❁ ~ J.H

Chapter 4

A small girl ran the halls of the massive house she had been raised in, her eyes bright with excitement and her small little hands holding a miniature hockey stick. A shriek was heard as she was snatched up by a tall man. 

"Papa," the little girl says.

"Hi sweetheart, it's night time let's go" her father says taking her upstairs to her bedroom. The man looked at his daughter lovingly as he set her down on her bed. 

"Papa is going to ask a big favor okay?" he says looking at the big eyed girl who quickly nods her head in curiosity. 

"You can not come downstairs no matter what okay?" confusion floods the girls eyes but nonetheless she nods and is soon alone in her spacious room, the night light being the only source of light. Just as she was drifting to sleep a loud bang was heard. She was reminded the favor she was asked and she stayed put until curiosity took over when screams echoed through the house. So she got up and pressed her ear to her bedroom door. 

"They're going to kill me, they're going to kill her- DO NOT TOUCH ME!" a woman yelled. The small girl automatically knew who's voice it was. 

"They got you already didn't they?" the woman proceeds. 

"Marianne I am not dead" the manly voice says. 

"They're going to take her, I need to protect her" footsteps were heard headed to the girls room and she quickly went back to her bed and covered herself with her blankets. The yells were getting closer and closer to the room. Soon enough her bedroom door was swung opened and she was scooped up by the woman. 

"Mama where are we going?" the girl asks as they descend the stairs with her father hot on their tail.

"No where sweety, Marianne don't do this" her father tries to say calmly. Marianne makes her way to the kitchen where she quickly grabs a knife. 

"Stay the hell away from us or so help me god I'll kill you myself" she says. The child in her arms who is now crying out of fear and confusion. 

Everything happened in a blur and soon enough there were five cops in the house with guns being pointed at the hysterical woman. The petite girl tries to convince the men that her 'mama' is a good person. She is soon cut off by her mother attacking one of the men and watching everyone quickly jump on her in order to restrain the woman. 

"MAMA!" 

Elle sits up on her bed, sweat beating her face. Making her way to the bathroom she looks at herself in the mirror and is horrified. The girl in front of her has dark circles surrounding her eyes, almost as if someone had sucker punched her.  Her face had dried up tears running from her eyes down to her chin and her eyes were dull, all signs of happiness and joy being completely invisible. Looking away in defeat she washed her face which semi helped her mood. It was 4am which meant she only slept 2 hours and it wasn't until 7 till she had to make her way to class.

Elle had spent her entire day yesterday worrying about her mother showing up to her hockey practice. Frantically looking at the entrance doors every time someone had come in. She had set a new record for panic attacks in one day having 5 in the span of 8 hours. Her father had taken the first flight to Minnesota in hopes to protect his daughter from his psychotic ex, thought he had still not arrived which worried Elle even more. 

On her way to class she could feel the eyes of every person she shared her lunch period wit, on her. Though all she wanted was to look down at her extremely fascinating shoes she refused and walked about with her chin up. 

"Nunca mires a tus zapatos nina, eso es un signo de debilidad." 

Elle was reminded of what her mother said to her each time she would look down to the floor when feeling intimidated. Shaking her head she made it to her class. As the teacher was talking about the difference between Mitosis and Meiosis a familiar face walked into the classroom. 

"Third day and already late, Mr.Hughes?" Mr.Kennedy asked. 

"Sorry sir, it won't happen again," Jack said. Elle noticed he hadn't really meant it. His shoulders weren't tense and his face mocked pity. He didn't care. Jack made his way to his desk and caught Elle staring. Elle looked away smoothly and concentrated her attention back to the teacher. 

Jack stared at the back of Elle's head trying to figure her out. Why was she crying yesterday? Why was she staring? His thoughts were interrupted by someone clearing their throat. Jack noticed he had been staring into Elle's eyes for about a minute now. He quickly looked away and muttered a 'sorry'.

"Mr.Kennedy said we're partner's now," Elle deadpanned, kind of implying she wasn't over the moon with being partnered up with Jack. The feeling was mutual though. After practice yesterday the pair knew they were never going to be fond of each other. Jack felt that she might be a distraction on an all boys team and Elle thought he was an insecure little boy. Elle had been playing with boys her whole life, every time a boy would underestimate her it always ended up with her on top. Ever since the day she was accepted to the academy she made sure no one would get in her way, this school was known for creating most of the major hockey players in the NHL and NWHL. 

"I'll do the first half of the slide show you do the rest okay?" Jack said as he got up and was about to leave. Elle got up as well and caught his wrist in a swift motion. Jack turned back and looked at her hand. Elle retracted her hand a began to speak.

"If it was that easy I would've told you, here" Elle gave him a little paper and left the classroom smugly. Jack let his eyes follow her and looked down at the paper seeing a number scribbled on it, he looked back up to try and find Elle but she was no where to be found, leaving Jack to sulk about how he'd have to text her first.