Happier With You | ✓

Chapter 5

As the crowd cheered around me, celebrating our victory, I felt a rush of satisfaction mixed with the stress of being back on the team. High-fiving my teammates, I made my way over to the bench, where Coach addressed us with a mix of praise and a call for improvement.

"You girls played well today, but we've got to step it up. Meet here tomorrow at 2:35 PM. There's something I want to teach you," Coach announced, prompting everyone to start packing u

"You coming?"SageI asked as I slung my duffle bag over my shoulder.

"Yeah, I'll meet you in the car," I replied.

"I've got to talk to Coach real quick. I'll catch up," I told her before finding Coach Amy.

"Miss Amy?" I addressed her as I tugged at my bag strap.

"Yes, what's up?" Coach Amy turned to me.

"I can't make it to practice tomorrow. Cody has a very important doctor's appointment, and I don't want to miss it," I explained.

"No problem at all. Family first. Tell Cody I said hi," Coach Amy nodded understandingly.

"Thank you for understanding," I said gratefully as I headed for the exit, passing a poster that caught my eye: "LOOKING FOR PG."

I sighed, my thoughts drifting to Cody. "I wish Cody could do what he loves again..."

-

"Come on, don't be such a jerk," I complained, tugging at Cody's arm.

"I'm not in the mood for a walk," he replied, pulling his earphones out.

Undeterred, I kissed him on the forehead. "Well, we're going anyway. Get up," I insisted, checking the time on my phone. "We have enough time before your appointment."

Cody sighed and reluctantly got up. "Fine, let's go."

As we walked upstairs, Cody's mom intercepted us. "Everything alright?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.

Cody ignored her and headed straight for his room, slamming the door behind him. I shot his mom a questioning look.

"He's just in a mood, I guess," I explained, though I was worried.

"Well, he has an appointment in 45 minutes, and I have a meeting. Could you take him?" she asked, a touch of anxiety in her voice as she grabbed her keys.

I nodded as I pulled out ingredients from the fridge to make sandwiches. "Where's Mr. Taylor?" I asked casually.

"Oh... Cody didn't tell you?" She hesitated, her phone buzzing with a message. "Shoot, I gotta go. I'll explain later, if Cody doesn't first."

The car ride to the doctor's office was tense. We usually switched on and off the radio for fun, but today, Cody was silent and uninterested.

"Do you want some music?" I asked tentatively as I stopped at a red light.

Cody shook his head. "Can you just not? I'm not in the mood."

I sighed quietly. "What's been going on with you lately, Cody? You seem off. I'm here for you, but this can't continue. I hate seeing you like this."

"Do you think I want to have cancer? Do you think I want chemo? Do you think I want divorced parents? No, London, I don't," Cody snapped, looking out the window.

"I didn't know about your parents. I'm sorry," I whispered as I pulled into the parking garage.

"It's fine. Let's just go," Cody said, opening the car door and walking away.