Ch. 11 Dying to Kiss You
(MAYA)
"LUKE! MAYA!" Zig exclaims and we break apart to look at him then I take deep breath.
"Hi Zig, Luke and I are dating and we have been for nearly a month now. But we're doing it in secret because if people found out like our families and friends they'd freak out and make us break up. So please don't say anything Zig I know Luke can come off as a jerk sometimes but he's really very sweet a…" I start explaining and pleading seeing no reason to try and hide from Zig anymore.
Zig laughs a little and I stop talking to look at him. "Maya relax I won't say anything and Luke's been nice to me recently I know he's a cool guy. Anyway I had the bad taste to date Tori so I can't say anything about your choice of boyfriend, besides you two make a cute couple. This also explains why you two are always together, it's not just coincidence that you've been always hanging out with Clare and Owen is it?" Zig asks.
"No it isn't they're the only other ones that know about us and they've been helping us sneak around." Luke tells him.
"Cool well I won't say anything and I can help too but I'm meeting Nicole out here in a minute and Luke you should probably go anyway the teams about to head to the arena." Zig informs us.
"Can you find Adam or one of the others by yourself?" Luke asks me.
"Yeah I'll be fine; I'll text Clare and see where she's at." I reply.
Luke smiles and captures my lips for a quick soft kiss before he walks off. I wait with Zig a minute to be safe so no one suspects anything but when Nicole shows up I leave. As I'm walking back to the front of the hotel I get out my phone to text Clare.
Maya: Where are you?
Clare: Interviewing some Maple Leafs players in their hotel room.
I stare at the text message a second before replying.
Maya: In their hotel room?
Clare: We're going down to the hotel lounge now I'll meet you at the arena the Ice Hounds are playing at in ten.
I text back okay and start walking since the arena isn't far, when I get there Adam, Imogen and Fiona are waiting in the line so I join them.
"Hey Clare's on her way we can all watch the game together." I tell them.
"Where is she now? Covering another game or the fabulous food?" Imogen asks.
"She was interviewing Maple Leafs players in their hotel room." I tell them and they all look at me in disbelief.
"Yeah I didn't believe it either," I nod.
We go into the arena, Clare finds us after we have seats and she sits next to me.
"Were you really interviewing pro hockey players in their hotel room?" Adam questions her.
"Yeah they were really nice and had this great suite with a hot tub and fabulous view. I got some great pictures." She tells us nonchalantly and we all turn to look at her. "You guys I was interviewing them geez! That was it; I was only away from you guys for an hour what could I have possibly done?" She inquires.
"In an hour I'm betting a lot." I reply.
"Maya I saw them in the hotel lobby, asked them for an interview and they said they were going up to their room and I could interview them there." She tells us.
"And you went? Clare are you crazy?!" Adam admonishes.
"Adam relax I told you nothing happened I just interviewed them. Anyway I'm in high school and this event is full of very attractive women their age I doubt that thought even crossed their minds." She replies.
"You know so little about the male brain," Adam scoffs.
"Adam!" Clare shakes her head.
"So what are you going to tell Owen?" I ask her as the music starts and the players come out.
"That I interviewed two of his favorite players and got him an autograph." She tells me before blowing a kiss and waiving to Owen.
After the national anthem we all sit down and Clare gets out her notebook to start taking notes on the game. Dallas is moving again, he must have recovered from Clare kneeing him. In the first period Cam scores the only goal and the Ice Hounds trail the other team by one point.
"I'm going to get some coffee," Clare tells us when the players skate back into the locker room.
"Up late with Owen?" I tease her and Adam gives her a look to which Clare rolls her eyes. "I'll go with you I'm thirsty too." I say and get up. We walk out to the refreshment stand and get in line. "By the way Zig knows about me and Luke," I tell her.
"How'd he find out?" Clare asks.
"He saw us kissing behind the hotel. He promised to keep our secret though and said we were cute together." I inform her.
"Well that's good at least he'll keep your secret and it's one less person you two have to be careful around." She smiles as we get to the front of the line.
She gets coffee, I get a water and we return to our seats. In the second period Dallas scores one goal and Luke scores a goal. I want to blow him a kiss but I can't so I just smile, I wish I could blow him a kiss, like a secret kiss so he'd know I was proud of him. I remember once watching a biography on Carol Burnett she talked about how she used to tug on her ear at the end of every show as her way of secretly saying hi to her parents. Luke and I need some secret signal; something only he and I know is for us. In the third period Owen finally gets some ice time much to Clare's delight and Luke scores the winning goal! Clare is furiously taking notes even as we're walking out of the arena.
