MARCUS

I saw Dri at the rink with Brian and Jonathan. I think I saw them make-out a few days ago but anyway. She's so beautiful. How did I score her?

She spots me, and hops up the stairs, and I toy with her silky hair. 

'Remember that day you left me with your bag?'

'yeah?' she furrows her eyebrows.

'well I uh⎯'

'marcus?'

I sighed. 'Why'd you have condoms in your duffel bag if it was your first time'

'ohmygod. That's still in there?' she sulks, 'you opened my bag!'

'I'm sorry. I didn't open the diary though.'

'my diary's in there?' She gasps.

'and birth control pills'

'They're expired ones. Anyway. The condoms were in there because Niamh wanted to hide them from her Dad when he came over for her competition. I should probably take those out.'

'so what were you trying to hide from me?'

'the diary. It's from when I was 14.' she chuckles. 'thank the heavens you didn't read that.'

I looked up to see the time projected in red on the wall. Its around lunch-time now.

'you wanna go out for lunch?'

'i'm paying.'

I hesitate. 'fine.'

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She got a salad, of course. 

'you know what?' she scoffs.

'what.' 

'I fucking hate this salad.' she drops the fork into it.

'why'd you buy it then?' I laugh, and I pull the salad over to myself. I ate it instead.

'because⎯ I'm on a diet. I hate this food. But I have to eat it.'

'you can eat whatever you want.'

'I can't'

'Dri, the gym exists. Not just off-ice training.'

She glares at me and groans.

'so?' I chuckle.

She laughs under her breath. 'fine.'

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Dri ordered what she wanted, and I ate her salad. After all, I didn't want to waste the food.

She readjusts her jacket. 'I'm gonna go call an Uber.'

I snatch the phone off from her. 'You're wasting your money on a fucking Uber when I'm right next to you.'

She rolls her eyes and took the phone back. 'You want me to get in your car? Again?'

'Yeah. I do.'

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The drive back was awkward. I was steering the wheel and all she did was sit there with her hands wrapped on her knees. It's not as awkward as we first met; but definitely awkward. She didn't even mumble a word. I hesitated starting off the conversation.

'Dri. Why aren't you talking to me' She sat there silently. I could even hear my own heartbeats.

One side of her mouth tipped into a small smile. Then she burst into laughter.

'What? Did I say something wrong?' I rub the back of my head.

'Seriously it's nothing. I was just thinking about something. . . hey' she caresses my hand, 'what do you want for your birthday. And be honest.'

'Dri, I don't know. I don't need anything for my birthday.'

'I'm gonna get you something anyway.' She unlocks the car door. 'I'm gonna go train with Jon.'

'bye.'

'bye marcus' she giggles and waves.

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Its been hours since I've been in my room doing nothing, and to be completely honest, I really don't know what I want. I've always had stuff handed to me, I've always gotten what I wanted. 

'MARCUS OPEN THE DOOR'

My head was dug into my pillow. I didn't want to get up. 

'no' my voice mumbles into the pillow.

'MARCUS I WILL KICK THIS DOOR OPEN'

Whatever. I'll go open it. I was greeted with Ethans wide grin.

'SO! Niamh and Alex's Ice show is in 2 days. Are you coming?' He ruffles his shiny black hair.

'What?'

'are. you. coming?'

'Yeah I am' I shook my head.

'Good because I got us both some tickets!' He flicks the tickets in the air.

'Is that all you wanted to say?'

'Yep⎯'

I slammed the door. My life is so fucking boring. And tomorrow's my birthday. My phone lit up, and Alexandria's name was projected on it.

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alexandria ⛸️: 93 Acorn Avenue, Eden, 6730.

marcus c: whats the address for

alexandria ⛸️: soo basically, tomorrow at 2 we're gonna go there. For your birthday duh

marcus c: and what is it?

alexandria ⛸️: its a surprise. so don't search anything up and stuff 👍

marcus c: fine 🙄

marcus c: only cuz I don't wanna ruin the surprise for myself

alexandria ⛸️: good

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I am so, so curious to see what it is. I have never seen the address before. Hopefully it isn't some scheme to murder me and dump me in the river somewhere. She could do that. I would allow her to. Really.

