A Ship Without Sails

Chapter 27

"Can you please move? I kind of have baseball practice to go to."

"Oh!" Shayna exclaimed, her face flaming red. Standing in front of them was Kurt. His expression was stormy. Her face rose a few hundred shades warmer. Blake's arm went around her shoulders protectively.

"Chill," Blake said. "I have to go, too. Besides, I'm surprised you're even allowed to stay on the team."

Something in Kurt snapped when Blake said that. He stepped towards the shorter boy and grabbed him roughly by the collar. Then he slammed him into the wall, shoving his face close to Blake's. "Listen," he growled, "I think you should stop treating me like some kind of wild animal. I'm not a murderer!"

"You could've killed her just like that," Blake said calmly. He had a smirk on his face. "Lost your temper and pushed her. What's this proving? That you're capable of murder, you monster."

Kurt's grip on Blake loosened. The fight drained out of him. He let go of Blake's shirt slowly, tentatively, as if he was letting go of the rabid dog's leash. He still looked furious, but Shayna could see the fire burn out in his eyes.

"Why are you two together?" he asked, as if he was just noticing Shayna was there. Shayna felt her throat close up. She didn't want to hurt him, but then again, did he even care?

"We're going out again," Blake said, looking at Shayna in case she had any objections at saying it. She smiled and said, "Yeah."

She didn't look at Kurt.

"Well, I guess I was just a bump in the road for you two." Kurt slung his backpack back onto his shoulder and walked out, intentionally bumping into Blake. Once he was gone, Blake shook his head and said, "Geez, that boy needs help. I'd better go to practice. I am lead-off pitcher now, you know."

"Yeah," Shayna said, forcing herself to sound enthusiastic. "That's really great. I'll go to your games."

"Cool. See ya later, Shaye," Blake replied happily. He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, then ran off to his practice.

Shayna hoisted her backpack onto both of her shoulders, got her crutches in order, and walked home. It took at at least three times the amount of time it should have. When she finally got up to her room, she collapsed on her bed, exhausted. She didn't want to do homework, she didn't want to read, she didn't even want to listen to music. She wanted things to go back to the way they used to be.

"Shayna? What took you so long? You're like two hours late!" Daisy exclaimed, poking her head into her younger sister's bedroom.

"Um, I have crutches?" Shayna mumbled. "Where did you go? You left super fast."

"I drove," Daisy said proudly. Shayna's eyebrows went up. "Oh? Why didn't you wait for me? Would've saved me the whole afternoon," she said crossly, nodding at the window. Outside, the sun was setting.

"Sorry." Daisy shrugged. Shayna slumped into an extreme slouch.

"I'll see you at dinner, okay? I'm going out. Tell Mom and Dad," Daisy informed Shayna. She was gone before Shayna could ask anything.

Shayna didn't know what to do. She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the wall, completely zoned out. The day's events had rattled her.

"Shayna?" A light knock on her door snapped her back into reality.

"Yes, Mom?" she said, rubbing her eyes. Her mother stepped into the room and took a seat next to Shayna.

"Do you know where Daisy went?" Mrs. Blackburn asked shakily. Shayna shook her head. "She just said she was going out."

"I hope she's not with those bad kids she's friends with," Shayna's mother said. "I'm not sure I want her around them."

"They're not so bad..." Shayna tried to defend her sister's group of friends, but faltered as the mental image came to mind. Rough looking seniors who wore dark clothes and also had piercings and tattooes. Shayna was sure she had smelled cigarette smoke on them. "I'm sure she's just taking a drive. She loves that car."

Mrs. Blackburn gave Shayna a small smile. "Sometimes I wonder if we give her enough. I hope she knows we love her more than money can buy."

"You give her more than enough," Shayna reassured her. She stood up and forced a bright smile. "It's a nice day out. I think I'll go for a walk. You'll be okay?"

Mrs. Blackburn returned the smile, hers genuine. "Yes. Be back by dinnertime, and bring a jacket. It's almost November." She stood, kissed Shayna on the forehead, and walked out of the room. Shayna changed into a moss green, oversized cable knit sweater and black leggings. While scrambling to find her boot, her phone vibrated. Shoving her foot into the furry interior of the Ugg, she grabbed the phone and answered at the last ring.

"Hello?" she said, putting on some lip gloss. She planned to meet Blake at the end of his practice.

"Hey, Shayna," someone sighed. "It's Kurt."

"Why are you calling?" Shayna tentatively continued down the stairs and out the door. She had left one crutch in her room because of her hand being occupied on the phone, but didn't want to go back and get it.

"Practice is over. I want to see you, really quick. It won't take long. Blake says he'll wait for us to be done. We're at the fields." Kurt hung up.