Chapter 2

The group rounded the corner of the stadium right as Logan did. Ashley's heart pounded. She went sprinting to him as fast as she could and launched into his arms. Her legs went around his waist as they embraced.The two spun around before he set her on her feet. He hugged her tight.

“Hi.” He smiled.

Amanda and Nick came up behind them.

“Wow, I'm not sure how to one up that reunion!” Nick laughed and smirked at Ashley.

Ashley blushed and stepped a little bit away from the group. Amanda shyly waved at Logan. He smiled big when he saw her.

“Merry Christmas.” He stated.

Ashley and Nick laughed as Amanda turned a shade darker. Nick and Logan shook hands and did a weird bro hug that Ashley teased them about.

“Okay, so tell me. How was draft day?” Logan asked.

Nick's face lit up while Ashley's fell, “I got signed.”

Logan high fived Nick, “Awesome, Man! I knew you would. What team?”
Nick bit his lip. “Phoenix.”

Logan shook his head and put his hand on Nick's shoulder, “Eh, that's okay. I was hoping we'd play with each other but that's totally cool! I'm happy for you! I guess I'll be seeing you on the ice.”

He playfully hit Nick's chest. Logan turned and looked at Ashley. Her face reddened.
“And you?”

Ashley's stomach dropped. Logan's brows pulled together once she hesitated, “What...?”

Ashley sighed and looked at her feet like she did as a kid, “I dropped out mid August.”

Logan's smile dropped. He looked slightly angry.

“Why didn't you tell me?”

Ashley looked away. “I was going to, but I didn't want you to be disappointed.”

Logan sighed, “Either way I'd be disappointed. It doesn't matter. As long as you're happy.

Doesn't change how I feel about you.”

Butterflies filled her stomach. Mentally she reprimanded herself.

Logan moved on, “Now to you,” He looked at Amanda who smiled. “I'm Logan.”

Amanda reached out her hand, “I'm Amanda.”

He lifted her hand and kissed it. Ashley rolled her eyes and all but gagged.

“Very nice to meet you.” Logan coiled.

Ashley bit her tongue when she realized she had heard him say the same to her. She played it off with laughter.

“Didn't you say you had a friend coming?” She interrupted the two's conversation.

Logan turned his head to her, “Yeah, He's talking to the coach but he'll be out in a minute.”
Ashley sighed as he focused his attention back on Amanda. She went to sit on the curb. All the happiness in her was gone. She felt awful.

Nick came over and sat with her, “Some night, huh?”

Ashley huffed, “Yeah.”

Nick wrapped his arm around her and squeezed gently. “Don't be too down over it. He's not mad. He just wanted you to love what he does.”

Ashley looked at her brother irritably, “I do! I love hockey. I just can't do it while going to school! I need a job. Who knows if I would have even got on a team!”

He laughed, “Well I know that, but he doesn't. Just talk to him later. For now let's have a kick ass night.”

Nick stood up and pulled Ashley with him, “And don't pout. Some of us are having a worst night than you'd think.”

Ashley frowned and remembered his weird reaction to Amanda and her leaving to get food.
The twins walked back over to Logan and Amanda who were talking about her plan to be a club owner.

Logan laughed, “Well I'll have to go sometime.”

Logan looked at Nick and Ashley who had just returned.

“Hey, well Tomas is taking forever. Let me go get him.”

Logan turned and started walking away from the group. As soon as he turned Ashley's heart begun pounding. Her hands got clammy.

“Oh. My. Gosh.” Amanda whispered to Ashley, “Tomas Hertl? Ashley are you going to live through tonight?”

Ashley tried to breathe, but was beginning hyperventilated.

Nick looked between the two girls very confused, “You like him?”

Ashley nodded quickly and looked to Amanda. “I think I'm going to pass out.”

Amanda grabbed Ashley's shoulders. “Calm down. Look at me.”

Ashley did.

“Why don't we go to the bathroom for a minute. Nick wait here.”

Nick looked at Amanda longer than usual. His expression unhappy.

“Okay.”

