Chapter 1 - Flutters of Confusion
Elowen
I dropped my bag carelessly on the ground as I begrudgingly sat on one of the many plastic chairs facing the large ice rink. Why, oh why, was I blessed with a big brother that was into ice hockey? I groaned softly as I recounted the countless hockey practices I had attended.
Caspian was not only into ice hockey; he had even received a scholarship to continue his athletic career at Frostfield College. Nowadays, he was an integral part of the college's hockey team, the Frostbite Falcons. According to Caspian, the Frostbite Falcons always manage to freeze over their competition due to their relentless training and teamwork. It had become some kind of running joke among the team, thanks to the ‘Frost’ in both the college and team names.
Lucky me, due to his pursuits I was graced with sitting on bland plastic bleachers whilst freezing to dead. Usually, visitors dress warmly when they attend hockey games or practice, but not me. Nope, I was stubborn as hell since I decided to only take the outside weather into account, which encompassed a scolding hot sun. The only upside to wearing summer dresses inside was that I still managed to look cute, minus the constant shivering. Pulling my arms around myself, a shiver ran down my spine as I tried to ward off the chill.
"Ellie!" my brother called loudly as he spotted me, grinning from ear to ear as he skated towards me. "So glad you could make it today despite your busy schedule." His short curls bounced as he came to a full stop on the ice.
My brother and I resembled each other closely, both sporting deep, dark brown curly hair, though his was cut shorter than mine. With our sun-kissed complexions and piercing blue eyes, we had no complaints in the looks department. Being just 18 months apart, we shared a unique bond forged through countless experiences and challenges of life, always knowing we had each other’s backs. Trust me, I recognized how fortunate I was to have this kind of relationship, especially since not all siblings shared the same bond. Yet, every now and then, my brother and I still managed to drive each other crazy.
I narrowed my eyes as I glared at him, the biting cold only adding to my irritation. All I wanted was to get the hell out of here as quickly as possible and relax at home after a long day of studying. "Can you hurry up, Cas? I have to..." I trailed off as one of Caspian's team mates gathered around him, clapping him on the back while he stared at me intently. Short, nearly black, tousled hair framed a rugged yet strikingly handsome appearance. A flush crept up my face as I quickly lowered my eyes to avoid his intense gaze. I don't know why, but whenever Finn was around I felt a flutter of nerves. All of a sudden, my hands would start to get clammy, and my cheeks would start glowing with a rosy color. It was both annoying as well as confusing, like my body had a mind of its own, even though I was sure Finn disliked me as much as I disliked him.
“What do you have to do, read another one of your freaky books?” Finn smirked as he waited for me to respond. Ever since he found a copy of Fifty Shades of Grey lying around in my bedroom, he had not stopped trying to embarrass me with it. His relentless teasing was like a nagging fly, a constant reminder of how he reveled in making me squirm.
I flushed again, but this time it was from anger rather than embarrassment. "You know snooping around in someone's bedroom isn't nice, right?" I crossed my arms over my chest, huffing defiantly. The action inadvertently pushed my breasts together, making Finn's eyes dip below my face for a fleeting moment. I blinked rapidly, wondering if my eyes might be playing tricks on me.
"I was simply looking for a charger. What I found instead was far more interesting. And I'm not talking about that silly book, El," Finn drawled out, a smug look crossing his face.
My eyes widened as a wave of nausea washed over me, the unsettling realization hitting me hard: I had no idea what Finn might have discovered in my bedroom. The sickening feeling in my stomach was so overwhelming that I completely forgot to scold him for using “El”—a nickname reserved for my closest friends, none of whom Finn belonged to.
The mere thought of Finn snooping around sent my mind spiraling through a list of potential embarrassments, each more mortifying than the last. What if he had stumbled upon my most private belongings? The idea made my stomach churn, and I fought the urge to demand he spill the details.
What if, of all things, Finn Dawson had found the raunchy new lingerie set my friend Sophie had convinced me to buy? The mere thought sent my cheeks from a rosy flush to a vibrant crimson, the heat spreading across my face and down my neck like wildfire. I could almost feel the flames of embarrassment licking at my skin.
"Ellie? What is Finn talking about?" Caspian said in a warning tone, trying to look stern. He had always been protective of me, perfectly fitting to his elderly brother duties.
“I don’t know,” I squeaked, struggling to swallow down a sudden cry of despair.
Caspian looked pointedly at his team mate, who threw up his hands in defense innocently. "I don't know man, I think it's for the best if Elowen tells you herself," he mused, suddenly using my full name, Elowen, as if he were trying to make the situation sound more serious, hoping to stir up trouble with my brother. "Duty calls!" He slowly backed up on the ice and threw me a wink as he skated away, fueling my anger once again. That little shit... Ugh! If I could strangle him right now, I definitely would.