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I woke up in a daze this morning. Today is my birthday. Not excited to see what it looks like in the locker rooms. I grabbed my duffel bag and headed down to the rink to do some training.

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I walked into the locker rooms to be surprised with confetti and balloons. These guys embarrass me so much. I know Ethan and Enzo planned all of this, and the rest just had to follow along. On one of the balloons it said "Happy 21st Cap". 

It was actually kinda sweet. 

'Happy Birthday Marcus!' They all shout. My face turns bright red. This is why I hate birthdays.

'Thanks guys. We should go train.'

'We are going out tonight. Bring your girls too' he clears his throat, 'thats alexandria to you⎯'

I covered his mouth with my palm.

'Why do both of you do that?'

'Because you never shut up, Enzo. What time?' I grin.

'nine' Matteo interrupts.

'yeah that' Ethan adds.

'You guys gave me a humbling experience last time. I'm not bringing apple juice with me anymore' Teddy sighs.

'good.' Enzo laughs.

Connor walks in, 'What time?'

'Oh my god⎯'

'nine!' Enzo grunts, 'you're always in your own world Con'

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Training ended a little later this time, which isn't good because now I have an hour to get ready, and get Alex and I to this "mystery" address. Dri told me to wear simple clothing because we were about to get "messy". Okay this adds to my murder suspicions. 

She happily trots towards me, twirling around in her flowing dress. 'You're 21!' she giggles, 'happy birthday!'

'thanks dri.' I try hiding my emotion.

In the car, she types out the address on the GPS.

'sooo' I smile, 'what are we getting all messy for?'

'I can't tell you yet. You'll see when we get there.'

As I was driving I noticed that we were going somewhere secluded. Was she really about to murder me?

Until I saw a small building.

'We're here!' she grabs my hand, and hops playfully into it. Now I knew what we were getting into.

There were four easels, accompanied by four canvases, with a few palettes next to each one, and obviously differently sized paintbrushes to cater to our needs.

'We're painting?' I gasp. 

'yes. express your inner creativity Marcus.'

Of course we were painting still-life. The stereotypical artist stuff. Fruits; we were painting fruits.

I held the paintbrush, and I dipped it into the green paint. I was gonna do the pear first. I glanced over to see how Dri was doing, and I would say it was quite questionable. There were four blobs of green, purple, red, and orange paint scattered next to each other. They did somewhat look like fruits though.

I swished the paintbrush over the canvas. 'My teams celebrating my birthday; and you're coming. In my car. No Uber.'

'Fine. I don't want to spend my money on an Uber anyway. I'd rather be with you' she chuckles.

'good.'

I dipped my paintbrush in water, and diluted the black paint for the background. Dri didn't. Now it looks like venom dripped down her fruits. 

'Marcus why haven't you told anyone about your talent?'

'Because it's irrelevant, Dri. Besides would anyone even care?'

'I care. It's really good Marcus.' She shows her painting, 'Better than the average.'

'hm.' I continue painting. The vast majority of the canvas was darkness. 

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Hours after, we were both finished with the image. Mine was somewhat kind of good. I hadn't painted in years after I left for college. My phone buzzed, and I realised I missed a bunch of messages.

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electric eels

teddy: um guys the club is in renovation. We're gonna have to do it in someones room.

enzo: of course it's in renovation. We can do my room tho

matteo: sounds good to me

connor: ok

ethan: alr. Yk we're gonna have to bring in drinks.

enzo: I have some. 🥂

marcus: okay that's fine

enzo: we good w that??

marcus: yeah

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'Well the party isn't gonna be in at the club anymore; its gonna be Enzo's room.'

'well that's good. You don't have to waste any petrol now I guess.' she chuckles.

'Yep'

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We we're driving back from the studio, and we drove past the club; currently in renovation.

'Why didn't we notice that before?' She uttered.

'Because I was too focused on you.' I squeeze her thigh.

'You're supposed to be focused on the road.' she said, candidly, dragged my hand lower down her inner thigh.

