Travis's POV

I reread it over and over again. Molli was...Leaving? The note strictly instructed me to not go after her. She said she was going to be safe, but would it make me a bad friend if I went after her, or a bad friend if I didn't go after her?

There was a new text on my phone. I read it out loud, "Don't even try Asbury Park. I'm leaving New Jersey. -Molli."

She left New Jersey.

Zach came in the door. "Um Travis?"

"Yeah?" I asked. My voice sounded broken.

"I'm sorry."

I stared at him in shock. "Um okay. I guess I'm sorry too. But Molli-"

Zach nodded. "I know. And I think we should track her down. Game 2 is on Friday and its Tuesday. I think you, me, Nicole and Ilya should try and find her."

I looked at him. "Wait, seriously? She left Jersey."

Zach shook his head. "She can't be gone yet. Her intention is to leave New Jersey, but we can stop her. She left halfway through the practice. If she was truly going to be gone for a long time she'll still be packing her bags. I'll drive to Asbury, you go to her house."

I thought about it. "True. But if we catch her what do you say?"

Zach laughed, "I think you kiss her."

"She would KILL me."

Zach chuckled. "You're good with words and stuff. Just figure out how to make her stay. You'll probably have better luck than me."

Zach's plan made sense. Molli would still be here if she were planning on being gone for a while. "Alright. I'm sorry man."

"Just catch her."

I got in my car and drove to Molli's. Her car was sitting in the front, the trunk open!

I waited out in my car until she emerged from the house.

"Molli!" I called. "Wait!"

Her eyes filled with fear. "No! Go away! Please!"

"No. Tell me why you've going to leave New Jersey!"

She looked up at me. "Is it not obvious? I basically ruined your life and I'm just going to hurt Zach. It's an escape from all the pain I'm causing and I'm preventing pain! All right? It's better for you!"

I rolled my eyes. "Where the HELL did you get that idea?" I wrapped her in a huge hug.

"Let me GO!" She shrieked. "Stop! You have to live your life! So do I! And I can't live my life here! You can't live your life while I'm here! Nobody can!"

I rolled my eyes. "Where are you going to GO?"

Molli glared at me. "I'm not telling you!"

"Virginia? Minnesota? Are you going back to Florida with Elizabeth? You need a plan for yourself Molli!" I was growling at her.

She growled back, "I HAVE a plan! And I'll be back! Let me go Travis. Your life will be better!"

"Stop saying it'll benefit me! You LEAVING will not benefit anyone. Not even you!" I snapped.

"Forget it!" Tears were streaming down her cheeks. She took my hand and slapped something into it and closed my fingers. "Happy? You can have it!"

She pushed past me and closed the trunk of her car. She got in her car and drove away.

I opened my hand. Keys. There was a little thing on it and engraved it said, "Molli Regan's House. 31 Ashland Street."

She wasn't going to come back any time soon.

Zach's POV

I wondered how Travis was doing. With no luck in Asbury I headed back.

My phone buzzed. Text from Travis.
I couldn't stop her. She was crying and she's gone and I said some things I shouldn't have. She gave me her house keys.

I sighed. I would find her. If it was the last thing I did. She could be in Virginia or Minnesota. Maybe she had gone to Florida with Elizabeth. Mrs. Regan was living in Mississippi last time I checked (9 years ago) and Mr. Regan in Colorado.

I drove back to my house. Travis was there.

"What happened?" I asked.

Travis explained, "When I got there she was loading stuff into the car. She said she was leaving because she was hurting everyone. I told her she needed a plan for herself an∂ she claimed she had one. She was crying and she gave me these, then left." He held out her keys to me. "She wasn't even finished loading her car. There were still suitcases in the house. When I looked through them, I realized she was planning on being gone until the winter. She had shorts and huge, puffy winter coats too."

She wanted an escape. She wanted to get away.

"I'm going to call Mrs. Regan." I decided.

I dialed Elizabeth first. Matt answered. "Hi, this is Molli's friend Zach. Can we have Mr. and Mrs. Regan's numbers."

"Sure." Matt said pleasently, and gave them to me. I thanke him and called Mrs. Regan.

On the fourth ring she picked up. "Who is this?"

I replied, "Before I tell you, I'm calling as a friend, worried about my friend's wellbeing. This is Zach Parise."

"Get off the phone Zach! GO!" She screamed.

"Mrs. Regan you have to understand-"

"there's nothing to 'understand!'"

I sighed, "Mrs. Regan your daughter fled New Jersey."

She was silent. "Oh. Why?"

I didn't know what to tell her. "I'm not sure." I lied. "But we know she won't be back soon."

Mrs. Regan was silent. "I'll call her Zach. And get back to you. I'll find out her plan. Should I mention your name?"

