The Turnover - Luke Hughes

Chapter 5

Winter 2023 - January

"We can't do this anymore, Ana Kate. I think it's best we take some time apart..."

Ana jolts awake on Friday morning. Her eyes shot open, and she found herself grasping her chest to soothe her racing heart. "Fuck," she uttered breathlessly, which is all she could manage to say after reliving those words again. After several deep breaths, Ana settled, gently unclenching her fists from her sheets. She remained still, focusing on the texture of the popcorn ceiling in her bedroom. His voice haunted her as she got up from bed, stretched her shoulders back, and walked silently into the bathroom. She began her morning routine with a hot shower. As the water ran over her body, she quickly shook her head to push the voice aside, tucking it away deep into her mind.

She refused to let Luke ruin her day before the hockey game even started tonight.

She grabbed her backpack and put some extra makeup in a bag, as well as some perfume and a change of clothes for the game.

Change of clothes, meaning Luca's jersey.

Ana met Emma and Jentry at the student center after her 10:00am class was finished; she struggled through her Anatomy exam she had been studying for all week. But it was over now, and she had the weekend to look forward to. And the game tonight.

When she stepped inside the large stone building that is the student center, the warmth of the heat welcomed her and the aroma of the coffee bar filled her nose.

Ana found Jentry and Emma seated at a small booth along the backside of the wall, and took her seat across from them, a sigh of relief releasing itself from her soul.

"Thank God that exam is over. I don't want to look at anything about the fucking nervous system for the next five business days," Ana closed her eyes. "My brain is fried."

Emma chuckled. "Dr. Clark, you just killed that Anatomy exam, you educated boss bitch. I still haven't started my research for Environmental Writing yet. But at this point, I could care less."

"My biggest hype woman right here," Ana grinned. "Okay, let's talk about anything but school right now."

Jentry chimed in. "Jack plays in Tampa Bay tonight. The Lightning are on a seven-game heater, so he's trying to talk himself up and puff his chest out. Cocky ass bitch. But I love him."

"Please, Jack has always tried to be so cocky and arrogant. He's got fire running through those veins," Emma laughed.

"And he fucks like it, too," Jentry said, biting at her lip.

"Jentry Simmons, save that kinda talk for Jack, please," Emma put a hand up to stop her.

"Oh please, don't act like mister Captain doesn't absolutely rock your shit every time y'all do the damn thing. Like brother, like brother." She smirked at her, knowingly.

"Yeah girl, we all know how good Quinn fucks you because he never fails to leave his bedroom door open. Y'all be rattling the walls and shit," Ana added and started cackling.

"Fuck, let's not bring up him always leaving his door open. He is so bad at that. Must be a superstition he's got or something, because he's gonna leave that shit open every time. I don't even notice anymore." Emma shrugged her shoulders.

"You may not notice, but everyone else in the house notices. Me and Jack will be laying there in bed and we'll hear you all start moaning and Jack always palms his face and says, "Fuck, there they go again." We always take bets to see who's gonna be louder." Jentry was laughing so hard she couldn't breathe.