I clear my throat, and bobbed my adams apple. 'Alexandria I'm on the road'

I pulled over, and I glanced at her holding our eye-contact. She pulled the gear into parking mode, and she pranced over to me, positioning her hips over mine. All of the blood in my body rushed into my dick, and she definitely noticed. I was wearing grey sweatpants for fucks sake. Her hand trails down my body, and she skimmed her soft fingers over the prominent bulge I had, and I groaned airily.

'Dri we need to get back.' Her hands grip the metal poles of the headrest behind me. My mouth was hovering the hickeys placed on her neck a night ago.

'It's not that urgent right?⎯'

'not that urgent.' I couldn't help but collide my lips with hers. She bites my lower lips, and my hands push her hips lower onto my pelvis. The things that this girl does to me is unexplainable. Her hands explore up my black shirt, and she takes it off me seductively, leaving it on the backseats of my car. She kisses my bitten abs delicately, and she skims her fingers down my chest. The tip of her ears crimsoned, and my dick twitched in her embrace. My lips were still clung to hers, and the smell of her vanilla and coconut perfume suffused my nose. God I've never liked vanilla and coconut more. My hands searched for the interface of my car to play a song, and the first song it played was 'Mind Games'. The car began to humidify in our heavy and helpless breaths, and the windows began to fog, as my fingers trailed up her inner thigh.

'I know you like this' I chuckle devilishly, and she gave me an intended nod.

My hands judder in her and thrust in her, and her soft moans filled the atmosphere. She grips my shoulders, and her legs shivered, and her voice trembles. 

My fingers leave her, just before she climaxed. 

'You warned me for mess; but I didn't think it was this type of mess' I chuckle, and lick my fingers.

she rolled her eyes, and hopped off me and into the passenger seat again. 'I did warn you about mess' she laughed, covering it with her hand.

'Well we better head back.' I said, reaching for the shirt that she threw towards the backseat.

'Are you coming to the ice show tomorrow?' 

'yeah I am' I steered the wheel, 'Ethan bought us tickets because Niamh is performing too.'

'Yep, she's a solo'

'And you're with Jonathan right?'

'Yeah.'

'He better not drop you.'

'He won't drop me. We've trained together for so long I don't remember the last time he dropped me' she pouted.

'of course.' I smile.

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By the time we got back to the dorms, we only had a short time before we go to Enzo's room to celebrate my. . . birthday. I'm not trying to pull a "Niamh" here; but I bet $10 Teddy is bringing apple juice with him today. 

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Of course, Dri never fails to stun me with her striking beauty. Inside Enzo's room, we played Never have I ever, but with shots. I was right; Teddy brought apple juice. A whole two litre bottle this time. But it's good that he did. Niamh and Alexandria shouldn't be drinking a night before their ice show. 

Niamh shoots me small smirks here and there, glancing back at Dri too. I know exactly what she's inferring to. 

'Never have I ever. . .' Enzo thinks, 'Never have I ever brought apple juice to a club.' Enzo is still teasing Teddy. Teddy rolls his eyes, and guzzles his apple juice shot.

Teddy grins, 'Never have I ever been compared to an animated character from Toy Story'

Enzo grunts and guzzles his shot down. Everyone laughs.

--------

I was trying to do a handstand for the last 15 minutes. Dri was holding my legs up but I was too scared I would accidentally kick her in the face. 

Then I saw Enzo engaging in a conversation with her, as soon as I told her to "stop grabbing my legs; I don't want to give you a concussion". He is always less awkward and just way better socially. I saw him tug at her hair to pull it out of her face. I was sweating. I mean obviously I wasn't jealous. But it's Enzo. Come on.

'I'm just gonna go get my phone. I'll be right back' 

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I ran into my room. Good thing it was right next to me. I grabbed a bottle of vodka from my fridge and I stripped all of my clothes off, and poured half the bottle on me, and poured half of it down my throat too. 

'Much better' I cooled off, meanwhile only wearing my boxers. There was a puddle of vodka laying on the ground that I had to clean. I grabbed a tea towel and threw it onto the ground and watched it dampen. The effects of the alcohol was already taking place in me. I felt it. 

The music next door became fuzzy. So fuzzy. 'Fuck she's in there with all the drunk guys.'

