The Pitcher's Act

5

OLIVIA

I don't think I've ever been so fucking gone before. I took way too many fucking shots and smoked too much. After I smoked, I didn't drink another drop of alcohol, but maybe it's because I haven't gotten up again.

I didn't realize my eyes were closed. I open them and realize I'm still on the porch. Miller is still out here, but he moved seats to watch the television, and Bella sits next to Bernie. Jayden is gone. I blink and sit up. I jumped when I noticed I was using Michael Crawford as a pillow. "Oh my God," I mumble to myself. What the hell am I doing?

"Oh good, you're awake," Bella chirps, moving to sit beside me.

I look at Michael, who is also asleep, his head resting on the side of the house. "What the hell happened?"

Miller laughs, "You passed the fuck out, Liv."

"That's so embarrassing. I swear I couldn't feel anything after the fifth hit." I grab the water bottle in the chair and take a long sip as it soothes my sandpaper throat.

"That's about when you passed out. Along with Crawford." I turned to look at him as he was still in a deep sleep, his mouth parted. He still looked hot. So did Miller. God, those two were delicious.

"What the hell was in that weed, Miller?"

He shrugs, sipping his drink, "I don't know. No one else passed out but you two."

My cheeks heat. Of course. I wonder how many people saw this happen. "Don't worry. I took a picture for the memories," Bella says, whipping out her phone and showing the photo of me passed out on Michael's arm.

"Should I wake him?" I ask. They shrug. I looked at my watch to see it was well past one in the morning. I grab his bicep, which is rock solid, "Crawford," I say as I shake him.

He slowly stirs before realizing where he was, "Shit," he says, his eyes on alert as he looks at all of us. He stretches his body, his shirt riding up a little, revealing the V below his belly. "What happened?"

"You and Livvy passed out."

He turns to look at me and laughs, "You made me fall asleep after you fell asleep on me."

"I'm sorry."

He chuckles again, "It's cool. Honestly, that was a good fuckin nap."

Bernie claps his hands together, "Alright. How about another round?" I shake my head, but Bella, Miller, and Crawford nod. They begin to pass around another blunt as I try not to doze off again.

-

It's about three in the morning when I finally exit the house. Bella is staying the night, so I begin the walk back alone. When I hit the bottom stairs of the apartment, I saw a person leaning up against a pillar. I almost laugh when I know who it is, "Crawford?" I ask, touching his arm.

He jerks at my touch and looks down at me, "Oh hey, Livvy." A smile grows on his face.

"You good?"

He looks out into the village, "Honestly. I have no fucking clue where I am and where my house is."

I burst out laughing, "Oh my gosh! How long have you been out here? Let me help you get home. Where do you live?"

"I live at 1200," he says, rubbing his eyes.

I grab his arm, guiding him out of the building, "I live right there, too." We walk in silence as he focuses on trying not to fall flat on his face. He is so fucking gone, it's honestly funny. He stumbles every few steps when he hits the back of his shoe.

After walking like turtles, we reach the building complex a few minutes later, "which one is you?" I ask, pointing to the four apartments to choose from. He points to the top left apartment, and I help him up the stairs. He almost has to crawl up them to prevent him from falling backward.

"Livvy, I'll be honest. I have no fucking clue where my key is right now," he says, leaning into me when we reach the door.

I blow out air, "Okay. Is anyone home?"

"No clue."

I breathe in deeply. Of course. I ring the doorbell while Michael knocks harshly on the door. 

After a minute, he knocks on the door again. "Fuck, I'm coming," A voice yells inside the apartment.

A moment later, the door opened, revealing Colby Jones in only a pair of boxers. "Thank God," Michael says, pushing past him and heading inside.

"Found him asleep against a post. He's gone," I tell him.

I try my hardest not to look below his head, but my eyes deceive me. It's impossible not to look at his body. It's beautiful. He's so toned and muscular. He notices me checking him out and smirks. "Thanks."

I nod and start to turn around and walk back down the stairs before he says, "Hey. Wait. Let me walk you back to your place."

I shake my head, "No. It's fine. I'm fine."

He takes a step outside the door, "No, seriously. It's late. You shouldn't walk home alone."

"I don't live far."

"Damn it, Olivia. Just let me walk you home. It's nothing more than that," He snaps. It wasn't the first time I'd heard him yell at me. His harsh words didn't affect me.

I sigh, nodding, "Okay."

"I just need to put pants on. Hang on." He steps back inside and heads to the back where his supposed room is.

I step inside, and Michael lies sprawled out on the couch, already passed out. I should have helped him to his bed.

Colby comes back with a pair of sweatpants riding low on his hips. I think it's worse than the boxers. I feel like they reveal even more. I say nothing as we both head down the stairs. This feels awkward. And forced. Why did he offer to do this? I'm pretty sure he would let me walk out in front of a car if I could.

I walk over to the next building, which isn't even twenty steps, and stop. "Okay. I'm home. Thanks."

He freezes, "Are you fucking kidding me?" I notice he's not even wearing shoes. Seriously, why did he come?

I laugh, "I told you I didn't live far."

"You could have said you lived next fucking door." He points to the top of his staircase, where we can perfectly see his front door.

"You didn't really give me a chance." 

Colby storms off without another word, probably heading back to the bed where Faith waits for him.

I never even knew this man lived next door to me. I've been living here for two years. In the same apartment. How did I not know? I do spend a lot of time at the football house. If he was there tonight, why hadn't I ever seen him here before? Or Crawford? I've seen Jayden, but it's just weird that they're suddenly showing up.

I head inside, and I've never been so glad to be home. I didn't realize how fucking tired I was until I stepped through the threshold of the apartment.

I enter my room and begin to strip off my clothes. When I turned to open my dresser, I noticed my curtain was still open from this morning. And that's when I see someone staring back at me. Colby Jones was staring at my naked body through the window across from me.

I have two options. Freak out and cover up or smirk, knowing he's staring at my naked body, and walk slowly to the window. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

I settle for option two, but inside, I'm freaking the fuck out. I smirked and walked slowly to the window, not breaking eye contact with him. I can see him soaking in every curve of my body. I raise my middle finger in the air before ripping the curtain shut and walking away as my legs threaten to collapse.