Number Eleven

Chapter 12.

Oakley POV

"My baby! I missed you so much!" I'm crushed in a hug from my mom as soon as Gracie and I make it inside.

"I missed you too, Ma." I did miss these two more than I thought I would. It's way harder than I expected being away from them for so long.

Squeezing my arms, mom pulls back and kisses me on the cheek before dragging me to the kitchen table and pushing me down in one of the chairs before sitting in the one across from me. 

"Catch me up. I want to know everything. How's the team? Make any new friends? How's your apartment holding up?" My heart warms at the sight of the huge grin she's wearing as she waits for me to spill out everything that's happened in the past month.

"One question at a time, mom," I chuckle as she waves me off. 

"Fine, fine, how's the team been? You keeping your temper at bay? And don't you lie to me!"

"As much as I usually do when I play. Only a couple fights so far." 

She arches a brow and I shrug before sending her an innocent smile. "The team's awesome. Obviously the skill is a lot better than the Storm, but we already knew that. I think I have a good shot for Captain next season."

Obviously, being Captain is a huge deal. It's something I thought would be nice not to have the responsibility of for a season or two, but I now realize I want it again.

Really bad.

Having the responsibility helps keep my mind focused, not to mention I seriously miss bossing everyone around. I've been staying on the ice after practice and coming in on my days off, pushing myself to show my coach and the team that I can be the leader they want and desperately need.

Our captain now is a complete i***t. I'm not even sure how the hell he got the title, considering he pisses his pants almost every time he gets hit on the ice. 

"Of course you do! You're the best hockey player I've ever seen," she beams, smiling over at me broadly.

"You have to say that you're my mom. But you know I appreciate it."

The timer on the oven buzzes loudly, causing mom to jump out of her chair before darting her eyes to the clock on that's hung on the far wall of the kitchen. "Oh no! Is it six already?! Go get freshened up before Gracie's boyfriend gets here!"

"Her boyfriend? I thought I wasn't meeting him till tomorrow?" I stand up from the chair and watch as she flails around the kitchen.

"You were yes, but Gracie called me from the studio earlier and let me know that she thinks it might be better if you meet him in more of a private place. With fewer people watching." 

That causes a smirk to stretch across my lips.

"Oh, how lovely. I'll go get changed then." Pushing my chair in, I take large strides up the stairs to my room.

Once I get to my room, I close the door before grabbing a pair of jeans out of my duffle bag and slipping them on before shoving my Nike shorts in their place. I switch my Saints hoodie out for a plain black t-shirt and grab a baseball hat from the large stack resting on my old dresser, slapping it over my messy hair and heading back downstairs to watch the Warriors game before Gracie's boy toy gets here.

Twenty minutes later, as soon as Vancouver takes the lead, the doorbell rings. Just as I move to open the door, Gracie comes barreling down the stairs and shoots me a glare before standing in front of the door and taking a deep breath.

"Behave Oakley, or I swear to god you won't be able to play hockey ever again when I'm done with you," she hisses before pulling the door open. I roll my eyes before turning my attention back to the game.

"Hey, babe." I vaguely hear, followed by a girly giggle.

"You look beautiful, Gracie." There's that giggle again, what the hell? Gracie doesn't giggle. 

Cackle like a witch maybe, but never giggle.

The door closes, and I hear the sound of feet padding across the wood flooring, heading towards the living room. Gracie lets out a loud cough, signaling for me to come say hello.

Tearing my eyes off the game, I turn and give the guy a once over before I get up and square my shoulders as I head over to them.

I keep my face passive as I take my time cross-examining him.

The kids pretty tall, not as tall as me, as I have a few inches on him, but he towers over my sister. He's dressed in dark jeans and a button-up plaid shirt. Shaggy blonde hair falls carelessly over his face before he nervously reaches up and pushes it back.

He looks like a loser.

"Oakley. The big brother." I hold my hand out in front of me and wait to see if he has a handshake like a little b***h, same as the last guy she brought home. Dad always said a handshake is the most important first impression you can give. 

"Jacob Lane, the boyfriend." 

Much to my surprise, he shakes my hand with a firm grip. 

"Is that the Warriors game? I only caught the first period before I had to head over, they winning?"

 I'm pretty sure my jaw is hanging slightly open at the kid's confidence. I like it.

"Yeah, they got two goals in the second period. As soon as they stopped racking up the penalty minutes they started making moves." Sneaking a glance at my sister, I notice the proud smile she's wearing before she turns around and heads to the kitchen.

"Make yourself at home. I'm sure ma will be out soon." I return to my spot on the couch and decide to send Ava a text, bragging about the fact I have yet to punch Gracie's boyfriend.

