Please listen to this instrumental above while Reading.

Enjoy!

___________

"So you're telling me that you guys are back together?" Gwen queried as we put on our skates to start the practice.

Yesterday when everyone left she called me as soon as I set foot in my room and tossed so many questions all at once at me.

G: 'What were you guys doing in the kitchen?'

G: 'I saw his hand on your waist.'

G: 'Are you guys back together?'

G: 'Tell me?!!!!!!'

I was so tired but somehow told her everything how Ethan apologized sincerely except the part of where he wasn't himself and decided to be someone he couldn't recognize as himself with all those things he did to hurt me.

"We are and I'm happy with it Gwen," My eyes caught Ethan's as he winked with a grin and I already was feeling butterflies in my stomach. I haven't told him about the truth. "It's just been a day with him and I feel so much better then what I've felt in these last eight or night months."

Yesterday after that little moment we shared in those four walls of my kitchen, we came back out in the lounge where we all talked a little about everything that we did in that time period when we were apart from each other after junior High.

No we didn't go to the accident.

Though there were so many moments we discussed about beth and our good times but that was all. I guess no one wanted it to be a sad conversation.

Ethan was sitting on the bench beside us tying his laces of skates. The kiss we shared when we met today in the corridor was a declaration of us being back together to everyone who was watching us with loud murmurs including Ester who stormed off the second she found us hand in hand.

Me 1, Ester 0 duh!

I'd tell how pissed off she looked. Not that I care after what she did to me but every time my eyes caught hers there's this uncertainty about something.

I guess time would tell.

Coming back to Ethan, after being away from each other for almost an year, it was hard being apart now. I think my presence brought him comfort, so we didn’t worry about if our relationship was too much. In fact, we didn’t even discuss it. The definition of our relationship was all cleared without even words. It was organic. We were in love and that’s all that mattered.

Gwen and Leo were good with me and Ethan being back. It was shown on their faces when we were in my lounge sitting and laughing over Leo's joke. Everyone was comfortable except one person and it was Nate and I knew why.

I had to talk to him. Of course not about me and Ethan or me and him but about two best friends who couldn't sit without glaring each other because of this tension I was starting to hate.

Nate was in the rink standing on his position on goal crease as a goaltender.

When I said he's the best goalie ever I meant it cause he has this potential and passion towards this game that he has a huge part in making our team champions of last two games.

Hopefully we'd nail this one too.

"Did coach say anything about fifth player? There aren't many days left in the game Aria. I don't know what we would do if no one applied," Her overwrought expressions pushed me in deep thoughts.

"I trust him Gwen, he'll figure it out something," I looked over to coach Lee standing at some distance, phone pressed to his ear but that call didn't last long as he put his phone back in his pocket.

"Come on everyone, get in the rink," He clapped his hands twice.

After just hearing coach's techniques on how to dodge opponent and practicing shots with Nate, we all called it a day. Our heavy breathings were mingled in the arena.

"So you're gonna come with me and Leo or go with Ethan?" Gwen's amusing eyes made my brows furrowed as I followed her line of gaze and saw Ethan was waiting at some distance still on the rink.

Eyes fixed on mine. I smiled.

"Sorry not sorry but I don't wanna be the third wheel between you two miss frosty," My eyes formed into crescent moon with a fleer as her catty eyes popped open wide which I profoundly found amusing.

"What? You think I don't know what's going on with you two?" My playful voice made her cheeks fell down in defeat surprising me cause I expected her to flushed crimson or something but a warrior who get defeated in a war.

I know I was bad at metaphors but seriously the look she gave was similar to it.

At least a bit...?

There was something bothering her. It was clear in her eyes that it was surely related to this unofficial love between them.

"Hey! What's wrong, everything okay?" I put my hands on her and peeked through her lashes. I glanced at Ethan to see him talking to coach. His eyes cut to mine and he lifted both his eyebrows as if asking 'how long more?'

I pointed my forefinger and mid one in air for two minutes and turned my attention back to Gwen as a sigh left her mouth.

"I know that you knew about me having feelings for him all this time Aria but to be honest I don't know how he feels about me. I didn't confess yet. What If he doesn't like me the way I do?" Her sad melancholic statement left me with an effervescent feeling.

What more she needs to know?

Even I could see a whole river of affection in Leo's eyes whenever he's around her. Just confess already...But I know it's easier said than done.

Damn for sure I knew these two were waiting for each other to say it first. A chuckled left my mouth as the thought roamed in my mind. What more I knew was that, like this they wouldn't go anywhere and I had to be her relationship mentor.

"If you ask me how Leo feels for you. I'll be telling you that he's head over heels for you Gwen. I can see it. The way he sees you with his emerald eyes and the glitter shining in them whenever you're around him. I could see how those dimples never fade away as he teases you. It's all love Gwen- I mean miss frosty." I called her by the name Leo gave her.

Somehow my words put a smile of comfort on her face.

"Don't worry and go have some more time with him, I love to see you both happy genuinely," A relief washed over her face.

"And don't forget to let me be your bridesmaid when you walk that aisle someday for Leo," She chortled loudly, threw her head back and engulfed me in a tight hug with a thankyou she whispered in my ear didn't go unnoticed.

With that she waved at me and left. I looked around but Nate was already gone. He was not being rude or anything but I'd tell how he must've been feeing.

Broken?

He was the only person who was there with me beside my dad who understood me as more than a friend in need even if it was for his love or not, I really appreciate and respect him with all my heart. Seeing him like this really pinched my heart so bad.

I hope you find someone really soon Nate, who would love you with all her heart.

"What have you been talking for so long with her. I was waiting for you for ten minutes," Ethan voice startled me. He wrapped his arm around me and pressed his lips on my forehead.

"Just giving some advice, so what are we doing today?" He pulled me close to his chest bemusingly.

"How do you know we are doing something today?" A grin appeared on his face in tease but I shrugged in response as coach voice broke our moment.

"Oh look who came back," Both me and Ethan turned our faces, left each other's arms and stood straight side by side but what I saw gave me goosebumps and a creep feeling of fear. My blood was boiling like a volcano by seeing the devil standing infront me.

"Great to see you Max welcome back," Coach patted him on his back. "Aria Ethan, Look whose here, Your friend Max Michaels and also our fourth and final player."

I just kept my stare cause I didn't want to look frail or petrified. My hands curled into fist so tight as my knuckles would tear my flesh. My jaw clenched but I didn't let out the words, I couldn't. I knew I'd break down badly the second I open my mouth.

Ethan kept looking forward so he didn't notice my eyes were filled with fury and undying rage.

Max smirked in my direction as he saw the fear as well the fire burning inside me like he knew I was just a pawn in his game.

Not anymore.

He was still same, those dark black wicked eyes. Those hands tucked in his jacket were covered in nothing but blood. Blood of murder.

Murder of my best friend.

Max Michaels was back. The person who actually killed beth that night was back here safe and sound with no proof of guilt on him.

Yet.

×××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××