her devil

8

the next day was saturday, and esmeray had been texting jack almost all night, creating plans for the day.

the devils had off practice today, and esmeray wasn't need around the building.

"you've been staring at your phone, smiling, for about twenty minutes. you okay?" auriella asked.

"yeah, just have some plans for later today." esmeray replied.

"with who?" auriella smirked.

"jack." esmeray said simply.

"you know, you never showed us what he looks like." willow said.

"can we at least see a picture of him." auriella pleaded, sitting down next to esmeray.

esmeray knew better. if she showed auriella a picture, she would be all over him. well-maybe.

as esmeray searched up a picture of jack, auriella couldn't help but look over her shoulder.

"there, that's him." esmeray said, showing him to willow and auriella.

"oh my gosh! he's almost like a golden retriever, except with brown hair and blue eyes," auriella said, "and i like golden retrievers."

esmeray and auriella looked over at willow who was still looking at the picture.

"him? you want him? every girl in america wants him." willow said, crossing her arms across her chest.

"you know who he is?" esmeray asked, turning her phone off.

"have you not seen the puck bunnies in his comments?" willow asked.

"what's a puck bunny?" auriella asked.

"i'll tell you later. listen, esme, he probably just wants you for your looks. hockey players date beautiful women for the paparazzi, then just leave them alone." willow told her.

"how do you know? you've never dated a hockey player." esmeray defended.

"you're right, i've never dated a hockey player, but i know what they do." willow scoffed.

"whatever. if you would excuse me, i have to get ready to go hang out with jack." esmeray got up from the couch and went to her bedroom to get ready.

she hated fighting with her friends, or anyone in general, but when she was defending people she possibly liked, that was a whole different story.

esmeray got dressed, did her hair, brushed her teeth-again, then got her bag ready to leave.

jack hughes
outside

esmeray left the apartment without saying goodbye to her friends, and made her way outside.

"hi." esmeray sighed, putting on a smile.

"hey, you okay?" jack asked.

"fine, just some school work giving me stress," she lied, "where are we heading to?"

"i was thinking we could head to t.m. ward co., then maybe walk the streets?" jack suggested, "nothing too fancy, i know, but it's all i really could come up with."

"i'm excited. there's nothing really you can do here." esmeray chuckled.

the two called for an uber, and jack let esmeray in first. the ride was quiet but comfortable, and all esmeray could think about was the fight with willow.

"esmeray," jack said, getting esmeray out of her thoughts, "we're here."

esmeray and jack made their way inside the coffee shop, sitting down at an empty table before they would order.

"what would you like cause i'll go up there and get it." jack offered.

"you sure?" esmeray asked, reaching for her bag.

"it's fine. i am taking you out after all." jack smiled.

"a green tea is fine." esmeray told him. she watched as he stood in line, ordered the drinks, and waited for them to be made.

esmeray noticed how he would shift his weight from one side to the other while waiting, and how he looked at the paintings on the wall.

"here you go." jack said, placing the mug in front of esmeray.

"thank you." esmeray smiled and watched him take a sip of his coffee.

"tell me about your past." jack said.

"hm?" esmeray put her back down on the table and raised an eyebrow.

"yeah, i know that you go to college here, that you're a devils fan, blah blah blah. i want to know about your past." he replied.

"i dont think you really want to know about that.." esmeray chuckled nervously.

"don't you trust me?" jack asked. esmeray rolled her eyes and took another sip of her tea.

"my past doesn't define me. what i'm doing right now does." esmeray answered.

"yeah but-"

"trust me, you do not want to know about my past."