Summary: AU: International star and bad boy Four Eaton is sent home to fix his image after an incident with a reporter threatens to tank his career. Returning to a city he never wanted to see again, he is faced by terrors of his past, as well as old broken friendships. But Chicago isn't just a personal nightmare; along the way, he finds something that he didn't even know he was missing.
Thank you all for the positive feedback on my first chapter! I appreciate you all and your kind words more than you could imagine. I'm going to try to write longer chapters in this story, but for the first one I was just trying to set the scene. Expect 3,000+ word chapters in the future, it's a personal goal of mine.
After posting my last chapter, I reread it and noticed a few typos. Those have been fixed, and I updated the chapter for you all.
On a side note, I've never been one to respond to reviews individually, but let me know if you'd want me to do that in these beginning-of-chapter author notes.
Also, what point of view do you guys want to see most? The first chapter was from Tobias, but it won't be too long until Tris is introduced and I want to know if you are interesting in reading from her perspective as well.
Oh, I just remembered! I'm adding a bit of my own personal interests into this story, mainly to make it seem a bit more present day. I'm a huge hockey fan, and I hope you could see that reflected into Four's character in the first chapter. You'll see that even more here in this chapter, definitely in Tris's character. It may be a bit biased from the point of view of a Pittsburgh Penguins fan, but I won't apologize.
That's it for me, enjoy this new chapter!
Chapter 2: Tobias Eaton
I can't count how many times in the past two weeks I've seen the 1980 "Miracle on Ice". I haven't left my apartment at all, and in perspective it's slightly embarrassing. I know I should get up and walk around the city, maybe find a good spot to practice or write, but I'm glued to the couch as I watch Eruzione yet again score that fourth goal.
Uneventful doesn't even begin to describe my time here in Chicago so far. I've talked to my manager a few times, and have successfully convinced him that I'm doing something productive. Eh, what he doesn't know won't hurt him.
But today, I am determined to get out of this place. I get dressed and ready as Fred East with my same leather jacket and LA Kings hat, and then head out down N Lincoln Avenue. It's a popular and busy street, and the commotion of the city is just as I remember it. It's a Saturday morning, and all of the restaurants and shops are packed with activity.
I stop in a local bakery, drawn in by the aroma. I order a cinnamon roll and a large coffee, and then sit down to enjoy my breakfast. Well, until one of my songs starts playing through the small store.
Here I am waiting
I'll have to leave soon
Why am I holding on?
They've tried so many different styles for me, and this song was a big hit on my last album, but it gets incredibly annoying after a while.
And when the daylight comes I'll have to go
But tonight I'm gonna hold you so close
Cause in the daylight we'll be on our own
But tonight I need to hold you so close
I quickly finish my food, and then leave the bakery before the second verse can start.
I must've been walking longer than I thought, because soon enough I reach Lincoln Park. I decide to slow down my pace and walk through, taking in the scenery. I take in the lush plants and trees as I stroll along the path. There are many families here playing in the grass. It must be a bit past 11 o'clock now, and children are riding bikes and flying kites as their parents set up for a picnic lunch.
I sigh. What a great childhood it must be for those lucky ones.
After a while longer, I start to notice the ache in my feet from all of the walking, and sit down on one of the benches by the lake. I watch as some kids feed pieces of bread to ducks swimming along the shore.
"LA Kings, huh?" says a voice to my right. I turn my head, and there sits a girl sitting on a picnic blanket I hadn't noticed before with her laptop opened and books spread around her. Must be in college, she looks too old to be in high school.
Her blonde hair is pulled back in a ponytail, which is slipped through a black Penguins cap. The rim slightly shades her face, but doesn't hide her striking stormy bluish eyes. I force myself to look away before I get lost in them.
The rest of her is petite, her skins slightly tanned. She wears simple black skinny jeans and a cream top with an oversized jacket. Absolutely beautiful. I realize then that I haven't responded yet.
I clear my throat. "Um… yeah. I lived there for a while," I say. My voice comes out uncertain.
Then she laughs. A lovely, lighthearted and melodic laugh. "Don't be shy, come over and sit with me." She puts her computer and books into a worn leather satchel as I sit down beside her, still facing the lake.
"I probably wouldn't have talked to you if you were wearing a Red Wings or Islanders hat. The Kings are alright though, won the Stanley Cup last year. Though, they haven't been as hot in preseason. We'll see if things pick up for them," she says.
I stare at her. I've never met a girl who's a hockey fan.
She notices the look I'm giving her, and then says, "Oh! Sorry, I forgot. Tris Prior, senior at the University of Chicago and committed Penguins fan." She extends her hand, and I shake it firmly.
