Hockey Imagines

Look At Me | Mitch Marner

#16, Right Wing for the Toronto Maple Leafs
Word Count: 3.0 K

"You're coming with me, no matter what you say."

I shake my head for what feels like the hundredth time in the last ten minutes. "I already told you, Mitchy. I don't party. You're not changing that."

And with those words, he's resorted to getting down on his knees and begging. "Pleeeeeaaaase. I'm a rookie. Barely anyone knows me. It's just a team thing, so there won't be a bunch of people. You can't ditch me during this, you can't."

"Mitch, come on. The last party that you and I went to, you know what happened. How do you expect me to be comfortable at one after that?" I whisper.

Mitch scoots toward me on his knees and takes my face in his hands. "I won't leave your side once, I swear. I won't even go to the bathroom. I will not let that happen to you again. God, it kills me that it happened in the first place, but I swear I'll protect you. Don't you trust me?"

I nod, covering his hands with mine. "I do trust you. It's just—what if something happens? Like, one of your teammates gets hurt and you go to help with them, and while you're gone, someone comes over and—"

He shakes his head quickly. "No. No. It will not happen, I swear to you. I won't leave your side once, even if some dumbass gets injured. And, I mean, if anyone is gonna get injured, it's Auston, and I'd make him take care of his own dumb ass anyway."

That gets a laugh out of me, just like he intended, and he smiles. "I know how hard it is for you. Actually, I take that back. I couldn't possibly know how hard this is for you, because I haven't been through it. But you know what? I will do everything in my power to make sure you're happy, and safe, alright?" He lifts my head so I have to meet his blue eyes head-on. "I swear on my hockey career that I will be right beside you the entire time."

I sigh, giving in. "Okay. But you have to keep your promise."

He nods rapidly. "I will, I promise." He kisses my forehead quickly, all smiles. "We're gonna have a blast. My teammates are gonna love you."

I nod hopefully. "We'll see."

- - - - -

Mitch guides me by the hand through one of his teammates, William Nylander's, house. It isn't nearly as busy as I expected it to be, and I'm relieved that Mitch was telling the truth. Not that I doubt that he did tell me the truth, it's just that my anxiety when it comes to parties overrules all common sense.

I stay practically glued to Mitch's side as he says hi to teammates and introduces me. I just give people small smiles, and Mitch tries to comfort me. He knows more than anyone that this isn't my idea of fun. But he's trying to make me cope with what happened, which I understand.

We finally reach the kitchen, where Mitch's closest teammate, Auston Matthews, is. I let him hug me. He's the only one of Mitch's teammates that I've met, and I'm pretty comfortable with him because of the amount of times we've hung out.

"How you doing?" He asks, ruffling my hair like I'm a two-year-old. I bat him away, rolling my eyes.

"I'm good. How about you?"

He grins. "Couldn't be better. So, how's that search for my next girlfriend going?"

I give him a no-nonsense look. "You know that Mitch is the only person I hang out with, one. And two, I'm not your personal dating app."

He raises his hands in an I'm innocent gesture. "Whoa, feisty."

Mitch pulls his hand from mine and I look up at him, wide-eyed. He just smiles at me and pulls me into his side, his arm around my waist, and I relax, leaning into him. "Leave her alone. This isn't easy for her." Mitch tells him softly. I gave him permission to tell Auston what happened to me when I saw how close they were getting and how comfortable I felt around him, knowing he would be around a lot. I'm very grateful for how supportive and understanding he is about it all.