NHL Imagines

Andre Burakovsky (Part 2)

You wee ,2 months into your first semester, of your first year at the University of Washington.
It was about 4-5 months since that happened, but things were finally starting to look up for you.
Maybe, you were, finally moving on.
You weren't in a relationship but there was this one guy,Daren, who you seemed to jokingly flirt a lot with.
That must be a big sign that you were finally getting over that guy on skates that sliced the ice like he sliced your heart 3 months ago, no?

Must be a sign that you were finally over Andre, right?

At least, that's what you tried to tell yourself.

As you walked down the hall to the cafe, a hand grasped your arm and you were pulled back into a hard, towering body.
Looking up, your eyes met with Darren's bluish, grey orbs.

He smiled down at you. "Hey (Y/N)," he greeted with a large, toothy smile, you returned the greeting with the same expression.

"I was wondering if maybe," he started, removing his hold on one of your shoulders to reach into his pocket, pulling out two slips of paper,"you would like to accompany me to a Washington caps home game tonight? " he finished, shaking the slips of paper in his hands.
You eyed the tickets warily and hesitated in giving an answer. You wanted to say yes but the fear of bumping into him was etched into your mind.

You heard that Andre would be making his debut with the Washington capitals this season, as he was somewhat of a big deal. At first, it made you nervous and you kept very observant of your surroundings, making sure not to unintentionally bump into him in the city. But slowly, as time passed, you eased, coming to the conclusion that any encounter would be very rare.

This however, was basically putting the prey in the Lion's den. You would be going, right where he would be.

Some part of you still longed to see him but the other part, didn't want to be hurt again, nor reminded of the heart ache he gave you.

Looking back at Daren, however, you decided you couldn't let Andre have that much importance, and so you smiled at a nervous, and fidgeting Daren, and said, "yes!"

"Thank you so much!" He excalimed, picking you up and spinning you around.

You laughed as he did and suddenly you were starting to be sure that you were over Andre.

●●●●●●

*at the game *

You and Daren walked into the Verizon center. His hand rested on your back leading you through the crowd.

Daren was going on and on about some hockey stats but you didn't seem to care, you had more important things on your mind, more important things to worry about.

Now that you were here, the possibility of seeing Andre finally sunk in and you were beyond nervous.

"(Y/N) are you even listening to me ?" He grit out, slightly irritated.

You looked back to him with an apologetic look, "No, sorry, it's just that I'm a little nervous, that's all ," you half-lied. You were nervous but not because of Daren.

His expression softened upon hearing that and he pulled you in closer to his side.

" It's okay, I'm gonna try my best to make sure you feel comfortable," he smiled down at you. You couldn't help but smile back.

All the while, you didn't realize that the chocolate brown eyes you first fell in love with and were still probably in love with, were watching you.
●●●●
The caps won against the Stars 4-2. You had made eye contact with Andre a couple times during warm up, but never during the game, yet the few times your eyes met, your heart soared. You got up with Daren, ready to leave.

With Daren, you were happy but it wasn't the way Andre made you feel and still manages to make you feel.
However, you still wanted you and Daren to work. He was a nice guy and Andre .. you couldn't forgive him after what he did.

As you two exited the rink door, you realized you forgot your phone on your seat.
"Hey, Daren, I forgot my phone on my seat, let me just grab it and I'll be right out," you said.
" Are you sure you don't want me to grab it ?" He offered. You smiled at him,"No, it's fine, I'll meet you in the car."

With that, he mumbled an alright and gave you a kiss on your head. You didn't feel anything though. Yet when Andre showed small gestures of intimacy like that, your heart soared.

You shook your head, as a way to stop thinking about him and retrieved your phone from your seat, but as you turned around to leave you crashed into a hard wall-er, chest.

With the tingles spreading through out your body, you knew exactly who it was.
But you wouldn't look up at him.
"Please move, I need to leave," you grit out, trying to keep your tears in.

"Please, just let me explain," he strained out.
His voice was laced with guilt, hurt and heartbreak. You wanted to give him a hug, forgive him and move on, but he hurt you that day and you were here with someone else .
You looked up at him once he asked to explain himself and glared.

"What is there to explain? Huh? You cheated on me ! I loved you and you threw away the 4 years we were together like they didn't mean crap! Obviously the feelings were only once sided. I hate you Andre Burakovsky! I HATE YOU .. but it hurts so much because I still love you and you never did and never will," you ranted, then plopped down on the seat, the dams finally breaking as tears ran down your cheeks.

Andre crouched down at your level and took your chin between his thumb and index finger. Tears ran down his cheeks as well.

"I didn't know you felt that way," he mumbled out. This angered you, and you ripped his hand off your chin.
"So apparently it wasn't enough for me to be with you, you had to know that's how I felt to not cheat on me ? You're ridiculous! I need to leave, my date is waiting for me", your sneered.

Hurt laced his face and his tears fell down faster. You could practically hear his heart break into tiny pieces just like yours did that day. It hurt you, that you hurt him.

"(Y/N) I was stupid and I made a stupid mistake. I know it'll take my entire life to make up for what I did, but I want to spend that life with you. I love you so, so much. You left your sketch book and some stuff at my house a while ago. Every night, I look at your sketches and your belongings and wish you were there . I hate my self for how much I hurt you, but knowing it'll take eternity to make it up for what I did, I want to spend my eternity with you. What I'm trying to say is, (Y/N), will you marry me ? I don't have a ring on me right now but I can't wait any longer, I love you (y/n). I love you, I always have," he cried out. His eyes were red and puffy and tear stains marked his cheeks.

You couldn't do this to your self or to Andre anymore. You loved him, you truly did and he made you feel a way that no one, not even Daren could ever make you feel. Instead of nodding or saying yes, you pulled him in for a kiss. A passionate one, filled with fire, warmth, love and a need for each other.

Too soon, you both pulled away, your foreheads touching and noses brushing.
"How do I explain this to Daren?" You mumbled out, starting to worry. But before Andre could say anything to help, a voice answered for you. " You don't have to say anythjng, I understand. I still like you but you belong with someone else," you turned around to see that is was Daren.
"I'm so sorry," you said, disappointed that you had hurt him. He just gave you a said smile and shook his head,"No hard feelings. Good luck to both of you with your new start,"he replied. Giving you a short hug, and a pat on the back to Andre, before leaving you two, be.

"Well that went," you said as you turned back to face Andre, a large smile on your face. The one he returned just made your heart melt.

The distance between your lips kept decreasing as you stared longingly into each other eyes, before his finally met yours. No matter how many times you had kissed Andre before and ho many times you would in the future, he'd always make you feel the same as the first time you kissed him.

You both broke away to catch your breaths.
"How about we take this home, yeah? Mrs. Soon- to- be- Burakovsky," he smiled down cheekily at you.
" I think we should,"you winked back, making him laugh.

This was where you were meant to be. With him. You were happy you had agreed to come here in the first place, your missing piece was back again.