No Filter

Chapter XIX (19)

Liam's POV

I close the door behind me and walk through the living room. I wipe the sweat off my forehead as I enter the kitchen and walk to the refrigerator. I open the door and grab a cold bottle of water. I twist the cap off and take a sip.

After I close the bottle and take a seat by the kitchen table, I let out a breath of relaxation and hydration. I just came home from a basketball game, and it was kind of rough. The players were hard to beat. They kept coming with their speed, and I wasn't entirely focus on the game.

I look out to the crowd and see my beautiful girlfriend sitting the crowd. She gave me a smile and a wave, and it touched my heart. I shift my eyes and set them in search of someone else in the crowd. My parents don't come to my events as often as Ally's parents would. I had hoped to see her, Ally, in the crowd, but she wasn't there. In most of my games, I would see her in the crowd, throwing hands and cheering me on, but when she couldn't make it, it's usually something really important. And I didn't know about this time. We weren't communicating like we used to.

I wonder where she's been. I haven't seen her as much as I used to. We're both busy. She's busy with her academics and clubs. And I'm busy with my academics and athletics stuff. This year has been the most mixed in feelings. It's been great with all that I have achieve this year. I have a girlfriend, who actually adores me, and I like her a lot. Nothing serious yet though. I got two scholarship for basketball already. There wasn't much struggle with school this year but there was with my relationship.

Now that I'm a senior, my parents want me to focus more on the family business and the farm. It's hard to do it with other things that I have to keep in check. I have gone down to the farm a couple times, and sometimes, Cheryl would come down there with me. I remember when we were younger, Ally and I use to jump around on the hay. My dad would allow us to ride the horses. And we had this little shack in the woods. We used it as a storage room now.

I hear footsteps coming behind me. I turn around and see my mom in her night gown. She smiles and runs her fingers through my messy hair. "So how was the game?"

"We won," I answer. "It was tough though. One of their players was super fast. You couldn't see him coming up behind you, and if you did, he would've snatched the ball out of your hands. None of us could have chase him."

"Wow," she comments. She takes a seat on the empty chair beside me and rests her elbow on the table.

"If it wasn't for Cheryl, I don't think I could've kept going," I said.

She chuckles. "Cheryl is a sweet girl. Tell her that I miss her and that I hope she visits more often. She is better than that other girl you were dating."

She pinches my cheek, and I squirm. "Ma," I said.

Her expression changes, and her happy state transformed into a sad one. "Have you gone to visit Pat yet?"

I widen my eyes, forgetting about Ally's mom. I shake my head. "No, I forgot. She's been in the hospital for over a week now."

"I heard that she might be let out by next Friday," she says. "I offered some money to Ally, but she won't accept it. I really admire her, but I just wish she allowed others to help her."

"That's Ally," I said. "I wish she just knows that it's okay for other people to help." Ally has put a lot of walls up that even I couldn't penetrate. At least anymore.

"If she wants a job, even if it's temporary, tell her that your father and I are willing to offer her a job at the farm. I really hope she takes the offer."