The game today is a blowout. Like seriously awful. It's hard to watch. This team from Wisconsin is good. Like better than good and it sadnesses me watching Derek skate off the ice at the end of the period. 0-4. It's just a rough day I guess. After Derek left this morning, he reminded me of tonight and how he wanted me to come to the game (which he doesn't know I was already planning on doing so) and how afterwards I was to meet him at his house.

I'm not so sure he will be as happy as he thought he would be. Daphne and I glumly walk out of the arena and wait outside for the guys.

"I feel awful," Daphne says, a frown on her face.

I nod. "Me too," I agree. "Maybe it was just a bad day?" I try to make the situation better but I'm not sure it will turn out that way.

About twenty long minutes later the door opens and multiple sad faced hockey players exit the door. Brooks and Derek both walk in Daphne and I's direction, each sharing a matching look of disappointment.

Once Derek reaches me, he barely looks at me. I put a hand up and caressed his cheek and then he met my eyes. He gives me a small sad smile to which I return.

"I'm sorry," I say. "I've seen the way you guys play, it's just a rough day."

He nods but doesn't say anything. I'm not so sure hanging out after the game is still a go.

I sigh. "How about we hang out another day? I know you probably aren't up to company right now." I tear my gaze from him.

In my peripheral vision I see him shake his head. "No," he says and I look back up at him. His gaze is still sad but he's serious in what he's about to say. He then smiles. "Meet me at my house?" He says.

I smile and nod. He leans in and kisses my forehead and bounds away from me to his car.

Daphne and Brooks are smiling at one another when I walk up. Brooks sees me walk up and looks back at Daphne. "I'll see you soon, Daph." He says and gives her a quick kiss before following Derek to his car.

"Boys," Daphne says and shakes her head.

I just laugh.

I dropped Daphne back at the dorm, thanked her for allowing me to use her car and drive over to Derek's. I'm pleasantly surprised that there are no nerves running through my body. More excitement than anything. I trust Derek, I really do. He's like no one else I've ever met.

When I reach his house, a little bit of that nervous energy comes back but I try and not think about it. It's very cold and snowy out so I'm very prepared in my jacket and beanie. The walk up to his door feels like a lifetime but right as I go to knock on the door, the door opens and Derek greets me with his warm smile.

"Hi," I say lamely.

"Hey," he says back and he allows me to come inside.

The house is quiet and I wonder if anyone's home. Derek disappears from the room for a moment and returns with a beanie and a jacket. I stare at him confused, "Are we going outside?" I ask curiously. I glance at a clock on the far wall and read that it's 12:32 am.

He smirks at me and I playfully glare in his direction. He walks up to me and puts his hands on my shoulders. "Can't you just be patient?" He asks playfully.

I playfully hit his chest to where he just laughs and goes to get his car keys. "We're driving?" I say astonished.

"Ash," he warns, although amusement laces his tone.

"I'm sorry, I'm just curious." I say putting my hands up in defense.

He nods. "I know you are, that's why you just have to trust me."

"I do," I say.

The look in his eyes changes, not in a bad way but almost a firey way. "Good," is all he says and I follow him out the front door.

Once we get in the car Derek turns on the heater and I relax. I turn to watch him as he pulls out of the driveway. I don't know if I've said this yet but he has very nice hands. I don't know if it's because he's a hockey player or that's just the way he is but it never fails to draw me in.

We don't drive for very long and Derek asks how my days have been. It's nice to catch up with him and he's a very good listener. I then ask about his week but I know he was in Colorado so he doesn't have much to say besides hockey. He then decides to tell me where he is taking me.

"This was one of the first things I did when I got to Teakwood," he says. "I was pissed off about how I did in my first practice with the team so I just started driving. I started to realize I was getting a tad lost so I pulled over and put in directions for back home but I pulled up... here." As he finished his story we pull up to a pull out. The snow make it look even more beautiful than it probably already is.

