Chapter 7

Logan drove in complete silence. Ashley sat shot gun with Nick laying down quietly in the back. Ashley was angry. She was angry with how Logan had acted, she was angry Amanda had disappeared, she was angry Amanda didn't seem to have feelings for Nick, and she was especially angry that she was leaving Tomas. So she did exactly what she did when she got angry. She cried.

As soon as she had buckled herself in she faced the window and quietly let the tears run down her face. It was her most embarrassing flaw. She hated that she cried so easily. Sit her down in front of any sad, romantic movie, and she would be fine. By the end she would be laughing at everyone who was in tears. But the second she got in an argument and was upset. The tears flowed freely.

She figured that Logan didn't know she was crying. If he did, he probably would have said something. But after 30 minutes of driving she decided that he hadn't noticed. Finally, the tears stopped falling. Luckily, her make up had been taken off the day before. Unfortunately, that left her face red and blotchy. She discretely dabbed at her tears and eased her breathing. Softly she heard Nick's snores from the back seat. She watched the buildings of San Francisco come into view. She felt the anger come back to her. She remembered how confused she had felt when he disappeared with Amanda.

“Are you going to tell me what the hell your problem is?” Ashley mustered up her anger so that she didn't sound weak and wimpy.

She was impressed with the results. Logan looked surprised that she had talked. She kept facing forward and saw him look at her out of the corner of her eye.

“No.” He answered gruffly.

She sucked in air. Now more frustrated with his unwillingness to talk.

“Whatever. I bet you're just anxious to get to your girlfriend. I won't interrupt your thoughts.”

Logan snorted sarcastically, “You're a real bitch, you know?”

The comment hit Ashley hard but she played it off.

“Whatever. Go complain to someone who cares.”

He looked at her again.

“I didn't mean that...” He tried to take back his comment.

She put up her hand and reached for her headsets.

“Don't talk to me.”

He ran a shaky hand through his hair. “Ashley...”

Ashley glared at him; now allowing him to see tear stained face. He stopped and reached out to touch her face and wipe away a tear. She pulled back quickly and looked out the window. He sighed and put both hands back on the wheel.

For the next 10 minutes the only thing Logan had to listen to was Nick's snoring and Ashley crying. The snores he could handle, but the crying was making him feel awful. Finally, he pulled into the hotel parking lot. He took the key out of the ignition and sat there. He counted to three before speaking.

“I have to go get her.”

Ashley took a shaky breath. “Go then.”

Logan paused, thinking about talking again, and decided against it. He opened his car door and went to the back seat. He shook Nick awake.

“We here?” Nick groggily sat up and rubbed his eyes.

Logan nodded and moved to give Nick room to get out of the car.

On the walk to the hotel doors, Logan explained the fight in the car. Nick stayed completely silent until the end.

“First off, nice job. Fighting is a great way to tell her you love her. And second, because we are friends I am going to be cool about this okay?”

Nick stopped Logan once they got to the curb.

“Ashley is my little sister. I am her brother. We have gotten in pretty big fights. Ones where she's even punched me. Never once in my life have I ever called my sister a bitch. I want you to know. That's not okay.”

Logan's heart was beating slightly faster. He knew he would never be able to fix this mess without Nick's help.

“I understand. I'm sorry.”

Nick and Logan walked again. They were now a few feet from the entrance.

“No, you don't need to apologize to me.”

Logan knew this. He knew that Ashley was the one he needed to talk to, but now wasn't the time.

~

“You're kidding right?” Logan leaned on the front desk, exasperated.

The man at the desk shook his head.

“No, sir. Ms. Laurence checked out of her hotel this morning.”

Logan's stomach was in a huge knot. He took deep angry breaths and he looked back to Nick. Nick's expression was stoic. You wouldn't know he was upset unless you had known him a long time. It was something in his eyes that gave it away. The way that they turned stormy grey and appear to lose their tint of blue. Logan thanked the man and stomped out of the hotel. The second he climbed into the car he threw his jacket behind him. Ashley looked at him. He, for the first time, felt intimidating to her.

“Where is she?” She asked firmly, but in a softer tone than earlier.

Nick climbed in the car at the same time. He buckled his seat belt without a word. Logan started the engine and backed up the car.

“She's at the club.”

He spoke the answer as if it was something casual...

