For the Love of the Game

05 (Keelin's POV)

My phone is buzzing, and with it being on the metal material of my patio table, makes the whole table vibrate.

I choose to ignore the repeated calls I have been getting for the last four days.

I'm still on crutches, which stops me from doing one of the only things in life I truly love. Going on hikes.

So I am stuck trying to find some sort of relaxation in the backyard of my home. I enjoy the feeling of the sun hitting my skin. It makes me feel recharged.

Kiki is out prancing around the yard, occasionally bringing me her ball to throw for her. She likes patrolling around the yard. It makes her feel like she is protecting me.

I wish she could protect me from having to face the issue that is my father. But she can't, so I continue ignoring his calls.

The weather is nice today, it usually is mid-May. I'm lying out in my lounge chair, with my eyes closed, when my phone starts to buzz again. Against my better judgment, I answer it.

"So now you're going to answer me, huh?" my dad asks, anger dripping from his voice.

"What do you want?" I question.

"So it's a crime to see if my daughter is ok. I see how it is. If you're going to be like this, I'll just give it to you straight. I went to your game. I thought maybe it would be a good idea to see how good all of my money made you. And apparently it didn't do shit-", I cut him off.

"I don't have time for this today. If all you are going to do is-", he doesn't let me finish.

"I can tell you whatever the fuck I want to. You are my daughter. I'm the reason you are even playing this sport professionally. And you think it's ok to get hurt. I shouldn't have even gone to your game. I knew you were going to disappoint me and guess what? You did. You're a fucking failure, Keelin. I gave you everything to get here and you ruined it. I don't want to he-", I hang up.

I guess he hasn't changed. I'm twenty-four years old and he still thinks he can talk to me like this.

I move to get up and wince as I get a shooting pain in my leg. I pick up my crutches to try and move when one falls out of my hand. I can't do this anymore.

My frustration starts coming out of me through the tears welling up in my eyes. I pick up the crutch that fell and throw it as far as I can down my yard.

My head falls to my hands as my breathing starts to get harder. The only thought in my head is how I've let everyone down. My team, my coaches, and even my fucking father.

I feel something hard hit my right leg. I lift my head to see Kiki holding my crutch in her mouth and wagging her tail. Proud of herself for retrieving something for me.

Trying to relax outside isn't going to be enough to clear my head. I reach for my phone and call an Uber to pick me up.

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I arrive at "The Bitter End" bar twenty minutes later. Ready to forget my shit show of feelings. With my crutches, I make my way to a seat at the bar and order two shots of tequila and a strawberry daiquiri.

I look up at the TV to the left of the bartender's head and of course, the Red Stars are playing. So much for forgetting my feelings.

I can't make myself look away from the screen. I watch every movement made like a predator stalking its prey.

With every decision my teammates make I find myself second-guessing them. I know if I was there the mistakes my replacement is making wouldn't have happened.

I don't know how many shots I have gone through, but the game has started to become blurry.

I hear the door to the bar open from behind me. Voices coming from probably five different guys fill the room.

I'm too engrossed in the game before me to pay much attention to them. One of them comes up next to me to order some drinks.

"Wait Keelin is that you?" the guy next to me asks. I turn my head, my now heavy eyelids opening up to see the man before me.

"Yeah that's me", I say slurring my words as I talk. The bartender comes back and hands the man his drinks.

"I'll be right back, ok?" The tall man says. I don't know if it's the amount of alcohol I consumed or if he is actually as hot as I think he is. He comes back and sits on the bar stool next to me. "Are you here by yourself?" he asks, looking around the bar to try and find someone who could be with me.

"Yep, all by myself", I respond. He looks at the TV.

"Oh did you come here to watch the game?", he turns back to me. I decide not to answer. "Are you ok?" I swear if he asks me another question. "I can call someone if you wan-", I cut him off. I seem to be doing that a lot today.

"You know, I don't want you to call someone. I'm having a great day, or I was", I say not caring that I sound a little crazy.

"Oh were you now", he says with a teasing smile.

"I was" I tut.

"So what happened then?" There he is again with the questions.

"I was just trying to enjoy the outside and BAM my dad has to ruin it. You know. He said I was a failure, and I'm starting to believe him. I mean my team can't even play a good game without me. So I'm failing them by being gone. My coach counts on me to lead the team, and guess what? I'm not there. My dad expects me to be perfect and I should be. But no, I'm hurt and failing everybody. I doubt my teammates even like me. I tried so hard for them but it just made them hate me. I mean I can't even walk without my crutches", I complain, unloading all of my problems onto this stranger.

"You're not a failure, Keelin. You just got hurt, it happens", he says trying to comfort me. That's the last thing I need. A stranger trying to make me feel better. Wait, how does he even know my name?

I try to get another shot from the bartender but the attractive stranger stops me.

"Why'd you do that?" I pout at him.

"I don't think another one is a good idea", he states. "I think it's time we get you home. Can you walk?" I just glance over at my crutches before looking back at him.

"What do you think?" I say sarcastically. He sighs and picks up my crutches.

"Wait here", he says and walks off.

He comes back I don't even know how many minutes later.

"I'm going to pick you up, ok?". He reaches towards me. I could be getting kidnapped right now. He lifts me and makes his way through the bar and out the door. We reach a car where he puts me down to stand while he opens the door. "Just sit down inside," he says in a soft voice.

I do, when he gets into the car I ask, "Who are you?"

He looks over at me, "Don't worry about it, just tell me where you live".

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I wake up the next morning in bed, dressed in yesterday's clothes, and very confused. How did I get home? I sit up in my bed and the headache hits me.

So that explains the confusion. I look to my right at my nightstand and see a glass of water on top of a note. I pick up the note.

Hey Keelin, you're probably really confused right now. I saw you at the bar last night and you weren't doing too well so I took you home. I promise nothing bad happened. I left some Advil on your nightstand too. See you later this week.

                        -Elijah

Oh my god. I remember talking to someone last night but him. The random guy from physical therapy. I definitely said some things I shouldn't have.

I try and think back to yesterday and the last thing I can remember is getting in someone's car. How am I going to be able to look him in the face in a few days?

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Thanks for reading!!!!