Double Play (T.Jones)

Chapter 5: I Cant Help Falling In love With You

From Tanner:
kayla??

From Tanner:                                                                                                                                                                           Fr Kayla where r u?

From Tanner:
Ryan told me ur not sleeping over y

From Tanner:
Ok well ur prob sleeping so I'll see you at on the bus tmmr. Night kay ly.

I woke up to these text messages on my phone. I felt really bad for Tanner, because I hadn't answered him. But, I just needed some time to think. 

That night was really hard. My parents told me I couldn't hang out with Tanner anymore, which made my stomach turn inside out at the thought. I couldn't believe my parents got mad at me for something I never even did. The saddest part was, I liked Tanner, and he liked me, but we actually couldn't be together. 

However, they couldn't stop me from going on the bus with the team because all the other siblings were gonna be there so they had no point in that argument. 

I unlocked my phone, and answered Tanner.

To Tanner:

sorry about that, we kinda need to talk.

He responded back immediately.

From Tanner:
What up

I told him what my parents said.

From Tanner:                                                                                                                                                                           Actually dont feel bad, mine said the same thing lol.

I felt so relieved, I told him I'd talk to him later and then proceeded to pack.

I got dressed in Adidas pants, and a Goodletsville Baseball T Shirt, that said Oden on the back. And packed some clothes for Regionals.

"Kayla! Let's go! We're dropping you off at the Jone's." My mom said. 

I grabbed my bag and headed down stairs, grabbed a granola bar and shuffled out the door.

My parents sat in the front and I was on my phone in the back, with my head phones on.

"Kayla!" I heard my mom scream , looking at me.

I pulled out my headphones, "What?" I said , with an attitude.

"Well, I'd like to say I'm glad we dont have to drive in the same car as you, but we're almost at the Jone's so grab your stuff." She informed me. 

I slid my feet into my Nike slides, and put my bag on back, with my headphones back in. My hair was in messy dutch braids and I hat a Goodletsville hat on backwards. 

We pulled into the driveway and I hopped out the car, not even 10 seconds of being out, my mom texted me.

From Mom:

Don't be dumb.

I knew she was talking about Tanner. Whatever, she wasn't going to be there, I could do whatever I wanted. 

I pulled out my headphones, and tucked my phone into my pants.

Mrs. Jone's answered the door.

She smiled, but a fake one. I could tell she was probably mad at me because of the incident last night. 

"Hi Kayla, the boys are downstairs." She welcomed me in. 

Before I went down the stairs she stopped me.

"Kayla?" She asked, sounding concerned.

"Yeah?" I said nervously. 

"You and Tanner, you're just friends, right?" She asked.

"Yes. I mean we're like best friends. I kissed him on the cheek. If you wanted to know the whole truth. And I hugged him too but you already knew that. Look, we wouldn't be dumb and I wouldn't do anything stupid, don't worry. Im sorry if you got mad. I didn't mean to make you upset. " I tried to reassure her.

She smiled, a real one. "Thank you Kay, you're too sweet. I was never mad, just worried. You two are young, and you guys are very cute together. I just don't want him getting hurt, especially around such an important time."

"I understand, I won't hurt him." I smiled turning around to go downstairs.

"Wait!" She said.

I turned around.

"I've seen the way he looks at you, like you're the only thing that matters to him." She said smiling.

My face got pink, "He matters to me too." I answered before going down the stairs. 

I peeked my head through wanting to surprise them, when I overheard them talking, so I waited.

I heard Tyler say something, "Tanner, cmon if you want to impress Kayla, you've gotta smell good."

"Shut the hell up. Thanks to you we cant even hang out cause her parents hate me now, and mom dosent trust me." He growled at him.

My brother's voice came in, "Hey chill Tanner, I'll work something out. Listen to Tyler, I've seen Kayla's retweets, she likes guys who smell good."

I rolled my eyes, I really need to block him. I decided to make my grand entrance right after I heard Tyler spray something. 

"Hey guys!" I jumped down the last stair.

"Hey!" They all greeted me. 

My brother was not happy however, "What are you wearing?" He asked, "Is that my shirt?"

"Uh , clothes?" I answered, "and yes."

"She looks good Ryan." Brock smirked.

Tanner and Ryan both looked shocked at first, then gave him the death stare.

"What?" Tanner said, getting closer.

"I said she looks good, Jones. Come to think of it, she looks hot." He crossed his arms, staring him down. 

"What makes you think-" He protested, but Brock interrupted.

"Oh you didn't hear about the woods that night?" He smiled, with a bad look in his eyes.

"Brock!" I yelled.

"What's he talking about?" Tanner looked so confused, and angry at the same time.

"Nothing." I said, "Let's all just calm down and get our stuff together." I said, and they all listened to me. 

By the time all of our stuff was organized, the bus was there. We gathered everything and headed out the door, onto the big party bus. I took my seat, since they were booth style, next to Tanner and Zach. 

I knew from the start, it was going to be a long ride to Regionals.

The boys slid in a DVD into the slot, which started playing on the huge TV in the back of the bus.

For a while we just sat there and watched, then Tanner put his arm around me. No one else noticed because they all were alseep. 

The thing is, Tanner wasn't just my crush.

Do you know what its like to be in love with your best friend?