Tongue Tied

Nathan woke up in a panic on Friday morning. He had fallen asleep in his bed beside Alex, and now she was gone. He shot up and ran downstairs. His mom walked in the door, smiling at him. He furrowed his brows.

"Where's Alex?" He asked.

"Her mom called her this morning and said she wanted her home so I drove her. She'll be there tonight with," Kathy stopped, trying to remember who Alex had said.

"Leah and Marina." Sarah called from the living room.

Kathy pointed in the direction of her daughter. "Them. I gave her extras." She smiled, tapping his shoulder as she walked past.

"Can I go over to her house before the game?" He requested, following his mom.

Kathy frowned, looking over to Sarah who was making the same face. Nathan saw the exchange between the two. Kathy ignored him as she started cleaning up the kitchen. He looked between them, waiting for an answer. He let out a growl, like a child.

"Mom?" He whined.

"I don't think so, Nate. She was really upset when she came down. Just wait until tonight." Kathy explained.

He nodded, walking up to his room. He dropped on his bed to try and sleep some more. It didn't work. He reached for his phone on his bedside table. It wasn't there. He growled, realizing he had fallen asleep on it. He began searching his blankets for it. With no luck, he hung over the side of his bed. He spotted it under it, grabbing it and sitting back up. He texted Alex right away.

Babe, I don't know what's going on with your mom but it's probably my fault and I'm sorry. Text me when you can.

He started to play around on his phone. Answering his texts from the guys, checking twitter and Instagram. He settled for playing games on his phone. He only wanted Alex to text him back. He had no other reason for being up. Her message appeared at the top of the screen. He clicked it right away.

We can talk after the game. Good luck, I love you.

Nathan frowned. He didn't want to wait until after the game. He knew if they won, he'd have to wait even longer to talk. He lifted his phone, texting back.

I'll pick you up before I go. I'm not waiting until after or I'll be off.

She agreed and they made plans for when he'd be getting her and the girls. She mentioned not to forget Jo and Nathan said he never could. Alex knew Nathan would be sick of texting sooner than later. It was no surprise to her when his name popped up with "Accept" and "Decline" below it. She accepted.

"You know what I was thinking?" She said as she sat cross-legged on her bed.

"What?"

"We totally need to put Jo and Leah in the back together." She smirked.

"Mar will kill us." He laughed.

"But Lee and Jo are so into each other." Alex sighed, falling back onto her bed.

"We need someone for Mar." He teased.

"She's talking to some guy on Cape Brenton." Alex explained.

Nathan gasped. "I feel so betrayed." He confessed. "How did she even meet someone out there?"

"Remember when we all drove down for your game against them?" She began. He hummed a 'yes'. "Remember how we got there three hours before you?" He chuckled. "We had time to kill and she ran into one of them."

"That's not okay." He argued. "She's property of the Mooseheads."

"Apparently not." She scoffed.

"This is weird." He whined.

"What is?"

"Being away from you." He added.

"I know, but Mama Roy lost her shit today." She mocked.

"What happened?" He frowned.

"She called me at seven and started screaming because I stayed over at your house again and then she just lashed out. I'm never home, my friends miss me, I'm over working myself to give you my time." She took a deep breath. "That's why I don't like being home. Plus, my friends are glad I'm happy. It's not like we don't keep in touch."

"You did a month's worth of work though, Alex." He growled.

"But it was easy!" She defended. "I'm fine. I'm really fine. Everyone needs to stop worrying about me."

Alex's bedroom door swung up and Linda crossed her arms. "Really?" She hissed.

Alex rolled her eyes. "I'll see you later." She ended the call without hearing from Nathan. "What?"

"You've been home for two hours and you're already calling him?" Linda shook her head. "I never thought you'd be so dependent of a guy."

"He called me." Alex pointed out. "And I'm far from dependent on Nathan. I just like being with him."

"You're never away from him!" Linda yelled.

"Mom, what does it matter?" Alex shouted, standing up.

"You're going to get hurt!" Linda told her.

"No, I'm not!" Alex argued. "Just because you and dad didn't work out and because Sabrina and her exes haven't worked out, does not mean that Nathan and I won't."