I slide my phone back in my pocket and turn my attention to the game once more, just as the Warriors manage to slip another puck into the opposing team's net.

"Yes! Let's go!" Jacob shouts from the opposite end of the couch, my head snapping over in surprise. When he catches me staring at him, mouth slightly agape, his cheeks flush, and I start to get the idea that he hadn't meant to say that out loud.

Chuckling, I decide to ease his embarrassment a bit.

"Relax dude, we're a hockey family. If you don't lose your voice by the end of a game, you weren't doing it right."

He lets out a relieved sigh and nods his head at me before his eyes start darting around the room. "Um. I just wanted to say that you're literally a legend in the locker room, man. My buddies were so jealous when I told them I was going to meet you."

I chuckle lightly before nodding my head at him. "Appreciate it. Thanks."

"Do you think you could like... sign something for me? For once you're in the big leagues?" His face is bright red, and I would be lying if I pretended I wasn't sincerely flattered by his question.

"Yeah, sure. You bring anything with you?"

Jacobs's face lights up with a grin before it falls immediately after. "s**t no. I didn't think I would get this far. Everyone says you're a serious hard-ass."

"Don't let tonight fool you. I am, just not as much when I'm around my family." A smirk rests proudly on my lips. "I keep all my old sticks in the basement, will that work?"

His jaw drops before he enthusiastically nods his head.

"I'll make sure to get you one before you leave tonight then."

Our conversation is interrupted when ma comes prancing into the room. She seems to do a double-take at the view in front of her, shock written all over her features. I guess I would be shocked too. Sharing a couch and watching a game with my sister's boyfriend is entirely out of character for me, let alone having a civil conversation with him.

Jacob shoots out of his seat and goes around the couch to stand in front of my mom. Poor guy is so unprepared for what's coming next.

Holding his hand out in front of him like I had done not long ago, he introduces himself.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Hutton. I'm Jacob."

A huge smile spreads across her lips before she grabs him tightly against her in a bear hug. I laugh lightly to myself as his shoulders go from being tight and tense to immediately dropping like he had just snapped an invisible cord.

"We're a hugging family over here! And please call me Anne, Mrs makes me feel so old."

The ding of my phone brings my attention away from the awkward situation in front of me. Glancing at the screen, I see a text from Ava and immediately feel my stomach drop to my knees. 

Can I call you? Please.

I let mom know I'll be in my room before quickly heading upstairs, taking two stairs at a time. As soon as my door clicks shut, I call her.

She answers on the first ring, "You didn't have to call me if you're busy, I understand."

There's something off in her voice. Gone is the cheerful tone I've become accustomed too, it's now replaced by a dull, quiet one.

"I'm not busy. What's wrong?"

Seconds pass before I hear anything other than her quiet breathing, and my worry only grows tenfold.

"Ava? I'm right here. You can talk to me."

A few more seconds pass by before her voice- wavering and cautious cuts through the silence. "I.. I didn't know who else to call. I could have called Morgan, but she's with Matt, and I just didn't..." she trails off before her soft cries seem to slice through both my phone and my erratically beating heart. 

"Octavia, listen to me. It's okay. Where are you? Are you at home? Tell me what happened, baby." 

I don't know how much more of this I can take. I want to be there, helping her. 

"I'm at home. My mom called me... Well, actually, my foster mom called me ..." she trails off again and I find myself getting more confused as this conversation goes on.

"I was going to tell you soon. I just didn't know if you were going to stick around. I still don't. But I guess I don't have a choice now."

"I'm not going anywhere, okay? Please tell me what's going on. I'm going crazy over here."

She sighs before spilling her life story out to me.

It turns out that Ava spent fifteen years of her life in and out of foster homes until her parents Lily and Derek adopted her when she was sixteen, seemingly saving her from an insanely lonely life.

"So that leads me to tonight, my mom called me an hour ago. My birth mother showed up at their house this morning. She was demanding to know where I was. Who does she think she is? She threw me away like f*****g trash twenty years ago so she could drown her sorrows with vodka and h****n, and now she wants to know me?" More cries travel through the phone, and I stand frozen.

My eyes glue themselves on the family picture sitting on my desk. I thought I had it rough, losing my dad, but I can't imagine never having had him in the first place. Or my mom. I'm at a loss for words. My heart physically hurts- all I want is to wrap her up in my arms and help wash away all the heartbreak she's feeling.

"I'll be there in four hours. Don't leave the apartment, okay? Just wait for me." I don't know what possessed me to make such a reckless decision, but all I know is that I won't be able to sit here for another two days, wondering if she's okay.

Gracie is going to kill me.

"What? Oakley, no, your sister has her recital. I'll be fine. I just needed someone to talk to. You're not driving four hours because I'm a baby." 

