Tongue Tied

The next day, Nathan had training. He went and was the furthest thing from focused. He was messing up and it was making him more upset than he was. All he could think about was Alex. He needed her but she wanted nothing to do with him. He finished training and went to mope in the change room for a bit. It wasn't moping as much as actual hatred for himself. He decided it was time to shower.

Alex was in no better of shape. She had cried herself to sleep, following it with a blubbering group call with the girls. She fell asleep and woke up to all of them around her room. Melissa and Bridgette were cuddling her. She sighed as she laid between them. Everyone had woken up hours ago but no one was moving. All of the girls felt for Alex. She was hurting and they were hurting for her.

Dana decided to make a phone call to Nathan. He didn't answer the first six times, but she continued. He finally picked up after at least twenty calls. Dana walked out of Alex's room and locked herself in the bathroom. Nathan waited for her to speak.

"Why?" Was all she said.

"I'm so fucking stupid." He broke down. Dana swore he was crying. "I can't do anything right, Dana. I just want Alex but she hates me."

"She doesn't hate you. She's just so hurt, Nathan." Dana sighed.

"I don't know what to do!" He cried.

"I don't know what to tell you. You did this to yourself." She stated.

"I know." He breathed out. "Could you talk to her?"

"And say what?" She laughed.

"That I'm sorry?" He suggested.

"I'll see what I can do." She said before she hung up.

Nathan drove to Alex's. He sat out front in his car for a bit. He took a deep breath as he stepped out of it. He looked at her bedroom window, the curtains drawn. He exhaled as he closed the door. He opened his back door. The box of things Alex brought to him sat there. He lifted them up, hoisting it under one arm. He closed the door with his free arm before he made his way to her front door. He set it down and rang the door bell. He jogged back to his car and drove down the street.

He made sure he was out of sight but could still see her. The door opened. She stepped onto the porch, looking down at the box. She looked up in confusion and looked around. She shook her head as she bent down to pick it up. A smile spread across her face when she read the note resting on top. It only said 'sorry' with a sad face. She turned and walked inside.

The girls all turned to her as she walked in. She held up the note to them with a frown. Melissa rolled her eyes and walked over. She took the note, crumpling it. Alex rolled her eyes in return, walking to the stairs. She climbed up them and into her room. She looked around at how empty it was getting. She was slowly moving her things to Denver for school. Ironic that she was going the same place Nathan was, but her heart was always set on that school.

She sat the box on her bed to go through it. She folded the shirts of his and packed them in her suitcase. They were nice to sleep in. She hung up the Moosehead jerseys in her closet. She wouldn't be bringing those. She furrowed her brows at the bottom of the box. It was an Avalanche logo. She lifted it up. It was a jersey. He had put one of his new jerseys in the box.

She shook her head. She walked to her closet but stopped beside her suitcase. She was going to live in Colorado. She decided to bring it. She was sure plenty of other people had MacKinnon jerseys in Denver. There was a knock before Dana poked her head in. Alex smiled as she walked back to the box. She paused when she saw it wasn't empty. The long, black, velvet box was sitting there. Dana came over and looked.

"You should wear it." She spoke. "It's your birthday number, either way."

Alex nodded and grabbed it. She handed it to her friend and turned around. Dana took the necklace out and latched it around Alex's neck. Alex touched the charm with her fingers. She shook her head, spinning to look at Dana. Dana looked surprised but calmed down when she saw the anger over Alex's face.

"How did he pick his number based on my birthday and then not even contact me?" Alex questioned.

"He was caught up in the limelight, Al." Dana sighed.

"Are you defending him?" Alex gasped.

"No! But put yourself in his shoes," Dana started. "You're eighteen and get to live your dream. You're going to focus on it and not let anything get in your way."

"I wasn't in the way." Alex frowned.

"I'm sure his teammates let him know how hard it was to keep a relationship." Dana continued.

"He's his own person. He should think for himself." Alex huffed.

"You're absolutely right." Dana shook her head. "He asked me to talk to you and I tried but he's just so wrong."

Alex smiled, resting her head on Dana's shoulder. "I know that you just want him and I to be all better, I do too, but it'd be wrong."

"I just wish he didn't fuck up in the first place. I admired you two so much because you worked through everything and he just had to fuck it up." Dana ranted.

"Hey, everything happens for a reason." Alex said, smiling.

"I can't believe you leave tomorrow." Dana shook her head.

"I honestly can't either." Alex admitted. "I'm kind of scared."

"Why? This is what you want, right?" Dana quizzed her.

"Yeah, but," Alex took a deep breath. "I'm going to Denver. Nathan's face is going to be everywhere."

"And?"

"What if I can't handle it?" Alex almost whispered.

Her bedroom door flew open and the girls walked in. Leah led them. She shook her head at Alex. Bridgette frowned at Alex as she stepped beside Leah. Marina sat on the bed beside her. Melissa rolled over her computer chair. Denise stood on the other side of Leah. They were all upset with her.

"Don't do that." Leah spat.

"Do what?" Alex rolled her eyes.

"Doubt yourself!" Melissa piped in.

"You're going to go to Denver, get your fucking degree, make some friends, and ignore the motherfucker that hurt you. You're better than him." Denise stated.

Alex frowned, playing with her hands. She knew they were right. That's what she needed to do. She just wasn't strong enough to do that. She still loved Nathan, she always would. She just couldn't be with him and allow him to walk all over her again. Marina grabbed the charm on Alex's neck and sighed.

"Why are you wearing this?" She hissed.

"Becau,"

"It's just going to remind you of him." Marina cut her off.

"Everything reminds her of him. They were together for over a year." Bridgette rolled her eyes.

"If she wants to wear the necklace, let her." Melissa interrupted.

"It's stupid to wear something your ex gi,"

"God, shut up!" Alex shouted. "I like the necklace. It isn't because of who got it. It's my birthday and it's of importance to me. Just leave it."

They all went quiet. Alex rose and walked around everyone. She continued to pack. No one said a word. They just watched her actions. She eventually stopped. She took a deep breath, squeezing her eyes shut. She rested her hands on her dresser as she looked down. Her eyes opened and she spoke.

"I think you should all go. I need some time for myself." She explained.

"So we aren't gonna see you before you go?" Bridgette asked.

"It'd mean a lot if you came to the airport." Alex admitted.

"We'll be there. Feel better." Melissa said, guiding the girls out of the room.

Alex nodded. She heard her bedroom door close and she lost it. She hated how she was feeling. She had finally started to not care and Nathan had to come back. She wished she hated him. She wished she hated him more than anything. But that was the last thing she felt towards him. Yeah, she was angry with him but she still loved him more than imaginable.

She cried herself to sleep that night. She had to wake up early to finish her packing. She sent out a tweet. It was just the plane and mountains emoji. Some people favourited it. People she didn't care about. She hoped Nathan knew she was going and would run to the airport. But she knew that wasn't going to happen.

Notes