#7:10

7:10 pm

7:10 - auston matthews 

summary: it’s been months since the 3 am confession, and months since auston and you had last spoken to each. it was fine you were busy with the Wild and him with the Leafs, it was perfect actually. Only perfect doesn’t last for long. 

warnings: swearing?, kinda angst,

word count: [3,140]

3:15

Masterlist 

“You land yet?” Was the first thing you heard from the blond Swede. “Because Steph wants you to come meet us for dinner.” Sighing you grabbed the backpack acting as a carry-on before filing out of the plane. “I get it if you don’t want to, Mitch and I tried-” 

“-No, no I want to. We just landed, so how about I text you when we get to the hotel,” you offered with a hopeful smile. It had been at least a year since you last saw all of your friends from the Leafs and you couldn’t wait. “I literally just walked off the plane.” 

You could practically hear Will nod his head with a goofy smile. “Great, I’ll pick you up there, and we can meet the lovebirds. Oh, and Y/n/n feel free to bring your playbook so we know how to beat you on Saturday night.” 

Laughing you rolled your eyes at the forward. “Even if you saw the playbook Willy, you should keep dreaming about winning because you couldn’t get past our defense if you tried.” He was quick to defend himself and his teammates. “Okay hot shot, I gotta go, see you in twenty.” 

Sliding your phone into the pocket of your team jacket you looked to your left to see Jordan Greenway. “Flirting with the enemy are we coach?” He asked in a teasing manner.

“I’d watch what I say next if I were you Greenway, I could make you a healthy scratch for the game on Saturday,” you replied with a smug smirk. His smile fell as he stared at you shocked. “I’m only kidding Jordan, there’s no way I’d let that happen with how you’ve been playing.” He was quick to smile in response before jogging to catch up with Charlie and Luke. 

Slowly you made your way to the team bus knowing Bruce would be handing you a full scouting report on the Maple Leafs, just like he had for every other team. “See you’re catching on,” his voice called with a cheery smile, “I knew you would, then again you caught on before you even started. You’re a smart kid Y/n.” You smiled widely at the head coach before saying a thank you. “That’s why I’m counting on you to find a way to shut down the Matthews and Tavares lines.” 

And then the smile was gone. “Shut them down?” Your voice cracked a little at the game changing task you were given. Last year those two lines had absolute games against Minnesota, each recording three goals. “I - I, how?” The pair of you walked on to the bus the older man still smiling at you. 

“The same way you got the team to shut down Crosby and Malkin. You’re hockey IQ is incredible Coach Y/l, you’ll find a way. You always do.” Bruce dropped down into a seat allowing you to take your own. The whole ride to your hotel you were staring down at the points and production for each line on the Leafs, but only one name stood out against the rest: Auston Matthews. 

The locker room was full of laughter and normal conversation, a refreshing atmosphere compared to the one of last night. The rematch of the 2018 2019 Eastern Conference Final was one the players would like to forget. Just like that series the Penguins had showed up to win, with the Leafs doing the same, only to fall short once again. One bad bounce off of Auston’s stick landed right on to Crosby’s, and in the back on the net. 

Something that the center couldn’t get off his mind, it was on constant repeat. If there was no bad bounce the game would have forced overtime, and maybe they would have won. He was so caught up on that game, that he didn’t even realize that you’re team was in town next, that was until Babcock announced to the team. 

“Okay boys, I want you here a little early tomorrow for some film, and then practice after,” the same process the team had heard countless times before. “Morning skate on Saturday to brush up on a few things. Then we got the Wild that night, and let me tell you, with Coach Y/l on their staff it’s not gonna be cake walk.” With that the Canadian coach disappeared back into his office leaving Auston dumbstruck. 

Turning to his right he found both Mitch and Will staring at him gauging his reaction. “The Wild?” The Arizona native asked the pair with a head tilt, “Y/n, we play Y/n.” 

The two shared a look before turning back to tan skinned male. “You knew this was going to happen at some point Matts, what’s the big deal? You moved on,” Mitch stated with a frustrated look. “So did she.” This caused Auston’s face to fall even more. His brown eyes met Will’s blues ones knowing he could help since he was the only other person that knew the truth. 

“She moved on?” Auston then asked hoping no one else heard this conversation but them. A frown had painted the young stars face as he unlaced his skates. It hurt him to hear that you had moved on, even though he knew you didn’t love him. “She has a new boyfriend?” He added praying that Mitch’s answer was no, because he couldn’t bring himself to love anyone other than you. 

The brunette shook his head, “No, she doesn’t. What I mean is that she moved on from needing you, and so did you Auston. You’re doing just fine without her.” Was he doing just fine without you? No, he wasn’t. “Now I gotta go, I’m taking Steph out to dinner, but wanna jump on PS4 later?” 