"We're going to go get some lunch you guys want to come?" Fiona asks.
"I have to meet Mo to set up the equipment I'll have lunch with him. Imogen and Maya meet us at the stage ten minutes before show time." Adam says then walks off.
Fiona and Imogen walk off too and Clare links her arm with mine.
"Let's go congratulate our boys," Clare smiles.
We walk to the players entrance to see a swarm of puck bunnies around the doors and guards keeping them back.
"Great," I remark with a roll of my eyes.
"Come on," Clare insists grabbing my hand and pushing her way through the crowd. "We need to get through there," Clare says to one of the guards.
"No puck bunnies past the line the players will be out soon." The guard tells her.
"We're not puck bunnies we're press," Clare says showing the guard her press pass.
"I thought the press was only interested in the pro teams." The guard comments looking at Clare's pass.
"We're covering the game for our high school and one of the players is my boyfriend." She tells him.
When she says this some of the nearby puck bunnies start whispering about who she might be dating. "That's right you pathetic puck bunnies two of the Ice Hounds are taken, the best Ice Hounds." I think to myself watching the puck bunnies fret over who might be taken.
The guard lets us through and I can't help but give some of the puck bunnies a satisfied look. Just as we're let through the doors open and the opposing team comes out first, they look us over but Clare is ignoring them. After looking us over they go out to greet the puck bunnies and the Ice Hounds come out led by Dallas.
"You two come interview me privately or just kiss away the hurt you caused earlier?" Dallas smirks.
"You never learn do you?" Luke asks coming up behind Dallas and slapping him in the back of the head.
"Great game Luke," Clare smiles at him.
"Thanks," he says coming over and putting an arm around each of our shoulders.
This is either a move to keep Dallas and possibly Cam who's giving us a look from causing any more trouble or so he can hold me without it looking suspicious. Possibly it's both of these things, Luke's arm is around Clare's shoulders for only a moment as Owen comes over takes her from Luke's arm, puts his arms around her and dips her into a deep kiss. Luke keeps his arm around my shoulders still as the puck bunnies begin whispering and gasping, some sound angry, angry at Clare because she's dating Owen and they want him. It's a long minute before Owen and Clare straighten up. They look so happy; a part of me, a big part of me physically hurts to watch them and yearns for that.
"Hey beautiful did you enjoy the game?" Owen asks her.
"Very much, we had a great time and you guys won." Clare comments.
"Barely that team was a lot harder but we have to go eat lunch you girls want to join us?" Luke questions.
"Love to," Clare smiles.
She takes my hand and Luke lets go of me, I'm assuming so we don't look like such a couple. Owen and Luke lead the way through the puck bunnies who are all eyeing Clare and I, mostly her because they know she's dating Owen but they're giving me a suspicious look as well probably trying to figure out my exact relationship to Luke. We go to the commissary for lunch, the boys get a ton of food but I'm guessing they're hungry after the game and they play another one in a few hours.
"Clare don't you have something for Owen?" I prod her when we're all sitting down.
"Oh yeah I almost forgot," Clare says reaching into her purse and pulling out her notebook tears off the last page handing it to Owen.
"Sweet Mike Kostka and Cody Franson's autographs how'd you get these?" Owen asks kissing her cheek.
"I interviewed them earlier and I knew you liked them so I asked them for an autograph," Clare shrugs.
"Thanks Beautiful you're the best," Owen smiles kissing her lips after taking a huge bite of mac and cheese though and Clare makes a face.
"Man I can't believe you talked to them," Luke says with an envious tone.
"They're really nice actually and I got some great interviews about their high school hockey experiences." Clare tells us.
For the rest of lunch Luke and Owen ask Clare a bunch of questions about the hockey players and what they were like. I'm actually surprised that Owen isn't jealous given how he reacted to the fact that Clare had been to the cave before but then again he doesn't know they had this interview in their hotel room.
(LUKE)
After eating lunch with our girls we all walked Maya over to the stage Whisper Hug was playing on today. They had a much better spot today more central, Maya left us to go help Adam and Mo set up, Owen, Clare and I get good spots right in front to watch. Imogen and Fiona come up a few minutes later and Fiona stands with us. Finally Zig arrives with a goofy happy grin and waves to us to go on stage but Owen and I catch his arms.
"Whoa Don Juan you've got lipstick like everywhere," I laugh looking at him.
"Did you even come up for air?" Owen laughs as Clare gets some tissues from her purse and starts wiping off Zig's face.
"Thanks Nicole should be here in a few minutes can she watch with you guys?" Zig asks.
"Sure Zig," Clare says.