~

Instantly, Ashley regretted going along Logan's plan. The plan was basically to go in and force Amanda out. Which, would have worked if they had all stuck together. But, as the music got pumping and the people kept dancing Ashley found herself separated and terrified.
Ashley found her way close the the stage and looked around.

“You seem a little young to be in here, baby.”

A man dressed in an unbuttoned button up with black dress pants spoke to her. He was sitting in on of the many chairs along the stage. She kept her head held high as she scanned the crowd for Amanda. She felt a hand grip her ass. She slapped the arm of the creeper.

“Fuck off, dude.”

She stepped further away from him. He stood up out of his stool. By then she could tell he was hammered. He had his tie tied around his forehead. She glared and stepped away.

“You're dressed like a good girl. I bet you're really dirty...” He slurred and leaned closer to her.

She went to back of further but was intercepted by a table. She was trapped. Her heart was beating out of her chest. Not one drunk dancing person had noticed her being harassed. More than anything she wished Logan, or Tomas was there.

“There you are, you fucking bitch!”

Just as Mr. Creepy was about to plant one on Ashley a voice yelled off to Ashley's right. The yell gave her enough reality for her to push the guy away from her. Once the man was from her view she saw Amanda; dressed in a skimpy referee waitress outfit. She held a tray full of drinks. As soon as Ashley recognized her she was shocked. Logan's previous stripper comments now made sense. Amanda set down her tray of drinks and got up close to Ashley's face. None of the other dancing people seemed to notice. Mr. Creeper had decided to take a nap on the ground.

“Here to see for yourself? Here to come a judge me like Jackie?”

Ashley was shocked by the venom in Amanda's words. Especially at the mention of Ashley's childhood friend who had gone wrong.

“What? No, I'm here to take you home!” She tried to plead with Amanda.

Ashley moved to the side of the table in efforts of getting back from Amanda, but Amanda followed as soon as she moved. Ashley slowly tried to scan the crowd for Logan or Nick, but couldn't see either of them.

“Looking for your boyfriend? He's not over here. I made sure of it. It's just me and you. And guess what? I'm done talking.”

Amanda shoved Ashley backwards. Taken off guard Ashley fell on her butt. She gasped. Amanda knelt in her uniform. Ashley crawled back so she was partially under the round table. Amanda got close enough so Ashley could smell the alcohol on her.

“Amanda listen. Logan came to come get you-”

Amanda grit her teeth and hit Ashley on the side of her head which caused her to hit her head against the middle of the table. Her vision blurred slightly, but she recovered.

“What the hell are you doing?!”

Ashley pushed Amanda backwards and tried to crawl away. She nod was out from under the table. Amanda stood up and brought her heel down on Ashley's calf.

“Tell me you don't love him!” Ashley was completely flabbergasted.

She couldn't believe this was over Logan. Since he had no interest in her and was being a complete jerk.

“I don't even like him!”

The people around them now realized the fight was happening and egged them on. While Amanda was momentarily distracted, Ashley took the opportunity to kick her legs out from under her. Amanda fell to the floor how Ashley had. Amanda turned angrily towards Ashley and crawled towards her. Ashley kicked and tried to break free of Amanda. Other semi sober people tried help break up the fight. In the commotion chairs and tables fell all over. Black splotches blurred Ashley's vision. The spots got bigger until they took her vision completely, and she found herself drifting to sleep.

~

Ashley sat up and looked around the room she was in. She was in a bed. In front of her was an oak TV stand with a flat screen TV mounted to the wall. To the TV's right was a black clock. She tired to focus on the time, but gave up. She looked down at the bed comforter. It was black. The foot board seemed to be of the same oak as the TV stand. Her head pounded as she looked around for any clues to where she was.

Hoarsely she called out, “Hello?”

Her voice didn't seem as strong as it should. She cleared her throat a little and winced at the sting. She noticed an oak nightstand to her left that had a glass of water. Slowly she reached her arm out to grab the cup. She took a sip and immediately felt the difference in her throat.

Still a bit hoarse she cried out louder, “Hello?”

From a door to the right of the clock Logan came into the room. Ashley attempted to sit up straight when he came into the room. Her eyes widened painfully.

“Woah, woah. Relax, relax.”

Logan set his hand across her legs and placed his other on her forehead. Ashley continued staring at him while trying to figure out what is question was. He moved on.