“Yeah, yeah sure,” Auston answered looking up from his hands, “have fun at dinner.” He finished getting undressed before turning to the blond, “Do you wanna go get food?” The Swede’s head snapped up from his phone to meet Auston’s gaze and question. 

“I, uh, no I can’t,” Will answered stumbling over his words. “I can come over after this thing, and we can talk about - you know.” Both fell silent knowing very well that’s the reason Auston wanted to go out, to try and get his mind off of you. He wanted to talk about what seeing you for the first time since that morning would mean, how much it would hurt him. “I’ll be there Matts okay,” he said with a sad smile, “and we can figure it all out.” 

With a nod of his head Auston looked back up to see that William was gone. Sighing he stood up from his stall and disappeared out of the locker room his mind switching from Crosby to you. Of course he knew this was going to happen, he knew you’d end up back in town at some point. Auston just didn’t think it would happen so soon, but he should’ve. 

He’d been following the Wild’s success all season long just because that’s where you were. Every press conference, interview, and media scrum you had he watched, or listened to. Auston knew it was stupid, that you wouldn’t care he was proud of you. You made that very clear to him since he walked away, but he couldn’t help but imagine what it would’ve been like it he didn’t break up with you. 

You would still be his girl, and Auston couldn’t help but smile thinking about it. He’d be able to make you laugh at his stupid outfits when you were stressing out over a loss, or make you smile when you were crying. All of the little things he pictured himself doing like you had for him. He’d be there for you as much as his schedule allowed, and it made his heart skip a beat thinking about it. And of course he’d tell you he loved you, over and over again. Until you got sick of hearing it. 

But then again this was all just a fantasy to Auston, the sound of a car horn pulling him out of his daydream. Making his heart break all over again as that night flashed through his mind. His fell smile and tears clouded his eyes because that was never going to happen as much as he wished it would. It wouldn’t happen because you didn’t love him, at least that’s what he thought.

You couldn’t but smile as you listened to Mitch and Steph bicker over what appetizer to get. This was the first time in months you felt stress free. Sure on off days you weren’t at the rink, but you were always doing something to make sure practice or the next game would run smoothly. But right now you didn’t feel the stress of the media, and expectations you placed on yourself. You felt happy and relieved. 

It had been ages since you had seen Steph, Mitch, and Will but god did the wait make it all the more worth it. Sure you talked to the three on a daily basis, but it was different. It was more personal being with them face to face. And you had Steph to thank for that. Your best friend had this all planned since you were announced as the new assistant coach for the Wild. She called it their congratulations dinner to you, even if it was five months late.  

“So Y/n/n,” the blond female said with a wide smirk, “got your eye on anybody?” And just like that your smile flattered, but thankfully only Will had noticed. “Well?” Steph pushed for answer something that you just couldn’t give her, and if you did she probably wasn’t going to like it. 

When Auston broke up with you of course you were heartbroken, but god for awhile there you thought Steph took it worse than you. She refused to talk to Auston for two weeks, so telling her that you still loved him wasn’t in your cards at the moment even if she was your best friend. In your mind nobody needed to know you loved Auston expect for yourself and him. 

Laughing you managed to recover from the blind sided question, “Yeah I have one, and his name is Lord Stanley.” This earned a laugh out of everyone of your friends including yourself. “But in all honesty I’ve been way too busy to worry about trying to find anyone else,” you lied knowing very well you could find somebody if you wanted them, so you smiled and hoped she would buy it. That the two hockey players would buy it. 

The smiles on their faces made it seem as if they did, but who really knew. Normally these people would catch you in a lie before it even left your mouth, because they were your best friends. “Well if there’s no guys then let’s get down to business,” Mitch stated his tone becoming more series than before. “Where’s your playbook?”

Laughter spilled from your lips only to come to a complete stop when you saw that Mitch and Will weren’t laughing. “Wait you actually wanted it?” You asked suddenly feeling your heart break, “Because there’s no way I’d give it to you - to anyone.” 

Then the laughter came, “We know that Y/n/n, we’re just messing with you.” Nodding your head you were slow to smile, and only did once you saw Steph’s smile shining over at you. That’s how the rest of the dinner went, jokes and playful shots at each others teams. 

The dinner ended with a friendly wager and some more chirps before Will drove you back to your hotel. “So Lord Stanley, huh?” Will questioned with his signature smile something you’ve seen countless times tonight. 

“Yeah, what’s so wrong with that? I mean he’s always running through your mind right?” You responded nervous to tell him the truth. Maybe he would be okay with it you thought. You for sure knew he’d react better than how Steph would.

