When Our Worlds Collide

by Iler, Lindsey

  That’s weird.

  “You were meant to play this game, Graham. Just prove it to everyone else who doesn’t already know,” Coach reassures me just as I get up from the chair in his office.

  “Thanks Coach. I’ll see you out there,” I wave before shutting the door to his office behind me.

  I walk into the locker room where the rest of my team is sitting around bullshitting. Our usual routine before games. Everyone knows that the scouts are coming tonight to see me pitch. They pat me on the back with words of encouragement as I make my way to my locker. All of my teammates seem to be happy for me except for one. Craig’s standing at the end of the row of lockers glaring me down.

  “So the scouts are coming today to watch Mr. All American play, huh?” Craig yells at me slamming the door of his locker making the room echo with the crash.

  I just roll my eyes ignoring him, not wanting to get riled up before the game. I put my headphones on and turn the volume up on my iPod drowning him and everyone else out. A few minutes pass when someone tugs on the headphones pulling them from my ears. I turn to see Craig standing directly in my face. His chest is puffed up against my arm.

  “What is your problem, man?” I ask with my fists clenched. I’m ready to lay his ass out if need be. Craig smiles the biggest most condescending smile I have ever seen.

  “Kennedy’s looking pretty hot lately. I should have gotten in that when I had the chance. She practically begged me, you know.” I grab Craig by his baseball jersey slamming him against the metal lockers.

  All of our teammates sit watching, waiting for me to throw a punch. I want to. I would have found great pleasure in breaking his nose. I’m not going to let some worthless dickhead take away what I’ve worked hard for. Tonight’s game is too important.

  I still have ahold of his jersey as I slam his body back a little rougher this time against the lockers. “Don’t you ever speak about Kennedy like that again. Don’t look at her in the hallways. Don’t talk to her. Don’t even think about her,” I yell causing everyone’s watchful eyes to bulge from their sockets.

  Craig shoves me back causing me to take a few steps to balance myself. He leaves the locker room before I can say anything else. My teammates give me the much needed distance. No one asks any questions or makes any comments. I don’t like the way he talked about Kennedy, what he insinuated. There’s this menacing gleam in his eyes every time her name passes his lips.

  I turned away from everyone’s questioning glances and plug my headphones back in. Let The Bodies Hit the Floor screams into my ears. I need to relax before I blow my one shot out of this town. Dan walks up beside me leaning against the locker beside mine. I know he has something to say. He always has something to say.

  “Just spit it out, man,” I sit down on the bench resting my head in my hands. He follows me sitting down next to me.

  “What was that all about? First you punch him in the hallway when you and Kennedy first get together and now this? You haven’t gone to any of his parties. You avoid talking to him at all cost, so what’s the deal?” Dan questions my recent behavior.

  Should I tell him? Trusting him isn’t the issue. It isn’t my story to tell, but it would be nice to have someone else to watch out for Craig for me after his little outburst. I’m going to have to ask Kennedy if he’s said anything to her. When I’m around he keeps his distance. I still catch him watching her from now and then. Nothing to significant. Just enough to piss me off.

  “It’s nothing. Craig’s just been acting differently these days. I don’t like it,” I brush off his question.

  “That’s bullshit. Remember that Craig was your best friend before Kennedy came along. Whatever it is it can’t be that bad.” Dan pats me on the shoulder leaving the locker room to head towards the field.

  It can’t be that bad? If he only knew just how bad it actually is. It’s times like these that I wish Kennedy would just tell someone. She should have reported it the night it happened. I can’t ask her to though. I’d be a hypocrite. I can’t manage to tell a soul about my father, so why should I expect her to tell her secret. We are one in the same.

  My anger is at a whole different level at this point. I can’t stop my fist from slamming into the locker in front of me, not really caring if I fuck up my hand. I’m angry at my father for beating the shit out of me. I’m angry at my mother for not saying a damn word about it. I’m angry at Craig for what he has done to Kennedy and I’m angry at Kennedy for not doing anything about it. I’m finding myself becoming more and more angry about everything. At one point all these secrets are going to catch up to Kennedy and me. It’s all going to boil over and we’ll both get burnt.

