For the Love of... Hockey?

Chapter 18.

Hanson's heart pounded with every step she took in the hallway. She hadn't wanted to come to school today, but Cyrus forced her. "You can't hide forever." Is what he had said.

Yeah, but I damn well could try for a few days.

Hanna practically forced her hair to cover her face, she had even resorted to putting her hood up in the hallway until a teacher had scolded her, claiming it was against dress code policy. Hanna didn't care. If she saw Jesse in the hall, she was putting it up. Period.

Once the lunch bell rang, Hanson walked as swiftly as she could to the cafeteria. The quicker she got her food, the quicker she could hide in the girls bathroom and eat her lunch. Yes, she was that desperate. She didn't even care.

She did a once over when she entered the cafeteria, her heart sinking and vomit rising as she saw Jesse already sitting at his table, staring right at her. She bit her lip so hard she was sure she drew blood. Hanna walked - hopefully - calmer than what she felt at the moment. Just get your food repeated in her head like a broken record as she gathered a salad and an apple. Her breath quickened with each passing moment. She paid and left.

~

Jesse's eyes never left her.

She looked so broken, so uncomfortable, that it made Jesse want to die. It was all his fault and he couldn't stomach it. He watched as she walked straight to the bathroom with her lunch... She couldn't even stand to be in the same room as him. So much so that she resorted to eating in the restroom?

He suddenly felt himself walking over to the girls restroom that Hanson was in. He couldn't let her do this. Making sure the coast was clear, he slipped in to the bathroom silently, dipping his head to view underneath the stalls. He recognized Hanson's converse.

"Don't do this to yourself." Jesse whispered, leaning against the stall. Hanson started choking on some water, clearly surprised by his presence. "Please."

"I didn't do this to myself," Hanna squeaked. "You did."

That was more than a punch in the gut to Jesse. Every single memory with Hanson came flooding back - from the very first time he saw her sitting at their practice, the anger he felt when Chase tried to rape her, the feel of her soft skin against his body, the way her neck always smelled like vanilla, telling her he didn't love her, to hearing her weak voice over the buzzer. She had come back for him that night; She wasn't giving up. She truly loved him and he was too ignorant to believe she was any good for him, when she had been nothing but good.

From this point, he decided it was better to tell the truth. To tell her everything. "I was using Lindsay to attempt get over you."

"What?" Hanson seemed shocked.

"I thought I could get over you if I just hooked up with someone else." Jesse laughed awkwardly. "I can't get you out of my head, Hanson. It drives me crazy." When Hanson didn't reply, he spoke again. "Mason and Luke told me I had to get laid; I let them into my head. It was a lapse in judgement. When I heard your voice outside, it made me realize everything that I was too stupid to realize before. I made Lindsay leave, the farthest that it went was her sucking my dick, Hanson. I promise."

He could hear muffled sobs.

"Hey, don't cry." He said softly. He'd break down the door just to hold her, but he really didn't need a fine from the school. "Please let me in."

Hanna sniffed. "I can't, Jesse."

"Why not?"

"I can't handle the pain."

Jesse couldn't stand the hurt in her voice, he had to comfort her. In one swift moment, before Hanson could protest, he crawled through the opening on the bottom. He didn't waste time kneeling in front of her and cupping her tear-streaked face in his hands. He could feel his own eyes welling with tears, but quickly blinked them back. Hanson sat there, eyes wide, shell-shocked.

He knew now. His heart yearned for her. He knew everything that was going to happen if he dated her - She was going to push him to be the best hockey player and student he could be. He wouldn't have to give up hockey. And even if he did, she was worth giving up hockey for.

"Let me fix it."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

**** Please read!!****

Ayeeee lovies!!!

Hope you enjoy this installment, I'm sorry it's a little short! But, if I kept going, it would be a super long chapter so I decided to break it in half!

I have pictures of what I **KIND OF** picture Jesse and Hanna to look like. I've gotten requests to post them, however, I'm going to leave it up to the majority to decide. Just comment what you would like, I'd much appreciate it!! I say kind of because, you know how you have a picture in your head, so you can only find something similar. ********************************************************

Much love,

~G.