My Hockey Boy

Chapter 8

Haley's POV

My eyes opened at the sound of an alarm going off. I quickly peeled my body from the couch, looking around. I must've fallen asleep again last night. My eyes scanned the room for the alarm that was going off. I looked at the table next to the couch to see my phone ringing and vibrating rapidly. I picked it up, examining the alarm that had been set.

It read:

"Just to make sure you didn't oversleep again."

Charlie. I thought to myself. He must've left after I had fallen asleep. I shut off the alarm before sending him a text that simply said Thank you. I set my phone down on the table, heading upstairs to go and get ready for another day at school.

********

I opened my bag, shoving the unnecessary binders into my locker. My eyes rolled as the group of populars walked down the hall. All huddled around Wes as he told them a lie I'm sure of his "brutal fight". But something was different, missing. Charlie. He's always with them. I guess this whole Wes thing really changed something in him. Oh well, it may do him good to distance himself from them.

I slammed my locker, trying my hardest to get as far away as possible from all of them but failed when I heard Wes' voice call my name.

"Haley!"

I groaned, turning around to look at him. A black and blue bruise spread from his jaw to his cheekbone on one side of his face.

"What do you want, Wes? Didn't you already get your beating?" My eyes looked up and down his body to signal that I saw what Charlie did.

"I actually wanted to talk to you." He stopped me from walking away.

"Why? Can't you just leave me alone? We only have like 3 more days at this school. You can't leave me alone for 3 little days?"

He shook his head, a disgusting smirk tugging on the corners of his lips. "You tell Charlie to watch his back."

I narrowed my eyes at him, warning him to stay away but he didn't seem to get the hint. From the short amount of time Ive known Charlie, I realize he's not one to be messed with. Nor will he let anyone mess with what he cares for.

*****

"Hey." I smiled up at Charlie as he sat across from me on the bench of the picnic table I was at outside.

"Hey." He returned the same smile, pulling out his lunch.

I placed my bookmark on the page I was reading before shutting my book. I rested my hand on the back of my neck before speaking up.

"Hey, how about we go to the public skate session today after school?"

Charlie paused from eating his lunch for a second as I giggled. "Really?" He asked through a mouthful.

"Yeah, It reminded me how much I missed skating."

"I thought you said you hated skating?"

Oh did I forget to tell him my brother went to college on a hockey scholarship and I've been skating for my whole life?

Whoops.

I smirked. "C'mon Adams. What're you afraid of?"

*******

"You ready then?" Charlie asked as I stood at my locker.

"Yeah, let me just grab my math binder." I replied. I shut my locker, shoving the last of my books into my bag. "Hey, I have to stop at my house first. I want to get a different jacket. Could I meet you at the rink?"