puck off ☆ c. sturniolo

18 Estella

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

I let out a deep sigh as I see Nick slapping Matt on the arm repetitively and pointing in my direction, before him and Nick begin to walk towards me.

I had been dodging Nick's texts and calls this morning, but only because I had a song due this week and it needed to be perfect. I was sitting at a bench in the university's COM lawn, rewriting and softly singing song lyrics to myself as a way of perfecting them.

"Why are you ignoring me?" Nick huffs the second they reach my table, both of them taking a seat opposite of me. I click my pen a few times before I set it down on top of my notebook.

"Well, considering I saw Chris' name in every text you sent, I figured it was self explanatory." I reply dryly, making Nick wince. "I've got a song due and wanted to tune out of life to get it done. I would've replied eventually." I pointedly told him, giving me a simple nod in return before he looked at Matt.

Matt sighs, "Look, we get it, Stella we do. But we're worried." He shares a look with Nick that has me nearly on the edge of my seat, suddenly intrigued.

"Alright, lay it on me." I decide, making Nick and Matt grin at each other slightly. They think they have me right where they want me, but really I'm just being nosey.

"Okay so you know Chris hasn't been sleeping around." Nick states, making me nod, "So now, all he's doing is going to the gym and sleeping. Fully stopped going to parties, stopped joining us for meals and shit. He's just, not Chris anymore" Matt continued, making me frown. Chris is such a people person it's very unusual for him to hide out like that.

His favorite part of the day was meals at his frat house, checking in with everyone and telling each other about their day. My brows furrow the more I think about it, and I can't remember a single time he had missed all 3 meals at his own house. Chris always made it a point to attend at least one meal if he was busy with me.

"Should we tell her what happened today?" Nick whispered to Matt, making me lean forward with curious eyes.

Matt glances at me, rolling his lips into his mouth. After a minute or two of silence he nods his head.

Nick has a sad look on his face as he turns his head to face me again, "Chris had a weight check this morning, and his spot on the team is hanging on by a thread because of his weight loss." Nick softly explains, making me gasp.

Chris was always about his "gains" and always went the extra mile to include everything he needs in his diet to not only maintain his weight, but to also gain muscle. He was a firm believer in his gym routine, having me actually attempt to do a workout with him. Lets just say I was left with weak and shaking legs, and it wasn't from a workout.

"Jesus." I whisper, looking at Matt after he clears his throat, "We were kinda hoping you would talk to him." He announces, making me lean back in my chair and look to the sky as if it would be able to tell me what to do.

"Guys, I dunno if I can do that." I admit truthfully, making Matt scoff in disbelief.

"Look Stella, we're not asking you to fuck him better."

"Matt! You can't just say that-" 

"I'm being forreal, just a conversation. We don't know what's wrong with him and we're just hopeful that you might be able to get it out of him." Matt explains, glaring at Nick for interrupting him.

"Come on Stella, if you can't do it for Chris, do it for me." Nick pleads gently, grabbing one of my hands to bring my gaze back down from the sky, making my eyes land on his as he gives me his best puppy dog face.

I suck in a breath as I mull over my options.

Meet up with Chris, figure out what's wrong, then go no contact again and worry about him?

Meet up with Chris, he refuses to tell me what's wrong, leaving me curious and worried?

Meet up with Chris, figure out what's wrong, then fall into our same old habits again leaving me heart broken in two months when I'm ready for more?

I finally shake my head, "I can't go back down-"

"I'll buy you five coffee's a week for a month." Nick immediately interrupts me, catching me off guard.

I think it over and can't help myself, "Fine. Arrange when we'll be meeting up and let me know." I sighed, nearly groaning when Nick and Matt dap each other up excitedly.

"Okay, do you think right now would be okay?" Matt asks, making me raise my eyebrows in surprise, "He said he was going out for a coffee so it's perfect timing." Matt wiggles his eyebrows at me with a grin on his face. Nick stands and begins to shove my belongings into my bag.

He gets his wallet out and hands me a ten dollar bill, "First coffee on me this week!" He grins at me, prompting me to stand.

"If this goes bad, you two better hide away for the rest of the week." I pointedly tell them, watching the way panic quickly works its way onto their faces. I take my bag from Nick's outstretched hand, offering them a simple wave before I spin on my heel and make my way towards the coffee shop.

My grim walk turned into a slow stroll as I saw the coffee shop come into view, was I really going to do this? Am I really about to walk into the coffee shop I adore, and possibly taint my view on the place for the rest of my time spent here?

I come to a screeching halt as I see Chris walk out of the door, holding it for a couple behind him. He pauses for a second as he's about to leave, before he turns to his left and takes a seat at an outside table, facing away from me.

At least he won't see me coming. I take a few deep breaths to attempt to steady my racing heart rate, before I carefully approach him from behind. He's wearing the baby blue snapback that I used to try to steal from him. A simple black tank top and gray sweat shorts, paired with Nike dunks. One of my absolute favorite outfits to see him in.

My mouth runs dry as his head swivels to the side, taking in the scenery around him. I tighten the hold on my bag and head straight toward him. I came to a stop a few steps behind him, "Is that seat taken?"

Chris' head whips around to face me, eyes wide with surprise, "Stella?" He whispers in disbelief, and he nearly sends my heart into cardiac arrest as he instantly stands and tugs me into his chest.

I inhale slightly and regret it almost immediately. His cologne wafts through my senses, taking me back to late nights rolling around in his sheets, the shared giggles between kisses or even the full on belly laughs as we watched a random YouTube video.

I hug him back briefly, forcibly removing his arms from my body, "We need to talk."

authors note .ᐣ.ᐟ
guys i'm so back this was so fun to writeeee