Amanda turned and ran, dragging Ashley along behind her. Once out of earshot the girls both started jumping around.

“My god we are 20 years old and we are fan girling!” Ashley yelled.

Amanda kept jumping, “I don't care I am dying right now! He said Merry Christmas. He's cheeky. HE'S CHEEKY!”

Ashley was annoyed by the mention of Logan.

“Wow, tonight will be interesting.” She stated lamely.

Amanda nodded. (still freaking out but trying to play it cool since Ashley had stopped.) The two walked into the bathroom. Ashley pulled a small can of hairspray out of her purse and fixed a few of her curls. Amanda beside her was brushing out her straightened hair. Ashley brushed her teeth and mixed up her make up. Finally, Ashley and Amanda were ready to go back to the boys. They walked slowly and tried to hide their excitement. The girls rounded the corner. Nick, Logan and now Tomas all stood talking in a small circle. Exactly where they had left Nick. Ashley noted how sharp Logan and Tomas looked in their tuxes. The girls joined in with the boys. Logan broke off his conversation with Nick and smiled at them.

“Tomas, this is my best friend Ashley, and her best friend Amanda. Ashley is Nick's sister.”
Tomas nodded and shook the girls hands. By the way he acted Ashley could tell he didn't understand all of what Logan said.

“Who's driving?”

Ashley and Nick both laughed.

“Amanda! She's driving everywhere for the rest of the trip. Pay backs a bitch.” Nick accused.

Amanda sighed. “Fine! But I choose the seating arrangement.”

Amanda sat in the drivers seat with Logan next to her. In the back Ashley sat in between Tomas and Nick. Nick slyly kept pushing Ashley closer to Tomas which made the car ride even more awkward. Tomas kept watching out the window and occasionally looking at his phone.

Logan turned and looked at Ashley, “So what are you doing instead of hockey, Ash?”

Ashley sighed, “I'm studying to become a teacher in foreign languages.”

Logan smiled, “So do you speak French now?”

Ashley laughed, “Yes, also German, Italian, Spanish, Sign Language and Czech.”

Logan looked at Tomas excitedly, “Tomas speaks Czech!”

Tomas looked confused when he heard his name. “Ash, say something in Czech.” Nick coaxed.

Ashley looked straight at Tomas she wasn't sure he could understand her even if she tried,"Přál bych si, abychom všichni nemohou obsahovat vás stejně. My jsme jediní, kdo mluví v českém jazyce. Nicméně , zdá se, že se mě bojí.” (I'm sorry we all can't include you well. We're the only ones who speak Czech. Yet, you seem scared of me.)

The two boys looked amazed, but Tomas just nodded.

“Ty mě zastrašit . Právě jsi mi připomínají mého ex.” (You don't scare me. You just remind me of my ex.)

Ashley's eyebrows pulled together. She tried not to think about his pretty ex girlfriend.

“Ona je štěstí , víš.” (She is lucky, you know.)

Tomas snorted. “Nemyslela si, že to.” (She did not think so.)

He looked back out the window. Logan was smirking at Ashley when she looked back.

“Good chat?” He asked.

“Je pense que je viens de découvrir qu'il a des problèmes relationnels. Le temps de faire mon déménagement.” (I think I just found out he has relationship problems. Time to make my move.) Ashley jokingly replied in French.

Logan laughed and leaned against the head rest.

“Oh come on how is that fair!” Nick pouted in the back. “I don't speak anything fancy! I know one year of high school Spanish!”

Amanda spoke up, “Entro la fine della notte Giuro su Dio che ho intenzione di succhiare il cazzo di qualcuno.”

Everyone looked shocked besides Ashley.

“That's really dirty.” Ashley stated.

Nick looked shocked, “Since when have you spoke anything besides English!”

Amanda shrugged, “Since I started classes at Oakridge senior year.”

Nick took out his phone. “Someone say something in another language!”

Amanda repeated her phase again.

The phone translated out loud. “By the end of the night I swear to god i'm going to suck someones dick.”

