haunted || l.h.

30

"You're staying for the game tonight right?" Gracie asked as we all sat around the lunch table.

"Yeah I'm staying, are you guys?" I asked and they all nodded.

"Usually we get something to eat or go somewhere just because we have an hour and a half to spare before the game. Come with us, we could have dinner." Jade said with a warm smile.

"Only if you guys want me to." I said unsurely.

"Of course we do. Meet us out by the wall after last period today and we'll all drive somewhere." Caroline said with a reassuring smile.

///

After my last class I began walking through the halls of the school to head out the door. I saw the three of them all standing by the wall talking to each other. Sometimes I felt anxious when I was around them just because they've known each other longer and have more to talk about.

"Paisley what took you so long?" Caroline asked as I walked closer to them.

"Sorry my class is on the third floor." I said and brought the strap of my bag higher up on my shoulder.

"It's okay. We were thinking about going to Applebee's or something. We could even just go somewhere more chill if you want." Gracie said as we all started walking towards the parking lot.

"I haven't been to an Applebee's in forever it feels like." I said and hopped in the back seat of Caroline's car with Jade next to me.

"Well then it's a must that we go. We haven't really gone in a while either." Caroline said and pulled out of the parking lot.

///

While we were eating we talked about a lot of random stuff. They told me literally anything they had to tell no matter how long ago it was. They wanted to make sure I knew what was going on really.

They told me some funny stories about Luke, since they've known him for a few years now. He's a bit of a weirdo from what I'm hearing. I mean I already knew that but I don't know, he clearly has always been super weird.

After we ate it was time for us to go back to the school to watch the game. I was actually really excited to watch Luke play. He speaks so highly of the game and talks about it with such passion and excitement which excited me.

  When we finally got there we found a seat somewhere on the bleachers behind home plate. Luke was practicing pitching with who I think is Ashton on the other side of the dugout.

When the game officially started Luke walked up to the pitchers mound with his glove in his hand. He practiced some pitches before the first batter went up to the plate.

  He was a really good pitcher. Not that I really knew any other pitchers, but he was really really good. He was super focused on what he was doing and seemed to have some sort of strategy for every batter.

  He was really good at this. He was a good pitcher, good batter, and a good runner. You could tell he put everything into this game.

///

  At the end of the game the four of us girls waited behind the fence behind home plate while the boys got all of their stuff together. We talked about the game and how good they played while we waited for them to come out.

"Hey P." I heard Luke say which made me turn around towards him.

"You played a good game." I said and walked a little closer to him. When he got closer to me he dropped his bag on the ground for what I'm assuming was a sweaty hug.

"Come here." He said with a mischievous look on his face and pulled me in for a bear hug. He knew I didn't like hugging him when he was this sweaty. I didn't mind it if he was just a little bit sweaty, but after a game or practice he was drenched in sweat.

"Eww Luke you're gross." I groaned and tried to push away from his sweaty chest but he just kept holding me closer.

"I'm trying to hug my favorite cheerleader." He said innocently while I just gave up and hugged him back.

"You smell." I said truthfully while he just laughed.

"I take that as a compliment after a game so thank you." He said and I just rolled my eyes but smiled a little.

"Hey Hemmo, finally brought your girl to come meet us?" One of the baseball players said with a smirk who I think was Dan Anderson but I could very well be wrong.

"Fuck no, she's not stepping foot near you slimy shitheads." He said and kept me close to him. I couldn't really tell if he was joking or not. I mean I think it was a bit of both just by his tone mixed with the look on his face but I'm not sure.

"Come on all you do is talk about her." He said and walked closer to Luke and I.

"Fuck off Anderson." Luke said and picked up his baseball bag and led me towards the parking lot.

"What was that about?" I asked once we were far enough away from everyone else.

"He's just the biggest asshole known to man, I don't want you to have to deal with him." He said with a sigh and piled all of his baseball stuff in the trunk of his car.

"What makes him an asshole?" I asked curiously and watched him organize the trunk of his car.

"All he wants to do is sleep with every girl possible and he thinks he's the man or something. Michael heard him talking about you at practice one day and told me about it, and I just don't want you to have to be around someone like him or any of that. He's not good for you." He said and kept his eyes focused on the stuff in his car while all I could focus on was him.

"What did he say?" I wondered and heard him let out a sigh. I was kind of nervous because obviously this made him hate him, but I had to know. I couldn't not know really. I mean if he wasn't going to let me talk to him or anything then I'd like to know the reason for it.

"He was just talking about you like he talks about all the other girls he gets with. He said he wanted to get you in bed with him and just nasty stuff like that, stuff that you wouldn't want to hear. I'm not doing it to be overly protective or possessive or anything. I'm just looking out for you and I know you and your life and how you are and I just don't think you'd do well with someone like him." He said quietly and placed his hands on each side of his car.

  It felt nice to know that he was just looking out for me. I've never had anyone look out for me before. It was comforting that he was protective over me. Maybe some people would find it annoying or suffocating but I've never had someone actually care about me before.

"Thank you." I whispered and wrapped my arms around his waist from behind.

"For what?" He asked and stood up a bit straighter as he felt me behind him.

"For looking out for me. I've never had that before." I said softly and looked up at him to see him turning his head to look at me.

"You don't have to thank me for caring about you." He said and turned around to face me.

"Yes I do because no one else ever has." I said and rested my chin on his chest with my head tilted up to look at him.

"Well now you have me and all our friends." He said and leaned down to place a kiss delicately on my lips.