HIS FROST BITE (A MICHAL MRÁZIK FAN FICTION)

Chapter 31: Hockey Match 2

Tara

I couldn't believe what was happening. Nitra's accusation cut through me like a knife, her words like venom poisoning the air between us. I felt like I was suffocating, as if the walls were closing in on me and there was no escape.

I looked to Michal for help, for some kind of explanation or justification for the secret relationship we had. But all I saw in his eyes was anger, raw and unbridled. His nose was bleeding, his hair matted with sweat, and his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles were white.

I tried to speak, to defend myself, but no words came out. How could I explain to Nitra that it was never my intention to hurt her, that my feelings for Michal were real and intense? How could I make her understand that I never wanted to come between her and him, that I never meant for things to spiral out of control like this?

But Nitra's accusing gaze was like a spotlight, illuminating all my faults and shortcomings. I felt small and insignificant in the face of her anger, like a criminal caught in the act with no chance of redemption.

Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision. I could see the hurt and betrayal in Nitra's expression, feel the weight of her disappointment pressing down on me. I wished I could turn back time, make different choices, avoid this painful confrontation altogether.

But it was too late now. The damage was done, the truth laid bare for all to see. And as the silence stretched on, broken only by the sound of our ragged breathing, I knew that there was no turning back. The rift between us had widened beyond repair, and I was left to pick up the shattered pieces of my heart alone.

"I wanted to tell you guys so bad," I whispered, but my words fell on deaf ears. Stassie's tear-filled eyes darted between me and Michal, her pain evident in every shaky breath she took. Nitra's gasp echoed in the sudden silence that had enveloped us.

"We were going to tell you after Derek woke up," Dana's voice was barely a mumble, a feeble attempt to justify our actions. And then, Michal snapped. His anger was palpable, a storm brewing behind his eyes and rumbling through his words.

"You shut up. You've wanted to tell her about this ever since you found out, torturing me about something you've never even experienced," he spat out, his voice laced with bitterness and betrayal. Nitra's shocked gasp only added to the tension in the room.

"You knew about this?" Stassie's voice was barely a whisper, her heartbreak evident in every syllable. And then, Dana's laughter filled the air, a cruel and mocking sound that made my blood run cold.

"Yes, I caught them," Dana's words dripped with pride, a twisted sense of accomplishment in her betrayal. Stassie's next words sliced through the room like a knife, her pain and disbelief cutting through the thick tension that hung in the air.

"And you did not even tell me. My own best friend?" Her voice trembled with hurt and anger, her eyes searching for answers that Dana could not provide. Dana's feeble attempt at an excuse only added fuel to the fire of betrayal that burned between us.

"I was going to tell you, Scott said..." Dana's words faltered, unable to mask the guilt that clung to every syllable. Nitra's disapproving shake of her head cemented the divide that had formed between us, her silent judgment weighing heavy on my already burdened shoulders.

"I wanted to tell you guys so bad," I said, but my words fell on deaf ears. Stassie was already making her way away from us, running away from the situation. Nitra followed her, but Dana left with Scott. I looked over at Michal, and he was looking at me, no scratch that, through me. I had never seen him this angry in my entire life. I did not say anything, maybe to hear what he had to say. The universe sort of told on us, before we could. "What would happen next," I thought, as he sighed and then walked away without a single word.

I knew he harbored resentment because of the date with Dean, but he had no flipping right to be angry. He didn’t even have the context of the full story. I felt like I was being unfairly judged and misunderstood. It hurt to see the anger in his eyes, and it pained me that he chose to walk away without trying to understand my side of the story. I stood there, feeling a mix of frustration and confusion, wondering how things had spiraled out of control so quickly.

I knew that this was not the end of the situation, and I dreaded the conversations and confrontations that were sure to come. But for now, all I could do was take a deep breath and try to process the whirlwind of emotions that were raging inside me. It was going to be a long and bumpy road ahead.

As soon as I arrived at the hotel, I tried to sleep it off, but I couldn't. Michal was not here, neither was he answering his cellphone. I started resenting him for leaving me all alone when times got tough. He said it himself, that just because things got tough didn't mean he suddenly didn't love me anymore, but what kind of love required someone abandoning you in times of trouble?

I tried calling Nitra and Stassie, but their cellphones would not go through either, cementing the end of our friendship on their side. I felt devastated and sad because they were practically my sisters and were there for me when no one else was, and I had just hurt them, all because I loved a boy. The door suddenly opened, and I walked into the room to find Michal closing the door slowly. As soon as he turned around, he met eyes with me.

"Hi," he said, a smile spreading across his face. Thank heavens, I was not near him, or I would have slapped him.

"Hi?" I said and went back into the bedroom. He followed me and tried to hold my hand, but I let loose.

"You left me there, high and dry only to come back and say hi like nothing happened?" I said, and his smile faded.

"Do you blame me? You went out on a date with my best friend while you and I were together and did not even tell me about it. What am I supposed to think?" he asked, his tone defensive.

"You don't even know the full story, Michal," I said, feeling a rush of emotions bubbling inside me. When I said that, he stopped arguing, and his features softened.

"I was mad because I had heard you spent an entire day with Stassie, and I assumed you had run back to her. I decided if you didn't care about me, I might as well move on," I confessed, feeling the weight of my words lift off my shoulders.

"Is this the day of the accident?" he asked, his voice filled with concern. It had just occurred to me that he had changed out of his hockey uniform.

"Yes," I confirmed, and he sighed, sitting next to me on the bed.

"When he said it, he made it sound like you guys were dating, and I just lost it," he explained, his eyes locked on mine.

"Yeah, like that would happen. I just assumed he would leave me alone when he realized I was not responding to his text messages," I said, a small smile playing on my lips.

"Dean does not back down from a challenge," Michal added, lightly hitting me with his shoulder, causing a small giggle to escape my lips.

"I'm sorry I was an asshole back there. I was so mad. Like how could she do that to me?" he said, looking genuinely remorseful.

"Yeah, asshole is what I was thinking. That's the one," I added, feeling a sense of relief wash over me as we sat together in comfortable silence.

As we sat side by side on the bed, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the chance to talk things out with Michal. Despite our misunderstandings and hurtful words, there was a deep connection between us that I couldn't ignore. And in that moment, I knew that no matter what challenges we faced, our love would always find a way to bring us back together, that everything we went though proved just how much this was never a fling or a holiday hookup. That it was real.