one night // andre burakovsky ✓

CHAPTER 26

"Let's do this, boys." Coach Barry said, and all the guys started cheering, breaking off into conversation.

But Andre was sitting with his legs up, head down. His hands were placed over his ears to give himself the full privacy he wanted. The game would start in three minutes, but he couldn't think of the game.

Too many thoughts were running wild in Andre's head. He was trying to focus on the game, and only the game. No thoughts of any girls. Especially not ones whose names started with a B. She was the last thing Andre wanted on his mind during the game.

The time came for the boys to step onto the ice. Andre blocked out the cheering of the fans, the yelling of his teammates. He had to focus on the game. Especially one as important as this.

After the first period, the score was 1-0 for Vancouver. Andre had gotten slammed into the boards, hard. He was told to go into the changeroom for a quick evaluation. He was upset, he wanted to stay in the game. But the medical staff cleared him and had him back on the bench after only 10 minutes.

At the start of the 2nd, the coach came up to Andre, letting him know he had to step up today. Coach also mentioned that it looked as though Andre was distracted, since he wasn't putting in 100%. If only he knew.

Nonetheless, Andre tried harder, helping block a shot from Sedin, then retrieving the puck. He skated up quick with it, taking a shot. The rebound bounced right in front of the net, where Eller was waiting to shoot, and tie up the game with only a few minutes left.

Andre was very thankful, skating back to the bench to rest. He knew he hadn't been playing his best lately, and had even gotten benched for a few games before. But that play showed his coach that he was a part of this team.

The boys get a powerplay with only a minute left, and it seems all too easy, as the puck comes out to Ovi's stick, who snipes it past the goalie and brings the score to 2-1. The Capitals win the game.

Andre's grinning widely, and as Tom passes by him, he gives him a nudge. They make their way into the dressing room, and even Coach Trotz congratulates Andre.

Andre gets changed, still smiling as the boys in the room were buzzing. "Guess you got your groove back." Tom says to Andre.

"Hope so." Andre nods. He takes out his phone, his eyes widening at a text he sees on his screen.

Bella: good game!

Andre's frozen in place, flashing the screen to Tom. Tom's eyebrows furrow, but he shakes his head. "Ignore it." he advises Andre.

"Ignore it? Isn't that bad?" Andre asks.

Tom shakes his head. "Give her what she deserves."

"You really don't like her, do you?" Andre asked Tom.

"Not anymore." he answered.

So Andre opened the text, sending Bella the notification that he read it, and didn't reply.

"You should delete the message. We'll celebrate tonight, and you can try and forget about it." Tom advised Andre.

Andre agreed, so he slid the message to delete it, packing his phone away and leaving the dressing room.

——

It wasn't until the Capitals were flying back to Washington that Bella texted Andre again. The boys won all their games out west, and they were all in a constantly happy mood because of it. Their team was playing well, which was obviously something to be happy about.

Even Andre was thriving. After the coach had benched him, Andre came back playing better than ever. Everyone was happy with how they were playing.

Andre was sitting with Tom on the plane, but Tom was asleep. Andre had been listening to music when his phone vibrated against his leg.

Bella: did my last text send?

Andre read the text, a smile even threatening to form on his face. With some help from the team, Andre felt like he could move on from Bella. What she texted him at the beginning of the trip west took him by surprise, since he didn't expect it. Yet Tom was a big help in realizing that Andre should try moving on.

The two of them talked about what to do if Bella sent a text like that. She didn't normally text first, so her doing it twice was definitely significant. Andre could respond, but being as dry as possible was key.

Andre: what text

Bella: you answered..

Bella: & i said good game

Andre: yeah it sent.

Bella: oh

Bella: so that's how you wanna do this?

Andre: do what

Bella: you're kidding me right?

Andre: you're the one who did what you did so if anyone's kidding it's you

Andre: also you promised an explanation

Bella: i did?

Andre: why the hell did you do that, make me wait for a week, then text me right now as if nothing happened?

Bella: i can explain

Andre: i don't know if i want you explaining...

Bella: what?

Andre: *read*

——

Bella: don't leave me on read what do you mean you don't want an explanation

Andre: maybe im done

Bella: ??

Bella: done with what ??

Andre: you pissed me off you know?

Andre: and upset me

Andre: with no reason

Bella: well i told you i can give you a reason

Bella: can we meet up? are you on your way home soon?

Andre: i don't know if i want to meet up

Bella: Andre seriously ...

Andre: *read*

——

bigggg shift in character between bella and andre! they starting to sound like the other but woahhh

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