Derek comes up to my side once he gets out of the car and opens the door to help me out. Not that I need it but it was nice of him. He goes to the trunk and takes out a blanket. I scrunch my eyebrows but ignore it because he probably planned that so we could sit. Or... well, I'm not sure. He grabs my hand and we start walking into the trees.

"Are you sure your car will be okay there?" I ask cautiously.

He looks down at me and shakes his head amused. "Yes, Mayfield, the car will be okay."

I shrug my shoulders. "Just checking."

He chuckles. We reach a clearing and I gasp at the sight in front of me.

It's a lake. A small lake but big enough to make it beautiful. The tall pine trees surround the lake and the snow makes it look like a winter wonderland. I stare in the awe at the sight in front of me. I don't think I've seen anything more peaceful and serene. Derek pulls me toward the edge of the lake and places the blanket down and sits, me following him and sitting close to him.

I turn my head to look at him. "It's so beautiful," I remark.

He smiles. "I'm glad you think so. I agree."

I study him for a moment. He really is very attractive. With his dark hair and blue eyes. He's very catching. His light skin makes all his features prominent.

Watching Ash's face when I brought her out here is something I'll never forget. I've never been one to be all romantic and do all that gushy shit but here I am bringing a girl to a beautiful place.

Ash was someone who caught my eye the moment I saw her. Not in the sense that she was just like the usual girls Im drawn to but she was different, and it made me curious. I knew the moment she started to panic during that movie and right as she got up it was almost like I was expected to follow her.

I didn't have a clue why I cared so much. I never have before. My reputation as a hockey player and how much I "got around" was something that never bothered me. Girlfriends were just a distraction and took up time. But watching Ash right now staring out at the snow, all those stupid thoughts wash away.

"What's your favorite color?" She asks.

I laugh, "Really?" I am amused that that was what she wanted to ask me.

She looks at me seriously. "What? I'd really like to know. You learn a lot about a person by their favorite color."

"Okay then green." I say.

Her green eyes watch me as she considers my answer. "And why is that?" She asks.

I shrug. "I'm not sure. How about you?"

She seems to be deep in thought. "Probably blue, like the sky."

I smile. Ash has a way with words. Everytime I talk to her she always seems to know what to say. Ash is the closest thing I've had to a girl as a friend in a, well, ever. But I'm not so sure I'd only like to be her friend.

I see Ash rub her hands together to attempt to get warm. She sees me looking. "What?" She asks.

"Nothing," I say and then smirk "You need me to warm you up?" I tease and I see her tense to which I laugh.

She hits my shoulder. "That's not nice," she pouts.

"Ouch," I hold my shoulder where she hit.

She rolls her eyes, smiling. "Oh Mr. Tough Hockey Boy can't take a hit?" She mocks.

I scoot closer to her. "You know," I start. She turns to look at me and our faces are so close I can feel her warm breath on my face. Her half lidded expression tells me she wants this just as much as I do. "It is cold out here,"

"Mhm," she mumbles.

I shift just a little bit closer. "Maybe we should change that."

She nods and that's all the answer I need.

Once Derek's lips latch to mine, there's once again nothing but us. Deepening the kiss, Derek moves his hand onto my cheek. Suddenly, I'm not so cold anymore and the fire between us ignites. As Derek seems to take some of the control I'm pushed back and he lays me on my back, him hovering over me.

He releases my lips and slowly leaves a trail of kisses from my cheek to my neck giving me chills down my body. I give out a sigh and I feel his smirk on my neck. My hands find his hair and push through it. He moves back up to my lips but doesn't kiss me yet. His hot blue gaze meets my green ones and the intensity of the stare brings butterflies to me core. He brings a hand up and brushes some of my hair behind my ear. I close my eyes at the feeling and his hands gently place themselves on my hips.

His mouth moves to my ear and a chill runs through me feeling his breath on my ear. "Back to my house?" He roughly whispers and I open my eyes to lock gazes with him and nod my head.