Ronan's POV

I was in doubt, even as sweat dripped down my forehead while we ran the last drill of practice. Mason watched me like a hawk from the goalpost as I bound down the ice. I didn't have to look over my shoulder to know that Conner was trailing me, and a quick flick of my wrist sent the puck to Hunter, who was unguarded and ready to score.

I took my helmet off as I heard the sound of Hunter's stick colliding with the puck, knowing that he wouldn't miss; he never did. I skated over to Hunter and gave him a pat on the shoulder while Mason cursed like a sailor, but he too gave Hunter an appreciative shove as we got off the ice.

"Good work today, boys. I'll see you tomorrow at 3 for our game with Wellington," Coach Daniels gave Mason a sharp look as he told us the time. "He just won't let it go, will he?" Mason said under his breath as we made our way to the changing rooms.

"Funny that you thought he would," Hunter told him with an amused look. My lips twitched, remembering the earful Mason got from Coach when he was late for a game in our freshman year. No one would forget that.

"The hell's wrong with you?" Mason questioned me. "Yeah man," Hunter added, "Your head was somewhere else today, what's going on up there?"

Times like this, I hated how well my best friends knew me. They saw through me like I was a ghost, read me like I was an open book. While I did appreciate not having to pretend things were fine in front of them, there were times they asked me questions I wasn't ready to answer.

There was no point lying to them, and I scratched my head with a gloved hand, wondering if I should tell them. Mason shoved my shoulder. "No way. Am I seeing Ronan Harding blush?"

I scowled at him. I was not blushing. "Oh, I can't wait to hear this," Mason chirped as he sat down opposite me, his skates and kit that needed removing long forgotten. Hunter was less aggravating, choosing to silently lean against the locker next to Mason and wait for my explanation, a small smile dancing on his lips as he did.

I sighed, giving up. "I think I went a bit overboard," I admitted, crossing my arms and leaning back. I wiggled my toes, having already removed my skates, trying to get the numbness to fade.

"With?" Mason drawled, impatient. I had to hold back an eye roll; Mason was like a woman when it came to drama and gossip.

"With Amelia," I said. Hunter's eyebrows shot up into his hairline, and Mason's smile became devilish. This time I did roll my eyes. "Don't even bother starting, it's nothing like that."

"Then what's it like?" Mason countered straight away, his tone teasing and his eyes sparkling with his usual mischief. I looked to Hunter for some help, but he shook his head at me, a smirk playing on his lips. Mason was the most annoying person I'd ever met, and if I didn't know better, I would have got up and left. But, if I did that, Mason would make sure he said "Amelia" in every sentence that he uttered to me today.

I chose to ignore him. "I got her a new phone," I told them, "And I'm realising now that it might have been a bit much."

"A bit?! Ron, you're joking," Mason looked at me in utter disbelief. Well, that wiped the teasing smile off his face. When I didn't answer, he face-palmed. "Ronan, why the hell did you buy her a new phone?"

"She broke hers and left it in my car, so I thought I'd try to get it fixed," I explained, "and when I took it to the shop the guy said it would cost almost the same to just get a new phone, so I did."

"So, you did?! Ronan, in what world is that normal?" Mason asked me slowly, "Yes, it was just a tad bit too much, you dumbo." I rubbed my temple. Of course it was too much, who even does that? Amelia was probably freaked out now.

I glanced at Hunter, hoping he might disagree with Mason, but he nodded his head at me and pointed a thumb at our friend. "Well," Mason started, his features thoughtful, "It's only a big deal if you like Amelia," he said, his wicked smile making a reappearance, "If you don't then it doesn't really matter. In fact, you probably got yourself a BFF."

My mouth bobbed open and shut like a fish. I knew he was baiting me; no guy enjoyed being in the friendzone with a girl they liked, it was a painful place to be. But that made me ask myself the question, did I like Amelia?

Surprisingly, Mason had a point. It would only be an issue, and therefore it would only really bother me, if I liked her. Before I could think too much on the question, I heard the sound of feet shuffling towards us.

It was difficult to mask my disgust as Conner rounded the corner and positioned himself to our right. "Are you talking about Amelia?" he asked straight away, trying to sound innocent as he did. His question steeled my spine, and I sat up straighter, no longer feeling the need to be nice to him.

"It none of your business, Conner, so get lost, will you?" Mason's words were coated with venom, his face and voice void of his usual humour. Mason might not have towered over people the way Hunter and I did, but he could be menacing when he wanted to be.

"Oh, but it is my business, considering I have a study date with her tonight."

Mason and Hunter's heads whipped to face me, but I was just as surprised as they were. I knew the terrible feeling that was blossoming in my chest was jealousy, but I didn't need Conner to know that it was there.

