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"Yes mother, a girl," I say for the umpteenth time. Explaining to my mother that I've invited Mabel to join us for thanksgiving is exasperating.

"You're not just saying that to cover for that boy Lucas, right?" she asks, her motherly suspicion ringing clear even through the phone. "You know how uncomfortable he made your sister feel."

"No," I insist, running my palm over my face. "I'm bringing a date. I was calling to make sure that that's okay."

"You don't date," she replies matter of factly. "I swear between you and Lizzie I'm never going to be blessed with grandchildren."

Here we go again. I need to steer this conversation in a new direction and fast.

"So have you packed everything you need for the week yet?" I ask, hoping to change the subject.

There's a slight pause, and I can tell she's contemplating whether or not to give in.

"Alexander James," she chastises, clicking her tongue. "Don't think for one second that I don't know what you're doing. Now tell me about this girl."

"Please don't make a big deal about this," I groan.

"I won't, but you should at least be telling me her name."

"Mabel. Her name is Mabel."

"What a pretty name," she replies wistfully. "How did you two meet?"

I bite back the grin that threatens to take over my face. Somehow, I don't believe that my mother would approve of my gambling, so I offer up a half lie. "We have a biology lab together. We're lab partners."

"Oh how romantic," she swoons. "She's a smart girl then?"

"Fuck yeah. The smartest."

"Watch your language, Alexander." But there's humor in her tone. "I can't wait to meet her, she sounds like a lovely girl. And I'm happy you're finally joining the dating scene."

"Yeah, yeah," I mutter, rolling my eyes.

"We'll see you Thursday?"

"Of course."

"Good. Your father just came home, so I'm going to have to let you go." She sounds reluctant. "I love you."

"Love you too, Mom."

I hang up my phone and set it down beside me, flopping back onto my mattress. Tyler crosses the hallway in front of my open bedroom door, peeking in at me on his way through. I raise and eyebrow at him and he shrugs, continuing on his way. About thirty seconds later, he does it again. And then again. I begin to realize that he's pacing, and the next time he walks in front of my door I cross the room and push out an arm to stop him.

"What's going on, man?"

Tyler glances sideways at me and shrugs. "Nothing. What are you talking about?"

"My room is the only one on the second floor," I reply, giving him a dubious look. "You obviously need something."

He scratches the stubble on his jaw and kicks at the wood flooring. "I really like Hazel," he says awkwardly.

Oh great, I can tell where this is going. Tyler wants to have heart to heart, and since Lucas is our only other roommate, it falls on me to be the responsible party and hear him out. Not that I mind, in fact any other day I wouldn't really give a shit, but I just spent the last half hour trying to avoid the exact same thing with my mother.

"In fact I think I may love her," he continues.

I rest my weight against the door frame, crossing my arms over my chest. "Shit Ty, I had no idea it was getting that serious."

"It is. She's fucking great, but..."

"But?"

His jaw tenses. "Hazel is important to me, and Mabel is important to her."

"They're best friends," I agree with a nod.

"I guess my point is... where are you going with this, Alex? Is Mabel just another girl you're going to toss aside and not let get close to you?"

My hands ball up into defensive fists of their own accord, my short nails digging into my palms. "Is that what you think happens?"

"You haven't shown anyone anything different. For the three or so years that I've known you that's pretty much all you've done. And don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with indulging in the hook-up culture—we've all done it—but I highly doubt Hazel will sit quietly if you pull that shit with Mabes."

His words ring true, but I can't imagine ever doing anything like that to Mabel. She's been hurt enough for more than one lifetime, and I don't want to be the cause of any more pain in her life.

"If shit goes sour between you two I don't want to be caught in the middle of it," Tyler continues. "It'll fuck up the relationship I have with Hazel, and it'll probably cause a rift between you and me in our friendship."

"You don't have to worry about that, Ty," I tell him earnestly.

Tyler eyes me skeptically. "You sure about that?"

"Absolutely. Mabes isn't some fuck and chuck. I'm not going to lie to you and say that I know where things are headed for us because I sure as shit don't, but I care about her."

A low chuckle rumbles from his chest and he cocks his head at me. "Kind of uncharted territory for you then?"

"Absolutely," I agree, laughing with him. "So are we done sharing our feelings now?"

Tyler's slight laughter shifts to full blown hysterics in an instant. "Fuck yeah dude. But we aren't ending this without a bro hug."

"Fine, but keep your hands above the waist mister. No copping a feel." I shoot him a wink before wrapping an arm around his shoulders.

Tyler returns the hug wholeheartedly. "I'm glad we sorted this out."

"Yeah, yeah." I wave him off, but deep down I am too.

"What are you two shitbags doing?" Lucas calls from the bottom of the stairs. He's standing with his hands on his hips as he peers up at us.

"Having a moment that you just ruined," Tyler yells back.

"Whatever. Woodsie you got a visitor." Luke rolls his eyes before disappearing back down the hall.