I ran back into Enzo's room. I swear it was all eyes on me, and Matteo's phone camera on me too. I am so gonna regret this tomorrow.

'I AM IN LOVE WITH ALEXANDRIA FUCKING TETEROV' I shout through the music, and everyone went silent while holding my bottle of empty vodka like a hobo that you find in the streets of Silver-oak. Wearing just boxers topped the look too.

Her eyes widen, and I can tell that her cheeks were super pink. She pushes me a little. 'marcus what are you doing? You said that you were just getting your phone.'

'tuck me in for bed dri.' I groan. 'please.'

'uh yeah' She pulled me out of his room, and twirls her arms around mine. I heard hysterical laughter behind me.

--------

'you okay marcus?' she fondles my hair, and pulls the blanket over my drenched, vodka scented body.

'yes.' I snuggle in the blanket like a baby. 'stay with me'

'stay with you?'

'yeah for the night. Just for tonight.' I groan.

'I have a busy day tomorrow.'

'please.'

She hesitates her next few words. 'fine.'

She pulls the blanket over her self, and she cups me in her warm embrace. I liked it. I drifted off to sleep.

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I woke up with a pulsating headache. Maybe the worst I've ever had. I can't see her anywhere.

Until I see her running back into my room holding a packet of pills, wearing her usual ice-skating outfit.

'Hey I just came back from training.' she chuckles, 'I knew you'd have a headache so I got you some panadol.'

'thanks dri.' I chuckled, and gulped the tablet down.

'the shows at twelve. You have an hour to get ready.'

Oh fuck. It's eleven o'clock. I better get at it then. I took a cold shower, and I shaved my stubble. Dri disappeared from my room, which was expected because she indeed was busy today. 

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Dri was wearing a blue and white competition dress. I saw Jonathan in the crowd wearing the exact same thing but more "masculine". Ethan waved at me, while he sat next to Niamh, who was wearing a red outfit. I liked Dri's more. It was more "Easter" like. Niamh looked like she was ready for Halloween. Maybe it has meaning behind it. Dri held my hands, and she signalled me to walk over to these two people randomly standing up smiling at her. Now that I thought of it they were probably her parents. Oh god.

'So, Marcus this is my mum and dad. Mum, Dad, this is Marcus, my⎯' she glared and at me and tentatively spoke, 'boyfriend.'

I shot of adrenaline ran through my veins. "boyfriend?" I earned the title?

Her dad shot his hand out for a handshake. He had piercing, scary blue eyes, pale skin, and was as tall as me. Nothing like Dri. I shook his hand. 

'tall young man' he mumbles. He looks like a Soviet Russian. 'What sport do you play'

'ice hockey.' I smile. Dri's dad smiles at me like a proud father. 

Then her mother; she looked a lot like her mother. She had the exact same chocolate brown hair as she did, and the exact same comforting brown eyes, except her mum was super short, and really tanned. She leaned in for a hug, and then whispered something into Alexandria's ear, and her face fills with blood behind her cheeks. Fuck.

'its nice meeting you, Mr and Mrs Teterov. You're daughter is lovely.' I said. I tried to be not-so-awkward, but I'm just an awkward person at heart. I can't avoid it. Also knowing that I was in her two nights ago, and my fingers were also in her a day ago, doesn't fix the awkwardness either.

'It was good meeting you Marcus.' They chucked a smile at me.

I couldn't tell if they liked me or not. Maybe they disapproved of me.

--------

We were walking across the stadium to where Ethan and his girlfriend were at.

'You look nothing like your dad, dri'

'Yeah. I got most of my genes from my mum. I assure you my younger brother looks like him.' she laughs, 'I think my dad loves you already; he used to play ice hockey.'

'Oh really?'

'well no shit he's Russian.' she laughs.

'What about your mum?'

'She probably approves of you too.'

'probably?'

'she said that we would look like we have cute kids.' she mumbles and facepalms.

One of my eyebrows raises up and I laughed. 'oh shit. Well she's not wrong.'

She rolled her eyes. 'corny'

'You're lucky your parents come to visit you. Mine don't even bother.'

she fondles my hand, 'Well if my parents approve of you, technically. . .'

'corny' I laugh.

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