Her refusal doesn't change my mind. I've already shoved all my s**t back in my bag and have it hoisted on my shoulder by the time I answer her.

"Too bad. Good luck changing my mind. Us Hutton's are stubborn things. Four hours and I'll be there, and we can talk about it all then. Should I get Adam to stay with you until I get there?" 

God knows I don't want Adam anywhere near her, not alone. And certainly not when she's in a vulnerable state, but he is one of her best friends so I'll have to man up.

"You're ridiculous. And no, don't. I don't need anybody else worrying about me." Too late, I already texted Adam and told him to get his ass over to Ava's ASAP. She doesn't need to know that, though.

"Okay. I'm going to hang up now so I can start driving. Stay calm, okay?"

"Drive safe. Thank you."

"Always. See you soon, beautiful."

By the time I end the call, I've already made it down the stairs. I notice mom setting the table as she looks at me grinning, up until she sees the bag slung around my shoulder, that is.

"Where are you going? What's wrong?" The grin is now replaced by a frown and look of concern.

"I know it's last-minute, but a friend really needs me. A really special friend. I wouldn't be leaving unless it was important," I plead, hoping she'll read between the lines since I don't have time to explain to her who the friend is.

"Of course, sweetheart, I understand. Is she okay, at least?" Bingo.

"For now. I sent one of our buddies over to check on her until I get there. I'm really worried, mom," I manage to choke out while fiddling with the strap of my bag. This helpless feeling is so foreign to me.

Mom walks over and starts rubbing her hands up and down my arms. "Where's Gracie? She's going to hate me, isn't she?" I ask, the guilt starting to eat away at me.

"Her and Jacob are outside, I believe. She'll understand Oakley. Just tell her what you told me, honey. I'll record the whole thing for you tomorrow."

Opening the back door, I welcome the cold September wind that bites at the skin not covered by my thin t-shirt and see my sister sitting on the wooden swing hanging from our big Oaktree.

"Hey, Jacob, mind giving me a minute alone with my sister?" My wording is polite, but the tone in my voice is a silent challenge for him to fight me on this.

"Oh yeah, of course, I'll be inside." He gets up after placing a kiss on my sister's cheek and makes his way to the back door.

Once he makes it a safe distance, I sit down beside her.

"He's crazy about you, you know?" That may be one of the only reasons I took it easy on him. It's evident to everyone who witnesses him look at her; it's like he would move galaxies for her.

"I'm crazy about him too. Thank you for being nice to him." She lays her head against my shoulder and sighs. "Something's wrong. What happened?"

"That obvious?" I chuckle and run a hand down my face. "I'm leaving tonight, like right now. Something important came up, and I understand if you're mad at me for missing your recital. I know how excited you were for me to be there."

"You i***t. Of course, it's okay. It's a girl, isn't it?" 

I feel flush and she shrieks happily while grabbing my forearm and squeezing. Quite hard, I might add.

"Ow! Gentle!" 

She removes her grip from my forearm, and I immediately rub at it, hoping to soothe the sting. "Yes, it's a girl. I promise the next time I come I'll tell you all about her, okay? Promise you're not mad? Cause I need to get on the road."

"Well, what are you waiting for? Get out of here! I'll get mom to record the whole thing for you. It'll be like you're there. If you can see any of it with mom's awful recording skills, that is, let's hope her thumb won't take up the full view this time."

I burst out laughing and pull her up off the seat and wrap her in a hug.

"Oh before I forget, there's a pile of sticks downstairs, make sure to give one to loverboy tonight for me." 

She pulls out of the hug, a gentle smile on her lips as she nods her head. 

"You rock, kid. I love you." 

"Love you too big bro, now go get your girl." She winks as we reach the house. 

Walking through the back door currently being held open for me by Gracie, I grab the takeaway box of food off the counter and meet mom in the front entry.

"I love you, Oakley. Please drive safely and call me tomorrow. Good luck."

 After receiving one more hug, I turn my attention to Jacob and slap our hands together before pulling him in for a side hug.

I linger for a few extra seconds and lower my voice into a low growl, "I might be able to stand you, but the minute you hurt my sister in any way, I won't hesitate to break both of your kneecaps. Got it?" I pull back and smirk as he gulps and nods his head frantically.

"Awesome, well, I better head out. Thank you both. I'll call you guys tomorrow and good luck Gracie, you're going to kick a lot of ass."

"Damn right, I am," she says as I open the door and once again adjust my bag on my shoulder, sending a wave as I head back out into the cold weather to my truck.

Once I'm ready to go, I sent Ava a quick text and start the truck, turning the heat controls to full blast.

I see a text from Adam letting me know he just got to Ava's apartment and quickly reply with a simple thank you before pulling out onto the road.