I'm sorry this chapter sucks. I've been doing a lot of traveling this past week and I have spent maybe five minutes in my house since the first day of April and so that's my excuse for my poorly written chapter. The next one will be better, sorry guys.
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It was brighter than usual when my internal alarm clock struck six o'clock. The birds sang outside my window this morning, each note a piercing screech that echoed through my ears and throbbed against my skull.

Candice's Ray Bans sat on the bedside table. The untouched pair of glasses sat idly since lent to me and each day since I had neglected to return them to my sister. Forgetfulness - my fatal flaw, but today I was grateful for my lack of remembrance. My hand reached over blindly to grip them before unfolding the arms and placing them on the bridge of my nose. The relief was almost instantaneous, yet not quite enough.

My skin was sticky. My long blonde hair blunt in pieces to my forehead. I pulled the comforter closer to my naked body, shivering at the contact. I was warm, I could feel in, and my eyes were nearly glued shut. Surely I had been hit by a bus. At least that's the way it felt when I tried to use whatever muscle my fatigued body could muster to lift myself from the bed.

The blue foil wrappers that had been previously sprinkled around my room were no longer there. I could see their metallic exterior reflecting light from my garbage can that sat in the corner of the room where the two walls meet. Instead, there were empty blue and white cans scattered about in their place. Between the empty Bud Light bottles and the head pounding, I was slowly piecing together the events of last night.

Kyle. Henrik. It was all coming back to me, and the more I remembered the less I wanted to know. Jamie. Tyler. The beer they brought over to drink away my problems.

And then I...

I didn't. I couldn't have done that. The evidence was there but so was the potential for an alibi. You see, I would say to the judge, sometimes I choose to sleep naked. Sometimes I am clumsy when I have been drinking and tear my panties in half out of pure frustration; and I always throw them beside the door because lazy is all I have ever been. Maybe he would believe me, maybe not. In the back of my mind, though, I would know the difference between the truth and the alibi I chose, and it would lead back to him every single time.

From there the Crime Scene Investigations Unit would take over; left with nothing to work with but the crumpled sheets that hugged the bed on the side next to window. Because when Jamie Benn sneaks out the morning after? He's so quiet and so cautious you could only think about the number of times he's done this before.

My legs took me from room to room around the second floor of the house. Each room sporting at least two empty Bud Light cans ranging from crushed to torn in half completely (and if I was lucky enough, I'd find a tossed piece of my discarded clothing from last night's adventures.) I cringed as the aroma of the bathroom caught my nose, the remaining scent of shotgunned beers had me nauseated and bent over and empty toilet bowl. The contents of my stomach, or lack there of, remained safely kept down after a number of deep breaths and I turned up the strength of my pluggable air freshener to mask the smell. From there I continued adding to the growing collection of empty cans in my hands to tame my obsessive compulsive tendencies.

It was half past six in the morning when I reached the first floor. Two small garbage bags and an armful later I set down the empty recyclables that left me stupid last night. A well deserved nap seemed to be in order, my muscles relaxed at the thought and my droopy eyes were suddenly attracting like magnets to my lower lids. The brown linen couch welcomed me with warmth. It's cushions wrapped themselves around me and I reached for the blanket next to the coffee table. It unfolded itself on the journey from the rug to the couch and as I rolled over to rest my head on it's side a crumpling sound brought me to a halt.

The yellow piece of paper was bright against the navy blue comforter. It's edges were folded lazily, leaving crumples and small rips throughout. When I reached out to grant it the paper shifted, and I could see the from the corner what looked like the work of a blue pen.

Thanks for letting us chill. Had to head out to feed my dog but shoot me a text sometime ;)

His handwriting was as sloppy as the smile on my face. The name and number scribbled at the bottom belonged to a tattooed man that I had seemingly underestimated in character. I began to reevaluate my initial impressions of the dynamic duo; maybe I had been right when I absentmindedly pegged the captain as a good time guy, though I hadn't been serious upon doing so. But perhaps the legendary stories of a drunken Tyler Seguin in Boston had it all wrong. A second chance at a first impression seemed to be in order, and so I awarded him a spot in my contacts list. In doing so, however, something else caught my attention.

The red circle that encased the number seven was anything but subtle against the green and white background. It was inevitable, and I deserved whatever it was that was hidden behind it. It stared at me, flashing in my mind like the blinking lights and sirens that force you over to the side of the road. I held my breath, endless possibilities flashed through my mind before I finally came to terms and tapped the screen.

Kylie: I was just trying to help, you didn't have to flip out.

Kylie: You definitely didn't have to confess your love to Hank either, the guy is freaking out.

Kylie: OH MY GOD

Kylie: I'm just now realizing HOW BIG OF A DEAL THIS IS.

Kylie: You're in love with Hank? I can't believe I didn't see this coming. Of course you love him, it makes perfect sense.

Kylie: You need to call him IMMEDIATELY! He spent the entire drive to the airport freaking out! He nearly cried..and almost crashed the car! I had to take the wheel instead just to be sure we wouldn't die. I think maybe he could be in love with you too.. Call me when you wake up!

My hands were frozen around the screen. Each finger wrapped around the plastic case that enveloped my phone, and as much as I wanted, needed, her guidance right now I couldn't function enough to exercise the movements. Hot, salty droplets of water fell from my eyes instead and took the place of my thumbs on the keyboard.

New York was simple; it was easy, and my heart wrenched at the thought of what my life used to be. Back when I was young and naive, and free spirited. What I would give to go back to those days that I was so willing to trade away.

The crunching sound of the yellow note had me realigned with my intentions. I got to work on composing the message right away,

Hey Segs, it's Addison! I was just wondering, did Jamie leave with you?
I pressed the blue letters that read 'send' and watched as he began to type immediately.

Tyler: Nope. When I woke up I couldn't find either of you, figured you guys were knee deep in each other so I left ;) lol why?

Jesus, Tyler! Knee deep in each other? His not-so-clever metaphor had me stifling a giggle. I was only wondering but never mind, I'll wonder to someone else.

He didn't keep me waiting long before his name lit up the screen again.

Tyler: You avoiding the question was all the confirmation I needed.

His message was quickly followed by another.

Tyler: Means he snuck out, am I right?

Goodbye, I replied, not feeling up to the idea of discussing this with his best friend.

Tyler: This has never happened to you before, huh?

...Why do you say that?

Tyler: For starters your reaction was a dead giveaway. Look, if you like him you gotta play him at his own game.

Are you sure that's a good idea?

Instead of the sound I was expecting to hear, the Verizon default ringtone startled me out of my comfortable position on the couch.

"Hello?" I spoke hesitantly, neglecting to check the caller ID.

"I'm gonna play matchmaker," the deep voice echoed through the receptor. It was easily identifiable as number ninety one himself. "We have a game tonight," he continued, "I'll leave tickets for you at will call. Pick them up, come to the locker room early. Pick a teammate and fuck them. Jamie will be livid."

The call ended abruptly and the line went dead. I was left bewildered by Tyler's suggestion. But at the same time, a little bit intrigued...
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Notes

To be fair I did warn you that this chapter sucks. Sorry for the long wait.