Zig smiles at us and goes up on stage, Nicole joins our group a minute later as does Marisol and Whisper Hug starts playing. I promised Becks I'd take some pictures of Adam for her so I get out my phone and take a few of him playing. The band is great and Maya looks so beautiful on stage playing and singing, I am so lucky and I hope we can become public sometime soon so I can announce it to the world and I'm dying to kiss her in front of everyone. When the band takes a five minute intermission Maya comes down to join us but stands by Clare of course. Zig comes over and stands with Nicole and we all tell them how great the band sounded.
"I'm thirsty I'm gonna get a drink," Clare says when the band starts playing again.
"I'll go with you I'm thirsty too," I tell her.
We walk a little ways to the nearest refreshment stand and get in line, it isn't until we're in line that I realize the guy in front of us is wearing a maple leafs jacket. Clare notices too and touches the guys arm, he turns and smiles hugging her lightly and I see that it's Cody Franson.
"Hey Clare, you doing a report on the long lines now?" He asks her.
"No just getting a drink, this is my good friend Luke he's a left wing for the Ice Hounds." Clare says introducing us and I shake his hand.
"It's an honor to meet you, you're an awesome player." I tell him feeling just a little star struck.
"Well thank you always good to hear that especially from another player. When are you guys playing again we might check it out?" Cody Franson says to me.
"Wow really? That would be great we play uh… we play…" I stutter over my words suddenly blanking.
"They play in the titan arena at four. Thanks again for the autographs my boyfriend loved them." Clare says while all I can do is nod stupidly.
We're at the front of the line now and Cody Franson buys our drinks for us then walks with us a little ways.
"No problem hey if you guys want to come to our game tonight against the Canucks I can put your names on the VIP list." Cody says.
"Really that would be amazing, we'd love to." I say quickly.
"Great I'll put you down under Clare's name and two guests?" He asks her.
"Better make it three Luke has a girlfriend too," Clare smiles.
"Okay three and if you want to come to our suite again after the game we can hang out, well see you guys later." Cody says waving and walking off.
He doesn't get too far before he's hounded for autographs and Clare and I start walking back to the group.
"I can't believe I just shook Cody Franson's hand, I can't believe he bought our drinks and he's coming to our game later. I can't believe he's putting our names on the VIP list to see the Maple Leafs and the Canucks in the main stadium and he invited us to his hotel suite again to hang…" I stop suddenly, both talking and walking and grab the back of Clare's shirt to keep her from walking too as I repeat the words and it hits me. "Hold it did he say again? Again meaning at some point you were already in his hotel room?" I interrogate her.
"Yes to interview him and Mike that's all nothing happened geez why does everyone always assume the worst when they find out I did the interview in their hotel room?" Clare asks with a slightly annoyed huff.
"Uh because you have a boyfriend, you're a hot girl and you were in a hotel room with pro hockey players." I explain.
"Who were nice enough to give me an interview, they didn't touch me and I told them I had a boyfriend remember I got the autographs for Owen? Anyway they're in their mid twenties and I'm seventeen besides they have much more attractive girls throwing themselves at them all the time I doubt very much I sparked any interest in them." She argues.
"I wouldn't be so sure and I know Owen won't see it that way." I tell her. Clare just kind of shakes her head as we start walking back to our group. "Dude guess who bought our drinks, said he'd try and come to our game this afternoon and he's putting us on the list to watch their game tonight?" I taunt Owen when we get back to our group.
"Who?" Owen asks putting his arm around Clare.
"Cody Franson," I inform him.
"No way, you met him too? Is he really putting us on the list to see their game tonight? I didn't think we'd get to see any of the NHL teams play all the seats were filled up." Owen remarks.
"I know pretty cool huh? And he invited us to hang out afterward." I tell him.
"Yeah?" Owen questions with a smile.
"Yeah in his hotel room where apparently your girls already been." I enlighten him.
Owen stiffens while Clare shoots me a look, Owen turns her around to face and he does not look happy.
"YOU WHAT?!" Owen demands loudly, so loudly everyone can hear him over the music and the whole band looks at them they keep playing but look at them.
Deciding, I suppose to have this conversation somewhere a little more private Owen picks Clare up, tossing her over his shoulder and walking away.
"Agh Owen!" She shrieks as they start walking off.
Adam, Maya and Zig keep playing and singing but they watch Owen with worried looks. I know Owen won't hurt her or anything but I do watch them until they stop under a tree and he sets her down.
"Why did Owen drag Clare away caveman style and should we be worried?" Zig asks when the band stops playing and he, Maya and Adam come stand with me as Zig puts his arm around Nicole.