Nick and Logan's jaws dropped. Even Tomas turned around.

Simultaneously Logan and Nick both shouted, “Dibs!”

Ashley mumbled under her breath to Tomas, "Man děvky ...” (Man whores...)

Tomas chuckled beside her.

(Author's note: From this point on Tomas and her both speak in Czech to each other. Occasionally they talk in English which is the times that the other characters understand them. I just don't want to translate everything.)

Amanda pulled up to the pizza parlor. Ashley, Nick, Amanda, and Logan all got out of the car and headed for the parlor when Ashley noticed Tomas hadn't gotten out of the car.

“Guys, I think Tomas needs to talk. His girlfriend and him are having problems.”

The group stopped to look at her. “I'll be in in a minute.”

The group continued walking without her. She turned back to the car. Ashley opened the door on the opposite side of Tomas. She got in and faced forward.

“Would you like to talk about it?” She said.

Tomas looked over at her, “No.”

Ashley laughed in suprise. “Okay, you have no choice. Talk before I make you talk.”

Tomas looked at her equally suprised. “You are very infuriating.”

Ashley looked over and smiled at him. “Sorry. I don't like being told no.”

He laughed, “Don't be. You just want to help.”

The two went quiet.

“You're avoiding telling me.”

He sighed and roughly rubbed his face with his palms. “I know.”

“She slept with my best friend.”

Ashley's jaw dropped, “Wow.”

He sighed again, “I know.”

Ashley felt anger bubbling up, “And you're still with her?”

Tomas looked over at her. “No, I broke up with her last week. We dated for three years. I feel like it is my fault she cheated. We never saw each other...”

Ashley shook her head. She turned towards him and sat criss cross on the seat.

“No, people have a choice. She chose to sleep with someone besides you. She could have said no. She could have said no because she loves you, but she didn't.”

Ashley took a breath, “Not saying she doesn't love you. I don't know her so I can't say. But her sleeping around while you are gone shows that her feelings weren't as strong as you thought.”
Tomas closed his eyes and looked forward. His head rested on his hands “Ouch.”

Ashley frowned. “Did you see it coming?”

Tomas was quiet for a moment. “ I noticed us growing apart ever since I moved here.”

Ashley sighed, “How did you find out?”

She laughed, “She text me she was pregnant.”

Ashley's eyes widened.

He sighed, “She tried to say it is mine.”

Ashley frowned, “How do you know it's not?”

He reddened. “We... Uhh... haven't been together since her senior prom last year...”

Ashley tried to not laugh, but failed. “She thought you wouldn't notice?”

Tomas looked away. She could tell by his back he was laughing too.

“I guess.”

Ashley stopped laughing and sighed, “I'm still sorry though. Three years is a long time.”

He faced her again. Looking serious.

“Yeah, how long have you and Nick been together?”

Ashley was shocked for a second and then uncontrollably began laughing. Tomas started laughing as well, out of confusion.

“What's so funny?”

Ashley choked out a few words in between laughs, “Nick's my brother!”

Tomas leaned back into his seat and laughed loosely. “Good.”

Ashley's laughs got lighter, “Wait, what?”

She knitted her eyebrows together. He smiled and looked away.

“Nothing.”

Ashley frowned remember Logan doing the same to her when they met. On the seat she crawled a bit closer to him.

“You better tell me.”

He laughed, “Or else what?”

Ashley was quiet. She hadn't thought that far.

“Well lets just see... Is the famous hockey player... ticklish?”

Tomas looked towards her.

“You wouldn't.”

He held out his hands to push her back. She reached around his arms and poked at his side. He jumped. Ashley's face brightened in excitement. She continued poking at him. Causing him to twist and turn to get away. Finally through fits of laughter he started poking back at her. He found the one spot where she was extremely ticklish on he side. She began backing away from him on the seat.

“Oh no! You are not getting off that easy!”

He pulled her towards him. He tickled her sides and laughed as she flailed. Pretty soon Ashley had him under her on the seat. Both of them realized their position at the same time. Both of them afraid of the moment getting awkward. Tomas propped himself up on his elbows and looked at her. He was only inches away.