  I run out of the locker room and nearly crash into Coach. “Whoa, slow down,” he yells as I practically bulldoze him.

  “Sorry, just have a lot on my mind. I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going,” I explain shaking out my sore hand.

  “Everything okay?” He asked while looking me over again like he had in his office. If he only knew that I just punched a metal locker he’d probably beat the shit out of me.

  “Yeah, just nerves.” I don’t stick around to have any more of that conversation. Ever since he’s called me into his office he’s been too attentive. He even called me over after practice one day this week just to see how things were going. Coach is always getting into our business, but he is usually more subtle about it.

  I reach the field scanning the field for Kennedy. She always stands in the same spot on the fence beside Violet. I don’t see Violet standing with her. Craig’s leaning against the fence. He obviously doesn’t understand what I mean by don’t talk to her or go near her. This is the last shit I need right now.

  Kennedy notices me before he does. A nervous tense expression is readable all over her beautifully innocent face. What the hell was he saying to her that made her uneasy? She glances between the two of us leaving Craig standing on the fence. She makes her way over to me. Craig turns to grin at me.

  Piece of shit.

  “Graham…” Kennedy grabs my attention.

  “What the fuck is he doing talking to you?” I yell loud enough to gain the attention of the crowd that is gathering around the bleachers. Kennedy comes through the fence running directly into my arms. Coach will yell at her if he sees her on the field this close to game time.

  “Listen to me, don’t worry about him. I’ll explain everything later, but it’s under control. I think he’s just trying to get a rise out of you and it’s obviously working,” she whispers in my ear while still being wrapped in my arms.

  “Yeah he’s getting a rise out of me. I practically kicked his ass in the locker room before he came out here.”

  “I’m okay. Worry about the game and we’ll talk later. I promise.”

  “Dan’s having a party tonight, so we’ll talk when we get there. I’ll probably be a while with the Coaches from Georgia. I forgot to ask if you could ride with Violet. I’ve just been distracted.” Kennedy gives me a pouty look. She hates the idea of walking into parties without me. I can’t blame her after everything she’s been through. “You’ll be fine just this one time. Violet will be with you. Make sure you stick close to her.” I drop her to the ground kissing her fully on the lips.

  I head towards the dugout and feel a hard smack on my ass. I turn to see Kennedy smirking at me. “Good luck baby,” she mouths.

  “Who needs luck when I have you?” I smile back at her.

  Mark is already behind home plate waiting for me to find my rightful spot on the pitcher’s mound. He tosses the ball to me and we go through our usual warm up. I let it all fall away in a moment’s notice. Now was my time to impress, to guarantee my way out of here. Now was my time to shine.

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  -Kennedy-

  “You guys are disgustingly cute by the way. It’s fucking nauseating,” Violet laughs digging in her purse. She comes out with a chap-stick grinning from ear to ear like she just found the lost trea
sure.

  “He likes to lay it on thick,” I joke taking the chap-stick from her hand and applying a thin coat to my lips.

  Graham walks out to the pitcher’s mound and all conversations between my best friend and I go silent. It’s difficult to pay attention to anything else when he’s playing. She understands. Or at least she pretends to for my sake.

  Like every other time I’ve ever watched him pitch he’s on his game tonight. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that he’s only in high school. He plays with every nerve and cell in his body. He’s meant to play and by the nodding approval from the scouts along the fence they know it too. There has to be at least six of them watching in awe.

  Throughout the game I sneak a glance at the Georgia coach to see his reaction to a pitch or a certain play. He’s easy to spot. He has on the familiar red hat with the large G on the front. He looks impressed, but how can you not be when someone has as much talent as Graham.

