She Stole More Than Just a Base

Chapter 18 Alaska's POV

"Well..." Chrissy said.

"What? Tell me!" I insisted.

She hid her face in her hands and said, "I think I might actually have a chance with Timmy."

I could tell she was smiling, I could hear it in her voice. "That's tuff, Chrissy!" I exclaimed, grinning a bit myself.

"Yeah, but is he gonna make the first move or should I?" she asked, looking back up at me.

I thought for a second. "You should give him a bit more time and if he doesn't grow the balls to do anything, then you should."

She nodded vigorously and smiled the biggest, happiest smile I've ever seen.

We sat on her hardwood floor and she turned on her TV.

"So, I've noticed something Alaska," Chrissy said mischievously.

"Yeah, what?" I asked.

"You never go home. Why?"

My eyes grew wide and I sat there in silence. "I - I don't like to talk about it."

"Yeah, but we're best friends, right? You can trust me," she told me.

I gulped. "My mom, she isn't like most moms. She - She brings home the weirdest guys, and I'm not comfortable around them. And she gets drunk with them. And when she's drunk, well, she's not the safest person to be around. Don't get me wrong, she's an okay person, but we just don't dig each other. I personally think it's because she's a control-freak and I just don't like authority or being told what to do. But I don't know."

"Oh. Well, you're welcome here anytime," Chrissy replied awkwardly. "I'm sorry for asking."

"It's okay. I've accepted that my life isn't like most people's," I said blankly.

We sat in silence for a little bit, staring at the tv and she asked me a question.

"Do you like my brother?" she asked.

"What?" I replied.

"You know, do you like Yeah-Yeah?" Chrissy repeated.

"Uh, well he seems like a cool person," I said awkwardly.

"I guess. He really wants you. He follows you around like a puppy dog," she told me.

"Well, I actually try to get away from him," I laughed.

"If you knew him like I do, you'd know that that boy isn't going to give up," she said seriously.

I was quiet for a second. "He doesn't really like me as much as everyone makes it out that he does, does he?"

"He does," she confirmed. "But you like Benny, so it doesn't matter.... Why do you like Benny anyway?"

"I don't know. When I first saw him I thought he was cute, but he really seems like a nice boy. I don't know of too many nice boys."

"Yeah-Yeah's nice," she said. "I think you should give him a chance."

"I can't, Chrissy," I said sternly.

"Why not?" she asked.

"Because I can't pretend to love somebody that I don't. I feel bad about it, I really do. I'm in the same boat as him. It hurts to be rejected by someone you love. I'm in love with someone who doesn't love me back, and I'm being loved by someone that I don't love back. And I don't know which is worse; to be broken or break another soul. But I do know that it's worse to give someone a false sense of hope, rather than just letting them be."

She looked at me. I could tell she really knew how much of a deeply unhappy person I am now.

"I think you should go," she said solemnly. "I'm just upsetting you."

"Yeah, I think so too," I agreed, walking out of her room.

I saw Yeah-Yeah sitting on the stairs. "Hey," I greeted him.

"Hi," he said a bit eagerly. "Where are you going?"

"Home," I said flatly, sitting next to him.

"Why? Did Chrissy do something to you, because if she did - "

"No," I laughed. "She didn't. I just, I don't know."

"So," he said awkwardly.

"So, you like Mercedes?" I teased.

He looked at me like I was crazy.

"No, why?" he asked.

I shrugged, blushing. "Dunno. Just figured since Benny likes her."

"Well, that's Benny...and Squints," he said looking down at his feet. I could tell he was blushing, but I ignored it. I also tried to ignore the fact that I knew that he liked me, but it was kinda hard to.

"Yeah," I said messing with him, "but what about you?"

He stayed quiet and I just knew that he was so red he could put a tomato to shame.

I lifted his chin and said in a baby voice, "Awe, what's wrong?"

He bit his lip and tried not to smile.

I got up and told him, "G'night Yeah-Yeah," and left.

******

I walked home and snuck up to my room. Luckily, my mom was asleep so I didn't have any problem sneaking in.

I did your basic nightly routine and flopped onto my bed. It was difficult for me not to feel bad about messing with Yeah-Yeah like that, knowing how he felt towards me. I just can't help it. I'm a b*tch. I flirt with every living thing that I talk to. It's just my nature.

He is a cute boy - I'll give him that much - but I'm just not interested in him like I am with Benny. I like tall boys with dark hair and light eyes. Tall boys with black hair and hazel eyes named Benjamin Franklin 'Benny the Jet' Rodriguez. Not short boys with light brown hair and blue eyes named Alan 'Yeah-Yeah' McClennan. Sure, he is still taller than me, but I'm tiny.

I shook my head, dismayed with myself. Why was I thinking about boys? I should be asleep.

It felt like forever, but eventually my eyes burned with exhaustion and my brain finally gave in to sleep.