The Puck Bunny

Seventy

Slowly everyone trickled back from the holidays and with only three days left for classes, the whole team was back and we were all sitting in Pioneer eating together. I'd told Lexi what my uncle and I had talked about and she agreed that if it came to it, telling the guys would be the best thing to save my career at U of M.

The only thing she couldn't help me with his how to tell the guys this. But I needed to.

"Hey, guys?"

Everyone continued to eat and chat about their various holidays. I cleared my throat.

"Guys?" The table stopped and turned their attention to me.

"You all know that I'm not allowed to do anything related to hockey, that my mom is kinda psycho about it?" They all nodded and murmured their knowledge of it.

"My mom found out that Lexi is dating Tate. I think she's crazy enough to try to come here and check on me. I think for a while, I need to not eat or talk to you all. Just so that she doesn't come here and ruin everything"

Six stunned faces looked at me, with one sympathetic one thrown in there from Lexi.

"You're kidding, right? You're one of our best friends Pruitt" Tyler said.

"I know but I also know what she's like. She'll pull me out"

"You're eighteen, you can make your own choices" Bunker added.

"She pays for most of it. Look, it'll only be a little while and she'll calm down. A few weeks maybe"

"You wanna go a few weeks without talking to us? Any of us? Your friends" Tate asked.

"I don't want to. But I don't want to leave more"

"This is insane" I sighed.

"I know, it's stupid even. And I sure as hell don't want to fucking do it. But if I don't, then the next few weeks might be all I have here, because I sure as hell can't afford this shit on my own." I stood abruptly and walked my tray to the clearing station, before leaving the dining hall.

I shut myself in my room and it was less than five minutes before someone knocked on my door.

"Clearly not in the mood" I called.

"Just wanna talk" Luke's voice came back. I sighed and opened the door, one hand on my hip.

"What?"

"I'm sorry about the dining hall. It's just weird to think you won't be making smart comments for a few weeks. Weird for everyone. I mean even Ripley was shocked." I sighed.

"Bennett, if I don't do this, if I don't put some distance here, then I won't be here to make smart-ass comments"

"I know. Which is why I'm going to talk to the guys and help them understand, so we can help you stay"

"They're not going to understand" I muttered.

"They will, once they realize that we need you here with us"

"It's going to have to be taken seriously. No one's even allowed to look at me, just in case my mom shows up halfway through lunch or something. I just don't know how long it's meant to last."

"How long what's meant to last?"

"This feeling of dread, that she's actually going to show up here"

"Okay, I'll talk to the guys and we'll do our best. You and Fraser are already staying away from each other, aren't you?"

That shouldn't have hurt as much as it did.

I nodded.

"It'll all work out Pruitt, don't worry"