Strike-Out

Got the Digits

Chapter 12

I had a permanent smile for the rest of the day, or so I thought.

Typically, I blast my music when I drive, but now I couldn't. I couldn't stop thinking about Moon. His touch was so gentle, but so forceful. He had the power to persuade and convince any girl.

Especially me.

Moon isn't the type of guy to play a girl, like Isaiah. That's what I like most about him.

My drive home felt longer than it actually was. When I pulled into the driveway my mother ran out of the house to greet me at the car.

How sweet.

"Where the hell were you?!" She screamed, grabbing my phone from my hand.

"What?" I said before I could comprehend what was happening.

"Your brother and Eva both confirmed your absence from the game." I rolled my eyes.

"Mom you don't have to talk to me like I'm your personal assistant or something."

"Isaiah came here earlier, wanted to talk. I had to send him off telling him I had no idea where you were!" She scrolled through my phone. "I called you fifteen times!"

"Isaiah and I aren't dating, mom!" I hollered back, snatching my phone from her hands. "I was busy!"

"Well next time you decide to be busy, you better let me know where..." Her tone was calm, "or who your with. What's that on your neck."

Crap.

I rub my neck where Moon had bit me.

"I, uh, burned myself with my curling iron." I tried to sound convincing, but I know it wasn't.

"But you didn't curl your hair..."

"I did last night, just messing around. I washed it out this morning. You probably didn't see it because of my hoodie."

"Chapin." She demanded.

"What?!" I tried to act stupid, but my mom is anything but an idiot.

"Did Isaiah do this to you?" She yelled, pulling me into the house. "You sit here." She shoved me onto a kitchen chair.

"Isaiah and I are not dating!" I said one last time, throwing my hands in the air. I didn't want to tell her about Moon because I knew how badly she wanted me to be with Isaiah.

"Tell me the truth or I WILL get your father." She pulled the father card. Of course she did.

"I told you the truth." I shoved myself past her and went upstairs into my room.

If I told her about Moon I'd have to tell her about the bar, and I know she wouldn't love that.

I pulled my phone from my pocket and sat on my bed. I had sixteen missed calls. When scrolling through the numbers I found that one of them was not my mother's.

Moon.

I clicked on the number, then 'call back'.

The phone rang once before he picked up.

"Chapin..."

"Hey hottie!" I said jokingly, but not jokingly. He was gorgeous.

"Well if that's how it's gonna be." He snickered. His voice sounded weird, softer than normal. "You won't date me but I'm a hottie now?"

I face-palmed.

Isaiah.

"I guess so." I said reluctantly.

"Where were you today? I was really hoping to see you."

"I was with Eva." I said out of instinct, but I knew she was at the game.

"But she was at the game?"

"You didn't let me finish... I was with Eva's mom. We're like, best buds now." I laughed to myself. I sound pathetic.

"Oh yeah? Let me in on that action?" I could see him winking in my mind.

"You're so sick. I'm going to go now. Bye." I hung up before he could rebuttal.

I fell back on my bed.

I need to get Moon's number... or would that be too desperate? Should I wait a day?

But I couldn't wait. And if he meant anything he did today then neither could he.

I ran into my brothers room.

"Come on you bastards! Shoot him! I said shoot him!" Justin was yelling at his T.V., again.

"Oh hey, Chapin. Please don't tell mom I swear!" He sat down his controller and curled his lip.

"Fine. But you owe me." I came in without a plan, and now I have one.

"Yeah, sure. Whatever you want."

"I need Moon's number." He looked at me, surprised.

"Yeah, okay.. here... um, woah. What happened to your neck?" I rolled my eyes.

"Is it really that noticeable?" I ran my fingers over the mark. It was sensitive, and a little swelled. It reminded me of a bug bite.

"It's pretty bad." His jaw dropped. "No..."

I smiled, "Yeah... now can I please just have his number."

"Only if you tell me what happened, then we're even." He was cruel.

"I'll tell mom you swear!" I threatened.

"I'll tell her Moon did that..."

Damn you.

"We just kissed." I admitted.

"Oh, anything else?" He begged for more, it's gross.

off on your sisters love life, that's sick!" I held out my hand. "Number please."

"980-5525" He said. I typed it into my phone.

"Cool thanks." I skipped happily out of his room and into mine. The second my door shut I started dancing.

I've only been home for an hour, I wonder if I'm on his mind, too.

I guess I'll give him a call. I scroll through my contacts to find Moon, and carefully press 'call'.

Ring.

Ring.

Ring.

Ring.

Ring.

"Come on, Moon pick up!" I whisper to myself.

Ring.

Ring.

Ring.

"I'm sorry. The person you have called did not pick up the phone. If you would like to leave a message-"

'End call'.