"It isn't about mine or your sister's experiences, Alex!" Linda cried. "What happens if he's drafted to a team far away?"

"We'll make it work." Alex stated, crossing her arms.

"Are you going with him?" Linda continued.

"No, I have my own things I want to achieve." Alex cocked a brow.

"Alright, so say he stays in Halifax. You finish high school and you're getting ready for university, is he gonna stay after for you?"

"I'm not staying here for school." Alex spat.

"Is he gonna travel for you?" Linda challenged.

"No." Alex answered quickly.

"So think about it, Alexandria. If you two aren't willing to compromise for each other, how will it work?" Linda spoke, her voice calm.

Alex didn't say anything. She walked over to her bedroom door. Her mom backed away, knowing what was about to happen. Alex swung the door shut. It slammed in Linda's face before she walked downstairs. Alex walked over to her bed and dropped on it. She felt her eyes watering over and her face burning.

She didn't want her mom to be right. She'd rather burn alive than have her mother be right. Deep down, she knew her mother was more than right. Nathan was going away to be a hockey all star. Alex was staying in Cole Harbour. Regardless of where he ended up, there was slim chance of it being anywhere she wanted to go.

Although her graduation was a year away, Alex had been applying to schools in hope of early acceptance. She was an exceptional student. They all agreed, but none wanted to take such a young girl away from her family. She had applied to mostly schools in the states, but a few throughout Canada.

Her dream school had been the University of Denver since she was young. Her aunt and cousins lived out there, so she had gone a few times to visit. Once, when she was just starting high school, her cousin told her all about the programs there was to offer there. From there on, Alex knew she wanted to be a sociology major. She also knew she wanted to go to the University of Denver.

As the day went on and the clock hit 3:30, Alex decided to start getting ready. She showered, letting her hair air dry as she applied a small amount of mascara. At around 4:30, she looked through her clothes before she decided on what she wanted to wear. She wanted Nathan's jacket. She texted him, asking him to bring it. He replied.

Check your bag. Be there in a half hour.

She furrowed her eyebrows, walking over to her bags from the trip. She bent down, unzipping her largest one. She opened it to Nathan's Mooseheads jacket sitting on top. She smiled, picking it up. She tossed it on her bed as she changed. She was in yoga pants and the shirt she had met Cameron in the day he got her number for Nathan. She curled her hair before she decided she was ready. She brushed her teeth, grabbed Nathan's jacket, her purse, and her phone, and walked downstairs. Linda looked up at her as she walked down.

"Where are y,"

"Nathan's game. It might be the one they win the cup in. I have to go, mom." Alex frowned.

Linda nodded, looking back to the tv. Alex smiled as she walked out the door. Nathan was sitting out front in his car. He looked over as she walked down her stairs. She went to the back door, but he threw open the front. She frowned in confusion.

"Sit up front. Jo said he'd sit in the back." Nathan explained.

Alex did as she was told. She climbed in, pecking his lips as she sat. She closed the door behind her and buckled up as he began driving. His hand rested on her thigh. She grabbed his hand with hers. They drove while some Kings Of Leon song played. Nathan took his hand from Alex's thigh and shut the radio off. He placed it back on her thigh.

"So, wanna talk before we get to Leah's?" He asked.

"My mom came up when we were on the phone." Alex began, taking a deep breath. "She thinks we won't work because we both want our own things."

"We've worked for this long." He stated.

"But we've never been apart." She pointed out.

"Well, we still have two months to figure it out." He squeezed her thigh as they turned down Leah's street.

"You mean to try and figure it out." She mumbled.

They pulled up to Leah's house. She looked confused when she saw Alex in the front seat. She climbed in the back and kicked Nathan's seat intentionally. He rolled his eyes as she grinned.

"Why are you up there?" Leah asked Alex.

"Because you're getting time with Jo in the back." Nathan smirked.

"Excuse me?" Leah gawked

"Act like you haven't had a crush on him since tenth grade." Alex called her out.

"You liked Nathan since we started school!" Leah defending.

"And who am I dating now?" Alex sang.

"It took you, like, twelve years to even approach him." Leah spat.

