pt5

The two girls walked over to the field as they got closer, they could see it was the same group of guys that passed by her house the day before. They looked at each other and wanted to turn around until Demi looked and noticed Zaine was up to bat next. Victoria noticed the longing look in her eyes. She sighed. Her voice was low when spoke. “Just five minutes alright?”

Demi tried to play off as if she didn’t know what Victoria was talking about. “What?”

“You know what I mean. Just a few minutes.”

“Well, if you insist.”

“I don’t we can leave. It’s too hot to be outside like this. I would much rather be sitting somewhere eating ice cream.”

“Oh.” She looked back at the field waiting for Zaine to go up to the plate.

“We can stay.”

“Mmm.”

Victoria shook her head while rolling her eyes. She watched the guys play baseball along side her friend. Zaine took the bat from his friend, tapped it against his foot. He made a big show of saying he was going to get a homerun. He pointed the bat in the air and then took a few practice swings. The pitcher threw the first ball, it was a fast ball. Zaine swung and missed the ball.

His friends had already found out that he had a crush on Demi, they snickered at his failed attempt to impress her. The pitcher threw the next ball, it was curve ball this time. Zaine missed again. Demi thought cheering him on would make him do his best. “You can do it Zaine.”

His friends all jeered at him when they heard her. “Oooh, Zaine finally has an admirer.”

Demi furrowed her eyebrows. “Shut the hell up, dumbasses.”

That made Zaine laugh. He wasn’t sure if she was defending him or herself but it made him like her even more. The pitcher threw the last ball. It was a fast ball. Zaine watched until it was just about over the plate when he swung. The bat connected with the ball sending it flying over everyone’s head. It sailed through the air and over the fence. Zaine smiled at them before walking around the bases. His friends couldn’t do anything but stand their sulking.

Demi and Victoria headed back towards the road. Victoria really wanted something cold. “Hey what about a snowball?”

Victoria looked at her puzzled. “Don’t you mean shaved ice?”

“No, I mean snowball. When they place it in a cone it looks like a snowball with syrup all over it.”

“That’s shaved ice.”

“Tomato, tomahto. Same thing.”

“It is not.”

“The hell it ain’t. I wont ever not call it that.”

“I don’t know whether to call you country or just call you weird.”

“But you love me anyway so it doesn’t matter.”

Victoria pulled Demi into her arms and gave her a light headbutt. Zaine had completed his run an searched to see if Demi was still by the fence. He found the two girls walking up the road. His best friend and cousin, Brandon came up to him throwing his arm around his slumped shoulders. “Sucks you didn’t have a chance to tell her anything.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“We all know it. You not the best at keeping secrets. Ain’t you going to the same school as us this year?”

“Maybe, I don’t know.”

“Well, if you do maybe you have a chance to get her attention then.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

Brandon patted his cousin on the shoulder then walked off. He yelled over his shoulders. “Hey, we still playing a game you know.”

“How? We don’t have a ball.”

He glared at his cousin and went to help the other boys find the ball. Zaine stood there watching the girls figure slowly disappear from his view.

Demi and Victoria each got a shaved ice, demi asked for a pina colada flavor while Victoria wanted strawberry flavored. They walked back towards her house eating their cones, sharing occasionally. Victoria couldn’t stand the silence anymore. “Do you think you’ll tell Zaine you like him?”

“Probably not. I mean clearly, he and I wouldn’t work.”

“That’s a lie. You’re gorgeous and smart and freaking amazing. Any and all guys would love to be with you. I know you liked hearing those gross men call out to us.”

Demi stopped walking; her eyes were wide open.

“Yeah, busted you dirty little twit.”

“OH, shut up. I mean yeah they were wrong but if you rationalize it, they think we look pretty.”

“Or they just a bunch of asshats that just want to get off and any pretty girl will do.”

“Let me believe they meant well.”

“If I let you believe that then you wont ever grow up.”

They started walking again. “You don’t have to be so blunt all the time.”

“Yes, I do. Besides, without me you would be a loner and an outcast. At least with me you can be your complete weird goofy self.”

They made it back to her house. Her parents were home and they did not look happy at all. Victoria whispered in her ear. “If you want to stay the night with me, you can. We have the room.”

She shook her head. It wasn’t like they could be mad at her for anything. She didn’t do anything wrong. “I’ll be fine. Promise.”

Her parents stood on the porch, glaring at each other. It was different, they never looked at each other that way. Demi hugged her friend. “Bye, I’ll see you later. Or I’ll let you know what happened.”

Victoria hugged her back and made her way home, just a few houses down the road. Demi timidly walked up to the porch hoping their anger wasn’t going to be directed at her for a change.

“Demi, we need to have a family meeting. Get inside.” Her father bellowed making her run inside.

All the girls sat on the sofa waiting for their parents to speak. The first words that came out of her dad’s mouth was a shock to them all. “We’re moving.”