The Hockey boy & The quiet girl

Chapter 1 The Hockey boy & the quiet girl

At the Boston college, everyone knew Chris Sturniolo.  He was the start hockey player-loud, confident, always surronded by pople.  If there was a party, he was there.  If there was music, he was in the middle of it.  Girls loved him, guys respected him, and his name carried across campus like it meant something.  And he lived for it.  Well...that's what he thought.  Chris lived off campus apartment with his brothers, Matt Sturniolo and Nick Sturniolo.  It was loud.  Messy.  Always full of enegry.  Nick was usally yelling about something from the couch, Matt was more chill but always watching, noticing things that Chris didn't think anyone caught.  "you're going out again?" Matt asked one night, leaning against the kitchen counter.  Chris grabbed his jacket.  "obviously."  Nick scoffed.  "you go out every night."  Chris smirked "yeah and?" Matt narrowed his eyes slightly. "you ever get tired of it?"  Chris paused for half a second.  Then shrugged "nope" but that wasn't true.  Because the next day everything changed.  You sat quietly in th back of your lecture hall, glasses slipping slightly down your nose as you focused on your notes.  The world around you barely existed when you were like this untill-  The door opened loudly.  Chris walked in late, like always.  Everyone noticed.  You didn't.  He scanned the room, looking for a seat, and ended up next to you.  Dropping into the chair, he leaned over slighly.  "Hey" he said casually.  "you got notes from last class?"  You hesitated, then slid your notebook without a word.  No smile.  No reaction.  Nothing.  Chris blinked, that was new.  After that, he kept sitting next you.  At first, it was just notes.  Then small talk.  Then...something else.  "you don't talk much, do you?  he said one day, spinning his pen between his fingers.  You shrugged.  "I do. just not a lot."  He laughted sofly. "fair enough."  There was a pause.  "you go to any of the parties around here?" he asked.  You shook your head and immediately "no." "why noy?" "not my thing." Chris smirked "you're missing out" you looked at him for a second "Am I?" That question stuck with him longer then he expected.  That weekend, Chris was at a party music blasting.  people packed together.  His teammates shouting him name.  Pulling him into the center like always.  He laughed, playing along did everything he usually did.  But his mind wasn't there.  it was with you sitting somewhere quiet. peaceful. Real.  "Chris!" a girl grabbed his arm, pulling him closer "Dance with me!  but it didn't reach his eyes.  Back at the apartment that night, he walked in quieter than usual.  Nick immeditely looked up "why are you homr early?" Chris tossed his keys on the counter.  "just felt like it."  Matt raised an eyebrow, "or...?  Chris ignored him, heading towards his room.  "Dude" Nick called after him, "you're acting weird." Matt smirked "it's a girl."  Chris froze for a second.  Then kept walking.  The rumors started not long after people noticed Chris sitting with you.  Talking to you.  Laughing with you.  And suddenly you weren't invisble anymore.  "is that her?" "She's so quiet..." "why is he talking to her?" The whispers followed you through the halls.  You hated it.  One day, it finally got to you.  "why are you even talking to me?" you asked Chris quietly after class.  He frowned "What do you mean?" "you're...you" you said, gesturing vaguely "and I'm not" His expression softend slighly.  "I know," he said "that's the problem"  "no," he shook his head "that's the reason." Things got worse at a party you didn't even want to go but somehow, you ended up there.  Big mistake.  And then.  "wow" a girl said, crossing her arms as she looked you up and down.  "so you're the girl Chris is obsessed with?" Your stomach dropped.  "I'm not" you started.  She laughed.  "please. You really think you fit in here? Before you could respond "Hey" Chris voice cut through everything.  He stepped between you and her, jaw tight.  "don't" he said coldly, the girl rolled her eyes. "Relax, i'm just saying "I said don't" The room went quiet.  Chris turned to you his expression instanly softer.  "you okay?" you nodded, but your chest felt tight.  "I don't belong here" you whispred.  Chris looked around the noise, the people, the fake smiles.  Then back at you.  "yeah" he said quietly "me neither."  He took your hand and he walked out.  Later that night, outside under the quiet glow of streetlights, everything felt different.  No music.  No crowds.  Jusr you and him,  "why do you even come to thoese things?" you asked softly.  Chris let out a breath. "Because that's what everyone thinks I am."  "And who are you?" you asked.  He looked at you.  Really looked at you.  Then said " I think I'm still figuring that out."  You smiled slightly.  And for once, Chris Sturniolo the popular hockey boy everyone thought they knew felt completely, honest real,  

To be contined