If The Past Could Heal...

Chapter 6 - It's my fault

Declan's POV:

I was so excited for Noelia to see me train again and I was thinking that maybe I could sum up the courage to ask her to go to the opening hockey game of the season. The thought of her watching me play made me grin. Yesterday I caught her watch me, awed, during training. As soon as she realized I was watching her, a frown decorated her face again, which was a shame because she was beautiful not frowning, which she did quite a lot around me it seems.

When class finished, me and Hunter strolled down to the rink and started to get ready. All throughout training, my eyes were trained on the doors waiting for her to walk in, but she never did. When training finished she didn't show up either, that made me worried.

Hunter saw the expression that sat on my face "Maybe she doesn't train this day?" He suggests.

I shrug and walk away, the frown still present on my face.

The same happened then next day and it worried me even more. I couldn't concentrate all day at school and then at training. She still didn't show up.

Coach pulls me aside after training, "You okay Dec? You seem distracted"

"You don't seem to know if anything has happened to Noelia, do you?" There's no harm in asking if Coach knows anything.

"Not that I know of champ, sorry" He tells me and pats me on the back.

"Okay, thanks" I stroll back to my dorm.

It was Friday and I felt a sick feeling in my stomach. No Noelia, still, anywhere. I asked around and apparently she hasn't been at school since Tuesday. That really made me worried.

I was pacing around in the change rooms, unable to keep my mind off her, and nervousness was eating my insides.

"Dude, chill" Hunter looks at me worried, "I can text Camille to ask her, okay?"

"Do that, Yeah" I say to him, walking out to the rink to distract myself with training and to not think about the dread pooling at the bottom of my stomach.

After training, we are changing out of our hockey gear when Hunter gets a buzz from his phone, and he drops his phone from shock, "Holy shit!" he exclaims.

"What" I say, worried by his reaction.

"Dude, we gave Noelia a fucking concussion!" He shouts.

I go very pale and signal for him to pass me his phone. He hands it over and I read over Camille's text very carefully and I start to feel faint.

Cami <3: You hockey morons caused Noelia to get a concussion

Cami <3: she's in the hospital rn and she only woke up from her mini coma this afternoon

Cami <3: she told the doctors that her foot got caught in a deep groove one of you left in the ice, while attempting a difficult jump

I read the texts over and over until they fully sink in. It's my fault. I feel like I'm going to throw up.

"You okay Dec?" Hunter asks softly.

I shake my head, grab my stuff, and run. I run to our dorm, sit on my bed and I put my head in my hands and nearly break down.

It's all my fault. If I just ignored what my coach said and just trained at the normal time this wouldn't have ever happened to Noelia. I had to butt in didn't I. I feel like shit and I have no idea if she is ever going to forgive me. The more I think about it the more nauseated I feel. I only wanted her to see me train and all because of my selfishness she got hurt, and was in a two day coma! Because of me. I sigh and try to think of a way I can make it up to her. I pull out my phone and text on the Hockey Team group chat that has our coach in it.

Me: Hey guys, this coming Monday training is at normal time so make sure to arrive early!

I receive a bunch of buzzes after that but I ignore them. I walk into Hunter's room to ask him an important question.

"Can I have Camille's number?"

"Sure dude" he looks at me with the same concerned expression from before, "You sure you're ok?"

"No" I respond truthfully.

That makes him look up from his phone. He gives me an expression that tells me to keep talking.

A long silence stretches out between us.

"It's all my fault" my voice is barely audible.

"It's not, and you know it, you were only trying to do what's best for the team" Hunter reassures me.

I don't feel reassured. The nausea hasn't subsided either. My phone flashes with a text from Hunter, Camille's number.

"Thanks dude" I walk back into my room and go to bed, to tired to think about anything.

The next morning, I unlock my phone and add Camille to my contacts. My fingers hover over the keyboard but I can't type anything. A sudden urge to puke interrupts my thoughts, so I dash to the toilet and throw up all the nervousness and dread that has been clinging to me the past three days. The relief after vomiting is immediate, I go to my phone and type Camille a long message, my head finally feeling clear, and her reply comes instantly.

Me: hi Camille it's Declan

Me: Hunter gave me your number

Me: I really need you to help me out in sorting a way for me to apologize to Noelia, I feel horrible and I have a plan to forgive her I just need some help from you

Camille: she doesn't want to talk to you Declan

Me: come on Camille, you didn't even read my messages

The three dots appear and then disappear so I just sigh and start to think of a plan all by myself.

————————————————————————————————————————

Authors notes:

I wonder how Declan is going to make Noelia forgive him :) Declan's kinda going through it so show some love for him in the comments <3

Please comment and vote and star rate my story, I'd really appreciate it <3

My TikTok is @heartsforbooks_ so make sure to follow it for bookish content!!!