independence; a. matthews

1; prologue

*september*

Olivia's pov
"What does this mean, Auston?" My voice is shaky as I question the intentions of my best friends brother.

"It doesn't mean anything. We were drunk, I wouldn't have made that mistake if I was sober. Forget it happened." He uttered and then exited the room where we had both just woken up with killer headaches. Those words definitely upset me more than they should have.

He's a successful NHL player, I should have known I wouldn't be anything other than a one night stand to him. I guess my heart wanted it to be different because I have been best friends with Alex for as long as anyone can remember.

"Goodbye Auston, have a good season." I gather my belongings from last night and decide to just head home to my small apartment. The NHL season is starting very soon and Auston would be leaving for Toronto this afternoon. At least it wouldn't be hard to avoid him while he's in a different country.

I've never exited the Matthews household so fast, but I couldn't face everyone's questions without feeling absolutely humiliated.

Auston's pov
"AUSTON MATTHEWS! What did your dumbass do?" Alexandria storms up the stairs and into my bedroom, my mom and little sister trailing behind her.

"Um, what are you talking about? I've been right here all day." My eyebrows are knit together as I stare at the three unhappy girls in front of me.

"Olivia just left without saying anything to any of us, in quite a hurry might I add. Clearly, you did something because you're the only one up here. So before I have to ruin your chances of a long hockey career, I suggest you tell us what you did to upset my best friend." In my 20+ years of being alive, I have never seen my sister look at me this way.

"Oh uh. We woke up in the same bed, hungover. You can guess what happened last night. I told her to forget about it because it was a big mistake, then she left. I didn't do anything wrong." After I finish summarizing the mornings events, the girls are all looking at me with their mouths hung open.

"Oh Auston." My mom sighs and leaves me and my sisters alone in my room.

"I can't believe you would do that to her. She's probably going to hate me now!" A tear rolls down Alexandria's face and she runs out of my room and into hers.

"Good going Auston. That's not how you treat a girl. I don't know what you're like with girls in Toronto, but I thought you were better than that." My little sister gives me a look of disappointment and leaves me all alone in my room.

*October*

Olivia's pov
The past three weeks or so since Auston left have been hell. I have been feeling tired all the time and I've been getting sick in the mornings and sometimes throughout the day. I have had almost no appetite and I'm beginning to get worried. Today I have a check up scheduled at the doctors, so I will just bring it up then and see what they say.

The drive to my doctors office is, lucky for me, very short. My regular doctor, Lilian, checks all of the regular things and then asks me if there is anything I want her to check out.

"Well actually I was planning on mentioning that lately I have been feeling pretty weak and I don't have much of an appetite. I've been throwing up quite often but I don't know what could be causing it. I was hoping you could help me figure it out." My voice drips with worry and I know she can detect my anxiety about it.