Breaking the Ice

Chapter Twenty-One: Fake Jealousy or Real Jealousy

Anna's POV

The time that Marcus and his brothers were away for felt like forever, but sure enough, Marcus's black X-trail could be seen parked across the football field as the Lakeview Lions and the Hillcrest Hawks met once more for a joint training match.

"You'd think with national selections coming up that they'd choose to keep their training techniques under wraps," I heard one of the many gossiping students in the study hall whisper as small groups stood at the large windows to catch a glimpse of the players as the practice came to its final moments.

Sure enough, the players began exiting the rink facility and the girls standing beside me began to shuffle excitedly to rush out onto the parking lot to meet the players. I found myself quickly packing my bag and reaching for my cellphone in my jeans pocket just as it began to ring.

"Hey," I answered after seeing Marcus's name on my screen.

"Hey yourself. Are you still on campus?" The sound of his low baritone voice had me stopping in my tracks as I felt the slight shiver that ran down my spine.

"Um, yeah, I'm just coming out of the study hall."

"Do you want to get a coffee or something? I have to drop Peter and Damien off at the mall so maybe...." his voice trails off as shuffling and muffled voices echoed in the background.

"Hello? Marcus are you still there?" I asked just as I heard someone clearing their throat.

"Yeah, sorry. Peter changed his mind. He insists on joining us. I don't know why," Marcus's voice is laced with annoyance, but it elicits a chuckle from me because I know Peter.

"That's fine. Courtney wanted to meet up anyway. What about Damien?" I ask as I hear another round of muffled talking.

"Uhh, Damien said he'll take a raincheck. Homework. Peter and I will wait for you in the carpark, holy shit...."

The call gets disconnected as I hear a high-pitched wave of screams and cheering ahead of me outside the building. As I made my way out into the courtyard, a small group of girls suddenly pooled towards a spot in the carpark, shoving at each other and calling for attention to whoever or whatever was at the center of it all.

"What the hell..." I breathed out as I felt a hand tap my shoulder.

Courtney draped an arm across my shoulders as she shook her head and clucked her tongue. "Seriously, they have no shame. One would swear they never saw guys in their life."

"Wait. Are Marcus and his brothers in that?" I asked as a wave of panic took over me, and was suddenly replaced by a sudden rush of protectiveness as I marched across to the crowd.

"Umm, Anna? Where do you think you're going?" Courtney asked as she followed me closely at the heels. "You cannot go into that...that mayhem. Marcus is a big boy, he can handle a little girly crowd."

"They just came out of practice with Carter and his petty friends. There's no way they weren't roughed up on purpose. They don't need any additional trouble from these idiots. Come on."

I pushed and shoved my way through the small group of screaming girls. Some stomped on my feet while others attempted to pull my clothing or hair. Courtney stuck close by, disentangling any person trying to push me while I kept my eyes focused in front of me. I finally made my way to the center of the crowd, which suddenly became a hushed group of wide-eyed, red-faced females, ready to tell me that I had no right to be standing that close to their hockey God.

"Give the guys some space. They just finished practice. Let them breathe a bit!" The words came out of my mouth sharp and steady, which completely shocked me because my heart was hammering wildly in my chest.

"Who died and made you their manager? We just want to talk to them," one girl argued as the rest of the group nodded their heads while exchanging hushed whispers.

"I said let them through," this time, my voice boomed louder, earning me a weary shuffle of feet in the retreating way.

"Geez, Anna. Overprotective much?" Carter's blood-boiling voice came from behind the crowd as the girls parted a walkway for him and two of his lackeys from the team.

"Oh great, just when I thought this was a nice evening," Courtney growled under her breath and then her body began to exude hot rage as Jessica emerged from among the group to stand beside Carter, her perfectly manicured hands wrapped like a snake around his waist.

"Hi, Anna. Did you come to protect your man? I hardly doubt Marcus needs it," Jessica purred as her hot pink lips pulled into a sneer. "I thought you two were over. I mean, Marcus seemed to be having a great time in Houston with Isabella. She told me he took her to dinner at this amazing Italian restaurant, and then he drove her home...and then," Jessica stopped talking as I suddenly found myself turning around to face Marcus.

"Why don't you mind your own damn business, Fusia Barbie," Peter growled beside Marcus, but I didn't miss the small flicker of unease in his eyes as he glanced at Marcus briefly.

My gaze met Marcus's and my mind told me I had no right to make this anything more than it should be. We were in a fake relationship. We shared a kiss. So what? It meant nothing. Right?

"Anna," Marcus whispered my name and my heart did a little dance, but when I saw the way that his eyes swam with... what was that? Guilt? Why would he be guilty? He didn't need to account for his actions to me. Then why was my chest feeling like it was about to implode?

"Anna, are you okay?" I heard Courtney's voice in my ear as her hand tightly grasped mine. "Do not listen to Jessica. She's a b***h. She doesn't know what she's saying."

I shook my head and felt moisture hit my cheeks as Marcus and Peter both looked at me with pained expressions on their faces. My hand quickly swiped at the tears on my face and I turned to push my way through the group of girls who were now standing in shocked silence as Carter and Jessica's smug faces flashed at the corner of my eyes.

"Anna, wait!" I heard Peter call out to me, and my chest tightened a bit more. Marcus remained silent. Because what Jessica said was true?

As I made my way over to Courtney's car parked on the opposite side of the rink building, I stopped at the rear of the vehicle and caught sight of my face. My eyes were red and the little mascara I had applied that morning was now smudged onto my cheeks.

"I'm not jealous," I blurted out as Courtney stood beside me. "We're not dating for real. So I can't be jealous. I just can't be," I sniffled as I felt the waterworks start to pour.

"Anna. I'm sure there's a perfectly good explanation for this," Courtney whispered as she rubbed a hand in circles at the center of my back.

"There is."

Courtney and I turned around at the same time as Damien stood just a few steps away from us, his face solemn.

"I don't want any explanations, Damien. I'm fine," I lied as I bit my tongue and tried to swallow back my pride.

"Whether you want them or not, I'm going to tell you what happened. I'm doing this because Marcus deserves to have someone in his corner for a change. So shut it and listen, because I'm not repeating myself."