The Best Hit

Chapter 23

Emma went inside and told Kailey everything that happened. It was Kailey's last night at Emma's house before her mom and dad were going to bring her back home. Kailey told her all about her night with River. Emma had never seen Kailey so in love with a boy.

"It's going to be hard to leave. I'm going to miss you." She said. "I know. I'm going to miss you too." Emma said. "It's not the same anymore with you not there." Kailey really missed having her in Toronto. "Same with me. I wish you could stay here with me and River." Kailey's face went into a frown. "Oh yeah..." she was thinking about him. "What's gonna happen with me and River?" Emma's heart broke for her. "It will have to be long distance." Emma hated to tell her that. "I know. But what if we loose touch or another girl comes along?"
"Well you have your numbers and skype and I highly doubt that one he'll just suddenly be into another girl and I won't let it happen." Emma laughed. "I see the way he looks at you. He's never liked a girl as much as you." Kailey started to tear up. "I know this is stupid that I'm getting emotional, we've only known each other for like five days." She said laughing a little.
"No it's not stupid!" Emma said pulling her into a hug. "I understand. It feels like more than five days hasn't it? You love him and he loves you."
"I know it's just I'm going to miss out on so much not being with him. We just started having time together and it's already ending. If he's upset I won't be able to go to our spot with him. If he has family issues again I won't be able hug him and tell him it's okay. If anything good happens I won't be there with him."
"I know. But you will see him again. Next time you come. It may be a while but it will happen. It may be difficult keeping a long distance relationship but I think you can do it."
"I hope so." She had already missed him. "Tomorrow go spend some time with him before my parents take you back home. He's probably thinking all the same things you are." Emma said.
"I will. It's just going to be hard. I love him."

Emma's parents were going to leave with Kailey at one o'clock. There was plenty of time for River and Kailey to spend together.

The next morning they got up at eight o'clock. Kailey met up with River outside an hour later. They went to their spot by the pond. They held hands and walked the same way the always did. They sat down on the log. Kailey didn't want to leave from the moment. River wanted to keep her there forever. Her family wasn't even going to be able to meet him and his wasn't going to able to meet hers. He didn't know what he was going to do when she was gone.
"I have something for you." He said pulling something out of his pocket. She was speechless. "River you didn't have to," she started and stopped when she saw what it was. It was a necklace with a bird on it. "It's beautiful." She said taking it from his hand. "Thank you River." She said putting it on.
"It's so you'll never forget me." He smiled. She heart throbbed. "Forget you? Never." She said pulling him into a kiss. Once they got to the spot they sat down on the log. The light breeze blew through Kailey's black hair. River couldn't take his eyes off her.

"How can you just sit there and look so beautiful? With out even trying." River said staring at her. "What?" She said with a smile turning back to him. "You're so beautiful." He said again. "You think so?" She said in a teasing way. "I do and I don't know what I'm going to do when you leave." He said with his smile fading. "Don't remind me." She said grabbing his hand. "Kailey when you do leave I'm going to act like you haven't."
"What do you mean?"
"No other girl on this planet will replace you." Kailey's heart dropped. She couldn't hold in her tears any longer. "No body's ever said that to me before." River pulled her into his arms. "Don't cry okay?" He said. His voice made him even more attractive. Kailey was going to miss him so much. "No boy on this planet will ever replace you. I love you River." They laid down on the grass. They talked about everything. That was the wonderful thing they could both do was talk for long periods of time with out getting tired of it. One major thing they had in common was their love for nature. The light breeze blew as they stared at the trees above them. Kailey rested her head on his arm as he stroked her black hair. "Kailey?"
"Yes?"
"What happens if some one better comes along for you?" He chocked up.
"Better? What the hell are you talking about? No body could be better than you. Why would you think that?"
"I don't know." Kailey hated how insecure he was. "Stop thinking like that. Its not true." She said calmly but firmly. River sat up and started to cry. He worried about every little thing. "River what's wrong?! Did Philips say something to you?!"
"No." he chocked. "I just don't know who I'm going to have when you're gone." It broke Kailey's heart to see him cry. "No that's not true. You have Emma and the others."
"What others?! That entire teams hates me."
"No they don't they just don't know you. Emma's gonna help you." Kailey said hugging him. "You're the only one who gives a shit about me. My dad could care less if I ended up in a ditch somewhere and my mom blames everything on me and my brother could care less either. I've never been this happy in a long time and now you're leaving." Hearing this all from River made it even harder for her to leave. "River look at me," she said grabbing his shoulders. "We will see each other again soon and I will stay longer next time. Things will turn out okay with your family and you have Emma. I'll always be here okay?!" River took a few deep breaths. "Okay." He said. Kailey wiped away his tears.

