Love Rivalry (A Gabriel Landeskog and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Fanfiction)

Chapter 33 - Been Down So Long

February 22nd

Ryan's POV

I've barely left my room since the incident with Taylor that night.

I haven't talked to anyone other than Jordan, and even that was a rarity because he wasn't home very often.

I've been sitting in the house alone for the last two weeks.

These last two weeks have sucked.

There's really no other way of putting it.

My communication with others is at an all time low.

I've been on the shelf for two weeks with a concussion.

My best friend hates me.

And I can only look in the mirror.

I haven't talked to Natalie or Taylor since that night.

I couldn't even bring myself to call either of them since all of it went down.

The boys were on a short road trip to Toronto and Montreal, and should be back later in the day.

Meanwhile, I was scheduled to come off of injured reserve tomorrow and would skate for the first time since Taylor clocked me.

Hopefully, if all goes well, I'd be back to 100% in the next couple days.

But for the meantime, I just sat in my bedroom, trying to keep my diet, and watching some hockey whenever I can.

Every now and then, I go on the stationary bike in the basement just to keep cardio up so I don't lose too much while I'm out.

It was about 2:00 and I was the only one in the house when there was a knock on my bedroom door.

"Who the hell is here right now?" I whispered to myself as I cautiously approached my door. I opened it and saw Natalie, her eyes tired. She looks like she hasn't slept in days.

"Nat, what are you doing here?" I asked her.

"We need to talk." She said, pushing her way into my room.

"Okay?"

"Look, I'm sorry for what happened between you and I, then you and Taylor. It's just... I had thought about it for some time and... I don't know it just sort of happened." She explained. I didn't really know what to say. Natalie had been into me?

"It's not a big deal. Things happen, you just move on."

"It's not that simple, Ryan. It is a big deal. This whole thing between you and Taylor isn't something that's just gonna blow over."

"I know, but it'll all go back to normal eventually." I said.

"No it won't, Ryan. It hasn't been normal since Ashley left." Her name left a sour taste in my mouth.

"Ash caused all of this. None of this ever would have happened if she didn't cheat on me." I said. Natalie's faced pinched, like she wanted to say something, but couldn't find the words.

"Look, I just need to get this off my chest. I like you, Ryan. I have for a while, and this was the first time you were single in months, and I had thought constantly about breaking up with Taylor for you, but I knew it would cause problems. Then you started dating Ashley. I know you loved her, Ryan. You showed it, more than Taylor ever did towards me, and I guess I got a little jealous of all that. I just want someone to treat me like they care a little about me." She said, looking away from me towards the end. I was speechless. I knew that Natalie and I would never work, simply because of Taylor.

"Nat, I need you to patch things up with Taylor. Just give it your best. I'll have Ebs talk to him for you. Just promise me you'll try." I said. She nodded.

"I'll try, Ryan. I should go. Get well soon, Ryan." With that, she left, and I was back to being alone in my room.

I couldn't think straight.

Everything was so messed up.

Natalie was into me. Ashley was gone. Taylor hates me.

One thing is for sure, this whole place is falling apart.

And I'm at the center of every issue.

Ashley's POV

I heard my phone buzzing in my room. I dashed to it and picked it up on the third ring, not even bothering to look at the caller ID.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Ashley!" I recognized that voice anywhere.

Gabe.

"Hey, Gabe!" I smiled through the phone.

"Hey, how are you?" He asked.

"I've been better." I said, truthfully.

"Yeah, I heard about what happened with Ryan. I'm sorry things didn't work out." He said, sincerely.

"It's fine. It was probably better off that way. I don't need him." I said, confidently.

"Glad that you're being independent! That's something you don't see very often." He said.

"Thanks, Gabe." I smiled.

"You know, we are playing Edmonton on Friday night down here. I figured you'd come down with Ryan, but after what happened, I was wondering if you wanted me to fly you down here for the game?" Part of me wanted to tell him no. I didn't want to be in the same building as him.

But a bigger part of me wanted to see him.

See him suffer.

See him hurt.

After everything he did to me, he deserves it.

"I'd love to come down, Gabe." I told him with a smile.

"Awesome! I'll send you all the stuff in a little bit!" He said, sounding excited.

"Sounds good, I'll see you in a couple days." I smiled.

"Alright, see you soon, Ashley." We hung up after that and I laid back on my bed.

I had moved on from him.

Words hurt, but you get over everything eventually. And I'm sure he's found someone else by now to love.

I didn't need him anymore.

He wasn't relevant in my life like he was.

Gabe was.

Gabe was my closest friend, and he lived in another country.

I don't need him like I need Gabe.

Just someone to talk to.

Someone that listens.

Someone that's always there for me.

He used to be that way.

Now he could care less about what happened to anyone.

He just cared about himself and his image.

First reason he had to dump me, he did.

He threw me away, and I was hoping he'd live to regret it all.

I never want him back. I regret every moment with him.

Author's Note

Hey guys!

Sorry I didn't u[date on my usual summer schedule. I accidentally deleted this entire chapter while writing it and became pretty lazy because I didn't feel like typing it again right away. But here it is!

And how about the end of that chapter?! Not looking good for Ryan!

Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed it! Hopefully I'll have the next part out soon!

Love you guys a ton!

Brooke