Once Upon A Time....

Chapter 3 Crushes Tourney Practice And Memories

Carlos's POV
Ben and I were standing on the Tourney Field. He was trying to explain to me how to play Tourney and what I needed to do.
All right we'll start with some sprints. Ben said.
Hey Madison! Ben yelled.
I looked up to see Madison walking towards us. She wasn't like the other girls at this school. She was shy and awkward but confident at the same time. She was funny and smart but she didn't like to admit it unlike the other girls who took every chance they got to brag about themselves. She didn't dress like other girls either. She didn't like dresses and fancy jewelry. She like blue jeans, T-Shirts, and Converse.
I felt my heart start beating really fast. What is going on with me? I've never felt this way before. It's really weird.
Regular= Madison
Bold= Ben
Italics= Carlos

Hey guys.
She turned to Ben.
You called me.

Yeah. Will you help me train Carlos to play Tourney?

Sure.

Wait. What do I have to do?

Just walk down there and run back here. Madison is gonna time you to see how long it takes you to get back here.

Okay.
I walked to the other end of the field.
Just then I heard barking.
Ready. Go!
Ben yelled go but I was already running.

Madison's POV
I stopped the timer when Carlos ran past me.
Great job Carlos... Ben trailed off as Carlos kept running.
We looked at each other then ran after Carlos. We found Carlos up a tree pointing at the school dog Dude who stood at the bottom of the tree barking at Carlos.
What are you doing? I asked.
Trying to get away from that thing. Carlos said pointing at Dude.
You mean Dude. Why? He's the sweetest dog ever. I said.
Ben walked toward Dude and Carlos.
Be careful that thing is viscous. It'll tear you apart. Carlos said.
Who told you that? Ben asked.
My mother. Carlos said.
Ben and I shared a look.
Come here Carlos. I said as Ben picked up Dude.
Carlos slowly climbed down from the tree and stood beside me.
Carlos meet Dude the school mutt. Ben said smiling.
Carlos slowly and carefully reached out and petted Dude on the head. Ben handed Dude to Carlos. Carlos smiled.
You're not so bad. Carlos said to Dude and I smiled.
Well. Ben said. Madison and I will let you spend some time with Dude and when your ready to start practice you can come and find me.
Ben and I walked off watching as Carlos sat down on a log still talking to Dude and petting him. Ben and I talked as we walked back to school.
Bold= Ben
Italics= Madison

So are you coming to the Tourney game later today?

You always ask me that. Of course I'm coming. I always come to your games.

I know. And I appreciate it a lot.

Ben smiled at me.

I'm your best friend. I'm always gonna be there for you.

I smiled back at him.

We walked back to school and Ben walked me to my room. I sat down at my desk and pushed my headphones in blaring Wanted by Hunter Hayes, Then Infinity by One direction, then She's Kinda Hot by 5 Seconds of Summer, then They Don't Know About Us by One Direction. I finally finished my homework at around 3:00 pm. The Tourney game started at 5:00 pm. So I still had 2 hours until the game. I pulled my headphones out and blared my music. I was listening to Everybody Talks by Neon Trees. It was one of my favorite songs. Then I Swear This Time I Mean It by Mayday Parade started playing. I was cleaning out my desk drawer when I found an old picture shoved in the bottom of the drawer. It was a picture of the last time I had seen my parents in person. Just then the song Photograph by Ed Sheeran started playing.
Loving can hurt.
Loving can hurt sometimes.
But it's the only thing that I know.
The last time I had seen my parents in person was 3 years ago. They sent me letters but it was never the same.
And when it gets hard.
You know it can get hard sometimes.
It is the only thing that makes us feel alive.
I stared at that picture. I missed my parents a lot.
We keep this love in a photograph.
We make these memories for ourselves.
Where our eyes are never closing.
Hearts are never broken.
And time's forever frozen still.
I remembered looking at this picture wishing they were here. Wishing I could go back to that time and freeze time and just stay there with them.
So you can keep me.
Inside the pocket of your ripped jeans.
Holding me closer until our eyes meet.
You won't ever be alone.
Wait for me to come home.
On Parent Day they would always say they would come but they never did.
Loving can heal.
Loving can mend your soul.
And it's the only thing that I know.
Ever since I had met Carlos I didn't feel as alone anymore.
I swear it will get easier.
Remember that with every piece of ya.
And it's the only thing that we take with us when we die.
It was like suddenly everything was okay again. Everything felt more real and more amazing.
We keep this love in a photograph.
We make these memories for ourselves.
Where eyes are never closing.
Hearts are never broken.
And time's forever frozen still.
I looked back down at the picture. It was like they didn't even care enough to come and see me.
So you can keep me
inside the pocket of your ripped jeans.
Holding me closer until our eyes meet.
You won't ever be alone.
I felt so alone.
And if you hurt me.
I wanted to be mad at them.
Well that's okay baby only words bleed.
I wanted to yell at them but I just couldn't. I always kept everything bottled up inside. It was just who I was.
Inside these pages you just hold me.
And I won't ever let you go.
Wait for me to come home.
Wait for me to come home.
Wait for me to come home.
Wait for me to come home.
They were always in Wonderland. I wanted to see them but they never had the time. They never had time for me.
Oh you can fit me
Inside the necklace you carved when you were sixteen.
Next to your heartbeat where I should be.
Keep it deep within your soul.
I folded the picture in half and put it back in the desk drawer.
And if you hurt me.
They had hurt me.
Well that's okay baby only words bleed.
But I couldn't stay mad at them.
Inside these pages you just hold me.
And I won't ever let you go.
But they had already let me go....