"Good for you, Conner," I bit the words out, "But we couldn't care less, so take your smug ass back where it came from before I tell Coach that you're going against the rules of your suspension." After the pool incident, Conner was told to not come anywhere near me. If Coach caught him, he'd probably loose the little patience he had for the infuriating defence man and bar him from the team.

I glared at Conner as he put his hands up in mock surrender and went back the way he came. When he rounded the corner and was out of sight, I got up and started packing my bag. I felt Mason and Hunter's concerned looks drilling into the back of my head, but I ignored them.

Of all the men on campus, Amelia seriously had to choose Conner? Even after helping me, she chose him of all people to go on a study date with? It was hard to believe, but Conner wouldn't have been so smug unless it were true. Knowing him, he was probably on the other side of the lockers, listening and waiting for us to mention her so he could come over here and tell me.

But it didn't matter who she dated and didn't date. It didn't matter that she helped me, and it didn't matter what she thought of me and if she thought I had done a bit too much. She could be with whoever she wanted because I didn't like her like that.

I repeated the same thought mentally as I finished packing my bag and wordlessly left the changing room. As I made my way to my car, I continued the chant in my mind, but the pang in my chest was still there, and I knew my heart wasn't convinced of what my mind was telling it.

****

"And I win!" Mason yelled at me as he slammed a hand down on the foosball table. Sore from the loss, I spun the handle that was in my hand. He never beat me at foosball. Scratch that, he never beat anyone.

"Are we being a sore loser today?" Mason goaded, a winning smirk on his face as joined me on the sofa I'd thrown myself on. "Oh, be quiet Mason, you just got lucky," I spat at him as I switched the television on.

"Aw Ron, don't cry. Just do better". The glare I gave Mason was well earned. The sound of the front door opening saved me from having to come up with a reply to defend myself.

Hunter and Veronica strolled into the room hand in hand, the echoes of their laughter in their wake. "Hey Mason. Hey Ronan," Veronica greeted as she took a seat on the other sofa, pulling Hunter down as she did.

"Hey Vicks. You want pizza?" Mason asked her. I had to hide my smirk as Veronica gave the affirmative and Mason pulled his phone out. Mason grew up with four brothers and no sisters. For him, Veronica and Isabelle were the closest he got to having sisters, and his soft spot for them was evident as day, though he always denied there was one.

I put on an episode of F.R.I.E.N.D.S while Mason ordered us pizza. When he looked up from his phone, his smirk was wolfish, and I knew instantly that trouble was brewing.

"So, Vicky," he started as he slouched down into the sofa, a glint of trouble in his eyes. Veronica tore her eyes away from the screen at the mention of her name and hummed in response.

"Our friend Ronan here," he squeezed my shoulder with a heavy hand, and I immediately knew where this was going. "Mason, don't you-"

"Wants to know what the hell is wrong with Amelia."

Veronica was stunned into silence for a few moments, be she regained her composure enough to squeak out a small, "Excuse me?!"

I pinched the bridge of my nose and closed my eyes, mentally telling myself that Mason was my best friend and punching him wasn't a very "best friend" thing to do.

"I mean, there has to be something wrong with her if she agreed to go on a study date with Conner, right? No one in their right mind would do that," Mason tried to explain. I prepared myself for the blow of Veronica's words, but they didn't come.

Vernoica's eyebrows scrunched together, and her expression warped into one of confusion. She looked to Hunter for some sort of clarity. "Well," he said to his girlfriend as he turned to look at her, "I was kind of wondering the same thing."

"I-erm, no!" She said, exasperated, "Amelia is not going on a study date with Conner. She literally hates him. Who told you that?"

"Conner," Mason, Hunter and I replied at the same time.

"Oh, he's such a liar!" Veronica huffed, her confusion now turning to annoyance. "They have the same stats professor. Conner's failing and Amelia needs extra credit, so their professor told her to tutor him. And no," she glared at Mason, "it not a date, Lily's there too."

"Why's Lily there? She's failing stats as well?" Hunter asked.

"She doesn't take it, she's just there to..." Veronica trailed off, her eyes suddenly widening. "To study! Of course, yeah, to study. They're all at the library, group studying."

I looked at Mason at the same time he turned to look at me, both of us sensing that something wasn't right, both of unsure if we should question further. Hunter decided for us. He wrapped an arm around his tense girlfriend's shoulders and gave us a look that simply said no, before unpausing the television.

I turned back to watch the show, feeling uneasy. Something was off, but it was hard to tell what. Much to my dismay, I couldn't do anything but hope that whatever it was, it wasn't too terrible.