1989 || Luke Hughes

Chapter 14: All you had to do was Stay

The fluorescent lights of the hockey rink cast a harsh glare over the ice, illuminating the tension that hung thick in the air. Coach Thompson's booming voice echoed through the arena as he barked out instructions to the team, his stern gaze fixed on the players before him.

Quince skated with determination, her mind focused solely on the game, determined to prove herself despite the searing pain in her ribs. She winced with every movement, the injury a constant reminder of the physical toll of the sport she loved.

Luke remained distant, his eyes fixed on the ice as he skated with a silent intensity that spoke volumes. His once effortless grace was replaced by a palpable sense of unease, his mind consumed by thoughts of Quince and the rift that had formed between them.

As practice drew to a close, Coach Thompson motioned for Quince to stay behind, a look of concern etched on his weathered face. Luke watched from afar, his heart heavy with regret as he observed Quince's solitary figure on the ice.

Quince approached Coach Thompson tentatively, her chest tightening with apprehension. She knew that staying after practice meant enduring another round of grueling drills, but she was willing to push herself to the limit if it meant earning her place on the team.

Coach Thompson's expression softened slightly as he regarded Quince with a mixture of admiration and concern. "You're one tough cookie, Quince," he remarked gruffly, his voice softened by a hint of grudging respect. "But you need to take it easy on the ice. I won't have you aggravating that injury any further. So I made you a gym schedule."

Quince nodded not understanding, a sense of determination burning bright in her eyes. She may have been battered and bruised, but she refused to let anything stand in the way of her dreams. So if Coach wanted her to work out instead she would.

As she skated off the ice, Quince couldn't shake the feeling of Luke's eyes burning into her back. She longed to bridge the chasm that had formed between them, to mend the fractured pieces of their relationship and find comfort in each other's arms once more.

But as she returned home to their shared apartment, Quince's hopes were dashed by the stark emptiness that greeted her. Luke remained holed up in his apartment, his silence a tangible barrier between them that Quince couldn't bear to breach.

Alone in her pain, Quince felt a wave of nausea wash over her, the searing ache in her ribs intensifying with each passing moment. She stumbled to the bathroom, the bitter taste of bile rising in her throat as she doubled over in agony.

But this time, there was no comforting presence by her side, no soothing words of reassurance to ease her suffering. Luke's absence loomed large in the silence of the apartment, a stark reminder of the fractured bond that had once united them.

Meanwhile, in his room, Luke lay on his bed, consumed by a maelstrom of conflicting emotions. Regret gnawed at his insides, twisting like a knife in his gut as he replayed the events of the past few days in his mind.

He couldn't shake the image of Quince's pained expression as she skated off the ice, her determination to push through the pain a testament to her resilience. And yet, despite his best efforts to bury his feelings, Luke couldn't deny the ache in his heart that longed for her touch.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door creaking open, and Luke tensed as Jack entered the room, his expression a mask of concern.

"Luke, you need to eat something," Jack urged, his voice tinged with worry. "You can't keep punishing yourself like this. It's not healthy."

Luke's jaw clenched with frustration as he glared at his brother, his resentment bubbling to the surface. "I don't want to eat, Jack," he snapped, his tone sharp with anger. "And I don't need you lecturing me about what's best for me."