“You woke up sooner than the doctor thought. He thought you'd be out until at least 7.”

Ashley blinked and saw her vision getting a little better. In little bursts she was remembering the fight.

“Here, take this.” Logan handed her 4 Ibuprofen, “It'll help yours head, and the swelling.”

He paused and helped her wrap her fingers around the glass.

“Does your head hurt?”

She nodded ever so slightly. She downed the medicine. She was feeling sleepy again. Logan swept the hair behind her ear carefully.

“I know that annoys you. You don't seem aware enough to do anything about it.” He laughed lightly and ran his finger over Ashley's hand.

She felt her eyes begin to roll around. She was slowly loosing consciousness again. She closed her eyes. She felt someone interlock their fingers with hers.

“I'm so sorry...” She heard before she drifted to sleep...

~

Ashley woke up a few hours later to the TV. Nick was sitting on top of the covers next to her. Watching hockey. She shifted her weight and alerted Nick. He turned quickly towards her.

“Oh you're up! Logan and Tomas are about to play. Are you going to watch?”

The pills had kicked in. The head ache had eased, but she could still feel her pulse in her head.

“I have to. I always do.” She answered groggily with a small slur.

She attempted to smile.

“Now that's the hockey playing sister I know!”

~

After the third time Ashley fell asleep, Nick decided he was just going to record the game for her. Logan had seemed pretty adamant about her watching. As had their friend Tommy. Nick was about to get up for a food break when the announcers took the screen. They talked for a second before saying, “Now let's head back down to the ice...”

Nick stopped and watched Wingels take the ice still in uniform.

“What...?” Nick leaned forward and turned the volume up slightly.

A referee came out with a microphone. Nick nudged Ashley, but she didn't wake up. (While intently watching the screen, he checked for a pulse on Ashley's wrist and was relieved when he found one.)

“Hi, I'm Tommy Wingels.”

Nick rolled his eyes when every girl screamed.

“As some people know, today is my 3 year anniversary with a very special person.”

Nick's jaw dropped.

“Kelcie? Can I have you come down here?”

Tommy pointed towards the open doors where the refs come out. After a minute or two Kelcie was helped down the the ice level. The smile on her face was huge. Tommy stood at the edge of the ice and held his hand out to Kelcie.

“I know you don't have skates. It's okay. Just trust me.”

Tommy helped Kelcie out to center ice. Both of them beaming.

“Okay, for those of you who are confused. It's always been Kelcie's dream to see the ice like I get to. And today I wanted for her to get that experience.”

The crowd awed. He smiled and laughed it off.

“But the most important part of me bringing you down here is to tell you how much you mean to me. About how every game I come out here playing my hardest to make you proud. I can't imagine a life without you, and I don't want to ever live my own without you. So that's why I want to take this time to ask you.”

Tommy knelt down on one knee.

“Will you marry me?”

The crowd screamed louder than they had during the game. Kelcie had burst into tears. She nodded her head rapidly. Tommy held the microphone up to her mouth.

“Yes! Of course I will!”

Tommy stood up from his position and spun her around in a kiss. After the romantic intermission the players took the ice and fought a hard second period. By the third Ashley was able to sit up and watch parts. Though Nick was pretty sure she could not see the puck. He had explained all about Tommy's proposal to Ashley which had actually got her to smile. Nick could tell she was toughing it, but he knew that's exactly what he would be doing. So he said nothing.

~

“Can she hear us?”

“She's not dead, Kels...”

“She kind of looks dead...”

“She's not.”

Ashley heard the voices swirling around in her head. She only awoke when she heard Nick's.

“Oh, I think she heard us!”

Ashley saw Kelcie with Tommy hugging her from behind. The couple stood at the foot of the bed. To her right was Nick in a chair. She thought hard for a seconds before speaking up. She remembered seeing parts of the game.

“Congratulations.” She croaked out with a smile.

Kelcie's face lit up, and she smiled wide.

“Thank you!” Tommy smiled and kissed top of her head.

Ashley felt excited as if it was her own proposal.

“Can I see the ring?” Kelcie nodded and walked towards the side of the bed Nick was on.

Nick helped Ashley sit up better. Kelcie proudly showed her left hand to the two. Tommy stood at the foot of the bed smiling fondly at her enthusiasm.

“That is so beautiful! I can not wait until we start planning!” Ashley exclaimed.