"Fred East." It feels weird introducing myself in disguise, like I'm lying to her unconditionally. It sends a bad feeling through my stomach, but I choose to ignore it.
"So, LA boy, what brings you to Chicago?"
And I have to lie to her again. Well, partially. "I'm from here, actually. Grew up here, then moved to LA when I finished high school. I'm visiting for a while."
"I'm surprised you're not a Blackhawks fan, then."
"I used to be, then when I moved it didn't last as much. What about you, anti-Blackhawks?"
"I'm not completely against them, though the fans here get on my nerves a lot. Never really liked Toews that much, and I'm just really dedicated to my hometown."
"So you're from Pittsburgh, then."
"Yep, born and raised in Mt. Lebanon. I just moved here for school."
"What made you want to come to Chicago?"
"I mostly fell in love with the campus here, and they have a pretty good pediatric department. I'm a sports medicine major, graduating in a few months actually."
"That's actually really cool."
"Yeah, I'm hoping to work within the NHL when I get my degree. I've done a few internships and studied abroad a bit, so hopefully my resume will be good enough for a job right out of graduation."
"I'm sure it will. I can see you doing great in the NHL," I say, and I mean it completely. She is incredibly determined, and know exactly what she wants in life.
"So what about you? You said you grew up here?"
"Oh, yeah, I grew up down in Bridgeport."
"That's a nice area. So why did you move to LA, was it for college?"
I look down. "No, I never went to college. There were some opportunities for me in LA, and I went for it."
"That sounds exciting. What do you do?"
The question I've been dreading. "I uh… work in the music industry."
"Wow, that's not what I would've pegged you as. So, are you some big shot singer?"
"Eh- I… not exactly. I work with a record label, but kind of behind scenes stuff."
"But don't you need a degree for that sort of thing?" Man, this girl is smart.
"Not when you're me."
She raises her eyebrows at this. "I- uh… my uncle? Yeah, my uncle is at the top of the business. He got me into it, and the jobs I do around the place don't really require college certification and such."
I can tell from her eyes that she knows I'm not telling the whole truth, but she lets it pass. "So, you must know some celebrities if you work in that business."
I gulp. "I mean, yeah, I know some. I've met all of the big names."
"That's pretty cool, I guess. I don't know, I've never really been one of those die-hard fans for any sort of band or artist."
I decide to tease her a bit. "Not anyone? Ever?"
She stubbornly shakes her head. "Never."
"Not even Four?" I raise my eyebrows.
"Especially not Four. Don't even get me started on him."
"What's wrong with him?"
"Well, first off, his music seems completely fake for him. It's incredibly generic and cheery, which reflects nothing else about him. Second, he's arrogant and cocky when it comes to everything. Especially in interviews he gets on my nerves. And then I'm sure you've heard about the paparazzi thing," she rants.
I just look at her. "Sorry, I just have to get that off my chest. My friend Christina is the biggest fan, and I don't understand it at all," she explains.
"No, it's alright. He's not really the person he is for the cameras, though. Not really," I say.
"What, you've met him?"
"I actually know him really well," I say with a smirk. If only she knew. "And trust me, he's not really the jerk he seems to be. And, all of his music is pop trash that's given to him, and he just the voice for it."
"So he doesn't write his songs?"
"Nope, not one that's been recorded and produced. Of course he writes, most singers write as well, but none of his songs are put through."
"Have you heard any of them?"
I hesitate. Should I really be sharing this? "Yes," I decide, "I've heard some. They're definitely darker, not what you would expect. There's a lot more emotion."
"You seem to know a lot about him."
"He's actually one of my good friends."
"Wow, what's it like being friends with a star like that?"
"It's really not that different than being friends with anyone else in the world. He's just a normal person, really."
"But is he really in Chicago right now, too?" Tris asks.
"I thought you weren't a fan," I tease.
"I'm not, Christina just goes on non-stop about him for hours."
"Well, he is in Chicago."
"Did you come together?"
"No, I was here before him. He just came to stay away from paparazzi for a while, but we did grow up here together."
"Wow, really?"
"Yep, we both played hockey in high school."
"I was going to say that you look like a hockey player."
"What does that mean?" I ask.
"You're tall, and you have the right build for it."
"What about you, did you ever play?"
"No, I never really played it. I mean, I can skate, but I enjoy watching it way more."
"I see. Who's your favorite player on the Penguins?"
"Fleury," she says.
I must give her kind of a blank look, because then she says, "What, are you surprised that it isn't Crosby or something?"
"No, just Fleury hasn't done as well the past few seasons."
