The Boy Next Door

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

I had my first softball practice after school, and I told Will he could go home, but he didn’t want to. I sighed. There was no way I could force him.

I ran around the field a couple of times, and then I began to warm up my arm with Sam the catcher. It felt good to be in my element again.

The real practice started, and I was pitching to the other girls. I struck the majority of them out, and then it was my turn to bat. The second-string pitcher came and threw it right down the middle. I took a swing, and I felt the ball hit my metal bat. I took off running. I rounded almost the whole field, but when I was halfway past third, the ball was in Sam’s glove.

She threw it toward the third baseman, and I took off toward home. I was literally in a pickle. Macy, the third baseman threw the ball back to Sam, and Sam threw it back as I ran back and forth between them. When Macy hesitated, I knew that I was going to be safe. I took off full sprint towards home and slid. I was safe. I was covered in dirt, but I was satisfied. I looked over at Will, and he gave me a warm smile, which I returned.

“Great job Sky.” He said to me after practice and he tried to give me a hug, but I pushed him away.

“Eww, I’m all sweaty.” I protested.

He didn’t care, and he engulfed me in a hug. I pushed him away because it was gross. I drove him home, and then I hopped in the shower. On Saturday, Will was going to take me on our first “official” date.

Will came over to my house, and we were watching a movie together when my phone rang. It was my house phone, and no one ever called my house phone. I stood from the couch, and I made my way to the nearest phone. I answered it.

“Phone call for Ms. Lawrence.” The voice said.

“Yes, this is she.” I responded into the phone confused.

“Hello, I’m here to inform you about the upcoming court date.” The man said into the phone with a monotonic voice. I was very confused. “We will need you as a witness in the Jace Knight case. If you speak in trial, he will be persecuted. We will need you at the end of the month. Thank you.” He said and hung up.

I dropped the phone. I could hear Will screaming my name, but it sounded as if he was under water. I felt myself falling, and I braced myself for the fall, but two arms wrapped around me. I looked up to see Will’s face before I blacked out.

The next thing I was aware of was the lights. My eyes adjusted to the bright lights, and I saw my friends sitting next to me. I realized I was in a hospital.

“What happened?” I asked while trying to sit up, but Will gently held me down.

“Stay down.” He ordered. “You fainted. I don’t know why; you had a phone call, and then I caught you before you fell.”

It all started to come back to me. The phone call, the court case, Jace.

“Will, it was from the police. They said they needed me as a witness in Jace’s case.” I cried. “I can’t face him Will, I can’t.”

He wrapped his arms around me, and I buried my head in his chest.

“It’ll be ok. We don’t have to talk about it now. You need to relax.” He told me as he stroked my hair.

I nodded and laid back down. I left the hospital a few hours later after the doctors thought I was stable enough. I was skittish the whole ride home, and I hated feeling that way. I needed to relax.

“Hey guys, how about we throw a party on Friday?” I asked excitedly.

“Hell yeah!” Tay screamed as she threw her fist in the air.

“You sure you can handle it?” Will asked me.

“He can’t ruin my life forever. I need to have a good time and forget about the case for a bit.” I told him and kissed him on the cheek so he knew I was telling the truth. I could hear Taylor gagging in the background.

“This has to be the best party.” Tay stated. “We have to start planning right away.”

“’K. We’ll start planning when we get home.” I told her. She was bouncing up and down with excitement.

We pulled into my driveway and went up to my room. I grabbed a notepad and a couple of pencils.

“Alright, so guest list?” I questioned.

“Everyone.” Tay said nonchalantly.

“’K, so food. I was thinking just some snacks and stuff.” I suggested.

“Let’s not forget beer.” Tay sang.

I scrunched my nose at the thought. I hated alcohol. I hated the smell, taste, and what it did to people, but it was a party and it was expected, so I put it on the list. We spent the next hour coming up with a music playlist and how we would rearrange my furniture.

Will just had his arm wrapped around me the whole time and nodded. I could tell he wasn’t into party planning. Hell, I didn’t even know if he liked to party. The last time we were going to go to a party Jace interfered.

I found myself getting tired very quickly, and I didn’t like it. I stood up, but I started to feel dizzy. I grabbed Will’s shoulder to steady myself.

“You ok?” he asked worried as he grabbed my arm to balance me.

“Yeah, must be the meds the doctors gave me.” I said as I rubbed my temples. “I just need to go to bed.”

He nodded and carried me to my room. He set me down on the bed.

“I need to go home, my mom needs me, but I don’t want to leave you like this.” He said with sad eyes.

“I’m fine, really. Just tired, besides, I got Tay.” I said while gesturing to my best friend in the corner. He gave me a quick kiss, and he left.

“What’s really up?” Tay demanded as she sat on my bed.

“Nothing.” I mumbled while avoiding her eyes.

“Don’t give me that bullshit. That may work on your boyfriend, but not me. So tell me what happened.” She ordered with a stern look on her face. I sighed. I knew she wasn’t going to give up.

“I really have no idea. I stood up and I felt dizzy. It’s probably nothing.” I said while closing my eyes.

“Ok, but if you pass out again, I’ll be the one to slap you awake.” She said with a playful smile.

“That’s helpful.” I muttered. “I’m going to bed now, you don’t have to stay.”

She laughed. “Not stay? You have got to be kidding me, I wouldn’t leave my bff.” She said while faking hurt. “Besides, Will would kick my ass if I didn’t stay.”

I laughed with her. She really was my best friend.