Vol. 1: Twenty-Seven

+ LOVING ELIJAH MCCAY +

VOL. 1: CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

The light peered in through my open curtains, as I clutched onto my bed sheets with clenched fingers. I was dreading waking up this morning, and going to school. But I'd made a promise to myself, last night. A promise that I would face my problems head-on today, instead of running away at first sight of them.

But then again, it was easier said than done.

I sat up in my bedspread, pushing the sheets off of my already heaving figure. I reached over for my cellphone, which was sitting idly by on my nightstand, connected to the charger. I disconnected it, swiping into my messages, searching for Rick's contact.

Pick me up for school? He responded instantly with a quick, yeah.

He'd called me once last night, after Terrance had finally dropped me back off my house, but I hadn't known that until this morning, since I'd crashed as soon as I was dropped off.

I knew that he wanted to talk about what had happened with me, since we hadn't spoken since he picked me up from the fair.

It was unusual for the two of us to go longer than a few hours without talking. But I'd gotten so swept up with Elijah, and then Terrance—that I'd forgotten about it all. But I knew that Rick wasn't too worried about that, considering he'd been getting especially close to the redhead from Terrance's party.

And I was happy for him, even if the two of them were just friends. Rick didn't date much, and he didn't make many friends, seeming as his home life happened to take up a lot of his spare time. Especially when it came to his father, and his many girlfriends.

Much younger girlfriends, not to mention.

I'd dressed quickly, tossing a cream colored sweater shirt over my shoulders, after taking a long-overdue shower. I'd chosen the same old white pair of sneakers I always wore, and ran a shaky hand through my slightly damp curls.

The sight in my mirror caused me to sigh in disappointment, seeing as my appearance looked as though it had been thrown together in a hurry. And although it had, I didn't want people to know that.

I jogged down the staircase of my home, coming face-to-face with both of my parents sitting, and having breakfast at the kitchen table. I raised an eyebrow. I had expected my mother to be at work by this time. She tended to work an earlier shift than my father.

I gripped tightly onto my backpack, hoping that neither of them knew that I'd snuck out last night, and left through my bedroom's large window.

My mother raised both eyes to mine, halting she and my fathers light conversation. "I've been waiting for you to wake up, I was getting ready to wake you—thought you were going to be late."

Halfheartedly apologizing, I made my way into the kitchen, and found a small plate of eggs and toast resting on the countertop. I grabbed them, and found the seat closest to my mother, watching as she sipped her coffee quietly.

She raised a hand, scratching at the back of her neck, which was something she did whenever she was nervous. "So, um, abba and I are having another date night, after work. So, you'll be home alone until late."

I nodded in understanding, smiling gently. My parents tended to have a date night at least twice a week. Since my mother was always nagging my father about how it was necessary to have a healthy relationship.

Which I completely agreed with.

Continuing to eat quickly, I gave my response. "Okay, yeah, that's cool."

I switched on my cellphone, checking the time, before swearing to myself beneath my breath. I ate the remains of my meal, before washing my dish and setting it into the dish drainer. My father shook his head with a small laugh, as I rushed to get out of the door.

I ran over, and gave the both of them a firm kiss on their foreheads, as we exchanged goodbyes for the day.

Rick's car was sitting just in front of my cozy house, and his blue eyes caught mine through his passenger side window. He sent a slow wave, waiting for me to make my way over to him.

I slid inside of the passenger seat, buckling myself in. He made for a swerving reverse out of my driveway, hand reaching over toward his center console, to turn down the faint music that played softly in the background.

I sagged against my seat, a yawn leaning my parted lips. It was only a little past six-thirty in the morning, as we were expected to wake up early for early-morning practice. Just like we did every morning.

"What happened to you yesterday?" He began, driving vastly down the waking street, edging closer and closer to school. "I called you last night."

"I'm sorry, I fell asleep after . . ." I halted my speaking, trying not to expose the fact that I'd gone running back to Terrance in the middle of the night.

His blue eyes sparked with curiosity. "After what?"

My chest deflated with a defeated sort of sigh, as I prepared myself to come clean. "After I snuck out, and hung out with Terrance." My words were spoken quietly, as I then realized that I was ashamed of my own actions.