Caspian frowned as he looked at me again. “This conversation is not over. We will talk at home,” he said sharply before turning and skating toward Finn. Just before he was out of earshot, he called back, “Practice is almost over!”
Although I was relieved that we were about to head home, I buried my face in my hands, a wave of frustration and embarrassment washing over me. Caspian wouldn’t let this go easily, especially since Finn wasn’t just a teammate; he had been Caspian’s best friend for as long as I could remember. When we were kids, the three of us used to play together—until Finn decided that girls had cooties and it was no longer cool to hang out with me. That was when my dislike for him began, as I found myself excluded from all of Finn and Caspian’s activities.
Finn and I tolerated each other now - and that's already a reach. Only recently, he had decided to start teasing me relentlessly, grabbing any and all opportunities to try and get a rise out of me. Finn had a talent for riling me up, he knew exactly how to push my buttons.
The shrill sound of a whistle woke me up from my train of thoughts. The whistle sounded again as more and more players encircled what appeared to be a brewing fight on the ice. I gasped softly when I saw my brother pull Finn off another team mate, his face grim. He looked serious as he seemed to lecture an angry Finn. With a quick twist, Finn freed himself from my brother's hold, ready to take action again. The coach blew the whistle again, warning Finn to stop his antics while simultaneously signaling the end of practice. Cautiously, the hockey players gathered their gear, glancing over their shoulders to Caspian and Finn as they made their way to the locker room. The tension from the earlier fight lingered in the air as the coach approached the remaining boys to have a stern talk. So much for the teamwork the Frostbite Falcons were always bragging about.
I sighed in annoyance as I gathered my bag. Seriously, what was up with Finn these days? He was a whirlwind of emotions—one moment hot, then cold; at peace, and suddenly ready to fight. I wonder what had caused his explosive behavior.
With the bag slung over my shoulder, I made my way out of the hockey rink. As the first rays of sun warmed my face, I headed over to Caspian’s car, where I leaned against the side and waited for the boys to finish showering off the sweat and grime from their violent workout.
“Elowen,” a male voice called out from behind me. As I turned around, I lost my balance, but a hand shot out to steady me. Looking up, I met a pair of calculating brown eyes framed by short, dirty blonde hair. Ah, another one of Caspian’s teammates.
“Hi, Ben. What’s up?” I managed a smile, though it felt forced. Ben had always been a bit too friendly for my taste, and my brother had warned me about his playboy ways. I was completely uninterested, but it seemed he didn’t quite get the message.
He leaned in slightly, his hand still resting on my arm, as if trying to establish a connection. “Just wanted to see how you were doing,” he said, his tone casual, but there was an unsettling intensity in his gaze that made me uncomfortable.
I shifted my weight, attempting to create some distance. Sure, he had caught me before I could fall, but that didn’t give him a free pass to keep his hands on me. “I’m fine, thanks,” I replied, my voice a touch sharper than I intended. I could feel my heart racing, not from the near fall, but from the way he lingered, as if he thought his charm could win me over.
“Did you see that little display of affection from Dawson today?” Ben cocked his head, eyeing me curiously while tightening his grip on my arm. I frowned at him, opening my mouth to scold him for being so close to hurting me when a loud voice interrupted.
"Fletcher, get your hands off her!"
An angry Finn came into view, accompanied by a sour-looking Caspian. Ben retracted his hand immediately. I was unsure whether to feel too feel content or frustrated with this turn of events. Yes, Ben was a sleaze bag, but I was perfectly capable of handling that myself. I certainly didn't need my frenemy fighting my battles for me.
"Alright, great talk, Ellie! Catch you later!" Ben jogged away, but not before casting a sly grin at Finn, who looked ready to pounce at any moment. My brother placed a hand on Finn’s arm, as if to calm him down.
"What the hell, Finn?" I demanded, crossing my arms tightly, frustration bubbling to the surface. "I can handle myself just fine, thank you very much."
“Well, you were clearly uncomfortable. Ben sure as hell is crossing multiple lines today,” Finn replied, his expression hardening.
I scrunched my nose in confusion. What was that all about? What did Finn mean by Ben crossing multiple lines? Were Finn and Ben the ones fighting on the rink? Why?
As my head swarmed with questions, Caspian murmured, “Let’s just go home.”
Normally, I would bicker with Finn over who would get the front seat, but today felt different. It didn’t seem right to start our usual argument, especially after he had already been in a physical fight. So, I quietly opened the back door of the car and climbed in, placing my backpack on the empty seat beside me. I sighed as the realization sank in; this was going to be a long ride.