"Still worked out." Nathan said, holding Alex's thigh still. "Why didn't you approach me?"

She shrugged. "You're kind of intimidating." She explained. "Like, when I was just admiring you from afar."

"That and she had a class with Zach, in tenth grade when she was going to approach you, who told her you were all about hockey." Leah added. "And you moved away for a bit before that."

"I'll kill him." Nathan hissed.

"It all worked out. There's no need." Alex said, tapping his cheek.

"She also had the ugliest hair cut from grades three to seven so she didn't want to embarrass herself." Leah muttered.

"Still would've been the most beautiful girl I know." He reassured her, squeezing her thigh.

Leah made gagging noises. Jo was waiting out front of his house. He pretended to check the watch on his wrist, tapping at it. Nathan rolled his eyes. Alex chuckled. Jo glared at Alex as he walked to the trunk. His eyes widened when he saw Leah's head. She gave him a small smile but avoided looking at him after. He climbed in beside her. Silence fell over the car. Nathan reached for the stereo dial. He turned it back on as a Drake song played.

"How do you think you'll do tonight?" Leah broke her silence, looking from Nathan to Jo.

"I think we're winning it. What about you, Jo?" Nathan turned it to him.

Jo shrugged. "I think we have a chance."

"That's a terrible way to see it." Leah frowned. "You gotta believe in your team."

"I do believe in them. Just kind of sucks not having anyone there to cheer you on." He confessed.

"It's a home game, Jo. All the f,"

"No," He cut her off. "Like my family. Someone there for me."

Leah fell silent. Alex frowned, looking over at Nathan. He squeezed her thigh. They got to Marina's house. She climbed into the driver's side. Leah shifted over, closer to Jo. He held back the smile he felt building. Leah's cheeks burned as her leg brushed his. He threw his arm along the back of the seat, behind Leah. Nathan shook his head at Jo in the rear view mirror.

Jo had a liking for Leah. Any guy would. She had the type of smile that was infectious. She was honest and that was something Jo loved. It was also something he was not. He'd be the first to admit he flirted with Leah every chance he got. He'd be the last to tell her he had a long term girlfriend back home. Nathan knew, and for months, he had been trying to convince Jo to leave her. Jo was a wimp though.

They arrived at the arena. Nathan carried his bag and sticks with his fingers laced in Alex's. The group got inside. Leah walked over to Alex, grabbing her arm gently.

"Can you come to the washroom with me? I don't remember where it is." Leah frowned.

Alex nodded. She gave Nathan a kiss before she took off with Leah. Marina crossed her arms at him. He mocked her. Jo stood beside Nathan in confusion. Marina took a step forward.

"Try and hook up Leah with Jo, huh? I get nothing?" She teased.

"How's your Cape Brenton boy?" Nathan shot back.

She rolled her eyes. "He's good. Thanks for the concern."

"Who is it? We'll make sure to lay him out next season." Nathan smirked, nudging Jo. "As if you'll be here next season, First-Rounders." She shoved them both.

They both rolled their eyes. Alex came walking back, pulling Leah close behind her. Alex had a giant smile on her face. Leah whispered something to her. They both burst into laughter as they approached the three. Alex stopped near them, Leah still standing behind her. Alex looked at each of them.

"The big reveal." Alex announced before she stepped over to Nathan.

She wrapped her arms around his torso. His arm went around her back as he looked at Leah. She was standing in a Drouin jersey. Nathan looked at Jo, who was in shock. Leah was staring directly at him. Marina nudged him to speak.

"I made a purchase." Leah pointed out, walking over to him. "Now you have someone that's specifically here for you."

Jo's only reaction was to pull her into a hug. She hugged him back, smiling. He mumbled a 'thank you' as he held her. She just hugged him in silence. Marina looked at Alex. They both had devious smirks on their faces. Nathan frowned, he knew Jo was still taken.

"So, uh, Jo," Nathan broke the silence. Leah pulled away from Jo, stepping to his side and turning to face Nathan. "Maybe you should tell her now, eh?"

Leah furrowed her eyebrows, turning to Jo slowly. "Tell me what?" She asked.

Jo took a deep breath. "I have a girlfriend."

Notes