  University of Georgia is Graham’s dream. He’s always imagined going there to play since he was a kid. I don’t think he ever thought that it would be a possibility by the way he’s been talking the past few weeks. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that he’s this popular, confident guy when he talks. He has such doubt in himself. That has a lot to do with his father. You couldn’t really blame him for feeling unworthy when your own father treats you like a doormat every chance he gets.

  Violet elbowed me in the side. I turn to face her and give her an annoyed look. “What?” I demand.

  Violet points at someone behind me. “Who’s that?” she asks.

  I turned to look in the direction of where her finger is pointing to see Graham’s mother walking up the bleachers with an older man. He’s probably in his early fifties with dark hair that’s starting to grey.

  “I think that’s Graham’s dad,” I explain in a whisper. I’m shocked to see him. I can’t look away from them now that I know they are here. Graham’s mother turns in my direction giving me a small wave and smile. She turns back to his father whispering something in his ear, probably explaining who I am. Great.

  Graham pitches the best game of his life tonight. They won twelve to zero. You wouldn’t believe it by the way his father spoke from the bleachers. I have a feeling that he’s drunk by the way he shouts with no regard for his son who’s pitching the most important game of his life. Graham walks off the field immediately looking over at me. He winks. I can’t hold back from scanning my eyes back and forth between his father and him. Graham catches on to what I’m doing and shrugs his shoulders like it isn’t a big deal.

  I hang around for a few minutes for Graham to head my way before he’s escorted to talk to the Georgia scouts. He comes up behind me as I’m talking with Violet wrapping his arms around my waist lowering his lips to my neck. I turn into his strong body wrapping my arms around his trim waist.

  “Good game babe,” I say.

  “Thanks,” he forces a smile. I know a genuine Graham Black smile from a fake one. The real ones make my knees wobble and my heart to race. This smile had forced written all over it.

  I look up at him to get a better look in his eyes. That’s his tell all for how he’s feeling. His eyes are passive as if he isn’t sure how he should feel about his belligerent father terrorizing him from the bleachers for a better half of the game.

  “You okay?” I ask kissing him quickly.

  “I will be. Just need to impress the scouts and then it will all be out of my hands.”

  “You know that’s not what I am talking about.”

  “I know it’s not, baby.” Graham kisses me one more time before heading off to meet with the scouts. The look of embarrassment and sorrow on his face nearly breaks my heart.

  Violet and I make it out to the now empty parking lot. We’re standing by her car waiting for Dan to come out of the locker room discussing Violet’s recent shoe dilemma. Graham’s probably in Coach’s office with the scouts mapping out his future as we speak. I can’t be prouder of him. He deserves everything that’s thrust upon him.

  As the players fall out of the locker room door one by one, they each throw us a small wave or some bro nod as our conversation shifts into Dan’s party tonight. Violet makes her demand known. I must stick by her side until Graham’s there. She caught sight of Craig talking to me earlier before the game. After our run in with him during our girl’s night out at dinner she doesn’t trust him as far as either of us can throw him.

  “I promise I’ll stay by you or Dan since you will probably be up each other’s asses anyways,” I explain rolling my eyes at her worry. Craig’s just a teenage boy with a bruised ego. He’ll get over the whole situation soon enough and be dry humping another girls leg before we can say “man whore”.

  “Very funny,” she smacks me on the back of my head playfully. Suddenly her smile fades leaving a serious scowl across her lips. “Stay away from him, Kennedy. I mean it.”

  I nod in understanding.

  “Who does she need to stay away from?” Dan startles us both causing us to jump. “Geez, you two are jumpy tonight.”

  Violet and I both avoid answering Dan’s question the entire ride to the party. Craig’s one of his best friends. How do you explain to someone that their best friend is a sexual predator?

  By the time we pull into Dan’s driveway the lawn is covered with cars. It’s usually like this. I think that’s how most small towns are. Everyone shows up to the parties, at least those accepted by the “in crowd”. The music is already turned up and guys and girls are stumbling around the property trying to find someone to keep them warm for the night. Your normal high school party in America.