She playfully whispered, “I win, now you have to tell me.”

He smiled and pulled her head closer to his. Locking their lips together. She pulled back after a second. Her eyes wide and her heart pounding.

“Uh....” She trailed off; at a loss for words.

He laughed, “I was glad you're single, so that I could do something like that.”

Ashley's stomach filled with butterflies as she looked down at his smug expression. She leaned down and kissed him again. He laid back on the seat and pulled her down with him. His hands moved up to rest on her waist.

~

Amanda, Logan and Nick took their seats. Logan sat across from Amanda and Nick sat next to her. On the other side of Amanda and Logan was the place for Ashley and Tomas. The three agreed on getting two large meat pizzas.

Nick put down his menu and looked at Amanda, “So... Italian...”

He suggested Amanda set her menu down as well and looked at Nick.

“There's no chance it will be you.” She stated.

Logan laughed at Nick's rejection.

“I'll be right back.” Amanda stood up and headed for the bathroom.

She rounded the corner and opened the door. In the bathroom mirror she touched up her hair and make up. She took a minute to look at the Italian pizzeria bathroom. She laughed remembering the awkward car translation really was. After a moment of collection left the bathroom. Almost immediately she was pushed against the wall. She prepared to scream. That was when she realized Nick was the one pinning her. She was shocked.

“What...” she sounded breathless.

Nick pressed up against her. He leaned his head towards her just as someone pushed past them.

“Excuse me.” The person politely said.

Amanda recognized the voice and looked under Nick's arm. Ashley was walking by with her hair in complete disarray.

“Ash?” Ashley turned and looked fearfully at Nick and Amanda.
“What the hell are you guys doing?”

The fear was gone and anger took it's place. Nick pushed off the wall (putting distance between him and Amanda.) He looked at his sister. Ashley glared at the two and waited for an answer.
Amanda shrugged, “Nothing.”

Ashley shook her head and went into the bathroom. She was most definitely not satisfied by that answer. Amanda slipped away from Nick and went to the bathroom after her. Immediately she came face to face with Ashley.

“What the hell are you doing! I thought you had a thing for Logan!”

Amanda shook her head, “Nick did that to me. He... I don't know what to call it... he ambushed me as soon as I got out of the bathroom! I do have a thing with Logan. I think he likes me.”

Ashley sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Just don't hurt either of them.”

Ashley wanted to punch something.

Amanda sighed, “I know. I wont. Now, why don't we talk about you, Missy. You were in that car for a long time!”

Ashley crossed her arms and leaned back against the door.

“Okay, you caught me red handed. Unlike you, I'm not going to lie.”

Amanda's eyes widened. “How far did you go?”

Ashley looked irritated and her cheeks reddened. “Amanda. I don't want to talk about-”

Amanda cut her off, “Ashley this is serious! Do I need to go kick some Hertl ass?”

Ashley laughed and looked away, “No! It was just some kissing...”

Amanda smirked. “Your hair is pretty screwed up from “just some kissing”

Ashley's jaw dropped, “Amanda Lauren!”

Amanda dropped the conversation, “I just realized Logan's been out there alone for a good 20 minutes with 2 whole pizzas...”

Ashley sighed and looked at herself in the mirror. She saw how much her hair and make up had been smudged.
“If I look this tired after a make out session, can you imagine what I'd look like after sex?”

Amanda laughed and pushed her friend towards the mirror, “Fix your make up and let's go!”

The two girls headed back to the table. Logan, Nick, and Tomas were already digging in. The girls sat in their seats.

“Where'd you guys go?”

Amanda smirked seductively at Logan, “I wanted to try on my new lip gloss.”

Logan smiled back, “Well it looks great.”

Amanda winked at Ashley, “It tastes good too. Here, try it.”

Amanda grabbed Logan by the tie and pulled him towards her. They leaned and kissed over the table. Nick cleared his throat next to them.

“Yeah, can we not do that at the table. I'm trying to eat.”

