Inning of Love (Complete and being edited)

INNING TWO.

Scarlett.

A couple of weeks pass by and it is now a week before my birthday, October 19 and I will be turning eighteen. It is also going to be homecoming week, which explains why everyone is getting hyped up about the dance at school. At lunchtime, I make my way to the outdoor table to meet up with Nina and the group. Ryker looks pretty cute today, wearing skinny black jeans and a loose blue T-shirt. Ryker and I have been on a couple more dates and it has been fun. We even made out last weekend and it was exhilarating, just like Valerie had said it would be, but I didn't know where we stood. We haven't had that talk on whether or not we're a couple. I sit next to him and Nina and he puts his arm over me at the same time that Phoebe rolls her eyes at me and leans on Dean.

"So, your birthday is next week, what are we going to do?" Nina asks. I didn't mention my birthday to her even though we basically tell each other everything. In fact, I haven't mentioned it to anyone.

I was about to answer her when Dean answers, "I don't know. Do you guys want to hang out? Maybe go do something." He shrugs.

"When is your birthday?" I ask Dean.

"On the 16th. Tuesday." Dean's been short with me ever since that day at Nina's when he apologized for being a dick.

"Really? Well, you're just a few days older than I am." Nina almost breaks her neck to look at me, her mouth agape at the realization.

"What? Girl, how did I not know this? When is your birthday?" She asks, sounding shocked.

I give her a small smile and shrug my shoulders. "I turn 18 on Friday, the 19th." Nina looks over at Ryker as if wondering why he never mentioned anything, but I never told him either. To be honest, I haven't really thought about it. This will be my first birthday without my parents and I am not sure how to handle it.

"Hmmm. Ryker, Phoebe, do you guys want to do a double party for them? We can all do something that way." Nina looks at me, looking for any sign of resistance, and continues when I don't, "That is if you guys would want to."

I almost say that I will probably just stay home, but I stop myself. I don't think I really want to be at home with nothing to do. I mean, I enjoy hanging out with Seth and Valerie, but maybe being surrounded by friends won't be so bad. It could be a good distraction.

"Sure, that sounds like fun," I say, the same time Dean says, "I would be down for that."

I could literally feel Phoebe's eyes burning into me. "Well, what are we all going to do then?" She questions while crossing her arms across her chest in annoyance.

Ryker stands up from the table to throw away his lunch. "How about I score some beers and we drive down to the lake and all hangout?" He suggests, and I feel my body stiffen at even the word alcohol.

"I don't drink," I say sternly. I know no one here really knows the situation about what happened to my parents, except for Nina, so I don't get mad when Ryker brings up the alcohol. Before I can say anything else, Dean chimes in and suggests, "How about we go to Laser Tag?"

Phoebe starts laughing when I say that Laser Tag would be fun. I actually really like Laser Tag. "What are you guys, twelve? We should do something else." She snarls.

I almost reply to her bitchy remark when Nina says, "Phoebe, it is their birthday, not yours. Laser Tag is fun, and if you don't like it, you don't have to go." This is why I love my best friend. "Okay, so Laser Tag it is," Nina adds when Phoebe purses her lips and doesn't argue.

I usually do dinner and a movie with my parents every year for my birthday...or did. It's what they used to do for me. Around my birthday, new horror movies usually come out into theaters, and as much as they creep me out, I still enjoyed going. "Would you guys be up for a movie afterward? There is a new movie out that looks pretty scary." I look down as I fiddle with my fingers, not sure what response I am about to get.