  The three of us walk through the front door and are greeted by practically everyone that we go to school with and a few that we don’t recognize. An inebriated freshman girl bumps into me on her venture upstairs holding hands with a very sober senior football player. I don’t know his name. Part of me feels like it’s my responsibility to stop her before anything happens. After everything that I went through it seems like the appropriate thing to do. Even if I did stop her she would have shrugged me off. The guy notices me glaring at them. He winks right at me causing my stomach to flip. Disgusting.

  “Who are all these people?” I shout over the loud music that’s infiltrating every room in the house.

  “God, you never really did get out before Graham, did you? We go to school with most of these people, Kennedy. A few of the players from the team we just beat are here too,” Dan answers shaking his head at my lack of a social life. He grabs Violet by the hand guiding her into the kitchen to grab a drink. I’m left alone to navigate my own way around the packed rooms. Luckily, Violet comes back a few minutes later holding a red cup up to me. I take a long pull without asking what exactly she is force feeding me.

  Beer.

  Gross.

  I take another sip from my cup hoping that it will help my tense muscles relax. When Graham isn’t by my side I still feel out of place. Our school is your typical high school. People stick with the group that they know and most aren’t forgiving to new comers. That’s why I never feel like I fit in anywhere. Then Graham came into my life and all of a sudden I was thrust into his world where booze and sex and sports are a top priority. It’s still hard to adjust. To feel like I can be myself around people who have spent two years ignoring my existence isn’t an easy feat.

  “Hey,” a hypnotic deep masculine voice comes from my left. I turn to face the voice and am greeted by the biggest smirk I’ve ever seen on a guy. His dimples stand out on his tanned chiseled face. This kid could be a model. His looks don’t rival Graham’s, but he’s definitely not struggling for attention from the opposite sex.

  “Hi,” I say passively turning my attention on Violet who’s fighting back a laugh. I mouthed ‘What?’ This only makes her laugh harder.

  “I’m Jacob Landers,” he introduces himself like the names supposed to mean something to me.

  “I’m Kennedy and this is Violet.” I po
int to my best friend who’s exchanging a look with Dan who’s now standing beside her with his arm around her waist. What the hell has gotten into these two?

  “It’s nice to meet you. Has anyone ever told you that you have the most beautiful eyes?” Jacob laid it on thick.

  Why’s he hitting on me?

  You’d have to give him an A for effort. Most girls would be falling at his feet the way he was looking down at me. That is because most girls don’t have Graham Black either. I’d give it to the kid, he’s rather cute. He has sandy blonde hair and gorgeous hazel eyes that stick out. There is innocence in them, but if you bothered to look a smidgen deeper you can see the real mischief is hidden underneath. Not to mention he has a pretty damn good body that’s towering over everyone at the party. He has to be at least 6’3, maybe 6’4.

  Like I said, most girls would lose a limb to be on this guy’s arm. Unlucky for him, I’m not most girls.

  “I’m sure Graham tells her all the time,” Dan interrupts with a triumphant grin on his face. He’s clearly getting a kick out of this. Jacob looks between the three of us, but his eyes stop dead on me. He scans his eyes up and down my body letting his stare land a little too long on my chest.

  “Graham Black?” This response causes Violet to laugh even louder. I sort of feel bad for Jacob now.

  “That would be the one. The one and only Graham Black already snagged this little piece up,” Dan explains with an almost proud grin. He looks like he wants to either knock this guy out or applaud him for hitting on Graham Black’s girlfriend.

  “Graham’s your boyfriend?” Jacob asks then continues without waiting for my answer. “Of course you’re his girlfriend. He couldn’t keep his eyes off of you leaning against that damn fence like everyone else in our dugout. I’ll have to relay the message that you’re off limits. It’s too bad really.” Jacob smiles then turns around heading towards a group of guys who are loitering close by. They all turn to look back at me.