"That's what I'd like to know," Adam says.
"Clare and I went to get a drink and ran into a Maple Leafs player, Cody Franson who Clare interviewed this morning. Owen found out Clare had done the interview in his hotel room and Owen wasn't too happy about it." I tell them.
"She was…never mind I don't want to know I'm going back to my room to skype with your sister. I'll see you guys at six for our next set." Adam says walking off.
"I'm gonna hang out with Nicole see you Maya, Luke." Zig says giving us a nod as he walks away with his arm around Nicole.
"We're finally alone," I smile at Maya, she scrunches one side of her face and looks around at the hundreds of people surrounding us. "Well sort of," I shrug.
"Okay well lets go get Clare and Owen because if anyone else sees us walking together they're going to start to wonder." Maya comments.
"Yeah good point but I think Clare and Owen made up," I say as I see the couple making out under the tree now. Maya's too short to see from where she is but we soon make it through the crowd. "If you two are done with the makeup making out then maybe the four of us could walk around a bit." I suggest breaking the blissful couple from their lip lock.
Owen looks over at me with a slight glare for interrupting their kissing but Clare smiles at us.
"We didn't fight but I do need to walk around a little anyway I am supposed to be covering the whole event." Clare says coming over and linking arms with Maya.
"Yeah well next time you plan on interviewing pro hockey players you better take one of us with you." Owen commands.
Clare grimaces at him reaching back to smack his stomach lightly. We walk around a little, Clare occasionally taking notes in her notebook. After an hour of walking around the center we head to the outbuildings and in the direction of one of the hotels but not the one we're staying in. Finding a dark quiet corner we spend the rest of the time making out with our girls before Owen and I have to leave to get ready for our next game.
(MAYA)
"So how mad was Owen when he found out you were in those hockey players hotel suite?" I tease Clare as we sit in the stands waiting for the game to start.
"He wasn't too pleased but he wasn't real angry either. Honestly I think it's because it was two of his hockey idols," Clare says rolling her eyes.
"Well at least he didn't try and go off to fight them," I laugh.
"Yeah he's maturing it's a miracle," Clare replies sardonically and we both laugh.
The arena fills up pretty quickly, music starts and the Ice Hounds come out. Clare and Owen blow kisses to each other, Luke waves to us and I almost blow him a kiss.
"I need a secret signal with Luke since I can't blow him a kiss," I say to Clare as the opposing team comes out.
"Hmm that's hard it would have to be something he could see from the ice and something that would look kind of natural but he can do with his big gloves on." Clare says biting her lip and looking off into space so I know she's thinking. "Well maybe you should each have your own because if you're both doing the same thing it would be obvious." Clare says after a minute.
"Luke has those big gloves he's going to be harder," I remark as the game begins.
"And it will have to look natural, something he does." Clare adds and we fall silent to watch the team for a while. "He does that sort of salute thing a lot especially after he makes a good shot or body check but he does it a lot. He could change it a little to make it just for you that would be his way of blowing a kiss." Clare suggests.
"I like it and I can…" I stop as I can't think if a thing to do.
"It should be something with your mouth, licking your lips might be too obvious and draw too much unwanted attention your way. Umm what if you slid your thumb under your lip like this," Clare says turning to me curling her fingers and tracing the bottom of her lower lip with her nail. "It's subtle so no one else should notice and if they do it just looks like your scratching under your lip."
"It's perfect, thanks Clare." I smile and she smiles back.
Dallas gets knocked down in the second period and sits out with an ice pack on his knee for the rest of the game. This is good on two counts because one Dallas deserves it and two it means Owen gets to play for the rest of the game and he does really well. Ice Hounds win by one and Clare and I leave the arena as fast as we can to go meet the boys. Clare gets us past the guards with her press pass again and we wait by the door. Luke and Owen are two of the first players out, Owen greets Clare with a kiss and then he puts an arm around each of us until we're out of the crowd and assured no one we know is around then Luke takes me from Owen and puts his arm around me. He lets go of me as we near the stage where Whisper Hug is playing and I get on stage to play our second set of the day.
"We better get some dinner before we go see the Maple Leafs game." Clare says when I re-join them after Whisper Hug is done playing.
"There's a BBQ stand over here that smells good," Owen remarks then pushes his way through the crowd and we find the BBQ stand.
"Why don't you girls go find us a table and we'll get the food." Luke says when we're in line.
Clare and I nod give our men a quick kiss and then link our arms to go find a table. When we do find one we have to clear some trash from it.
"I'm going to get some napkins and wipe the table down." Clare tells me as I'm getting the last of the trash.
