Playing for Keeps

Wario or Mario?

Jack POV:

I am staring out the window when I feel someone shaking me hard. I turn to see Scott shaking me like he is trying to get something unstuck. "Earth to Jackson" he says putting his hand in my face.  I chuckle and shove him back. 

"Did you hear anything that I said?" he asks me, a concern look on his face. I didn't even realize he had been talking, hell I didn't realize he was sitting next to me.  I was thinking about everything that happened the night before, with Sam and then my heart to heart with Lily. 

I still feel irrationally angry for what that ex boyfriend did to her, I feel even angrier at that than at anything Sam did and that is a lot to say. It killed me hearing her cry, being so raw, and not being able to console her, hug her and show that everything would be ok. 

I turn to look at Scott and say "I'm sorry man, I got a lot on my mind". 

"I know, I heard. That is what I was telling you" he whispers. "Sam called Melody and told her you're getting back together". Melody is Scott's wife, and Sam did what? "I told Mel this was the first time I was hearing about it, but I guess that is why you've been in a better mood and been doing great on the field." 

"Sam lied." I said blatantly. She has no right to be spreading these lies and villainizing me. Me from 3 months ago would have not defended himself, but today me is not having it. After hearing Lily's story and the hell she went through, I realized that we, both she and I, are not doing ourselves any justice or good by staying quiet about what others did to us. We are only allowing these people to continue to manipulate our lives, whether we realize it or not.  "She is not the reason I am happier and doing better, it's mostly me coming to terms on her cheating and- other things."

"She cheated on you? Why didn't you say anything before? I've been telling Mel to be supportive of Sam because I thought you were just going through a rough patch" Scott's face of disgust says everything. "Other things? or someone else?" Scott asks.  I look forward as Lily crosses my mind, before turning to him again just for Scott to say "Holly shit, who is she?" 

"What do you mean who is she?" questioning in my voice.

"Dude, don't try to lie. Who is she? I saw that twinkle in your eye." amusement tainting his voice. I take my phone out and stare at the screensaver, my head turning.  Scott continues "You already kept the Sam situation from me, which by the way you still owe me the full story but I won't push until you're ready. But this, the twinkle girl I need to know about. Hell, I've never seen that even when you were Sam." 

I look over at my friend and realize I don't feel as comfortable telling him the story as I felt with Lily, maybe it's because she doesn't know any of us and can't cast a judgement other than on the situation, or because I feel.... I feel.  "I promise to tell you all the story when I feel comfortable enough, but please have Mel ask Sam about it next time she attempts to say anything about me."

"You know Mel is going to have a field day telling her off, but don't hold back who's the girl? Oh, is it that bat girl I saw you talking to?" 

The bat girl in question is Libby and he saw me talking to her once. She asked for an autograph for her little brother and I asked her about the bat girl job. I am hesitant on sharing anything about the girl Scott believes I am romantically involved with because there is no girl to tell about. There is Lily, but she brings me the joy of her friendship, a friendship I didn't know I needed and also how do I explain the friendship. Hell, I don't even know what she looks like and we've never even met. I do know Scott though, and if I don't give him anything he will continue to nag at me so I Say" It's not the bat girl, I talked to her once give me a break. It's... new I guess. We are feeling it out. Once we are clear on what "it" is I will tell you more."