He Had To Go

Chapter Ten: Legacy

"How's your leg doing?" I ask, during our car ride while driving Eliot home in his truck.

"It's fine. The less weight on it the better. I am just glad the park's medical office had crutches." He says. "I just hope I don't forget to return them back." He laughs to himself.

"You won't, you have a friend here to remind you." I tell him, and immediately I feel odd referring to myself as his friend.

"Thanks." He smiles. "You can make a left on the street coming up." He directs me.

"Okay." I reply before it gets quiet again, except for his directions every once in a while. "Did they give you any pain medication?" I ask while entering his fancy subdivision. I am surprised it's not a gated community.

"No, but I have some from my knee surgery a couple of years ago." He answers, seeming at ease with the whole situation.

"Are they still good?" I ask. "I am pretty sure they have an expiration date."

"There is only one way to find out." He laughs. There are times I find myself envious of his careless attitude. "Turn down the next street, and then my house will be at the end of the cul-de-sac." He directs me.

"This is a nice neighborhood." I compliment him, while entering his driveway, after passing million-dollar homes. "Did you grow up here?"

"I actually-" He throws his head back, seeming quite annoyed.

"What is it? Is it your leg?" I ask, being very concerned.

"No... but you're going to kill me." He says seeming nervous. "I forgot my parents are gone for the week... my dad's work trip. Could you please just help me inside and get settled?" He asks. I lose eye contact with him, tapping my finger on the steering wheel. Do I feel safe being alone with him, in his house?

"I would but-"

"Please, Maya?" He asks. I would feel awful saying no, what's the worst he can he has a bad leg?

"Sure, I just can't stay long." I answer getting out of the car, I open the car door for him passing him his crutches before he places his foot on the ground. "Be careful." I advise him, while he begins to make his way inside, and I close the door behind me.

"Thanks." He says. "The house keys should be attached to the same ring key as my car keys." He says. I look down to see his car keys, and two other keys, a golden key and a silver key.

"Which one?"

"Silver. Gold is for the cottage." He answers while I continue to follow behind him. I take the silver key, in the palm of my hand and pass up Eliot, holding the front door open for him after unlocking it. "Thanks, I really appreciate it, Maya." He says while entering his family home.

"No problem." I answer while locking up behind us. By the time I turn around, Eliot is almost on his couch. But he the least of my observations, it's the home that is the main attraction. The natural lights from the window light up the place perfectly, showcasing everything it has to offer, from the double-sided fireplace to the built-in TV on the wall.  "What do your parents do again?" I ask still taking in the house.

"My mom owns an art gallery, and when my dad isn't obsessing over my baseball career, he is a CFO."

"Supportive, that's nice."

"I consider it more obsessive." He says, with humor behind it, while trying to get comfortable on the couch. "Hey, while you're up could you get me my medicine?" He asks pointing towards the kitchen. "It's going to be in the cabinet on the top of the fridge."

"Yeah, I will be right back." I answer. When I get in the kitchen I go straight to the cabinet, despite all the other distractions, and take the medicine with Eliot's name on it and a water bottle from the fridge. But while heading back, I notice a shelf with a ton of baseball photos throughout the years, basically him growing up. "Baseball really is his life." I whisper, before walking back over to him. He rests his hurt leg on the small glass table, while his finger repeatedly hits the remote trying to find something to watch. "Is this it?" I ask passing him the medicine.