Today was the day. The day I would put everything I had been working for into motion. I didn’t just want to get back on the team, I wanted my old spot back. But, I couldn’t get cocky. Not yet. Megan thought I needed another month’s worth of therapy, but five months was enough for me now. I couldn’t keep doing therapy and practices, so I went to my last therapy session today right before try-outs to say goodbye to everyone. They weren’t happy to see me go, but that didn’t mean my resolve was any less firm.
I was hoping that if I became a starter, my parents might lift my grounding. I was tired of not being able to see Jason. He was my boyfriend now. It was a little weird to call him as such after so long, but I liked it. They couldn’t keep us apart, even if it meant he had to climb up the tree outside my window. I’d sneak out or lie if I had to.
It wasn’t right to lie, but my parents were being bigots, and they knew it. They were blaming me for Kaleb’s decision that they didn’t agree with. Well, guess what? My other brothers agreed with me but were too worried they wouldn’t have Mommy and Daddy’s approval anymore. I, on the other hand, had never had their approval, so I wouldn’t be missing anything.
Sure, if they cut me off, it would suck. I’d probably cry about it. After all, they are my family, my only real parents even if they don’t always treat me with respect. I still love them from the bottom of my heart. That would never change. But, I couldn’t keep letting them walk all over me and deciding my fate for me. No. That was done. I decided my own destiny.
I stepped onto the court, my new shoes laced up tight, staring at the other girls who were shooting around, warming up. I closed my eyes and just listened to the dribbling of the balls, the swish of the nets, the feet pounding the floor. I opened my eyes and ran to the rack and grabbed myself a ball and started inside, taking a few shots and when I made ten in a row, I worked myself back out.
I was on top of the key, shooting my tenth shot when the coach blew his whistle and had us bring it in. I shot my last shot, turning before I saw it go in. I took a step before I heard the swish.
~.~.~.~.~.~
The car finally pulled up after a half an hour of me waiting out in the cold. Mom was always late, looks like that wasn’t going to be changing anytime soon. I’d need to figure out something else to do when the winter really did set in. I wasn’t going to keep waiting out in the snow. I’d freeze to death before my first real game.
I opened the door and plopped myself in the front seat, ignoring my mother and just stared off into the distance. She was going to be stubborn with their choice of not letting me see Jason, I could be stubborn, too. I didn’t have to talk to her ever, I usually fended for myself anyway. This was no different.
“How did try outs go?” she asked, breaking the silence. “Did you get on the team? Did you get your old spot back?” She was trying her hardest to act like nothing was going on. Like we weren’t both secretly mad at each other.
I didn’t answer her, just pulled out my smart phone and checked Facebook. I’d need to get Jason to get a phone. We could text each other when we couldn’t see each other. I’d talk about it tonight when he came over. Facebook was boring as ever, no one ever posted statuses that were actually relevant to anything. I thought about putting up a status about the try-outs, but then decided against it. I never updated anything on Facebook.
“Elijah, I am talking to you,” my mother’s voice was getting darker, madder.
“And I’m not talking to you,” I told her matter-of-factly.
“I know you think your punishment isn’t fair, but-”
“No. No buts. The punishment is unfair. Jason is good for me, and you both know it. You only want to see me suffer and angry and upset,” I told her.
“That’s not true, and you know it.” She was pulling into the driveway. When she came to a stop, she parked the car and cut the engine.
I shook my head, “No, I don’t know that. Jason made me happy. You’ve said as much. I’ve been less angry, been doing what I’m supposed to. You know, since Jason came into my life, I finally feel like I belong. After Jason came into my life, I quit thinking about killing myself.” With that, I got out of the car and headed up to my room. I could hear my mother calling after me, but I wasn’t about to explain myself to her. Not like she’d understand anyway.
Discarding my clothes, I decided a shower was called for. I could stall for more time away from my mother, and I could wash off all the sweat and grime I had gotten from practice. After my shower and after I got dressed, I headed downstairs to find some food. I noticed my mother had left again, off to work, and my dad had left a message saying he had to go put in some overtime tonight.
I was home alone again, but that was fine with me. I didn’t mind staying away from everyone for awhile, and this way, it would be easier for Jason to sneak over. I made myself a salad and made my way back up to my room, and just as I was sitting at my computer, a gentle rap at my window indicated Jason was here.
Smiling, I turned in my swivel chair and went to open the window for him. I gave him a kiss on the lips before he could even come in. “Good evening,” I said to him, a smile playing on my lips, before I moved out of the way to let him inside.
“Well? How’d it go?” he asked, stepping into the room.
I walked over to the bed and took a seat. “Oh, ya know. Could have been better could have been worse.”
He came and sat next to me. “Did you make the cut?”
I grinned from ear to ear. “I got my old spot back!” I squealed in happiness. “Molly won’t be happy with me for awhile, but I don’t even care. This is my time. It’s going to be great. You’ll be at all my games, right?” I asked him.
He looked down at me and smiled back, “You even need to ask?” he cupped my face in his hands and pulled me closer to him for another kiss. And I couldn’t help but feel so utterly happy. I hadn’t been this happy in years.
