Number Eleven

Chapter 11.

Oakley POV

I can't say that I have the best track record when it comes to girls. Well, actually, there isn't really a track record at all, I think that's the problem. 

I have no idea what to do when it comes to dating. I've avoided it at all costs, not wanting anything to take my attention away from my family, or my hockey for that matter. I guess now, that's what's biting me in the ass when it comes to Ava. 

The feelings I get when I'm around her are so different from any that I've ever felt before. Sure, I've had my fair share of one night flings where I might get a little fuzzy from their company, but nowhere close to the jolts of electricity that fizzle deep under my skin when I simply catch sight of her wide lipped smile. 

Her down to earth personality will be the thing that drives me to my grave, I have no doubt about that. After spending so many years being surrounded by popularity digger airheads, meeting a girl like Ava who doesn't just see me as a one-way ticket to money town is a huge breath of much needed fresh air. 

It's only been three days, and I already miss her. Hell, I missed her the minute she stepped out of my arms. I'm turning into such a p***y, and it downright terrifies me.

What makes it even worse is the fact I'm pretty sure she's avoiding me. I took the plunge and had reached out first after our mindblowing date, only for her to kindly shove me off. If that doesn't make me look like a desperate fucker then I don't know what does. 

I know our schedules don't exactly match up as much as I would hope, due to my hockey practices conflicting with her classes, but something feels off. Asking Matt about it was pretty tempting, but I decided to wait until after I got back from Penticton.

Today is the first time I'm seeing my family in a month and I couldn't be any more excited.

I pull up outside our house at around noon. Timing my arrival specifically in hopes my mom would make me lunch. I'm a starving boy these days.

I grab the bag I brought with me for the weekend and head for the front door, but before I even make it halfway up the sidewalk Gracie is ripping open the door with a grin and running straight for me.

I drop my bag down beside me and almost topple backward as she crashes hard into me before wrapping her arms around me for a hug. "Hey kiddo, I missed you too."

"You better have! We haven't seen you since August! You too good for us now or something?" I roll my eyes before tucking her under my arm and using my fist to mess up the hair on the top of her head.

"Hey! Knock it off!" she shrieks, elbowing me in the gut until I let her go.

"You asked for it. You ready for this competition or what?" She opens the door, holding it open for me. I let my bag hit the floor with a thump and start making my way to the living room.

I flop down on the couch and stretch out the tight muscles in my legs from the four-hour drive as Gracie sits down in the only empty spot not being occupied by my long legs.

"More than ready. I've been spending every spare minute I've had in the studio." 

She does look exhausted. It doesn't surprise me though, being over-committed to what we love runs in the family.

"Yeah, you do look like s**t. You should get some sleep before you really give someone quite the scare." 

She gives me a venomous glare as she leans forward and punches me in the leg.

"You know you're a real ass sometimes." 

Rolling her eyes, she continues, "My boyfriend seems to think I look just fine, thank you very much." Smugly crossing her arms over her chest, it's my turn to glare.

"Ah, yes. Your boyfriend." 

Letting a smirk slide across my lips, I cross my arms and lean back against the armrest. "Jacob Lane. Seventeen years old, plays on the Minor hockey team and drives a fancy BMW. Am I right on the money?" 

Her smug look drops before it's quickly replaced with one of pure rage.

"You looked him up? Are you kidding me right now, Oakley? He's a really nice guy! Mom thought it would be nice to have you meet him tomorrow at the competition, but now I don't think I want you to." 

Okay, maybe I shouldn't have said that. In my defense, she never gets this mad; usually, I just get a lecture about letting her live her own life.

I put my hands up to surrender before trying to calm her down. "Is it serious? You know you always have my support Gracie, I just don't want you to get hurt. I want to meet him, I promise I'll behave."

She stands up, lets out an exasperated sigh and runs her hand through her longer than usual blonde hair. "Yes. I happen to like him. He's not a bad guy." Taking a deep breath, her face morphs into a look of consideration. "Okay, fine, but the minute you say anything rude, I'm punching you in the face."

"Have a little faith in me. I can behave when I want to." 

As long as he's as serious about her as she is about him, we won't have an issue.

