Welcome to Reefside (editing in progress)

Best Friend Reunion Part 1

Tracy's POV

When I open my eyes, I see Uncle Adelio, Aunt Sarah, Madge and Principal Randall looking down at me. Everyone has a look of concern on their faces.

"I'm sorry. I got a little dizzy. I didn't mean to scare all of you." I say.

"It's fine, sweetheart; we're glad you're okay." Uncle Adelio says as he helps me stand up.

"I'm sorry you hurt your ankle. Are you mad at me?" Madge asks.

"No, I'm not Madge; it was my idea to jump down the steps instead of walking fast," I say.

"Is your ankle broken?" Madge asks.

"No, I've broken it before, so I know what that feels like. It's probably just a bad sprain," I say confidently.

"You're probably right, sweetheart, but I should look at it anyway. It's swollen." Uncle Adelio says.

Uncle Adelio gently guides me to the couch in the living room, careful not to let me put too much weight on my injured ankle. Aunt Sarah quickly clears away some books and a folded blanket from the coffee table, making room for me to prop up my leg.

"Let's get you comfortable," she says as she grabs a couple of pillows from the nearby armchair. She kneels beside me, placing the pillows under my ankle while Uncle Adelio looks closer.

Madge hovers nervously nearby, her small hands wringing the hem of her shirt. "Are you sure you're not mad at me, Tracy?"

I give her a reassuring smile despite the dull throb in my ankle. "Of course not, Madge. You didn't do anything wrong. I'm the one who decided to jump down the steps, remember?"

Her face relaxes just a bit, but the guilt is still there. Aunt Sarah reaches out to gently pull her into a hug. "Accidents happen, sweetheart," she says softly. "The important thing is that Tracy's okay, and we'll take good care of her."

Principal Randall, who's been quietly observing, clears his throat. "I called ahead to let your mom know what happened, Tracy. She's on her way home."

That news makes my stomach sink a little. "Oh no," I groan. "She's going to be so worried. I didn't mean to cause all this trouble."

Uncle Adelio chuckles lightly as he applies a cold compress to my ankle. "You're not trouble, Tracy. You just gave us all a little scare. Your mom will be relieved to see you're okay."

I glance around the room, noticing the concerned looks on everyone's faces. Even Principal Randall, who's usually all business, seems genuinely worried. It's overwhelming but comforting to know they care so much.

"You've broken this ankle before?" Aunt Sarah asks, her brow furrowing.

"Yeah, it happened at my first game with the Reefside Sluggers. One of the other players, Zoey, was mad that I was starting, instead of her. I got to start because I showed up for practice, and she didn't. Still, Zoey dug a hole in the warning track; my ankle got caught in it, and you can figure out the rest," I say.

"You're right, sweetheart. Your ankle is sprained," Uncle Adelio says. "But you'll have to wear an air cast brace for a few days and need some crutches, too."

"Prom is in two weeks," I say, my voice catching slightly. "What if my ankle's not better by then?"

Uncle Adelio offers a sympathetic smile, adjusting the air cast on my foot. "It should be fine, but only if you take it easy. No running around, and that includes playing a game of chase with your boyfriend."

I bite my lip, trying not to let the frustration show. "Uncle Adelio, Mike and I aren't that kind of couple. He knows I'll flip him on his back if he tried anything like that."