“You’re lying,” he sang looking over at you with a smirk. “I saw the way you stopped smiling, and how you hesitated to answer. So who is he?” Now that you weren’t expecting. When you had lied to all of them you figured nobody would have picked up on it, only Will did. He saw the way your smile fell when Steph asked about it, because he was good at picking up on stuff like that. Just like how he knew Auston needed someone to talk to.

Taking a breath you decided if you were going to tell anyone you were happy it’s Will. “You know him actually,” you whispered giving him a small smile, and just like that you thought he was going to die from smiling to much. His head whipped around to stare at you and not the road. 

“No, no way. You’re joking right now,” he called his voice loud over the radio, “Y/n, you really don’t mean Auston, do you?”

“I love him Will.” When he heard you say this he couldn’t help but think back to that night, and how heartbroken you had made Auston. He realized you lied to him, and Auston’s tears were all for nothing. 

The first thing Willy had heard was the door being pushed open, then the second was a muffled crying. His head whipped around away from Miracle to see Auston’s brown eyes were puffy and red. “S-she doesn’t-” without another word the blond jumped up from the couch and wrapped his friend in a hug. The normally happy and full of energy Swede felt himself break just by looking at his friend. 

Will couldn’t help but think this was his fault. He suggested that the twenty-two year old go see you. “She doesn’t love me.” Auston hiccupped. “She doesn’t love me anymore.” And with those five words William Nylander could’ve sworn he felt his heart break. 

“What do you mean you love him Y/n?” It was like a switch flipped inside of Will. That suddenly the idea of you and Auston getting back together was a bad thing. Your smile fell when you saw him start to panic almost. 

Scoffing almost you narrowed your eyes at one of your best friends. “That I love him William, what less would I mean?” You hissed arms crossing over your chest. 

“Then why didn’t you tell him that five months ago Y/n? Do you know how heartbroken he was when he got back?” He questioned at a red light, “How heartbroken he is now?” Your throat went dry. You knew he still loved you, but figured he would get over it. Now you knew you made him feel how you felt.

Shaking your head you turned to face the blond again. “I did.” It was the truth, “I said it back but he never heard me.” Will’s blue eyes glanced to you before pulling up in front of the hotel you were staying at. “You have to believe me Willy,” you whispered almost as if you were begging for forgiveness. He looked away from you making you sigh and getting out of the car. 

So much for trying to fix things.

His eyes were glued to you, as you spoke with the crazy Toronto media for the first time. You had put him into some sort of daze, and he couldn’t break it. Auston listened closely to all of the questions asked, and even closer to your answer. Noticed how you spun the charm bracelet when asked a though question, or how your tongue darted out to wet your lips. 

Then your e/c eyes met his brown ones, and he could see how stressed you looked. How out of it you looked. Without a second thought he pushed himself away from the wall and made his way towards you. “Do you think your looks helped play a roll in getting hired?” 

Auston looked from you to find the reporter who asked it. He was seeing red. “I think that’s the end of this,” he announced stepping to you fully. His arm wrapped around your shoulder as he pulled you to safety from all of the questions. When he finally looked down into your eyes he could see the tears starting to form. “Shh, shh, you’re okay Y/n/n, it’s okay.” 

He knew that it seemed strange he was helping you, but after talking with will last night he couldn’t help it. Will had told him you still loved him so he knew he had to take the chance that was given to him. 

Your head shook at him trying to step the tears, “I don’t know how to be in this world.” He stayed silent knowing you weren’t done. “Tell me how to be in this world. How to breath in and feel no hurt.” His thumbs brushed away the tears that slipped out of your eyes. 

“I will, Y/n I promise,” he whispered hands going to cup your cheeks, “I promise you I’ll show you how too.” He felt as you slowly nodded your head against his palms with a frown painting your face. 

“What if you walk away again?” You asked his eyes never leaving yours, “I can’t go through that again Auston. Not when I’m coaching and already stressed out, so please don’t make me go through that again.” The way you begged him made his heart break all over again. 

Shaking his head he gave a small sad smile. “You won’t, because this time I know you’re more important Y/n.” His confession got a smile out of you, “I love you Coach Y/n L/n, but I’m sorry to say you’re gonna have to lose tonight.” 

With the tears finally stopping and a smirk working its way on to your face you gained your confidence back once more. “So you think Matthews,” you teased, “only there’s a new coach in town and from what I hear she doesn’t take no as an answer.” His smile flattered a bit, “But don’t worry I won’t love you any less tomorrow just because I beat you.” 

His laugh rang throughout the area as did yours causing both Mitch and Will to look at the pair. Their smiles found their way to their own faces as they saw the two of you slowly working your way towards what you used to be. “You see Coach L/n, the thing is you have to shut me down before you win.” 

“What like its hard?” You asked pulling away from him. He watched as you started to walk back towards the Wild team, only to turn and through a smirk over your shoulder. “You’re going down Matthews.”