"The greatest weakness of most humans is their hesitancy to tell others how much they love them while they're still alive"

–Orlando A. Battista

Portman's POV:

By the time I got back to Eden, I had just enough time to get to my room and grab my bag. I opened the door in a huff and almost hit Fulton in the face.

"Bro, chill. Where were you all night? Who were you with? Sally? Andrea? Monica?" Fulton said grabbing my shoulder.

I pushed past him grabbing my duffle bag from under my bed. "I don't know who I was with. I went some party after you bailed on me. She was some blonde...you know I really don't want to talk about it. We have practice."

Fulton stopped me in the hall, "Whoa, what's up with you? You usually tell me how good she was in bed. What's on your mind?"

Before I could think of something to say, I blurted out, "A.J."

"A.J.? A.J. Roxon, A.J.?" Fulton stood next to me with his jaw to the floor. "Do you like her?"

"Yeah, I guess. I really don't want to talk about this. Let's get to practice."

I wasn't focused on hockey. I just got checked by Fulton which sent me flying into the boards. I was the one who checked Fulton into the boards, usually. My stick fell from my hand and fell to the ice. Apparently practice wouldn't take my mind off of A.J.

"Portman! Get your mind on the game!" Orion yelled.

I bent over and picked up the piece of wood and plastic off the ice. I groaned quietly knowing that this was going to happen. "Sorry, I'm not feeling so great."

"Get off the ice and go back to your dorm, if you're sick. I don't want the rest of the team getting sick. I need players who are going to focus. Averman pay attention!" Orion yelled out.

I didn't want to be there so I skated off the ice and went to the locker room to change. I walked in the locker room slamming my stick and helmet against the benches. I sat down on one of the benches and started running my hands through my hair. I still couldn't figure out why all I seemed to think about was A.J. I didn't know what to do about it.

I stood up to get in the shower when the door swung open and Connie Moreau walked in, or waddled in.

"Oh, hi Portman. Do you mind if I use the bathroom? I have my period and I really don't feel comfortable right now! Be lucky you're a man!" She walked past me and into the bathroom.

"Thanks for the info, Connie!" I heard her giggle as I picked up my stick. That's when a light bulb went off in my head. Connie was good friends with A.J. I could ask Connie what I should do. "Hey, Cons? Have you talked to A.J. lately?"

"Um...yeah, I talked to her the other day. Why?"

I placed my stick gently on the bench by my stuff trying hard not to make any noise. "Well, I was wondering if I should ask her out. We're friends and we never looked at each other as a lover. I didn't know if she would say yes...so I wanted to talk to someone first." I rambled on for a few more minutes not knowing that Connie was standing right behind me.

She put her hands on my shoulders or at least on my pads. "Does someone have a crush on A.J.? Aw, that's so cute. I think you should ask her out. I think she would say yes, I don't see why not." She put her helmet back on and started walking out the door.

"Thanks Connie. Oh, and don't tell anyone about this conversation, okay?" She waved her stick at me in recognition.

I sat down on the bench with a smile on my face. I was freaking out. Wait, Portman had a crush?! What was I doing? I was turning soft. I didn't have to turn soft if I had a girlfriend, right? Well, if anybody fucked with A.J. they would have to answer to me. Okay, now I was just over thinking things. I hadn't even asked her out yet, and I'm already calling her my girlfriend. What has she done to me?

I shook my head and grabbed my cell phone out of the side pocket of the duffle bag. I found A.J.'s number and called her cell phone letting it ring several time before she answered.

"Hello?" she answered breathlessly.

"Hey, did I interrupt something? I can always call back later?"

She swallowed something and said, "No, I was just running before soccer practice. What's up?"

I took a deep breath in, "I have something important to ask you."