Forever Summer

Chapter 48

Calvin and Mike approached the sandlot with their bat, ball, and their new baseball glove. They saw Melissa sitting down on the sidewalk, drinking pink lemonade from a green straw.
She waved at them, revealing the unbandaged arm. "Check it out guys! My arm has been healed." she said, moving it around.
She looks at their baseball equipment. "Are you playing Swing again?" she asked.
"Yeah, it's been a while. We didn't want the sandlot to remain unoccupied." explained Calvin.
"May I tag along?" asked Melissa.
Mike and Calvin looked at each other and shrugged. "We'll make sure not to hit your arm again," said Mike.
Melissa takes one last sip from her lemonade and runs back to the house. Then she returned with a black cap. "Do you like my hat?" she asked, showing it off.
Calvin smiled and bumped Mike's shoulder.
"I'll probably work on some pigtails next time," said Melissa, gently stroking her long brown hair.
Mike shoved the glove and bat underneath the fence and threw the ball over. They climbed up the fence and carefully climbed their way down. They turned to face the sandlot, looking the same as always as it should be.
"Hey, was that tire always there?" Mike pointed out.
Calvin looks at what he was pointing at, seeing a tire laying in the sun. "Of course it wasn't there, the field has always been empty." Calvin replied, walking up to it.
They look at it up close, kicking it as if it was alive.
"Let me take a ride in it." Melissa insisted, trying to squeeze herself into the round rubber.
"Melissa, do you want to get hurt again?" Mike warned, pulling her away.
"He's right. I don't think we should play with this thing. You don't know what might be inside of it." said Calvin.
"Air."
"No shit." Calvin rolled his eyes. He kicks the tire away, rolling toward the wooden fence.
"Alright, who wants to bat first?" asked Calvin, holding it out.
Suddenly, he caught an eye on Camila, who was standing behind the wired fence. "Camila?" Calvin shouted, running up to her.
"Hey babe, I'm sorry to interrupt your game but I wanted to come by and see what you guys have been up to," said Camila.
"We haven't started yet - it's so strange to see you here." said Calvin.
"I know, it's been like forever."
"You can go around the perimeter-"
"I can climb the fence," said Camila, grabbing onto it. She quickly climbs up and makes her way down, safely. Calvin stood under her, opening his arms just in case she falls.
"I thought you were going to hang with Ally and Lucy," said Calvin.
"Uh - I haven't spoken to Ally for a week.," Camila explained.
"Is everything okay? Are you okay?"
Camila sighed. "Honestly, I haven't been feeling well, mentally. I've been all over the place with Ally and Lucy - it's just been too much. I have also been missing out on lifeguard duty so I decided to quit. Everything is just - I don't fucking know anymore at this point."
Calvin hugged her. "I'm sorry to hear that. Aside from your birthday, we haven't been checking on each other."
Camila nodded. "I know."
Camila hugs him tightly and thanks him for that hug.
"I'm here for you if you need me," said Calvin.
"Thanks, I'm still worried about Ally. She hasn't been reaching out anymore and I have a feeling she's not okay...at all."
"I don't think you can solve this yourself, Camila. There has to be another way besides you being her therapist."
"You're right," said Camila. "I think I may need to call Isabella if she could help."
"Oh yeah - your sister."
"Yeah, she helped with my depression before."
"I remember that."
"Did you remember when I decided to cut my hair during that time?"
Calvin nodded.
"Those late-night calls were something to remember," said Calvin. "I'm glad things have gotten better for you after middle school. I did miss the short hair though so I hope you consider bringing it back." he said, stroking the end of her hair.
"I'm thinking about it," said Camila. "Also, should I dye my hair blue? I always thought of doing it but I wasn't sure." Camila questioned as she looked at her hair.
"Hmm...streaks of blue I can see that but entirely I don't know if it will look great." answered Calvin.
Then a voice calls out to them.
"I apologize for interrupting the "love session" but are we playing or not?" asked Melissa from afar. "Also hi Camila!"
Camila waved at her.
"So, are you playing or spectating?" asked Calvin. "We're willing to have another player."
"Who has the bat? I'll have a round." said Camila, walking up to the batting plate.
Mike hands her the bat and they go outfield.
"Does she know the rules?" asked Mike to Calvin.
"She's played this game multiple times. I don't think she had forgotten to hit the ball."
They spread out as Mike takes the role as pitcher.
"I'm going to give you a real easy one," said Mike to Camila, who was warming herself up.
"Come on Mike, don't go soft on me," Camila shook her head. "I ain't no rookie, give me one of your best pitches."
Mike turned to Calvin, who was standing far from him. He shrugged his shoulders and went with it. Mike turns his back away and waits for Camila to give him a go. He fidgets the ball in his hand, swallowing hard his saliva, and takes a couple deep breaths in.
He could think of a million possible outcomes of how this might go; one of them being his failed attempts at pitching.
Calvin gives him a thumbs up and in a quick flash, Mike throws the ball toward Camila.
Craaaaack!
The ball shot through the sky like a speeding bullet, reaching the clouds.
"What the fucking hell!" Calvin shouted, running toward it as he looked up.
Melissa holds out the glove and Calvin removes his hat, facing it upside down.
"I got it!" they yelled.
The two of them flinched once the ball hit the earth, staying intact on the spot it landed.
"I thought you were going to catch it," said Calvin.
"Me? That ball would've knocked me right out."
Calvin grabs the ball and throws it to Mike.
"Great hit, Cam!" said Calvin, giving her a thumbs up.
Camila taps the bat onto the ground to collect some dust and gets into position. Calvin and Melissa run further back just in case it's another long hit. Once Calvin gave Mike a thumbs up, he went for a quick curveball.
Camila strikes it, having it fly toward the sky again except it went to the far left side of the field.
Calvin and Melissa went running for it until they realized there was no hope as it went straight into someone's backyard.
"Home run?" Camila shouted, dropping the bat.
Calvin peeks through a hole from the wooden fence, "Damn, this is some Sandlot shit. Do you think there's a huge dog on the other side?"
Melissa tries to climb over it but Mike pulls her down. "We're not trespassing into anybody's yard. We're calling it an automatic win for Camila," he said.
They all clapped for her victory.
"But you have no ball to play with," said Camila. "What are you going to do now?"
Mike picks up a shiny rock on the ground. "Who's down?"
Calvin slaps it away. "We're definitely not doing that."
They walk back to the batting plate to retrieve the bat.
"I'm sorry I had to end your guy's game early. I guess I was just too good," Camila smiled, winking.
"So, are we done with Swing?" Melissa asked. "I can just go buy us another ball."
"It's fine, Melissa. Mike and I will take care of it," said Calvin. "We're probably going to have to stop by the sporting goods store during our back to school shopping spree."
After they climbed over the fence, Camila asked Calvin if he wanted to come with her to the mall. Calvin looks over to Mike, who smiled and gestured to him to go without him. Mike and Melissa watched as they left, holding each other's hands.
"So." Melissa breaking the silence. "Do you want to come inside and binge some shows?"
Mike turned to her, looking at the warm smile he hadn't seen in months.
"There will be popcorn!" Melissa added.
Mike smiled back, radiantly. "Sure."
"Damn, it's about time," said Melissa. "I've been looking for that smile the whole summer."