Can't Help || Auston Matthews

Ch. 11

Esmeralda's POV- September 2016

"Hey"

I glanced up and smiled at Nathan MacKinnon who was standing on the other side of the table.

"Hey yourself" I told him as I looked down at the spaghetti I had packed for lunch today.

"Mind if I sit down?"

"Of course not" I said.

I ate some spaghetti and looked at Nathan who was watching me eat.

"Can I help you?" I asked once I had chewed my food.

He smiled.

"Sorry, I got distracted by your beauty"

I hummed and reached for my water bottle.

"What do you need?" I asked.

"Just wondering if you're busy tomorrow"

Jake had warned me to stay as far as possible from Nathan MacKinnon. He was a flirt, and a lot of the volunteers during the pre-game tournaments fell for it.

"Of course I am, the team has a game tomorrow" I responded.

"Are you busy before that?"

"I've got class" I said.

"I'm sure you've got some free time"

"I've got class" I repeated.

He looked at me a bit surprised.

"Goodbye now" I told him.

I turned my attention to my food and continued eating. I ignored the laughter heard as Nathan stood up and walked away. I glanced up when someone sat next to me.

"What'd I miss?"

I looked at George who began unwrapping his burrito.

"Nathan MacKinnon kind of asked me out" I said.

He looked at me.

"You said no, right?"

I nodded.

"Good cause Jake warned you about him"

He took a bite of his burrito and hummed.

"I miss authentic Mexican food"

I laughed and continued eating.

"Gabe and Dan went to get lunch, so we have to make sure the media is out in about 10 minutes"

I nodded and continued eating.

"Who's getting interviewed?" I asked her.

"I don't know, but I know Matthews is in there"

I rolled my eyes as he wiggled his eyebrows at me.

"He likes you Esmeralda, how can you not see that?"

"George, someone is going to hear you" I said.

He smiled.

"Who? No one is here anymore"

I looked around the room to see that we were in fact alone.

"Shut up and eat your burrito" I told him.

He just laughed and continued eating. We ate in peace until his phone began ringing.

"Alright, it's time to head out"

"I'll meet you there, let me clean up" I said.

George frowned and nodded.

"Fine, I'll see you there"