Tongue Tied

"It's November, you've come to my place every chance possible since September, and you still don't know my schedule?" Alex growled as she walked to her dorm quickly.

"I thought you worked days on Mondays!" Gabe defended.

"She works days on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and nights on Sundays." Matt rolled his eyes. "And she has noon classes on Monday, morning classes on Fridays, and late classes on the weekdays she works."

"At least one person cares enough to remember." She spat.

"Are you almost home?" Gabe whined.

"Walking down the hall." She stated as she stared at him.

Over the weeks that had past, Alex had grown rather close to the guys on Colorado. It was bound to happen, seeing as two of her closest friends were dating two of the members of the team. She was closest with Gabe and Matt though. Tyson and Ryan were around a lot, but Gabe and Matt came around to just hang with her, not their girlfriends.

She hung up her phone as she approached. She pushed past them both to unlock her door. Once she did so, they followed her inside. She tossed her keys on her desk and pulled off her sweater. They both stared at her in confusion. She rolled her eyes as she tossed the clothing item into her laundry bin.

"You're acting like I'm naked when I am sporting a sports bra that covers me well." She shook her head as she found a tank top to slide on.

"Nothing covers those things well." Matt teased.

"Matt, please." She gasped.

"He isn't wrong." Gabe shrugged.

"Ah, right. I forgot you're both male." She sighed. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news,"

"No, you don't." Matt cut her off.

"You love it." Gabe added.

"But, I have a friend coming over to work on a project so I need you two to leave." She shooed them.

"Is she hot?" Matt piped up.

"Is she single?" Gabe grinned.

"Blonde? Brunette?"

"Tall, or like your height? Which is pretty short."

"Guys! Just get out! We can hang out tomorrow." She yelled. "This project is worth a lot of my mark."

"Okay. We're gone." Matt said, shoving Gabe to his feet before the pair walked out.

The two men walked down the hall. They passed a shorter guy who nearly fainted when he saw them. He stopped, calling out to them. Gabe and Matt knew they were spotted. They smiled at the guy as he walked back over.

"I don't mean to be a bug or anything but could I get a picture?" He asked.

"Are we gonna do a selfie or something?" Gabe chuckled.

"I'll take it." Alex said, emerging from her room.

"Hey, Alex." The guy smiled, handing his phone to her. "Looks like you've met Jared." She glared at the two hockey players.

"Wasn't intentional." Matt defended as they smiled for the photo.

"See you tomorrow, probably." Alex called out to Matt and Gabe as she guided Jared to her room.

"I thought you said it was a girl!" Gabe shouted.

She smiled at Jared, letting him go into her room. "I didn't say it was anything. Now go!" She spat through gritted teeth.

The two left. They walked down to Matt's car. Matt started it up and started driving. Gabe sat silently. He looked at Matt who's eyes were on the road. Matt's hand reached for the stereo and flicked it on when they stopped at a spotlight. Gabe took a deep breath and slouched in his seat. Matt gave him a confused look.

"Do we tell Nate?" Gabe frowned.

"Tell Nate what?" Matt asked.

"About Alex and that guy!" Gabe exclaimed.

"Her project partner?" Matt laughed.

"They are way more than project partners." Gabe rolled his eyes.

"I don't think so, but do what you think you should." Matt shook his head.

Nathan called Gabe the second he read his text. He wasn't okay. He was freaking out. Alex was seeing someone knew? He knew it was bound to happen, but he didn't like it. Gabe didn't answer the first time so he tried again. And again. And again. The fourth time, Gabe picked up.

"I was in line, what's so urgent?" Gabe hissed.

"Who was this guy? Was he bigger than me?" Nathan quizzed.

"He wasn't even bigger than Matt." Gabe chuckled. "She said he was her project partner but I don't know. Name was Jared."

"What do I do? Do I text her?" Nathan frowned.

"No! She'll know I said something." Gabe whined.

"So, what? I just show up at her place. Tell her I just felt like stopping by." Nathan mocked.

"Worth a shot, kid." Gabe shrugged.

Nathan had a debate with himself for the next twenty minutes. He could text her, but there was a chance she'd ignore it. He could call her, but he wouldn't know what to say over the phone. He could go the usual root and tweet about it. Not that she'd necessarily catch on but his feelings would be out. He thought about FaceTime, but it'd be awkward. He settled on just going over.

He had a plan that he went through, multiple times, as he drove to her dorm. He would lie and tell her he was just in need of a friend and Jo was busy or something. She couldn't turn him down, right? Well he hoped she couldn't. He gripped the steering wheel tightly. His knuckles were so white, they were glowing. He knew he was getting closer so he took a deep breath.

He sat in the parking lot of the dorm. He realized he probably looked shady, sitting in a university parking lot. He turned his car off and climbed out. He kept a steady pace as he walked into the dorm. He nodded at a few girls as he passed by. They were all interest in where he was going, but he ignored them. He found himself in front of Alex's door faster than he would've liked to be. He knocked before a second though. It swung open a few seconds later to a shocked Alex.

"Nathan?" She furrowed her brows. "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, well, no. I mean, not really, b," He was a terrible actor.

"What are you rambling about, Nate?" She sighed.

He spotted the kid sitting on her bed. "If you're busy, I'll go. It's noth,"

"No, you seem pretty upset." She frowned.

"Hey, it's alright. We can finish up another time." The guy called, rising from her bed.

"I'll see you later." She smiled at him as he left.

"See ya, Jared." Nathan mumbled.

Alex's head shot back to him. "What do you want, Nathan?" She growled, crossing her arms.

"I need to talk to someone and I just th,"

"We can talk, but not here. Erica's gonna be home from work soon and she'll want to sleep." She lied, stepping into her room to grab a jacket. "Take me to some neat place in Denver."

Notes