We Come Alive 5

Ending The Competition

Monday morning, Diego's truck and Andrew's car pulled up to the athletic building. The gang met up with Ricky and Jacob who had gotten there a few minutes before and stayed in Ricky's Jeep. Together, they went inside to try to get some encouraging words before having to face the entire school after a devastating loss.

When the eight walked inside, they saw Mateo, Sam, Victor, and Danny waiting for them in the waiting area outside the offices.

"What's this?" Ethan asked, leaning on one of the chairs so he didn't strain his arms from his crutches. He saw Clover walk around him and sit down beside him with her entire right hand in a soft white cast after she ripped her stitches more and more throughout the game, hurting her hand further.

Andrew flopped down in the chair beside Ethan while Mateo answered. "We wanted to congratulate Y'all on an amazing game. We didn't want y'all to think we thought lower of you."

Sam nodded, agreeing with Mateo. "Yeah, he's right. We threw some funds together for the baseball team to go out for dinner tonight. It's the least we could do for such an inspiring game."

Ricky scoffed with a smile, leaning on Diego's shoulder. "First you pay them to be on the team and now Y'all are giving them a victory dinner? You've come a long way."

"He's got a point." Victor snickered, sitting on the back of one of the chairs. "Whoever thought we'd ever have a baseball team after so much happened. They should've at least gotten a 'congratulations on even being able to show up' trophy or something. We could hang it up around here somewhere with all the other trophies bossman makes us keep."

Mateo glared at him then looked back at Ricky. "Just be lucky I haven't fired any of you yet." He mumbled, walking back to his office.

Danny snickered under his breath. "Y'all head to school now. Andrew, Ricky, they'll need Y'all for the assembly later today. Wear your best."

~**~

Tuesday evening, while it seemed that everyone else was out in the world, Clover was stuck at home doing some chores. She walked down the apartment building stairs and walked to the back. She slipped out the back door to drop the trash bag that was in her left hand into the garbage bin, but she stopped seeing familiar hazel eyes watching a little boy play in the backyard with some of the other kids.

When Dante saw her out of the corner of his eye, his happy expression turned to shock. "Hey." He whispered.

Clover just raised her eyebrows instead of replying as she walked around to the side of the building and threw out the trash. When she turned around, he was standing there.

"Can we talk?" He requested.

Clover crossed her arms, her wrapped hand on full display. "I really don't want to. I'd rather just go back upstairs."

"I just want to apologize." Dante sighed, leaning his hand against the external wall of the building. "Just hear me out. I messed up when we broke up and I just wanted to apologize. It wasn't fair to you. And I'm concerned about you."

"Keep being concerned." She scoffed, sliding under his arm and trying to walk away.

"Why do you do this?!" He yelled out to her, making her stop. "Someone gives a shit about you and you shut them out. I'll never understand it."

Clover whipped around. "That's why we're not together anymore. You don't know anything about me! You don't care! You don't try."

"I don't care?!" He scoffed. "You run at the first sign of trouble. Anytime I try to get close, you shut down and blame me for everything. Were you even ever even in love with me?"