Love Prevails (Kris Bryant)

2| Life is Hard

McKayla

Team bonding is at my house today because my parents are out of town for a while. My dad's on a "business trip" and my mom is having a girls night to try and forget the fact that my father is out somewhere cheating on her. So instead of throwing myself a pity party I invited the team over for a ice cream bar and a movie instead.

"Hey Mac, you got chocolate sauce" Charlie asks trying to stabilize his ice cream mountain.

"You know it. Think fast" I say tossing him the bottle and he drops it.

"Wow Charles it's just like in a real game" I joke and he throws a pillow at me. That he can throw... but not a fucking baseball? I start Remember the Titans and cuddle into Kris' side as we sit on the floor in front of the couch. I looove this movie, I've seen it probably dozens of times but never get tired of it. I sit with my ice cream in my lap and Kris adds marshmallows because he knew they were my favorite.

"Why don't you two just fuck already" Tyler asks and I shoot him a glare.

"Why don't you worry about your ability to field ground balls... plenty there to keep you preoccupied" I snap back as a round of "oooohs" sound. I've been on a baseball team for four years now, I've learned to handle my own. And if for some reason I can't, Kris always has my back.

"Leave her alone guys, she has a boyfriend" Kris defends. Weird that he didn't deny the fact he wants to fuck me but just implies I'm with someone else so he can't... but I don't contemplate on it too hard. I'm probably just over thinking things. We continue watching the movie and Kris scoots in closer to me.

"Are you cold" I ask.

"A little" he admits. I pull a blanket over us as he wraps his arms around me. This was nice and warm. Eventually the movie ends and I send everyone home. Kris stays back to help me clean up because he's just a really sweet guy, and only lives a few feet away.

"Thanks for staying back, I appreciate it" I say as he dumps a bunch of trash into a bag I was holding.

"I love being around you, you know that" he replies. I look into those stunning blue eyes as he gives me that famous smile. Sometimes I wish he wasn't to attractive and caring and intelligent and perfect and what in the world am I saying?

"You good" he asks and I snap out of my train of thought.

"Um yeah, I'm good" I say. Eventually Kris leaves and I make time to hit the books. My phone lights up and I see Kyles picture show up on my phone.

"Hey babe" he starts as his deep voice echoes through my head and I smile.

"Hey Ky! What's up" I ask.

"Nothing. Just missing you" he replies. Cute.

"I miss you too. How was your day" I wonder.

"Good. Had a hard practice but took a nice ice bath after. How about you?"

"Pretty good. Got a A on my Chem test and had the team over for a movie night. Kris just left" I mention.

"Kris was there" he asks.

"Well yeah, he is on the team" I laugh.

"I don't like you two alone together."

"He's my best friend Kyle, we're going to be alone together. It's been that way for seven years now. I've known him since I was in sixth grade and you and I have been dating since sophomore year and nothing has ever happened. There's nothing to worry about."

"I trust you, I just don't like knowing you two are always with each other."

"Nothing is happening between us. I promise."

"I know... I just don't want to lose you."

"I'm right here Kyle. I'm not going anywhere."

"Good. So what are you doing now?"

"Homework, duh."

"Of course. Then I'll let you go. I just wanted to hear your voice."

"Alright, I'll see you at school tomorrow" I say and hang up. I let out a sigh because I know he's jealous of Kris, he won't admit it out right but he says it all the time. There's just things in this world I can't tell him and only Kris would understand. And I know Kris likes me too, I don't want to hurt him but I don't want to lose him either. When did my life become a soap opera?

I hear my mom come home and groan just thinking about what was to follow. I wonder what we'll fight about today? I take a shower and go downstairs for a drink of water before bed.

"Has your father come home" she asks me. I keep my eyes down and keep walking trying to avoid any way this could go bad.

"No. I haven't heard from him" I whisper.

"You know this is all your fault. I don't know why I thought having a kid would change anything, there's nothing special going on since you came into my life. We were perfectly fine until you came along" she says. There is it, like venom rushing through my veins.

"Sorry to be such an inconvenience to you" I snap.

"I'm sorry... I don't know why I said that" she whispers.

Our relationship was complicated, she likes to blame her problems on me then immediately apologize. Then I act like I believe her when she says she doesn't mean it, even though I know she does.

"I'm doing my best, okay? I haven't missed a day of school since I was in the third grade, I get good grades and volunteer all the time. I cook and clean and stay out of your way. What more do you want from me" I ask.

"Nothing. There is absolutely nothing wrong with you. Your father and I obviously weren't ready for a kid but I thought you would bring us closer together..." she trails off.

"A kid isn't something you take a chance on, you can't just bring a human being into this world then act like they're not there when everything doesn't turn out as you hoped it to be. No matter how much you hate to admit it, I'm your daughter. I'm sorry I was born but there's really nothing I can do about that" I yell.

"You're really something, you know that" she spits.

"I'm someone trying to do something with my life, make a difference in this fucked up world, and not you or that drunken sad excuse for a man will stop me from achieving that. You don't have to love me, I've gone seventeen years without it. But I've done more than enough to earn your respect and I expect nothing less."

With that I storm up to my room and slam the door shut. I hate that she rubs the fact that I wasn't supposed to happen in my face. It makes me feel gross. I lay on my bed and stuff my face in the pillow letting out a scream. That fight never gets easier no matter how many times it happens. I hear a knock on my window and see Kris sitting outside. I open it up and join him on the roof.

"Rough night" he asks.

"How did you know" I wonder.

"I just know things. I know when you're upset" he claims.

"Just momma drama, the usual" I sigh.

"Don't listen to her. The only reason I like your parents is because they had you. That's it. You're like these stars in the sky. You burn bright, and even surrounded by darkness you manage to shine. You belong here, you're in so many people's lives and you're making a difference in them. I know I wouldn't be half as good as I am if you weren't constantly driving me. Constantly talking me up and holding me to high expectations. Trust me when I say that I need you even if she doesn't" he says. At that moment I want to kiss him. I wanted him to run his hands up my legs and tell me everything will be okay. I wanted to taste his skin as I run my fingers through his hair. But I had a boyfriend, a great one at that. And I don't want to ruin what I had with Kris because I needed comfort right now.

"What did I ever do to deserve someone like you" I ask.

"I ask myself the same thing" he smiles. We sit on my roof until it got real late. We had school tomorrow and a game so we should get sleep.

"Thanks for looking out for me" I say giving him a hug. He smelled like musky shower gel.

"Any time" he says squeezing me tight. Eventually he jumps down and walks back to his house and I go inside. Life is hard.