Logan flipped Nick the bird. After 5 awkward seconds the two broke apart, still giving each other bedroom eyes. The two excused themselves and headed for the front door.

Nick slammed his hand on the table, and looked at Ashley, “That would have been me if you hadn't interrupted!”

Ashley's jaw dropped. “Really, you're blaming that on me?”

Nick glared at her. “If it wasn't for you, Amanda never would have even met Logan!”

He continued. Nick got up from the table and stormed out the door as well. Ashley looked back at Tomas. He had eaten half of the pizza. He looked up mid bite at her.

She laughed, “You have to be tired.”

She remembered how Logan and him had just played a game. He nodded and put down the pizza, “Let's get this to go.”

Ashley nodded and waved over the waitress. “Hi, can we get two boxes? Our sexually frustrated friends left for the car. We can't eat all the pizza ourselves.”

The waitress laughed. “Yes, i'll bring those right back. Do you know if you have payed the bill?”

Ashley looked over at Tomas. He seemed to have no idea.

“Uh, no... I doubt they did.” She sighed, “I'll pay.”

Tomas looked up and handed the waitress a credit card. “I've got it.”

Ashley playfully glared across the table, “You don't have to.”

Tomas smiled back, “I want to.”

The waitress came back to the table a few seconds after and put the pizza in a box. She handed Tomas back his card and a receipt. At the bottom was her number written out with “Call me” above it. Tomas looked back up at Ashley who just laughed. Tomas picked up the pizza boxes and stood up. Ashley followed him out the door. He held the door for her. On the curb directly in front of the parlor Nick was seated, texting. Ashley came up behind him. Very confused

“Uh, what are you doing?” She asked.

Nick kept texting away. “The bitch took the car. We're stuck here.”

Ashley sighed and sat beside Nick. Tomas sat next to her.

“So now what?” Tomas asked.

Nick shrugged his shoulders, “I don't know where they went.”

Ashley sighed, “I have a pretty good ideas of where... the hotel room. But it's a few miles away.”

Nick groaned. Ashley looked over at Tomas who had now started eating the other half of the pizza.

Ashley laughed lightly, “So... we just sit here?”

Ashley asked.

Tomas set down the pizza box that was now empty, “I can ask one of our team mates for a ride.”

Ashley smiled.

Then she frowned, “Tomas, it's like 12:30. Aren't they in bed?”

He shook his head, “No, we all can't sleep after a game especially after a win.”

Nick sighed irritably, “Well I didn't think I'd have to say it but apparently I do. I have no fucking clue what you guys are talking about. Would you care to let me know? Because I'm sitting here freezing my nuts off with you!”

Tomas gave Nick a weird look.

“Something about nuts?” He asked Ashley.

She sighed. “We are going to call one of the other players who live around here. Maybe they can drive us.”

Nick sighed, but didn't make a comment.

Ashley directed her attention to Tomas, “Okay, so who do we call?”

~

Amanda and Logan decided that the hotel was boring and that they should go somewhere different. Well, with Logan, nothing seems impossible so he decided they should visit San Francisco at night. Of course, both of them had forgotten completely about their stranded friends.

~

Nick, Ashley and Tomas all sat crammed in the minivan of Brent Burns. In the two bucket seats were his two kids, Peyton and Jagger. It the far back seats Ashley and Nick sat, and in the front Tomas sat shotgun. All around the car billions of little kids toys were thrown. As soon as Ashley had gotten into the car Peyton had begun chatting to her about barbies and everything girly. Due to the extreme pleas of his toddler, Jagger Brent had turned on a complete Cd of kids bop. Out of the speakers, loudly, was coming “Thrift shop”. Basically, the car was complete chaos. Ashley could not even think between the sounds of Peyton's talking, Thrift Shop, Jagger's crying and Brent's singing. Ashley was 100% sure that she never wanted to have children after that ride. She also was feeling much more appreciative of her mother who had 9 year old twins, a three year old son, and a 6 month baby boy in a car on road trips to Washington State. How her mother had raised them... She had no idea.