A visitor? I can't deny the wave of excitement that washes over me at the thought of it possibly being Mabel. But the person waiting for me downstairs most certainly isn't her, not even close.

I find Kelsey standing the entryway with her back leaned up against the door. She's dressed in yoga pants and a pullover sweatshirt, the hood up and hanging over her eyes.

"Kelsey? What are you doing here?" I pause several feet away from her, the excitement I once felt dissipating instantly and leaving a sense of dread in its wake.

Did I miss some kind of memo? Is it just gang up on Alex day?

She tightly crosses her arms over her chest. "What the actual hell alex?"

A wave of guilt crashes over me. She looks like shit, and I know it's my fault. When I passed around the rumor I hadn't expected that it would make her so depressed. I thought she would just brush it off and maybe be shunned from a few social gatherings.

"You told people I gave you the clap?" She continues, her expression darkening.

"Look Kels, you were a complete bitch to someone I care about—"

"Who? That little sophomore cunt?" She rolls her eyes with a dry laugh. "She's nowhere near your league. You need a girl in your life that will make you look good, one with connections."

"And let me guess, that someone would be you?" The guilt is quickly replaced with a burning hot rage, and I clench my fists at my sides.

Okay, this girl definitely deserves what I did and all that's coming towards her in life.

A quiet shuffle of footsteps can be heard from down the hall followed by the sound of the back door swinging shut. I assume it's either Tyler or Lucas, or maybe even both of them, leaving the house to give us privacy. That, and I'm pretty sure neither of them want to be caught in the dramatic shit storm that has now become my life.

"You need to leave Mabel alone," I say calmly. "She's done nothing to you."

"She's the reason we broke up!" Kelsey exclaims, tossing her arms into the air. "She's the reason I can't show my face at frat parties anymore, why my sorority sisters will hardly look at me, and why guys on campus won't even acknowledge me."

"You're kidding, right?" I scoff. "Mabel has done nothing wrong. You need to take a step back and see that you are the one putting yourself in these situations. And for the record, we were never dating, Kelsey. I told you that many times."

Kelsey pauses, pressing her lips into a firm line. "What does she have that I don't?" She finally asks softly. Insecurity shines clear in her suddenly glassy eyes.

"What do you mean?" I ask cautiously. The tension  and anger I had felt is slowly subsiding, but my guard is still up.

"I see the way you look at her." Her nose scrunches up in disdain, as if she can't even fathom the idea of it.

"Look, maybe I shouldn't have passed around that rumor about you, but what I do and who I do it with is none of your business," I tell her firmly. "Mabel is an extraordinary person so leave her the hell alone. I've never cared about my social standing and if you actually gave a shit about me you would know that. I'm not just some jock who can be pussy-whipped into being some perfect boyfriend to take home to your parents and show off to your friends."

Kelsey visibly finches, recoiling back against the door again as if I've struck her. "But Alex—"

"No," I practically growl, shaking my head firmly. "Now I want you to leave."

She grits her teeth defiantly and lets out a huff. "Fine. But do me a favor and keep my name out of your goddamn mouth. Dick." She wrenches the door open and hurries outside, slamming it shut hard behind herself.

This girl is nuts, and I honestly feel bad for the poor fucker who ends up with a piece of work like her.
I let out a sigh, my anger dissolving, and run a hand over the back of my neck to help ease the tension. The back door swings shut and heavy foot steps echo from down the hall until Tyler and Lucas shoulder their way into the entryway, both appearing equally confused.

"What the hell was that about?" Luke asks.

"Why didn't you just tell Kelsey to get fucked?" I grumble, narrowing my eyes at him. "You know there's bad blood there. Thanks for having my back."

Luke ducks his head in shame, shoving his hands deep into the pockets of his jeans as he leans back on his heels. "Sorry dude. She was pretty insistent."

"You can't say no to a girl?" I spit bitterly, reaching for my coat from the entryway closet. I shrug it on, sliding my arms through the sleeves and take out my keys.

"Woodsie," Tyler warns with pleading eyes. "Come on guys, quit acting this way. We're all friends here, right?" the

My nostrils flare as I let out a deep exhale through my nose. "Yeah, yeah."

"Where are you going anyway?" Tyler asks.

"I'm going for a drive, mom," I reply briskly, turning on my heel and leaving the house.

There's just too much to think about. Too much that's happened in the past few days. And the only thing I know that'll help in a time like this is to head out onto the ice. I need to blow off some steam, clear my head, and get my thoughts in order to at least try and figure out what the hell I'm doing.

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How much do you guys hate Kelsey? Don't worry, she's not done yet. You can't get rid of a girl like her so easily...

Just wanna point out that I wrote this chapter FOREVER ago, like I usually do, and am only publishing it after a light read through.
Gotta get more chapters posted so you guys are up-to-date with what I'm actually writing. That's my hope anyway...
On another note, I'm SUPER excited to have found that this story has hit 700+ reads. You guys are the best! ❤️😘