"Mhmm. Sure. Anyways, I have rehearsals in an hour, and I need a ride. Wanna get ice cream first?" She grabs her dance bag from the rack by the door and slips on the pair of biker boots I bought her last Christmas.

"Do I have a choice? Where's mom?" When I talked to her yesterday, she said she'd be here.

"Oh, I forgot, she got called into work. Said she wouldn't be home until dinner. Are we going or what?"

I get up from my comfy position on the couch, unhappily I might add and meet her in front of the door. After I put my beat-up Adidas trainers back on, I open the door and hold out my arm in front of me. "After you, princess."

                                                                                        ~~~

"Oakley! My man!" Andre shouts from across the football field.

After I dropped my sister off at the dance studio, I texted Andre to see if he was down to hang out. Luckily for me, he was and we decided on just heading to the football field to throw the ball around. Yeah, I know, we're lame.

"Hey buddy, what did you do to your hair? It looks sick." 

Slapping our right hands together, we pull in for a one-handed hug before walking to the middle of the field.

Andres head of onyx colored shaggy hockey hair has been cut to a medium length on top, styled up in a slight swoosh with shaved sides.

"Figured it was time I stopped looking like a total f**k boy, got it cut a few days ago." He runs his fingers through the top a few times before spinning the football in his hands.

"About time, dude." I give us a few yards of distance before clapping my hands in front of me, signaling for him to start throwing the ball.

"How do you like your new team? I hear you guys have been kicking some serious ass this season. You're putting us to shame."

"It's good. Different, but good." I didn't notice my body tense up or the change of tone in my voice until Andre does.

"Something you wanna talk about, man? I'm all ears." 

I throw the ball before running a hand across my jaw.

"I met a girl." 

He laughs before throwing it back. "Wow, you met a girl? I'm sure you've met quite a few girls." 

Catching the ball, I throw it with a little more force and roll my eye. "I mean, I met a girl dude." 

Emphasizing the word seems to do the trick as he misses the ball entirely, the leather hitting him straight in the stomach, a loud oof escaping through his lips. 

"Ow f**k! Did you have to throw it that hard?" Rubbing his stomach, he grabs the ball off the grass and launches it back at me. "I never thought I would see the day. Who is she? And what about her causes you to look constipated?"

"Her name's Ava. She's f*****g great dude. I took her out a few days ago and it went better than I thought." There's no stopping my smile as I remember how adorable she was when she was pretending not to know how to skate. I figured out she knew how the minute she stepped on the ice, but I decided to go with it. I made the right call.

"Yo, you still there, Oakley? Damn you're f*****g p***y whipped already." He starts making his over to me. "You still haven't told me what's bothering you, though."

Andre knows me too well for my own good.

"It's about her ex-boyfriend. I know something's up, but I haven't brought it up to her. I don't want to f**k anything up, and I get the sense it isn't something she wants me to know." 

Andre sits down on the grass and pats the spot beside him. I sit down beside him and watch as he furrows his eyebrows before he says anything.

"What about him? Something serious?"

If it weren't serious, Matt wouldn't be so protective, and I don't think she would have such a problem talking about it.

"I just have a bad feeling. The whole thing makes me want to beat his face in. He's on the team too. There's bad blood, I know it. My buddy Matt and his friends avoid him at all costs." 

Realizing my fists are clenched, I unclench them and run them through my hair instead.

"I think you should formally introduce yourself to the guy." He looks over at me, his lips pulled in a tight smirk. I know exactly what he's suggesting, and it isn't going to be an enjoyable introduction. Not for David, at least.

"I think I'm going to do that. Thanks, man."

"No worries. I expect to meet your girl, though. I have to know what kind of girl it takes to tame the great Oakley Hutton."

"I have to get her to be my girl first, dude." Letting out a chuckle, I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket.

Little s**t: Rehearsal is done. I'll be waiting by the front doors. Love you

"I gotta pick up the princess. I'll see you before I leave yeah?" Standing up, we both brush off our jeans before I text my sister back, letting her know I'm on my way.

"I better. Tell the devil spawn I say hi. See ya, man!" Waving, I set off in a jog towards the parking lot.