Leavin It On The Ice ch. 6
Anna's P.O.V.
I'm sitting on my bed, reading my third book on hockey to learn all of the rules and regulations and there's a lot of them by the way. I don't want Elsa to get hurt while playing with all of those guys because it can get very rough and they won't go easy on her just because she's a girl. I know that I haven't been a good friend to last few years with me being the head cheerleader and the hockey player being who she is. I abandoned her and left her to fend for herself because of the status quo.
I want to help her in any way can and maybe if I rule all that I need to know about the game than I can stop any unnecessary pain. I didn't notice someone knocking on my door or walking through until I feel the bed dip causing me to look up to see Tiana sitting on my bed. She picks up one of the books that I checked from the library and frowns slightly before looking at me with an raised eyebrow.
"Anna, why do you have so many books on hockey?" Tiana asked raising an eyebrow.
"B-Because I'm…. doing a r-research paper on it. Y-Yeah that's it" I said smiling nervously.
"For what class, Anna? We have most of our classes together and I don't know about any research paper so you want to try this again" Tiana deadpanned.
"I'm reading all of these books because I want to make sure that Elsa doesn't get hurt" I said sighing.
"You know that she's going to get hurt regardless of how much you read up on the sport. Hockey can get pretty nasty at times and I am sure that Elsa knows that already" Tiana said smiling sympathetically.
"But maybe if I knew the rule better than maybe I can protect her somehow"
"Anna, Elsa is a big girl and I don't think that you can protect from the guys on the opposing team hitting her. I'm sure that she knows what she's doing and you're going have to trust her judgment" Tiana said taking the book from me.
"I don't know, Tiana. I just want to protect her because I know that I haven't been the friend that I should have been" I said looking down in ashamed.
"So you're reading these books because you're feeling guilty about how you've been treating Elsa?" Tiana asked curious.
"Yes because that's part of the reason and because I could've have save Elsa from all the same that she suffered through because everyone treating her like crap. If I stood up for her at least once then I don't think she would feel the need to try out for the hockey team"
"Anna, I don't think Elsa joined the team to make you feel guilty about everything that has been down between you two" Tiana said putting her hand on my shoulder.
"Maybe so but I feels like I pushed her into in a sense. I know that the guys joined the team as well because they want to protect her but I'm not sure if that's enough" I said shaking my head.
"Maybe you should talk to her and tell her how you're feeling. I'm sure that Elsa will hear you out" Tiana replied.
"I don't know, Tiana"
I know that Elsa's a understanding and forgiving person but I don't know if she'll forgive me for everything that I did to her. I wasn't there like I should've been and I know that I don't deserve the hockey player's forgiveness but it's worth a shot. I set my book down on my nightstand before slipping my shoes on and heading out to the door. I walked towards Elsa's dorm and I know that she'll be either alone in her room or with the guys so it's a good chance that no one overhearing this conversation.
Normally Skyline has every student room with one roommate but the only reason that the hockey player has the dorm all to herself is because most of the girls find reasons not to room with her. It's messed up because I know that Elsa would make a great roommate and anyone would be lucky to have her. I walked to the other side of the girls' dormitory and I find myself standing outside of the hockey player's door. I raise my hand to knock on the door but it feels like something is holding back from doing it.
What if Elsa doesn't want to talk me? What if she doesn't want to see me? What if Elsa wants nothing to do with me after everything that happened between us? It would be expected because I know that I wasn't a good friend and I abandoned her for my position as head cheerleader and my popularity. Elsa has been nothing but a good friend to me ever since we were little and I turned my back on her. I'm a horrible friend and I don't deserve her forgiveness. I can't do this. I'm so sorry, Elsa.
Maybe one day you can find it in your heart to forgive me for being such a coward. I was turning to leave when the door opens to reveal Elsa with a her long blonde hair being rubbed down by a towel. I notice that she's wearing a black tank top that's hugging her curves and grey sweatpants that's clinging to her hips. The hockey player looks surprised to see me standing there then raises an eyebrow at me questioningly.
