Loved & Loyal | 1

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My parents aren't the disciplinary type so I managed to convince them to let me take Abs to the neighborhood park, in the middle of our suburb.

The way my neighborhood was set up, we had a large green space with trees running around the outside with a small soccer field on the west side, as well as a bunch of green, grassy space, with a football goal post on the east, facing the soccer field with lots of space between them. Around our beautiful park, the houses were built. They were your classic suburban, two-story homes with three or four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a kitchen, living room, dining room, a couple office rooms, and no basement.

Most of the houses were the same, except for ones belonging to larger families or richer people who paid to get them more customized.

It was a Saturday, and neither Abby nor I had done anything in the past few days besides hang out at my house because, technically, I couldn't leave. Even though I went to her house on Wednesday and woke her up, then spent half of Thursday there because I slept over when she was upset.

It was 10:00am and it was perfect for throwing around a football and playing pepper. I grabbed the football I owned and jogged across our yards to her front door. I was about to open the door when the doorknob was ripped from my hand and Abby stood there, wearing black lululemon athletic shorts with a blue sports tank top and her black adidas runners.

"Hey, I was just about to come over and see if your 'rents would let you come to the park with me." She grinned at me, holding her volleyball under her arm.

"Great minds think alike. They're cool with it. Come on, I got the football, too," I said, grinning back at her, nodding towards the ball under her arm.

I played hockey during the winter. It was my sport, my passion, but I didn't mind a good game of football in the summer or fall. Abby's thing was volleyball and rugby.

"Shall we?" Abby cocked her head to the side and smiled at me. Her smile had my stomach flipping as she looped her arm through mine as I tried to be posh.

"We shall, my dear."

When we got to the park we decided to start with football. We stood about 10 meters apart and threw the ball back and forth in silence. It wasn't lost on me the ease by which Abby caught and threw the ball. She was athletic, sporty, and a natural at most things, especially her main passion - volleyball.

"So, when do you think you can bargain your parents out of grounding?" Abby asked me, catching the ball and throwing it back at me in a perfect spiral.

I caught the ball, responding, "Not sure. Soon though." That silenced our conversation for a few more minutes, leaving us in a moment of peace.

"Have you heard from any of the hockey guys recently?" A flash of jealousy went through me, wondering why she would be asking about my teammates. I mean, they were all as fit as me and we were considered the more popular crowd at school, so it wouldn't faze me if she was attracted to any of them. My stomach churned at that thought but I kept it to myself and shrugged.

"Kinda. Justin texted me before I got grounded talking about a  party he went to that weekend. And Kyle called the house the other day, wondering why I wasn't answer any texts. Told him about the grounding and my license. He laughed and I hung up on him."

"I see. Well, you aren't completely alone through this tough time. You have me, Bear," She said with a grin, acting like she was counselling me through the death of a family member minus the tears replaced with a grin.

"My saving grace," I mocked, "I need to get a good nickname for you, since you've called me 'Bear' for so long."

"But, you call me 'Abs'." Abby said, slight sadness clouding her voice as she caught the football and didn't throw it back.

I let my hands fall to my side, looking at her.

"Yeah, but that's just a shortening of your already shortened name. I need something personal that doesn't have to do with your name."

Abby frowned, "But 'Abs' is personal. You're the only one who calls me that."

I walked the 10 meters to her and placed my hands on her biceps, gripping her arms and holding her at arms length. "I know, but it's not as personal to me. I want something that reminds me of a memory, like 'Bear' reminds me of that time when we were eight."

Abby nodded, but her eyes still looked sad and I wanted nothing more than to take away that sadness. I pulled her into my chest and kissed the top of her head.

"I'll think of something special," I promised her so quietly I wasn't sure if she heard, but, when I felt her lips pull into a smile against my shoulder where her head rested, I knew she heard.

"Now, get that volleyball and let's play pepper."

She threw me the ball and I passed it up to her. She set the ball for me and I hit it at her and she dug it up to me where I set her up, and she hit at me. We continued the dig, set, hit pattern without hiccup. We worked well together. I wasn't horrible at volleyball. I could pass, set, and hit properly because Abby taught me the basics and I have watched every one of her games, as well as played a couple of my own, but never as seriously as Abby plays. She's great, a setter, and has lots of passion.

I love watching her do something she loves. She gets this sparkle in her eyes and the grin on her face when her and her team win a set is one of the best faces I have ever seen. She looks beautiful and I could look at her all day. Even if she doesn't have a smile like that on her face. My heart pounded harder in my chest and I shanked the ball, passing it a few meters to the left of Abby.

I blushed, embarrassed, "Maybe we should take a break for a bit?" I suggested.

When Abby nodded, I walked over to the shade of one of the giant trees more in the interior of the park, and laid down, pulling Abs with me. I put one arm under her head and she rests her head against my bicep. I smile to myself and turn my head, kiss her on the cheek and turn my head back, closing my eyes.

I was at peace, with my girl in my arms, the sun beating down around me, heating the air, and the shade cooling the sweat on my face. Wait, my girl? Do I wish she was?

Yes.