Chapter 4 My Autograph Can't Be Hard? Let's see.

Ethan's POV

Keylan had a way of scheduling things that made them feel as though he was commanding you.

He'd drop a time and a place into your calendar, expecting you to follow it strictly.

The one he did today was this: 10 AM. My apartment. Quick chat re: filming logistics.

I'd fire the guy but he was probably the only one who had my back right now.

Or maybe not seeing as it was he who came up with this shitty idea. This idea that six weeks of wholesome content was going to override what people thought they already knew about me.

Public opinion wasn't something you could control.

Besides, the truth would come out eventually or... it wouldn't.

But either way I still wanted to be able to play hockey, which was the only thing that actually mattered to me. So if Keylan thought a shitty show would save my dreams, then sure, I'd do it.

When I was buzzed up into his apartment, I saw a girl sitting on the only couch in the room/office space.

She's bent over her phone texting but her black hair fell over her face, hiding it from view.

I felt a little prickle of curiosity as I closed the door behind me.

But I'd barely strode into the room when she raised her head and looked at me.

Big brown eyes stared at me from behind even bigger nerd glasses.

Wait! Her?! It was Four Eyes!

The bit--Wait. It's politically incorrect to call women that word. Also we are doing the whole fucking PR shit so…. Okay fine whatever

BUT, she called me a fucking violent maniac.

I'd never forget that face anywhere.

Did I trip her after she said that?

Well, we are doing the whole PR thing so you're not gonna an answer from me.

Anyway, I fucking despise people like her who think they can form opinions about celebrities based off of what they see on the Internet or two fucking seconds of footage.

It's not like I care what she thinks about me. I don't. But it's still damned infuriating.

"What is she doing here?" I barked at Keylan who was scribbling on his white board.

He swiveled around on his chair to face me. "And hello to you too." Then he looked from me to the big-mouth. "I take it you two know each other?"

"No." We both said at the same time and Keylan shrugged.

"Well the both of you better get acquainted asap." He drawled, sliding his marker behind his ear. "That's our new female lead for the show, E. And this meeting is for you both to go over the filming details with me."

That said, he waved me over to the only empty space in the room which was the space beside her on the couch or the floor.

I forced myself to take the couch and arched my brow at him to get things started so we could wrap up soon.

Finally, in what seemed like an hour of torture, Keylan wrapped up the logistics and stepped out to take a call, which left the two of us in silence.

I instantly stood up to leave but she reached into her bag and smiled at me. "Hey, don't go yet, partner."

I scoffed at the partner word.

Anyway, I didn't stay because she asked me to. I was already leaving but before I could turn back around she brought out a T-shirt with my first jersey number ever on it.

What the hell?

Stalker much?

As usual, your biggest hater is probably your biggest fan.

"My friend is a big fan," she said, holding it out to me, still with her creepy smile on her face. "If you wouldn't mind."

Now she's making up imaginary friends just to act like it's not her who wants the damn autograph.

I looked at the shirt and back at her until a little bit of color flooded her face.

"She watched the Beanpot final," she tried again, with more effort. "She's followed your career for a while. She really admires your... your commitment to the sport."

Your commitment to the sport. I could swear that was ripped out of her.

She pulled in a breath through her teeth and I could see it cost her everything to say her next words.

"You played really well," Four Eyes said. "The winning goal especially. It was...I don't know much about hockey but even I could tell it was impressive. You're clearly talented. Please man, I thought Keylan already told you I'd ask for this."

Every word of that sounded as though it had been physically extracted from her.

I let the quiet sit for another few seconds before gritting out. "Violent maniac. Wasn't that the phrase?"

All the color that had flooded her face immediately drained away and she gasped.

"You heard that…haha." Her hand dropped the shirt as she let out the painfully awkward laughter. "Uh... I...I was caught off guard after what happened and I didn't mean that."

"You don't have to explain it." I leaned back and crossed my arms over my chest, my lips twisted into a sardonic smile. "However, isn't it ironic that you want an autograph from a violent maniac?"

Anger moved behind her brown eyes and a small part of me felt intrigued but I stomped on it immediately.

Annoying and hypocritical fans were the worst.

"I regret saying that now, Mr. Andersen." she bit out and that was the most unconvincing apology I'd ever heard.

“Good. You always should regret your judgemental words, Miss Slo.” The way I said her name might have sounded like ‘slow’ but who cares. "Good day."