Later on they went back to Emma's. Kailey went to say bye to Shay and the others and the boys. She said bye to Benny and to River last. "I love you." She said to him. "I love you too." He said pulling her into a hug. They kissed and said good bye. He tried his best not to cry again as she did too. "Bye Emma." She said.
"Goodbye Kailey, I'm so glad you came. I'm gonna miss you."
"I'm gonna miss you too please come visit soon!"
"I will! Good bye!" They pulled out of the driveway and took off. Emma and River stood there both feeling sad. River didn't know what to do. He felt like right as he got everything it was all taken away from him. "If you need anything I'm here." She said turning to him. "She told me she'd come back. Will she?" He said. Emma looked into his red watery eyes. "Yes she will. She's really happy she met you." Emma said. "Don't tell anyone you saw me like this." He said looking away rubbing his eyes with his sleeve. "Like... upset?" Emma said. "Yeah, please?"
"Sure, I won't but why?"
"Just cause." Emma knew why. "River why do you care?"
"About what?"
"Philips?"
"I don't care about Philips." He said looking pissed.
"That's bullshit." Emma said. "If you didn't care you would man up and not let Philips cause a problem if he saw you upset over Kailey."
"It's not easy."
"River I know but you should just quit their team. Who cares what they think, they just bring you down all the time." River stood there knowing Emma was right but not really knowing how to react. "I'll go bring you to Benny right now." She said already starting to walk away. "Wait no! Not yet." He said. "Not yet?"
"Later, I just need time to think." He said. "Okay but whatever you do don't go back to Philips."
"But have to I'm on the team."
"I know but the next game isn't until tomorrow just wait. I'll see you later okay?" She said. He nodded. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah I'm just gonna miss her a lot." He said. "Me too." She went to go find Benny. Of course she knew where to find him. She was tired of seeing River hurt all the time.

"Benny," she said approaching him. "Hey," he said grabbing her waist and pulling her into an unexpected hug. "Oh hello." She laughed trying to play it cool even though she had butterflies inside. "What was that for?" She said. "I don't know. I just felt like it." He said. Lately Emma had been convinced that he liked her back but she wasn't sure. "Okay so have you thought about letting River on?" He sighed over the fact that she brought it up again. "Yeah but I don't know to trust him yet."
"What is there to trust? Who cares if he was with Philips and them before, he doesn't even like them! Please just give him a chance! Trust me he's fine! He doesn't have anyone!" Benny paused for a moment. "I trust you so that in case...fine."
"Thank you so much! I promise he's not anything like Philips." Emma was finally satisfied. "I'm gonna go tell him right now!" - "Wait! Philips will blow if he finds out I'm taking him." He interrupted her. "At this point, who cares." She said walking away to go find River now.

Later on all the boys met up with River and they were on good terms. They spent the rest of the afternoon practicing. Emma went to do something with Shay and the girls.

"When are you going to ask her out?" Aaron said to Benny. "I don't know man. I don't know if that will happen."
"What do you mean, you love her!"
"I know I do, but we're also best friends. It would ruin things."
"No it wouldn't. Not if it's meant to be more than a friendship which clearly it is. That's what happened for me and Shay."
"I know but I'm not sure if she likes me back like I know it's kinda obvious but it's not for sure."
"When there's a right moment just kiss her and go from there."
"It's not that easy."
"Actually is it bro. She'll probably go with it too. Next time you guys get flirty which is all the time, when you think it's a good time do it." Benny found it unrealistic of how easy Aaron was making it sound. "Whatever I don't we'll see what happens." He said shrugging. "Aaron what do you think of River?"
"He's okay I guess."
"Emma was right he's not even that bad. Apparently he doesn't even like Philips."
"I see why."
"Thinking about it I actually feel bad for the guy. He never seemed happy. Today was the first time I've seen him smile." Benny said. "Doesn't he have a thing with Kailey, Emma's friend?"
"Yeah I don't know how that happened. He was happy then too but she left now. I feel bad."
"Yeah that's like Emma moving back to Canada right now. If that happened you wouldn't see any purpose in living would you?" Aaron laughed. "Shut up man." Benny said laughing a little bit with him knowing it was true. "Thank you." They were interrupted by River. Benny turned to him. "No problem man." He said shaking his hand. "I'll make sure we win tomorrow." River said smiling. Besides Kailey, that after noon was the happiest River had been in a long time.