After what seemed like 6 hours, Brent finally pulled up to the hotel. At the same moment Peyton had realized she was going to be losing her girl buddy and she burst into tears. Sympathetically Nick, Tomas, and Ashley waved to Brent as he drove away. Never had Ashley met a more whipped Mr. Mom...

Ashley took a deep breath and looked at the boys. Both of them looked like they were on the verge of insanity.

“Well. I'm glad that's over.” Ashley stated.

She figured she looked just as exhausted. She slowly starting walking towards the hotel entrance. Nick and Tomas followed along either side of her.

“What just happened...?” Tomas asked.

He sounded just as confused as she felt.

She replied, “Hell. Hell is what we just experienced.”

The group stepped through the automatic doors. Ashley stepped up to the front desk first. The lady looked up from her computer screen and smiled at her.

“Hello, Sharks fan too? What a game tonight! Wished I could have gone.”

Ashley was confused but remembered she was wearing her Sharks shirt with her blue hair. She smiled, “Yes, my friend's on the team-”

The lady cut her off when she noticed Tomas behind Ashley. “Hertl. Oh my... Oh my... I need you to sign my jersey! Hold on!”

Ashley held in a laugh and looked at Tomas. He still seemed frazzled from the previous car ride. Ashley explained low so only he could hear. He grinned big when he heard she was a fan. When she came back from what Ashley figured was an office she was holding a tshirt, scarf, and picture for him to sign. Happily, he took a picture with her too. Ashley enjoyed seeing him excited to be with fans. She didn't realize how down to earth people actually were.
The lady eventually settled down and sat back behind the desk.

“Okay so how can I help you?”

Ashley explained the situation with Amanda and told her how the room was in her name.

“Well do you have your ID?” Ashley nodded and reached for her purse.

Immediately she panicked. During the crazy car ride she must have left her purse in the Burn's car.

She looked back up at the woman sadly, “I left my purse in our ride's car... Is there anyway we can just sit in the lobby for now?”

The woman smiled sadly and nodded. “Yes, of course. Only because you are Sharks fans
though! Man if you liked the Kings i'd have you kicked out quick!” She joked and smiled.

“Good luck!” She called to them as the headed for the waiting room.

Tomas and Ashley took their seats on a couch side by side and Nick got up at wander the halls in search of a soda machine.

Tomas and Ashley didn't say anything for a while. Tomas was the one to break the ice.

“Tell me about you.” He asked Ashley.

She chuckled a little. “Like what?” “Like where are you from?”

She closed her eyes and tried to focus through her headache.

“I am from Lake Tahoe, CA. That's four hours from here.” She stated.

Tomas stayed quiet. Waiting for her to continue.

“My last name is Brooks.”

He smiled. “My favorite color is silver and teal.”

He laughed, “Is that why you like the Sharks?”

Ashley shook her head. She explained the history behind her hockey interest. She talked about how her brother was always favored by her dad and how he was shocked when she got good at hockey. She noticed she had moved closer to Tomas on the couch. His arm was on the back of the couch behind her head. She looked up at his eyes.

“Tell me about you. I want to know more than the hockey stats.”

For the next half and hour the two talked about their childhood and future. They chatted about simple, silly things like about their first crushes. And more serious topics like goals in life. She was pleased to see how similar they were.

“We should probably go check on Nick...” Tomas sighed

. Ashley agreed and sat up off the couch. Tomas followed behind her.

“Nice shirt.” He commented.

Ashley blushed when she remembered she was wearing a Hertl tshirt.
“Yeah, Hertl is my favorite player.”

He laughed quietly. Ashley then remembered the other pizza, “Tomas, What happened to the pizza?”

He smiled and walked quicker to get beside her. “I figured Brent would find it under the seat eventually.”

Ashley looked at Tomas shocked and laughed.

As the two walked the halls in search of her missing twin Ashley couldn't help but think about Logan. It hurt her that he had left her behind so easily. Then she realized, wasn't that exactly what she was doing with Tomas?

Notes