And that's how I find myself beside Jennifer and Charlie, with Jennifer - Charlotte and Asher's mum roaring her loyalty towards her son on the ice.
Asher stops in the middle of the rink, lifting a hand in a wave and I lift mine back in confusion, heart pounding incessantly in my chest before I see Jennifer stand up and wave enthusiastically back.
Then I pretend I was tucking a piece of hair behind my ear the whole time while Charlie gives me a confused look.
I ignore it, because why the hell would I be thinking that Asher is waving at me when I'm sitting with his family.
I focus back on the game, though my eyes keep dragging towards the boy who seems to monopolise my thoughts today - or the last few days if I'm being honest.
Jennifer rests a hand on mine and Charlotte's knee when there's a break in the game, squeezing before muttering something I can't hear over the raucous crowd before disappearing down the stands.
I lift a quizzical brow to Charlie, and she shrugs before mouthing 'toilet' and I nod.
It's almost as if they were watching us, waiting for an opportunity to approach because as soon as Jennifer disappears, mine and Charlie's view is blocked by two vaguely familiar boys, their faces both fixed into what I could only describe as smug stupidity.
"Hey Evie."
"Her name is Ivy, Asswipe." Charlie spits, vitriol coating her words thickly.
The asswipe ignores her, leaning down so we're face to face. "I've heard about you."
I swallow the sudden need to run and stare back at him, "have you?"
His lips lift at the corners in what I'm sure he's been told is a charmers smile but it only makes a repulsive shiver crawl up my spine.
"Dain sure has a lot to say."
My stomach drops but before I get the chance to take Charlie's outstretched hand and run, he moves closer. "But I'm a man who likes to make up my own mind." He lifts a hand as if to touch my cheek and I rear back.
"Back off." Charlotte says, scooting closer to me. "She doesn't need you slobbering all over her."
The boy straightens, flashing a glare towards Charlotte before sneering at me. "Her loss, no one wants to fuck a girl that acts like a dead fish. If I wanted that I'd go fishing-"
My face scrunches up in disgust at the mental image but he doesn't get the chance to complete his sentence because a body slams into the plexiglass behind us.
I peak behind the man's shoulder, eyes widening at the fact Asher stands there, his teeth and guard bared, and stick pointed in our direction before he hits the glass again, getting the boys attention.
The boy glances over his shoulder, his friends taking a worried step back as Asher conveys something with his eyes.
"What man?!" The boys spits and I look between the two of them in worry, Charlie grabbing my hand and squeezing. "All she has to do is lie back and take it, maybe suck a little and I'll start spreading the rumour that's she not a lousy lay."
"What the fuck did you just say?" Asher hisses. The words are muffled by his mouth guard, but the anger isn't.
I can feel eyes turn towards the commotion and then my stomach drops further when I see Leon skating up beside Asher, glaring at the boy in front of me.
"Stay the fuck away from my sister, Samuel." Leon snaps, glaring harshly at the boy before pinning his friend with a look. "You too, Jack."
But Samual only laughs, glancing at Asher and that's when I know he really is stupid and it's not just an act. "I'm sure if you ask nicely she'll let us both fuck her-"
Leon snaps, skating to the side and crashing through the swinging doors by the bench, Asher at his heels before they're both in front of Samuel with Leon's face a mask of absolute fury but it's Asher that throws the punch.
The crack permeates through the air, the whole stadium descending into silence.
Mortification swims through me as I feel everyone's gaze settle on me.
I slip from my seat and stand on shaky legs, Charlie automatically standing with me.
"Let's go." She says softly, pulling at my hand.