"No. And thanks."

"It's not a problem. Oh and Zach?"

"Yes?"

"If you get back together with her, hold her close and never let her go. And I won't even object. Sorry about this last decade. And you're an outstanding hockey player."

"Um thanks!" I said, a bit flustered.

I could almost see her smile. "I'll call Molli now. Thanks for letting me know."

"Thanks. Bye."

"Bye."

I turned to Travis. "Mrs. Regan is going to call Molli and then get back to us. And I think after a decade I've finally been forgiven!"

He laughed. "Good job Zach."

It only took a few minutes before Mrs. Regan called us back. She was in distress. "Zach! She won't tell me where she is or where she's going!"

"Calm down, calm down." I advised, while panic was starting to take me over.

"I can't! She's my daughter Zach! What if she never comes back?"



1 MONTH LATER

Nicole's POV

The door opened a crack. "Nicole? Can I come in?" Ilya.

"Sure."

He came over and sat on the bed. "What's wrong Nicole? This isn't like you. We are all celebrating downstairs."

"I don't want to be drunk. I don't want to party." My voice was broken.

Ilya stroked my shoulder. "Come on Nicole. Everyone's so happy and excited. Please come? The cup is waiting for you!"

I sat up. "Look at me Ilya. I'm a mess. And there's no one to help me with my hair."

"Brittney Clarkson is here."

"Brittney isn't my friend."

Ilya sighed. "Come on Nicole." He walked over to my closet and threw my red dress at me. "Wear this. Hair in a ponytail."

I shook my head. "Stop. I don't want to do this Ilya."

Ilya took my hand and pulled me up. He pulled off my shirt and pajama pants.

"We can do anything you like later. But for now..." He kissed my neck.

"Please don't. We won't be able to finish." I pushed him away. He got the red dress and helpe me into it.

Tears streamed down my cheeks making me thankful I had no makeup on.

Ilya stroked my face. "It's alright. You look perfect."

I tried to smile. "I'm not going to put on any makeup, in case I cry again."

"Vam vyglyadet krasivo i bez sostavlyayut." Ilya whispered to me. Though I had no idea what he said, I knew it wasn't an insult.

Ilya smiled when I did. "That's what I like to see. Tvoyu krasivuyu ulybku. Let's go downstairs now."

He only talked in Russian when it was just alone. Sometimes when we made love he would to that.

He placed his hand on my back and led me down the stairs into the scene of the party.

It was RED. Beating Detroit was a big deal, especially since we had been down 3-0. But the guys pulled it together and ended it in the 3rd overtime of Game 7.

I ran into Zach. "You look great." He whispered. "That's the dress-"

"That Molli picked out for me." I said bluntly.

He nodded. "Do you think she knows we won? I want to give her a call but I don't think she'll answer."

"She knows." I said, although I wasn't sure. "I recoreded the game, do you want to round the guys up and watch it?"

Zach nodded. "Sounds good."

I walked over to the couch. I played with the DVR until I found it. Once everyone was gathered around, I started it.

I got off the couch to make room for David and Brittany Clarkson. I walked over to the fridge to get some beer for te guys that wanted it. Finding no beer left, I went down the the basement and got all the bottles of Coke I had bought after Molli left. No more wine and no more beer.

"Alright boys, no beer left, so all I have is Coke."

Zach, Adam, Bryce and Travis were the only one's who went for the Coke. "Oh come on! You don't need to be drunk to have fun!"

"Hypocrite." Brittany muttered.

Ilya looked at me in warning. I made a face. "Brittany," I began, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "What can I get you?"

She rolled her eyes. "I woukd say a beer, but you don't 'get drunk' anymore so I'll have a Coke. And I can get it myself."

Trying not to let her get to me, I wished Molli was here.

I took a seat next to Erin Carter, who was cuddled up next to Ryan. She was clearly drunk, so I got up.

I looked around for April Salvador. She was on the couch next to Bryce. Feeling lost, I just stood. I stared at the ground and a tear slid down my cheek. I was never alone with Molli. She was the most welcoming person I ever knew.

Suddenly Ilya wrapped his arms around my waist. "Do not cry. This is special to all of us. Come sit with me."

I let him take my hand and lead me to the big chair. He pulled me onto his lap and I snuggled into him. My head fit perfectly in the crook of his neck. I felt safe as he pulled me as close as he possibly could.

"I love you." I whispered.

"YA lyublyu tebya bol'she."

I couldn't understand, but it sounded beautiful to me.

Notes

This is really long.... Anyway, comment if you are reading this! I love feedback and suggestions! And for the Russian... well if anyone actually speaks it... i probably made a fool out of myself, I used Google Translator. And I don't expect you to understand it, you probably get the idea anyway.