From Hating to Loving || Luke Hughes

Don't Call Me That

Logan

First week of classes at UMich and I'm ready to drop out. Their digital media class is no joke. 

I've  just finished my last class of the day and gotten back to my dorm when Lily comes bounding in, jumping up and down. "Logan! Logan! I got us invited to a party tonight!" she screams. 

"Lily, quieter. Be excited quieter please." I beg, just wanting to take a nap. 

"Ethan invited us to their place!" she quiet screams. "And how do you know Ethan again?" I ask. Lily knows way too many people on campus already for me to keep up. 

"He's on the hockey team. Duh!" she says matter of factly. 

"Ugh Lil. I know you really want to go, but you know how I feel about interacting with hockey players" I whine.  "Yeah yeah, the less the better. But come on. It's the first week. I'll find other parties for us to get invited to next week" she begs. 

"Fine. But you can't leave me alone" I tell her, making her swear she won't.

Telling her I'm gonna take a nap until we have to start getting ready, my head hits the pillow and I'm out like a light. 

3 hours later I am awoke by Lily pouncing on top of me, shaking me awake that we need to start getting ready. Groaning, I slowly shimmy out of bed, heading towards my closet. 

"Oh no. I already took the liberty of choosing your outfit for tonight" Lily says, giving her eyebrows a wiggle. "Please tell me its not one of your skimpy dresses" I whine, knowing damn well it is. 

Pulling it from her closet and shoving it into my hands, she pushes me towards the bathroom, ordering me to get changed and make myself presentable. 

20 minuets later I'm dressed and ready to go, lacing up my converse that match perfectly with the little dress I have on. 

Grabbing my arm, Lily pulls me down the stairs and outside, leading me to the house with the party. 

"There's gonna be a bunch of other people there Logan. The probability you run into any hockey players is slim" she says, trying to give me confidence. "But it's not none" I grumble to myself. 

Arriving, she just lets us in like she knows where she's going. Jesus there are a lot of people here. What are the chances I come across a hockey player? Slim. I think to myself. 

For the first half hour to 45 minutes Lily stays by my side. We get separated when a huge group of people cut through us as we are trying to walk towards the couch. 

The only place I know of, I head for the kitchen, hoping to get at least another drink in my system. 

"I haven't seen you before" someone says behind me. Turning around I'm met with a pair of brown eyes and a curly mop of hair. "Could say the same about you" I say back, popping the top of my drink. 

"Well I live here, so I'm a little disappointed you don't know who I am" he jokes, hand playfully resting on his heart. "Ah. You're just one of the hockey boys I guess" I snap back, wanting out of this conversation immediately.

"Just a hockey boy you guess. Guess you're not a puck bunny" he taunts, smiling playing on his lips. "Don't call me that!" I aggressively say, scowl on my face.

"What? It's not like I called you one" he says, taking a step forward so he can hear me better. 

"Well you would have, had I known who you are" I snap. "Feisty. I like that" he says smiling. 

"Use that phrase around me ever again and I'll make sure any team that's interested in signing you never does" I tell him, dead serious.

"You can't threaten me like that. Do you even know who I am?" he says, straightening up. "Obviously not. Do you even know who I am?" I mock back, hands on my hips. 

"Luke Hughes" he says, composing himself with a flirty smile on his face, stretching his hand out to me. "Logan Gretzky" I draw out watching the look on his face. And oh is it priceless. 

"Wait hold up. Like Wayne Gretzky's daughter?" he asks, dumbfounded. Holding my head high with a smirk, I nod my head watching him wrap his head around this. He gets over the information quickly before trying to make small talk with me.

"No small talk Hughes. Just ask me what you want to know" I tell him, fed up with his bullshit.

"Well I don't want you to think I'm asking just cause your Gretzky's daughter" he shyly says, rubbing the back of his head. 

"If you ask me out I'm gonna say no" I tell him, beating him to his line. "What? But you didn't even give me a chance" he says bewildered. "I don't date athletes, much less hockey players" I say, motioning towards him. 

"Really? Why not?" he inquires. "Sorry Hughes but I don't know you that well so I'm gonna go" I tell him, starting to step away from him. 

"Wait can I at least get your number?" he desperately asks. "Hm no, I don't think so. I'm an almost puck bunny remember" I taunt him with a smile. "Oh come off it I didn't say that" he says, trying to save himself. 

Giving him one last smile, I turn and walk back through the crowd looking for Lily. 

Luke

Awestruck. That's what I am right now. I'm so preoccupied with the thought of her I don't even notice Rutger coming up behind me. 

"Soo?" he asks. "So what?" I say, snapping back into reality. 

"I watched that little conversation you were having with her. Did you get her number?" he excitedly asks. 

"Ha I wish. She apparently doesn't do athletes much less hockey players" I tell him, quoting her from before. 

"What? How does that make any sense. We're the best" he says.

"Apparently Logan Gretzky doesn't care about that" I say, finally letting her last name slip.

"Hold up. Like Wayne Gretzky's daughter?!" he screams. 

"Yes exactly like Wayne Gretzky's daughter" I tell him. 

"God his daughter is hot. You've got moves. Bag her" he says trying to lift my spirits.

"Yeah maybe. How'd she get invited anyway?" I ask him.

He shrugs his shoulders, grabs a beer, and heads back out into the mass of dancing bodies. 

Grabbing a beer myself and making my way to a group of my teammates, I can't help but think about her. 

By the end of the year, she'd be mine, and we can put this whole puck bunny mistake behind us.