I nod and walk to the trashcan to dump the trash and when I turn around there's a tall skinny man in his late twenties standing over me.
"You were playing with the band earlier uh Whisper Hug right?" The man asks.
"Yeah," I nod.
"You were really good you have a real stage presence." He says.
Thinking that he's hitting on me I start to walk away. "Thanks but no thanks I have a boyfriend."
The man follows me and I look around for Luke and Owen in case I have to scream.
"No I didn't mean it like that I'm a record exec and I love your sound." He tells me and I stop and turn around.
"Well thanks but I'm not the leader Mo is I can give you his number." I offer.
"No the band was good but you were great. You should have a solo career I could take you to the top. Your talents are wasted with that band." He says to me.
I feel myself blush and smile a little it. "You really think I'm that good?"
"Not just good you were amazing," he tells me.
(CLARE)
After wiping the table down I looked around for Maya to see her talking to an older man who was looking at her with way too much interest for my liking. Her back is to me so I can't see her expression but I don't like the look of this guy so I go over.
"…we'll make you a single and get it out there, make you a video and…" the man is saying when I interrupt.
"Excuse me but who are you?" I ask him putting my hand on Maya's shoulder.
"Zack Murphy I'm with Symphonic Records and I was just telling Maya how I can advance her career." He tells me.
"Yeah well if you'll excuse us…" I start when Maya cuts me off.
"No I want to hear what he has to say I'll be at the table in a minute." Maya says pulling away from me and turning back to him.
I could argue with her, tell her that this guy is obviously some sick pedophile with a clever ploy but she probably won't listen. This guy has her mesmerized by the thought of being a star, not that I blame her but I'm certain this guys is full of shit. Sometimes words are not the answer sometimes brute force is the way to go; thankfully we have two brutes nearby so I leave Maya and rush over to them. They're still standing in line for BBQ and are almost at the front when I rush over and grab their jackets pulling them out of line.
"Pedophile hitting on Maya go!" I insist.
The boys take one look at the guy talking to Maya and take off. Luke gets there first putting his arm around Maya's shoulders and staring down the guy.
"Stay away from my girlfriend you sick fuck!" Luke growls at Zack as Owen reaches them and stands between Maya and the Zack guy.
"LUKE! We were just talking he…" Maya starts.
"He was eye raping you Maya he's a pedophile." Owen tells her.
"No he's a record exec and he wants to help me with…" Maya is trying to explain when Luke cuts her off.
"Yeah I'll bet he does," Luke snarls with a clenched jaw.
"I was talking to the lady, we were just…" Zack starts.
"You were hitting on her and telling her some story to get her…" Luke is saying when he's cut off by Zack.
"Maybe you should let her make her own decisions?" Zack barks back and we're starting to draw a crowd.
Seeing the tension grow I grab Maya's hand and pull her toward me, Luke lets her go as the guys clench their fists.
"He's not a record exec at all is he?" Maya asks me as we back up a little.
"He might be but I don't think he was very interested in your musical talents." I tell her and Maya slumps a little.
"I knew it was too good to be true." She sighs just as the Luke punches Zack!
Zack was either prepared or trained because he hardly stumbles and makes a fist of his own to punch Luke as Maya and I simultaneously gasp. Owen thankfully catches Zack's fist stopping him from hitting Luke but Owen gets kneed in the gut and he doubles over a little.
"OWEN!" I shriek worried that he's really hurt but he straightens up right away.
Maya grabs my hand as Luke reels back landing a punch on Zack's jaw, unfortunately Zack also gets one on Luke's jaw and now Maya screams. Owen making some sort of football tackle grabs Zack by the legs and gets him on the ground. Luke moves to the ground clenching his fist and punching Zack again as Owen stands and kicks Zack. They look like they might not stop but they don't have a choice when four security guards rush over to pull Owen and Luke away roughly!
"You three to the security office with us and you can tell us what's going on." Says one security guard.
"They attacked me and I need medical attention." Zack says trying to sound pathetic.
"Why you lying fuck!" Owen barks.
"Let me go I'm going to kill him!" Luke says struggling against the security guards currently zip tying his hands.
"Guys stop you're going to make it worse for yourselves," I plead with them.
"Do you girls know them?" A security guard asks.
"Yes they're our boyfriends," I reply.
"Well then you can come down to the security office with us." The guard says motioning for us to follow him.
"Awesome, no dinner and a night in a security office." Maya sighs.
"Yeah and let's hope Audra and the coach doesn't find out," I sigh as we get into a separate security car from the boys and I hope and pray they don't get into trouble.
Update soon including the maple leafs game and maybe some sexy time, maybe.