Kelcie and Ashley talked for a good while about the wedding. Eventually, Nick and Tommy decided to go to the kitchen instead.

“Kels, this might be a weird thing to ask, but where am I?”

Kelcie stopped mid sentence and laughed a little. “You really don't know?”

Ashley shook her head. “Logan's house. The way Nick and Tommy explain it was that Amanda went ape shit and in the process of people helping break you guys apart you got his with a stool or something.”

Ashley took a deep breath. “Do I look bad?”

Kelcie shook her head.

“They iced your eye so it doesn't look that swollen. Remember that gross picture of Taylor hall's eye that I sent you?”

Ashley laughed a little, “Yes, ew. Is it like that?”

Kelcie shook her head, “No, not as bad. But close.”

Ashley groaned. She lifted her hand to her head, “Has Tomas seen me yet?”

Once again Kelcie shook her head. “No, Logan went to go talk to Amanda.”

Ashley's eyes widened.

“No, it's not bad. She took off from the club when you passed out. I guess your fight caused a damn near mob. Logan got you before you got hurt worst. So Tomas doesn't know yet.”

Ashley sighed, “Logan and I fought today...”

Kelcie nodded, “I know.”

Ashley laughed, “When did you guys all have time to talk about this?”

Kelcie pointed at the clock. “You've been out for quite a while.”

Ashley took her hands from her head and laced her fingers together on her lap.

“So... before the game... He came in here... and I was really out of it. He gave me my medicine, and I think he held my hand. Is that weird?”

Kelcie pulled her eyebrows together. “Uh, yeah that's a little weird.”

Ashley closed her eyes and breathed easy. “Are you falling asleep on me?”

She heard Kelcie sit down in the side chair Nick had been in. Ashley opened her eyes and shook her head.

“No, it's just a lot to absorb in.”

Kelcie looked worried, “Oh man. Did I overwhelm you?”

Ashley snorted, “No, this weekend kind of has. But I'm glad it's happened. Because I've met a lot of great new people like you and Tommy.”

Kelcie smiled, “I think you're forgetting one.”

Ashley felt butterflies even thinking about him.

“Yes, and him.”

Kelcie smiled and softly poked at Ashley's side playfully, “You're blushing! I mean it's hard to tell from the bruising, but I'm pretty sure you're blushing!”

Tommy and Kelcie stayed and ate pizza. Ashley tried on multiple occasions to let them go home, but they seemed to be entertained by Nick and his stories. Ashley's favorite was how he described the bar fight.

“So basically, it was very classy?” Tommy joked.

Ashley chimed in where she could.

“Don't forget about the creepy dude who didn't know how to wear a tie!”

She shouted out different things she could remember so Nick could glamor them up and add them to his crazy ridiculous story.

“So then a unicorn came down and it carried Ashley to safety. The end.”

Tommy, Ashley, and Kelcie clapped.

“Wait, doesn't that make Logan the unicorn?” Kelcie asked and laughed.

The night went by and Kelcie and Tommy headed off. It was about midnight. Ashley was surprised that she could have so much fun while sick.

“Nick, can you call Tomas?” Ashley asked Nick who was texting the the bedside chair.

Nick looked up and nodded. He grabbed her phone off the bedside table, laughed at her photo collage of Hertl screen saver and had her type in her code. He returned to the bedroom a few minutes later with her cell phone and a smoothie.

“Drink. He's on his way over.”

Ashley's heart pounded along with her head. Nick helped her drink through the straw. Once she was almost finished she looked up to Nick.

“I don't think I can have Tomas see me like this... I hear it's bad...”

Nick sighed. “He's almost here. Just drink. Besides, it makes you look kind of tough.”

Ashley laughed slightly, “Yeah right, I lost. Does Amanda have any kind of injury?”

Nick shrugged and took the empty glass from her.

“A noticed a bloody lip, but I didn't see much of her. Things got a little crazy.”

Ashley nodded. She heard a knock in the distance. At that moment her heart accelerated and her breathing went uneven. Nick stood up and looked back at her.

“Well shit, don't hyperventilate. Now that's just embarrassing. You look fine. He got a little beaten up during the game too. Nothing to be ashamed off.”

Ashley even more worried. How bad was he? Seconds later Tomas was leaning in the doorway. Not a scratch on him...

Notes