Tongue Tied

Alex walked to her car quickly as she held her phone to her ear. Gabe and Matt were at her place and she had no idea why. Neither were answering their phones, and Gabe was over using his spare key privilege. She'd be taking that off of him as soon as possible. She got caught in traffic and growled. Just her luck. She gave up on Gabe and tried Matt again. He answered, finally.

"Why are you two always in my shitty dorm when you have beautiful apartments?" She hissed.

"Because we like it here more. It's more intimate." Matt smirked.

"God, shut up and don't touch anything. I'll be home in like a half hour." She demanded before she hung up.

Matt locked his phone and turned. Gabe had Alex's mattress on the floor and was sitting on her box spring with something in his hands. Matt's jaw dropped. Alex had literally just told them not to touch anything and Gabe was trashing the room. Matt shoved the mattress at him and Gabe kicked it. He glared at the Canadian, looking up from the photo album he found.

"It's just pictures of her and Nathan." Gabe explained as he flipped the page.

"Well put it back where you got it and then put the mattress back." Matt shook his head.

"It was under her mattress." Gabe stated. "Like, wedged far back. I could feel it through the mattress."

"So it was hidden?" Matt furrowed his brows. Gabe nodded. "Why would she hide it?"

Gabe shrugged. "Under each photo, there's the date and a quote." He handed it to Matt. "They're like things said between them. It's cute."

Matt looked over it. They were deep quotes. He sighed before he closed the book. He tucked it under his coat and looked at Gabe. Gabe had a confused look on his face. He stood and climbed off the box spring. He put the mattress back on top. Matt sat on her bed, Gabe plopping beside him.

"We're gonna show Nathan and maybe that'll get him to talk it out with her." Matt informed him. "She's sad and I don't like it."

"But she did it to herself." Gabe frowned.

"Yeah, but we're good friends." Matt pointed out.

Alex came home shortly after. They hung out for just over an hour before she told them she was going to bed. They said their goodbyes and left. Gabe drove home. They were delivering the book to Nathan now. They knocked on his door hesitantly. He opened it with a confused expression. Gabe and Matt walked in. They made themselves at home before Matt pulled out the book. Nathan took it slowly.

He opened it. The first picture he saw was the first time they met. He was standing with his hands in his pockets and she was looking up at him. He was smiling at her. There were words below it.

You look a lot better without the glare of the glass. 11/04/12.

He smiled a bit before looking at the picture on the right side. It was her holding him after Rimouski had beat them out of the playoffs.

At least you get all my time now. 29/04/12.

He remembered saying that to her and seeing her almost cry.He turned the page. It was her holding his face with one hand as she kissed him. Her other hand was extended as she took the photo.

You're the kind of mystery I wouldn't mind spending the rest of my life trying to unravel. 26/05/12.

The next wasn't until his birthday. They were smiling at the camera, red solo cups in hand, free arms around each other.

You're flaws aren't flaws to me. 01/09/12.

They had sex for the first time that night. Cliche, but it was what they had agreed on. Alex was nervous and Nathan had no intentions of rushing her. The next set of pages were what he expected. It was him holding her, her legs wrapped around his waist. She was in pajamas, seeing as he had to fly out in the early morning. He remembered her crying as her held her. They'd never been apart like they were about to be.

I have so much of you in my heart. 21/12/12.

The picture on the right was when he returned. Canada had placed fourth and he wasn't happy. The picture was Alex pushed on her tip toes, kissing him as his head was down for her.

You're the best prize I could've won. 01/09/13.

The next pages consisted of a photo from Alex's birthday. It was a photo she'd taken of them. She was laughing while he was kissing her cheek. He smiled at the memory.

I give you the gift of me. 01/29/13.

The picture on the left was during his injury. They were sitting in the stands together. She had her head on his shoulder while his arm was wrapped around her. His lips were pressed to the top of her head while she looked out at the game.

I could start fires with what I feel for you. 16/02/13.

He felt himself getting choked up as he kept going through them. The picture of them with the President's Cup, kissing. Next was them the night she surprised him in Saskatoon. Them with the Memorial cup, his graduation, his draft day, the day he left for Colorado. And that's where it ended. But that wasn't where he wanted it to end. There should've been so many more photos in there. He could see them now.

