was okay. While I was there, I asked a few of the players who showed up early, if they wanted to do an interview on Sunday, to which they happily obliged.

I turn my head to the sound of the door opening, and I see Bri walking in, Hailee nowhere in sight.

"Hey babe, how are you?" I asked as she began to take her shoes and coat off.

"I'm feeling better today," She answers, looking at me. I smile, and nod for her to continue, "I had an apple before class and I ate half a sandwich with Hailee."

"I'm so proud of you! It's a start," I tell her with genuine. She smiles at me and walks into the bathroom. I hear the shower water start running, indicating she may be a while. I turned back to my laptop, tying my conclusion sentence. After a few spelling mistakes, which my love Grammarly fixed, I finally finish and shut my laptop. I move to my bed and wrap myself in it. My phone begins to ring, and I see the caller ID read . I giggle at the name and answer.

"You missing me already?" I say in the phone jokingly. "So very much Bambi," He replies. I can hear the smirk through the phone, "Whatcha doing?" He asks.

"I actually just finished some writing for my photojournalism class."

"Damn, they're already making you do work?" He questions. I laugh and hum in confirmation.

"Do you need something, Mr. Captain?" I ask. He chuckles at the question. His deep laugh sends shivers down my spine, to which I squirm a bit in my bed. I'm glad he isn't here because if he were, he'd definitely notice.

"Just wanted to make sure you were still coming tomorrow. Can't have you missing the first game of the season," I smile at his words.

"Of course I'm making it!" I say in a duh tone, "I'll be there a bit before warm-ups. I gotta provide your girl posse some Leo content," He laughs at my statement and I join in on the laughter.

"We can't have them attacking you for not giving, you know?" He jokes. I few moments of silence pass as we both catch our breath. After the silence, he asks, "You have a jersey to wear?"

"Uhm...not really, no," I reply slowly. The gasp this man makes is louder than my high school Calculus teacher when he falls asleep during his own class.

"How could you not wear a jersey to a hockey game?" He says dramatically.

"I'm sorry! I was just planning on wearing a red hoodie, you know, school colors," He sighs at my confession.

"If you get to the arena by the time the team starts arriving, then I'll give you something to wear," He suggests. I hesitate for a moment. What is he bringing?

"I guess that could work..." I trail off.

"Perfect," He replies and a smile appears on my face, "Alright I have to go sadly. Brett and I are getting some last-minute things for the road game next week," My heart drops a little.

"Alright well I'll see you tomorrow afternoon," I say quietly.

"Don't sound too sad," He responds, which causes an eye roll from me, "Cya soon Bambi," Before I could yell at him for the nickname, he'd already hung up. I set my phone back down on my nightstand and stare at the ceiling.

Am I moving too fast with him? I don't really know where this is going with him, I'm still slightly closed off since...you know what. Leo seems like he'd make a nice friend, so hopefully, we can grow closer. Though, he makes me...feel something. My entire body feels like it's burning around him, which I don't think you're supposed to feel with friends. I don't feel anything like that with Josh, therefore, I am very confused about how I feel for Leo. I doubt Leo would want to date, his reputation here proves that.

"Who were you talking to?" I turn to see Bri walking out of the shower with her hair tied back and a robe covering her body.

"Leo," I reply slowly, hiding the smile on my face with my blanket.

Bri's eyes widen and her eyebrows raise, "And what did he need?"

"Just making sure I wasn't ditching the team tomorrow," Bri's mouth forms a straight line as if saying, really? "Would you want to come to the game? Hailee said she can go, so if you want, you can come. Only if you're feeling up to it."

Bri smiles at me and tucks herself into her bed, "Sure, just give me 30 minutes' notice before we leave," I nod my head and shut the lamp light off, leaving on the dim red color from our LED lights.

~

I woke up at 10, meaning I slept 12 hours. That's the most sleep I've gotten in a while. Bri wasn't in bed when I woke up, so I texted her asking where she was. She replied saying she was at a late breakfast with a guy and said she'd be back at 11:30.

I slowly got out of bed, which means I didn't get out until 11. Shameful, I know.

I took a quick shower and decided to blow dry my hair to make it wavy and have some volume. When I get out of the bathroom, I see Bri sitting in her bed, on her phone.

"Hey, how was your date?" I ask her.

She rolls her eyes, "It wasn't a date, I needed help with some of my drawings for my fashion class, so I asked Matthew to help me since you said he likes art," My eyebrows raise slightly. I'm not jealous, trust me. Not going to lie right now, I'm definitely going to set those two up.

"Ah, okay," I say smirking at her, to which she turns away, "We should leave at 1 to pick up Hailee since we need to be there by 1:30," I tell Bri. She nods and gets up to take a shower. I change from my towel, into a plain cropped black shirt, and a pair of black leggings.

After changing, I make lunch for Bri and I, which consists of grilled cheeses and fruit bowls. We're big fruit people. Vegetables suck.

15 minutes later, Bri walks out of the bathroom in new clothes and smelling like lavender. Her hair is styled up in a messy bun and her face is clean, making her subtle freckles noticeable. She's so freaking pretty, I swear.

She smiles at me as I set our food on the little table in the kitchen. We eat our lunch, catching up on classes and random topics. When it hits 12:45, I leave Bri to wash the dishes since I made the food, and I walk into the bathroom to do my makeup. By makeup, I mean a thin layer of mascara and subtle highlighter in my tear duct. Once I finish, I grab a zip-up hoodie and put my shoes on. Bri is waiting at the door with her car keys in hand.

Bri has a Harvard hoodie on and ripped jeans, her hair is still up in a messy bun, a claw clip holding it in place. I quickly grab my camera and its equipment, and we leave the dorm and walk to her car.

Let's do this thing.

~

somewhat of a lowkey chapter but the next ones will hopefully be much more exciting !!