NHL Imagines

Jake Virtanen - In This Together

Warnings: Swearing/language, body shaming, insecurity, contentious family relationships

Word Count: 3.1k

You thanked the barista and took your hot chocolate to the table where Jake Virtanen, Brock Boeser, and Elias Pettersson were waiting.

You sat down and said, "I hope you had a good Christmas."

"We did, thanks," Brock said, "Since Petey and I couldn't go home, Jake's family had us over. They were so nice!"

"I know, they're amazing," you agreed.

You loved his family and spent more time in the Virtanen household than in your own. You and Jake had grown up on the same street in a Vancouver suburb, your houses only three doors down from each other. You were best friends, and even though he had not always been around since his teenage years, your friendship survived and was stronger than ever. When he joined the Canucks, he introduced you to his teammates, and Brock and Petey were your closest friends on the team.

"What did you do, (Y/N)?" Brock asked.

"(Y/F/N) had me over for dinner with her and her family," you said.

"You didn't spend time with your family?" Petey asked.

You were dreading having to talk about your family, but you had to bring them up eventually. Your grandmother's 75th birthday party was tonight, and you had to go. You didn't have a good relationship with your family, especially your grandmother, who ridiculed your weight when you went through a chubby phase in middle school. She also said, "Guys don't make passes to girls who wear glasses." That remark in particular scarred you. Even though you still wore glasses today (contact lenses bothered your eyes too much) and knew what she said was stupid and untrue, you couldn't help but sometimes believe it. When you were with your family last Christmas, she shamed you for not having a boyfriend, and most of your aunts and uncles joined in on the taunting. That was why you spent both Thanksgiving and Christmas this year with (Y/F/N), but you couldn't avoid your family forever. You would never hear the end of it if you didn't go to the birthday party.

"Actually, speaking of my family, my grandmother's 75th birthday party is tonight," you said.

"Shit, (Y/N), you're not going, are you?" Jake asked.

Jake knew everything about your family and the trauma you had endured at their hands. Whenever you went to his house sobbing about something your grandmother, father, aunts, or uncles said, Jake would tell you how wrong they were, and that they wouldn't know what real beauty looked like if it hit them in the face. Which was why you were about to ask him for a huge favor.

"Unfortunately, I have no choice, so..."

Before you could continue, Petey said, "I'll go with you, (Y/N)."

You smiled at the blonde boy on your right. He was such a sweetheart. "Aw, Petey, thanks for offering, but my family is really tough to handle, and I don't want to put you through that."

You patted Petey on the shoulder, took a deep breath, and turned to Jake, who was on your left.

"Jake, I wouldn't ask if it weren't necessary, but I'll pay you fifty bucks if I can take you to the party and tell my family we're together. They always ask if I'm dating, and I just can't have that conversation again."

"Of course I'll go," Jake said, "And if you actually think I'm going to accept the money, you're crazy."

"Are you sure?"