On the right, would be them on his next birthday. She'd be kissing him or something while he smiled. On the next page, it'd be her in a MacKinnon jersey at his first NHL game. The right side would have them at a game in Montreal, the closest place for them. The next set of pages would have a nice Christmas photo, followed by a photo of her on her birthday with him. Following that would be them at the playoffs, and then it'd be them reuniting after his trip to Belarus. Her arriving in Denver would be there too, and then it'd just be a collection of their time together in Denver.

He looked up at his teammates, who were looking at anything but him. He realized he'd been flipping the pages as he imagined all the photos. He probably looked insane. He shook his head and slammed it shut. Matt and Gabe looked over at the out burst. He flung his hand out, extending the book to them. Gabe took it hesitantly, handing it to Matt.

"What is this?" He hissed.

"I found it at Alex's." Gabe mumbled.

"You and her need to figure it out. You can't be without her, she's crazy without you. Settle on a friendship at least." Matt groaned.

Nathan nodded. "I'll go see her, tomorrow. Before we leave."

Nathan waited at the door. It swung open and Alex stood there in pajamas. It was almost midnight. She squinted at him. She was confused. Yeah, he said he'd wait until morning but he couldn't. She stared at him, her dark brows furrowed. His heart was pounding as he looked down at her. He had never liked brown eyes before. He never liked him until he met Alex. Now, they were the one thing he craved. She took a deep breath but he beat her to it.

"You look a lot better without the glare of the glass." He spoke, holding the book in front of him.

Alex felt her heart stop. She grabbed it from him. "How did you,"

"Al, how old is this book?" He cut her off.

She shrugged. "I started it after our one year. I was gonna give it to you for your birthday and continue adding to it for you." She explained. "But we weren't together on your birthday."

"You're the one who ran, Alex!" He cried.

She yanked him into the room, closing her door. "I didn't run. I was sick of you fucking me up and my friends having to deal with the mess."

He fell silent. She sighed, walking over to her bed. She sat down and watched him. He just stood in the middle of her room. He wanted to walk over, kiss her, and have everything be alright. But that wasn't the case. Nothing was alright. They'd been fighting for over a year now and it was ridiculous.

"You don't realize how much everything changed when you left, Nathan." She stated. "It wasn't just my life you put a strain on. Bridgette stayed home to watch over me instead of going to UNB. That made so many problems for her and Cam. And Jo and Leah? Jo was so busy making sure that I didn't lose my mind that he barely made time for her."

"I didn't,"

"You didn't know, I get it. I just don't want to go back to that with you and have it happen all over again." She frowned, looking down at her hands.

He walked over and sat on the edge of her bed. He had his body turned towards her. He waited for her to look up but she didn't. He inhaled, bringing his hand to her face slowly. He rubbed over her cheek before his hand reached her chin. He tilted her head back so her eyes met his. They were sad. He exhaled as he mustered up the words he needed.

"I can promise it'd be different this time. I'm not missing out on this, on us, again, especially when you're here with me." He whispered.

"It's not that simple, Nate." She breathed, pulling his hand away from her chin. "I'm here for school. I don't want a relationship right now."

"Then be my friend? No fighting, no awkward. We can just hang out and have no questions asked." He pleaded.

She smiled, nodding her head. "That sounds look a good idea."

He smiled in return. He let go of her face and sat back. She opened the photo album. It was the one thing she always looked through when she missed home. Nathan was her home for a long time. She got to the last page of the day he left Halifax. He slowly pulled it away from her and started explaining what the pictures after that should have been. She rolled her eyes.

"If only it were like that." She laughed.

"It should've been." He shrugged.

"Maybe not." She stated. He looked at her in shock. "Doesn't everything happen for a reason?"

"That's what I used to tell myself when I lost my games to makes myself feel better." He shook his head. "I think the good happens for a reason."

"I guess it's a good thing we're friends again." She smirked.

"Because you missed me?" He grinned.

"Because my sister's getting married and I can't think of anyone else to ask to accompany me." She explained.

"Someone's marrying Sab?" He gasped.

"Yeah, I don't believe it either, but it's Jo's brother so." She chuckled. "But she already invited half the people I planned on asking and they have dates so."

"I'm a last resort." He glared.

She smiled. "About right."

He smiled, looking down at the mattress. "Yeah, I'll go with you." He nodded. "Wait, when is it?"

"You have it off. You have an away game, then three days until you have a home game." She informed him.

"How do you know this?" He questioned.

"I asked Matt to go before you." She confessed, a grin on her face. Nathan huffed. "So, yes?"

He nodded. "Yes."

Notes