Zoe walked into her apartment and took off her winter jacket. Chicago was in the heart of winter and so was the hockey season. Zoe had done her best to ignore hockey altogether since the nasty breakup between her and Patrick. She didn't even know who had won the Stanley Cup that last year, but she knew it hadn't been the Blackhawks. The town would of lit up like a christmas tree.

Michaela and Andrea had done their best to pick up the pieces when Zoe had come home from Patricks that night a year ago. Zoe had tried and tried to move on but every night she sat down to watch her shoes on the tv she always hoped she would run across Patrick skating faster than lighting on the ice. She never did. Zoe often thought Andrea and Michaela had somehow managed to block the sports channel but sometimes she thought that maybe she just wasn't looking hard enough.

She kept busy with the bar and school and she eventually started to get back her own heart that had stayed at Patricks apartment when she slammed the door on his astounded face. Every night Zoe remembered that fight and how she didn't really even know the story.

After Zoe had left Patrick tried to text her and call her but eventually, realizing it was no use, stopped calling her and leaving her messages. She wanted the full story, but would never get it.

Zoe walked into the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of beer and started making herself dinner. She had heard some yelling from the other room but thought nothing of it. Michaela and Andrea always had friends over, so some yelling at the tv didn't even make her think twice. But it was the yelling of a number, a number she had grown to love and a number that had grown to love her back, that caught her attention.

"Pass the puck 88!"

"Jesus christ. He can't even pass the puck anymore."

"Zoe screwed him up big time."

Zoe stopped what she was making and walked out of the kitchen and into the living room. She could see the game in front of her. A close up of Patrick was on the screen. She held her breath. Zoe hadn't seen him in a year, not even a picture of him. His appearance hadn't changed, but something about him had. He didn't look like the same innocent and loving Patrick she knew a year ago, he looked cold. Zoe took her eyes of the man she used to love and looked at Michaela and Andrea. They didn't know she was in the room but boy was Zoe starting to get angry.

"So hey guys," Zoe said crossing her arms. Andrea and Michaela jumped, startled by the voice in the room. They didn't even hear her come in. They both knew that she had heard them.

Still Michaela asked the question she already knew the answer too, "You heard us didn't you?"
Zoe just nodded her head before looking back at the screen at the sound of the Blackhawks horn sounding. Patrick had scored the game winning goal.

"Looks like I didn't screw him up after all."

-------

Patrick had wanted that game winning goal since the first period had started. Coach had pulled him aside before the game had started and told him he needed to step up, "no girl is worth risking your career over" were the words he had used. Needless to say, Patrick stepped up.

For months the media had asked Patrick about Zoe. "Is she the reason you aren't playing as well?" were the questions they spat at him. She was, but his answer was always "I'm trying my best, I'm just a little unfocused at the moment. But I promise I'll be back to my old self in no time."

It was the answer him and coach had come up with. Patrick didn't want to lie but telling the truth would cause big backlash with the team and the fans. Nobody wanted to see the Blackhawks best player fuck up so much over a girl. But that's exactly what he did. He fucked up.

"Hey Kaner you gonna come out with us tonight?"

"Not tonight Shaw," Patrick said before grabbing his bag and starting to head out the door.

"That's what you say every night," Patricks captain said, grabbing the attention of the whole team.

"Come on Patrick. You need to get over her," Sharp said, patting Patrick on the back before putting his tie on. The whole team was shaking their heads, agreeing with what Sharp had just said. Patrick wanted to go out every night, not because of the drinking and the partying, but because of that small shred of hope that he might find Zoe out one night with her friends. He never did, so he stopped going out.

After Zoe had walked out on him he called her every day for the next week before realizing time was what they both needed. He was torn. He loved Zoe, but he didn't want someone who didn't trust him. So now it was about a year later and he was always hoping he would look at his phone and see a missed call from Zoe, or maybe she would come to a game to support her hometown team. But he never saw her, and she never called him.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow. Have fun tonight," Patrick said, pushing the door open and walking out. The air was cold and crisp but it felt nice against his sweaty face. Patrick walked to his car and quickly turned on the heat. He drove the ten minutes to his apartment.