"Anna? What are you doing here?" Elsa asked curious.
"I was um… I need to talk to you" I said fiddling with one of my braids.
"Um okay, come in" Elsa said setting aside to let me in.
I walked into the room to see that it's larger than the normal dorm but I guess it would look that way if there's one person living in here instead of two. There's posters of hockey players that I don't know and video game series, a large bookcase filled with books, a computer desk with a laptop resting on it, and a plasma screen TV with a PS3 attached to it. Elsa sits on her headboard before leaning carefully against the headboard when a large bruise on left shoulder catches my eye and I gasp. I sit on the bed and reach to gently touch the bruise causing the hockey player to hiss in pain before recoiling my hand.
"I'm sorry, Elsa. I didn't mean to hurt you" I said guilty.
"You didn't hurt me. I'm just really sore since I just finished practice an hour ago" Elsa said massaging her shoulder.
"How get you that bruise?" I asked frowning.
"No comment" Elsa replied.
"Elsa"
"My name's Benedict and I ain't in" Elsa said shaking her head.
"Elsa, tell me" I pleaded.
"What do you want from me? Why are you here, Anna?" Elsa asked glaring at me.
"I… I" I said stammered.
I wanted to say something but the words won't come out. I knew that this wasn't a good idea. Pushing her to tell me what happened is making her upset and annoyed with me. I shouldn't be here. I stand up to leave before I make a bigger fool out of myself but I'm stopped by something grabbing my wrist. I looked to see the hockey player's hand around my wrist and I stared at me with a confused look.
"Anna, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you; I'm really tired right now but it wasn't right to be mean to you. Stay… please" Elsa said apologetically.
"It's okay, Elsa but I wanted to talked to you about the hockey team and apologize to you" I said sitting down on the edge of the bed.
"Apologize for what?" Elsa asked confused.
"Apologize for not being a very good friend to you over the last few years. For not sticking for you when you needed to me to. For forcing you to join the hockey team. I'm sorry for all of it" I said ashamed.
"Anna, you didn't force me to join the hockey team. I joined because I'm good at it and I wanted to do something that I love. It had nothing to do with me but I accept your apology though" Elsa said smiling.
"Really?" I asked surprised.
"Yeah, sometimes friend drift apart and it wasn't entirely your fault. I didn't try hard enough to keep our friendship going so I'm just as much at fault as you are" Elsa said taking my hand in hers.
I sigh in relief that Elsa has forgiven me but I think she forgiven me a little too easily. I'm going to work hard to truly earn it as well as her trust back because I know that she's worth it.
"Thank you, Elsa. I missed you" I said smiling.
"I missed you too" Elsa said pulling me into a hug.
"I'm going to try something but I need you to trust me" I said pulling away.
Elsa stares at me for a moment before nodding her consent. I maneuvered myself around the hockey player so I was in-between her and the headboard before placing my hands on her shoulders and massaging them. Elsa shivered a little but I continued what I was doing as kneel the tense muscles under my hands. I work out a particular knot in-between the hockey player's shoulder blades and she let a hiss but I continue my administrations.
"I'm sorry but I have to do it"
I massage her shoulders, shoulder blades, and lower back and I'm rewarded with mewls of content. I know what I'm doing since I had to take massage classes and it has come in handy a few times and I'm glad that I took them.
"I'm done" I said smiling.
"Wow, that was amazing. Thanks Anna" Elsa said over her shoulder.
"You're welcome. I better get going. I have to return those hockey books to the library before it close" I said standing up.
"Okay but um, would it be okay if we hang out… like old times? Elsa asked nervously.
"There's nothing that I would love more to do" I said smiling.
"Great" Elsa said smiling.
"Yeah, I'll see you later Elsa" I said leaving.
End of ch. 6