"Well, Flower is doing awesome this year. Plus, some of the saves in the '08 and '09 Stanley Cup playoffs can't be argued with."
"I know what you mean. Especially Game 5 in the '08 finals, that was insane."
"You like the Penguins?"
"I like good, solid hockey. So yes, I like them."
Tris smiles, and says, "Ok, then I think we can get along, LA boy."
She starts to stand up, and I find myself standing along with her. "Well, this was fun. I don't normally talk to strangers for over an hour, but I'm glad I talked to you, Fred."
I didn't realize how short she was until she stood right in front of me. She's small, but absolutely perfect for me. I can't just let this be a one-time thing; I know there can be something more between us.
Before she turns to walk away, I say, "Tris, wait." She looks at me expectantly.
"I- when can I see you again?"
She gives me a warm smile. "Here." She takes a pen out of her bag and writes her phone number on my hand. "Call me sometime, and we can talk hockey some more."
Before I can think over the action in my head, I lean down and kiss her on the cheek. Her face flusters as I say, "Until then." Then, I wink at her before I turn and walk back towards my apartment.
Tris Prior
It takes me a minute or so to calm my heart that threatens to beat out of my chest. In a sudden burst of confidence, I called a random man over to my blanket to talk about hockey. And as it turns out, he may be the most handsome, kind, and interesting man in all of Chicago.
I finally gather my things and head back to my apartment on campus that I share with Christina. When I walk in, I realize that it is nearly three in the afternoon. I must've been talking to Fred for longer than I thought.
"Tris!" Christina yells from the other room, and I sigh before I walk in there to face her. I know that she wanted to go shopping at two.
"Where have you been young lady?" she asks in a superior tone with her hands on her hips.
I sigh. Should I tell her? "Well, I was finishing my paper and then I- I got distracted?"
"You could at least try to be a little more convincing. Now, I want a good reason for why you blew me off."
"You won't believe this… I was in Lincoln Park, and I happened to meet a guy."
"What?!" Christina shrieks, and then pulls me into a chair across from her. "Ok, that's a good reason. Tell me about him!"
"His name's Fred East. Big hockey fan, and works in the music industry in LA."
"Wait- music industry?"
I bite my lip. I could tell that he wasn't telling me the whole truth in the park, but I don't know what else to tell Christina. "Yeah, his uncle's in the business and got him a job. He works with a lot of big stars."
"Even… Four?"
"He said that they're actually really good friends." Christina's scream after I said that could probably be heard from every level in this apartment building.
"No way. Tris, please tell me he asked you out."
"I-uh… I gave him my number and he kissed me on the cheek," I say, muttering the last part.
Apparently Christina still heard me, because she squeals yet again. "Oh my gosh! Tris! Oh, tell me more, tell me more. What does he look like?"
"He's tall, short brown hair. Definitely tan, muscular… great jaw line… brown eyes…" His brown eyes seem out of place with the rest of his features. It's as if they don't fit, as if they should really be a different color…
I am snapped out of my thoughts by Christina's fingers snapping in front of my face. "Aww, Tris has a crush!"
"Shut up," I mutter before scurrying out of her room to avoid further questioning. I grab my stuff and go to my room to finish my essay, but even though I am typing about overuse injuries, I can't control the small smile that continues to sit upon my face.
Songs from this chapter:
Daylight by Maroon 5
Ok… so I was going to wait at least two more chapters before I introduced Tris into the story, but I honestly couldn't resist. I was extremely to excited to write her part, and that's partially why this chapter is going up today. I wasn't going to post again until Christmas, so consider this an early gift! Happy December 21st!
Rereading this chapter now, I realize that there is a lot of hockey thrown in there. Like, a lot. When I first planned this chapter out, I didn't plan to include that much hockey information, but I think I just got a bit carried away…
Do you guys like the hockey stuff though? It won't be as heavy in the rest of the story as it was in this chapter, but I'm just wondering. I guess I just included that all because that's how I wanted them to first meet and initially bond.
There was also a ton of dialogue in this chapter as well. If you've read my previous story, Starting Over, you'd know that there was quite a bit of dialogue that made up that story as well. I guess that's kind of my style, but I am trying to throw in a lot of description, especially in these starting chapters.
And I think that's all I have for you all! Remember to leave me a REVIEW! I love reading them so much, honestly it's the best hearing from you all.
If you want to know when the next chapter is posted right as it happens, make sure to FOLLOW and FAVORITE this story as well! Every time I get a notification, whether it's someone following, favoriting (is that even a word?), or reviewing, it gets me even more motivated to write a new chapter for you all.
Hope you all enjoyed this chapter!
(PS: yay! it was over 3,000 words!)