Patrick unlocked the apartment door and threw his hockey bag on the floor by the door. He grabbed a beer and some leftover chinese takeout from the kitchen and walked into his living room. He sat on the couch, kicked his shoes off and put them on the coffee table in front of him before grabbing the remote and turning on the tv.

He thought about all the things he had to do the next day and throughly planned out his day. Lately, that's the only thing thats kept him from thinking about Zoe. She was really all her ever thought about anymore. He just wanted her back.

He would get her back.

------

Zoe didn't want to be out at a club with her friends. She had tests and homework due the next day but Michaela and Andrea needed to get her out of the house. She hadn't left for anything other than work and school. She needed fun. She needed guys.

So there Zoe was, sitting at the bar watching her friends dance and have fun. Zoe was happy they were happy but at soon as her straw was no longer sucking up tequila she realized how sad her life had become. No guys had approached her that night because in this town most guys knew she was "Patrick Kane's girl" and that didn't bother her when she was his girl, but now that she wasn't, she just wanted someone to buy her a drink.

"I thought you could use this," a familiar voice said before handing her another margarita, strong on the tequila. Zoe looked from the drink to the firm hand holding it.

"Tyler."

"So you do remember me?" Tyler said putting Zoe's empty glass on the bar and handing her the full one.

"Of course I remember you. You're hard to forget." Zoe said instantly regretting it the second Tyler mouth turned into a smirk.

"I had twenty bucks with some teammates that remembered me, they thought you wouldn't."

"So you came over here to win a bet?" Zoe said.

"I came over here because you look beautiful tonight and you needed a drink," Tyler said looking into Zoe's eyes, "And I didn't want another guy buying you a drink."

Zoe blushed before nodding her head at Tyler and walking over to Tyler's teammates who were staring at the two questioningly.

"You owe him twenty bucks boys," Zoe said before setting her drink on the table they were sitting by and walking out the door. She saw the awestruck faces on each and every one of them, but she kept walking. She knew Tyler was following her but she didn't stop until she was in front of the cameras, and then, only then, did she let Tyler grab her and kiss her.

It was a passionate kiss, nothing that made her want to go home with him but she had a feeling that wasn't what he wanted. They explored each others mouths until the flashes started going off. Tyler stepped back and covered his eyes, while Zoe turned around and walked away. She had done what she wanted to do. She had gotten of picture of herself kissing another guy.

Patrick would be furious, but that was exactly what she wanted.

-----

Patrick had woken up earlier than usual. He had a weird feeling in the pit of his stomach that hadn't subsided even after he had eaten breakfast. His ride to the United Center felt eery and quiet. And the second he saw his teammates face he knew something was up.

Jonathan, Andrew, and Corey were all circled around Patrick Sharps phone, and when Patrick strolled up they instantly hid it and started rubbing the back of their necks. Something they only did when they were nervous.

"Okay spit it out. What's going on?" Patrick said putting his hand out for Patrick to put his phone into. The guys just looked at each other before Shaw said, "You don't want to see it Patrick."

Patrick just kept his hand out and he wasn't going to leave until he saw whatever it is they were talking about. Patrick knew this was what he felt off about all morning and he needed to see it. Sharp finally pulled his phone out from behind his back and put it in the Patricks hand, "Don't say we didn't warn you."

Patrick looked from the guys to the phone placed in his palm. He didn't quite know what to expect, but the second he saw Zoe's picture on the screen he knew it wasn't going to be good.

Patrick Kanes ex-girlfriend Zoe Martin seen walking out of a nightclub with Tyler Seguin in tow. Patrick read the lines in front of him before seeing the picture of Zoe walking out of the club. She was wearing a long sleeved black dress and black high heels. Her hair was wavy but it was natural. She looked beautiful. He kept scrolling.

There was Zoe, his Zoe, kissing Tyler fucking Seguin. Patrick just stared at the phone, "Well fuck." He thought to himself. He had lost Zoe.

Zoe no longer loved him. Zoe no longer needed him. Zoe no longer wanted him.

She wanted Tyler.