Strike-Out

Meet my grandson

Chapter 10

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I roll to my side and slam the snooze button on my alarm clock. I throw my pillow over my head to block the sun from reaching my eyes.

I'm not ready for this day at all.

"Chapin!" I hear Eva yell. I grumble as I roll over and flip myself over my bed.

Eva springs into my room like a bat out of hell. She looks excited and distrawed.

"Why-would-you-say-no-to-Isaiah?!" She says without taking a breath. I stumble from the floor to my feet and put my hand on my hip. Honestly, it is a question even I cant answer. "Chapin!" She grabs my shoulders and shakes them. "He saved your life!"

I temove her hands from my shoulders and shake my head. "I'm not dating him to repay him." She looks at me confused. "He's a nice guy and all, but what if he plays me like he does every other girl?! I don't want to end up like Jamie!"

Eva chuckles sarcastically. "What's so wrong with Jaime?" She throws her hands up and uses a tone of voice I only hear when she's angry. "You're so obvlivious to the fact that that guy saved your life!" She puts her hands on her hips and looks around bored.

"Eva, listen to me!" I snap my fingers at her face until her eyes meet mine. "Anyone could have saved me that day! It just so happened to be creepy stalker man. Sure, I could've died, and part of me wishes I did, because then I wouldn't have to deal with people like you!" I am nearly shouting at her, okay maybe I am shouting.

She looks at me, then looks away. I can tell she knows I'm right.

"Chapin," She says softly, without making eye contact. "All I'm saying is give him a chance." She walks out of my room. I plop on my bed.

I'm so ready for this day to be over.

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Eva decided she was going to ride to the game with my brother, so I decided I was going to stay behind for a while, then drive myself. There really is no need to go early. Truthfully, I just want to avoid any awkward conversations anyone might be considering to hold with me.

I definitely want to avoid Isaiah most. I don't want to distract him anymore than I have to.

I am sitting in my sweats eating a bowl of cereal when my mom comes out to join me.

"Shouldn't you be at the game?" She asks me, rubbing her eyes and making her way towards the cereal cupboard.

"I don't even know anymore." I say, resting my head in my hands.

"So you and Isaiah aren't together?" She shakes the box until cereal pours into her ceramic bowl.

I shake my head when she looks at me. I get up and go upstairs without finishing my cereal. I'm not sure why it upset me, but it did.

I clothed myself in my normal wear, then threw a hoodie on over my tank. After slipping on a pair flip flops I skipped down the stairs, pulled my keys from the rack by the door, and sped away in my car.

I want to go to Isaiah's game.

I can't bring myself to turn the wheel. My sweaty palms slide to bottom of the wheel as I give up, gliding past the road of fields at 55 miles per hour. I don't look back, instead I focus attention forward because I have no idea where I'm going.