Even if it brought the way I looked at Terrance, some awfully needed clarity.

Rick raised a light brow, his truck pausing at a red light. "Seriously, dude?"

I sucked at my teeth, my head lulling to the side of his headrest defeatedly. "I'm sorry, okay? It just kind of happened. I mean, one minute, I was super pissed at Elijah. And then the next, he had his tongue down my throat—"

"Ew!"

"But things actually turned out for the better," I pushed at his chest, watching as he shook his head in disbelief. "I swear it, they did."

Rick rolled his eyes, genuine hesitance radiating off of his features, as he pulled into the parking lot of our school. Shooting me one last glance of apprehension, he reached into the backseat of his truck, and retrieved his gym bag.

I also reached back for mine, hand also searching for my backpack.

We slid out of his truck, hooking our bags onto our shoulders, and shutting the car doors behind us.

As we walked side-by-side, he sent a gentler look, pressing a hand onto my shoulder to halt my walking. I paused, and gave him my undivided attention, which he returned.

"You think you'll be okay with seeing Elijah at practice?" The worry was shone clearly through his face, as I nodded eagerly.

"I'll be fine," I promised, "as long as he keeps his distance, I'll be fine."

Once we made our way to practice, we settled our bags onto the benches, and changed into our uniforms. I turned my back to Rick, as he did the same to me, as I searched my locker that was labeled Ciletti, for my baseball cap.

It was the same cap I always wore during practices, to block my eyes from the blazing sun. Which was never relentless during the Illinois summers.

I let out a pleased sigh in relief when I found it, settling it onto the top of my messy head of curls. It was definitely time for another haircut.

We spent the first twenty minutes stretching, as I tossed a baseball back and forth with Rick, my eyes nervously watching the field, searching for Elijah's familiar form.

Once I caught him on the other side of the field, watching Rick and I from the corner of a bench, a bubble of anger formed in the pit of my stomach. I didn't want him watching me, making my insides curl with nerves.

Rick tossed the ball back, as I caught it swiftly. But when I looked over, and caught his eyes on me again, the ball fell through my fingertips, and rolled onto the dirt.

I cursed at myself, bending over to pick it back up. I found myself glancing over again. And when I did, he was nothing but a back, walking into coach Witherspoon's office, and closing the door behind him. The action caused me to frown, dragging a hand down my face.

The rest of practice was rather easy, considering the fact that Elijah spent all morning distracting coach, and talking to him about God-knows-what.

After another quick shower, Rick and I did our usual routine. Which consisted of him dressing first, and standing in front of me, blocking my figure, as I dressed after him.

The both of us had different classes, as we were forced to go our separate ways. I trudged down the hallway, with both hands sticking inside of my pockets, glancing down at my cellphone every few minutes, for the time.

I frowned in confusion when a hand wrapped around my wrist, wrenching me into their side. My eyes met those familiar green ones that made the muscles in my legs quiver.

Elijah stares down at me with a look of urgency, as though he has something to say. "Gage, we need to talk—"

"I already told you, Elijah, I have nothing to say—"

He groaned loudly, grasp clenching around my wrist. "I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry I acted like a dick, I had no idea you were listening—and even if you wouldn't have been, I know it was an asshole-y thing to do. So this is me, wholeheartedly apologizing for doing a bad thing."

I opened my mouth to protest, but he beat me to it. "You don't have to respond, just . . ." He breathed out a heavy breath. My eyes narrowed in confusion as to why he was taking such a long pause in between speaking. "We're friends, and I like being your friend. And I'm so sorry if I made you feel any differently."

I couldn't help the sullen look that took over my face, as I felt a world of feelings wash over me. I wanted to forgive him, and spend time with him again. Because even just these last two days without him, it made my skin crawl.

Just like he is now.

"You don't have to say anything right now," he spoke closer into my ear, as I carefully watched our surroundings. "Meet me at my car when you're done with school, I want to show you something."

My heartbeat began to accelerate at what he could possibly want to show me, but I couldn't help it when my head started to nod yes. He took my nod with a grain of salt, and grinned widely. "I'll see you then, G."

Dammit.

A/N - I'm sorry if this chapter didn't have much detail, but I PROMISE that the next chapter will :)