cole sillinger x hadleigh

chap. 1

what an awful night to be a blue jackets fan.
loosing in the home opener 4-3, against the Jets. the Jets of all teams. with three minutes left in the 3rd.
i sigh as the announcer booms, "Columbus, is at full strength!"
Cole Sillinger bursts out of the box as an attempted icing makes its way across the blue line and he snags it, suddenly on a breakaway. the goaltender shimmies out of the crease before gradually backing up as Cole closes in. he winds up, and hits a slapshot.
there's a tink as it hits the post next to the goalies right shoulder.
and bounces in.
i grin and the crowd errupts as the goalhorn sounds. the players hug in front of the glass, and a few people around me bang on it. Cole jumps and body-slams the glass in front of my when he's released from the hug, and i grin again.
in that moment, all i can think is: that's mine.
that's my boy.
(three years earlier)
i hold open the door go a bar a few blocks down from the Enterprise Center, and my two friends, Rowan and Gwen, pass through the frame.
   inside, the lights are dim and voices swirl around me like a fog. under the edge of the bar, LED lights glide smoothly through the rainbow. framed Columbus jerseys litter the walls, along with aluminum signs that say things like "CBJ fan parking only" and "gone to the CBJ game."
   "Hadleigh!"
   i turn my head towards the voice and see Sheyne waving us over from a table.
   "hiii," i say when we make our way to the table. i set my phone and keys down on the table before giving her a quick hug.
   she gives Rowan and Gwen hugs as well when i release her, and then takes a sip of her drink. "how have you been? it feels like it's been forever."
   "it has been," i agree as the other two sit down. "i've been fine."
   "that's good to hear." she turns to Rowan. "i heard you got a new job. do you like it? tell me all about it."
   i make my way over to the bar and sigh quietly. the bartender glances at me and raises an eyebrow as he wipes his hands on a towel.
   "zombie," i say. "please."
   he only responds by raising his other eyebrow and grabbing a glass. my three friends appear behind me as the bartender pours rum and brandy into the shaker.
   "how was the game?" Sheyne asks.
   "good," i reply. "they won 4-1."
   "oye, by three?" the bartender cuts in as he shakes. he wags his head. "they'll be coming here soon then."
   "what?" i say.
   "whenever they win by three and in regulation, they come here for drinks."
   "dios mio," i mutter under my breath.
   he slides the drink in front of me.
   "two gin and tonics, one moscow mule," Gwen says.
   i take a bit sip of the flavorful drink and almost wince. this was probably the strongest zombie i've ever had. stronger the better if Cole was going to show up soon.
   i was lost in thought when the bartender sets three drinks on the counter, making me jump. i grab mine and make my way back to the table.
   "relax Hads, i doubt Cole will recognize you. you've changed quite a bit since college," Rowan says.
   "wait," Gwen says, jogging a bit to catch up. "are you talking about Cole Sillinger?"
   i forgot i didn't know Gwen in college. i hoist myself up onto a tall barstool at the table.
   "yes," i say after taking another sip. "we went to college together. our fraternity and sorority houses were..." i struggle for the way to say it. "heavily intertwined with each other," i finish.
   "so did you guys date or..."
   "no," i reply carefully. "towards the end of the year, a lot of the houses threw parties to celebrate. one thing led to another, things got heated with his friends. he never let me live it down, though. but i don't think he knew what happened."
   "why didn't you just tell him?"
   i snort. "why would i waste my breath? the man is stubborn as a mule."
   "speaking of..." Sheyne trails off as the door opens and Blue Jackets file in, grins on their lips. Cole is the third one through the door. he scans the room, and his eyes land on me. he smirks, the right side of his mouth turning up.
   "still think he won't recognize me?" i hiss at Rowan.
   she rolls her eyes at me.
   "i'm going to the bathroom."
   "okay," Gwen says. "we're gonna play pool."
   "sounds good," i reply, only half listening.
   i step into the bathroom, and release a breath i didn't know i was holding. bracing my hands on the countertop, i take a few deep breaths before wetting a paper towel and brushing it over my forehead and cheeks to cool them down.
   when i'm ready, i plaster a smile on my face and walk to my table to get my drink. i hear a crack sound as Gwen breaks, and the little solid and striped balls scatter on the tables green felt.
   i set my stuff down on the table next to the pool table and sit, content to watch my friends play, taking occasional sips of my drink and cheering when one of them gets a good shot.
   after a bit though, when my drink is gone, i start to get double vision. i blink, hoping it will go away, but it stays, and is quickly followed by nausea. i stand, planning to go to the bathroom so i don't throw up everywhere, and my knees give out.
   "Hadleigh!" Sheyne's face is blurry above mine and her voice sounds far away.
   "what happened?" another voice demands. masculine, and rough. it too, sounds far away.
   "i have no idea," Sheyne replies, panic in her voice. "she only had one drink and even so, she can hold her alcohol."
   i blink a few times, trying to chase the blurriness away, but it remains, and the room begins to swirl as i loll my head to the side.
   "i don't know what happened, but whatever it is, she isn't just drunk," Sheyne continues.
   "i'll take her to the hospital," the male voice says. i can't make out his face.
   "have you been drinking?"
   "no. i don't drink." the voice hesitates before continuing. "anymore."
   a blonde head leans towards me. Gwen, i think. "you're gonna be okay."
   the world goes black.