The away game this week is at Michigan University and we actually did really well. We beat them 3-1.

Sitting next to Tyler, who is all excited about our win chats my ear off about this girl he met. He claims she's the one and everything.

The only thing that has been on my mind the last few days is Ash. That night when she stormed out of my car, I didn't run after her. I feel like a idiot for not doing better or talking with her.

I've been avoiding her. I left two days after that night for this away game and haven't even checked in on her. I'm a shit boyfriend. But the thought of hurting her like what happened the other night makes me want to throw up. My mom left yesterday morning and I didn't even say goodbye. I couldn't believe what she said to Ash. I told her beforehand about Ash and how great she is. I can't imagine why she would think that about Ash without even getting to know her. Hell, anyone could look at Ash and know she isn't that shallow.

"Dude are you even listening to me?" Tyler asks, amusingly annoyed at me. "This is important stuff, D."

I scoff. "You talking about your hot girlfriend is something I don't mind listening to, Ty. But when you mention what she looks like and ask me to share my thoughts? Ty I have a girlfriend."

Tyler rolls his eyes. "I know that dumbass but I need opinions."

I raise an eyebrow. "Opinions on what?" I ask, confused.

"Do you think I should take her to the lake or the campsite off Waverton?" He asks.

I roll my eyes but answer him. "Campsite off Waverton. More private."

Tyler nods, seeming satisfied with my answer. "Thanks man."

"No problem." I say.

Tyler stays glued to his phone the rest of the bus ride, most likely texting his girl. I mean, the guy's got the right idea.

I pull out my phone and text Ash. She probably is still mad at me but I might as well try.

Me: how are you?

I shoot the text and watch the text bubbles go up and down for a few seconds but then disappear.

Me: I miss you. I'm sorry.

No reply.

I sigh and put my phone away. I have to fix this somehow. Loving her is the most exciting and terrifying thing ever. I mess up a lot. I say stuff I don't mean. I get angry. But if she loves me the way I do her, I bet she doesn't even care. Flaws are a part of love. You love the flaws as much as you love the good parts of a person.

Once we get back to the school, Tyler, Brooks, and I walk over to my Jeep.

Brooks is in a weird mood. He has been for a few weeks. I'm not sure what it is but I sure as hell know I need to find out.

Brooks hops in the passenger seat with a frown on his face.

"Dude," I say. "What's up with you?"

Brooks looks over at me and I hear Tyler shift closer to us so he can listen.

Brooks sighs. "I'm leaving." He states.

"Leaving?" I ask, shocked.

He nods. "I signed a transfer to Boston College about a month ago."

"Why did you do that?" Tyler asks.

He shrugs. "They have better availability and it's also cheaper than Teakwood."

I scrunch my eyebrows together. "So you're just gonna leave?" I ask. "What about Daphne? The team?"

He sighs again. "I have to. I'm not so sure Daphne and I would have worked out anyways. We are too different. Even she knows that." He says, solemnly. "And you guys will always be my team, just not for actual playing." He sadly, chuckles.

I frown. Tyler slaps a hand on his shoulder. "We'll miss you. But don't miss us too much." Tyler says and we laugh together.

TTTTTTTTTT

It's now Friday and I haven't heard from Ash all week. I'm starting to get a little worried and I've texted her a bunch of times.

Walking to the locker room I spot Ash. She's talking to a guy with a Minnesota U duffel bag. She laughs at something he says and she says goodbye and leaves. I'm about to chase after her and get her to talk to me but Coach yells my name to get in the locker room and put my gear on.

Skating onto the rink I look in the crowd to try and find Ash. After a few minutes, I spot her sitting next to Daphne and some friends of hers I recognize from her study group. She seems to be okay which makes me feel better but I still wish she would talk to me.

The buzzer sounds and the game is about to begin. I take my position and get ready for the puck to drop.

The first period goes by pretty smoothly. One of my teammates, Hastings, makes a goal leaving the score at 1-0 at the end of the period.

Right as the second period begins, I get in position and stare right at the guy who was talking to Ash earlier.

The guy smirks. "Collins, your chick is pretty hot," he remarks. "Might have to take her off your hands."

I glare daggers at him and grip my stick. "Fuck off."

The jackass laughs. "I wonder what she's like in the sheets. I bet she's a good fu-"

That's it.

Before the whistle can even blow, I'm charging at the guy and knocking him to the ice. I punch his mask and it eventually flies off his face. Whistles are blown in the background and I can hear my teammates skating to me. I punch the fucker in the face and he spits blood out his mouth.

Someone pulls me off of him and a MU player pulls the other guy up. He spits blood on the ice and skates away to the medics.

My breathing is heavy and I can hear Coach yelling at me from the bench. The ref calls me out of the game and right as I'm angrily skating off the ice I see Ash leave the rink.

I walk out of the rink and into the stadium with a frown on my face. Why would he do that? I'm mad at him even though I haven't seen him in a week. I miss him. I really do. But I know that if I give in it will just unravel like it did last week.

The texts from him don't help. I want us to work it out but I also need to just leave it be. Loving him is the hardest and most enjoyable thing I've ever gotten to experience. I miss kissing him, hugging him, talking to him. I had this essay to write this week and all I wanted to do was rant to him about how hard it was. But I didn't.

I walk toward the bathroom but decide against it. I think I just need to walk around for awhile. As I walk past another door to the rink I hear a familiar voice call my name.

I turn around and see a sweaty and disheveled Derek jogging up to me.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

He takes a deep breath. "I had to see you."

"What was that out there?" I ask, harshly. "Why did you tackle that guy? You could have gotten hurt or kicked off the team. You are already out of the game today Derek."

He nods. "I know. I suck, trust me I know. But, he was spewing all this stuff about you and I just snapped."

I look at him confused. "Me? How does he know me?"

He sighs, running a hand through his damp hair. "I saw you talking to him before the game. He was blabbering about you in an inappropriate way so I just did it."

I shake my head, remembering the conversation I had with the UM hockey player when I accidentally dropped my wallet and he picked it up for me. I told him I was dating someone and he seemed to connect the dots that I was Derek's girl. "But Derek, that doesn't matter. He's just some-"

"No Ash," he stops me looking very serious now. "It does matter. Ash, I'm so sorry I avoided you this week. I'm an ass and I was letting my fears get in the way but... I love you, Ash."

I gasp and my mouth drops open. Derek keeps talking.

"This week has been a pain in my ass and all I wanted to do was tell you about it. Ash, you are the light of my life and you make me want to be a better person every single day." The loving look on Derek's face makes my eyes well up in tears. "When you're sad, or anxious, or angry, or frustrated, I want to be the person who makes you feel safe. I'm dead serious when I say that I love you, Mayfield."

Tears fall down my cheeks and I smile. I sniffle and wipe my tears. "We were being such teenagers about this, weren't we?" I ask, chuckling.

Derek chuckles and nods.

"I love you too Derek." I say, still crying, and rush up to embrace him.

I happily cry into his chest and look up at him to kiss him. He melts into the kiss and for the first time in a week, I'm at peace.

I release his lips and my face pulls together with disgust. "Derek, I love you, but you smell like sweat."

Derek throws his head back laughing. "What? You don't like me like this?" He gets closer to me and rubs his sweat on me.

I squirm. "Ew, ew! Stop!" I cry out and he just laughs. I push him off. "You. Shower. Now." I say and point in the direction of the locker room.

He rolls his eyes playfully and kisses me on the forehead before he heads to the locker room.