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5. Ball to the Head

When I pulled up to the oval, I checked my wrist watch. There were still 20 minutes until Lachy and Jess' training finished, so I sat on the concrete steps watching.

All the girls from Jess' team saw me and waved. I waved back and they all giggled. They were so cute. Jess gave me a waved, then turned back to her coach.

Jess and Lachy were Ben's little sister and brother. They were a year apart, and were in middle school. I loved them both, and loved spending time with them.

Jess and I both loved watching Glee together and doing each others nails and hair, and going to the mall, whenever she had an event going on, and Lachy and I bonded over Mario Kart and fairgrounds. He loved to go to the fairground on a sunny day, and I was only too willing to take him. They were like my younger sister and brothers, and Ben often joked that I liked them more than him.

I focused on the training and looked at the way they passed the ball, and received it. I loved watching sport, because of the energy. I loved the atmosphere and the pace of it all.

As I watched Lachy's training, as ball came from nowhere, and hit Lachy on the head. He fell to the ground in slow motion, and didn't get back up. I rushed over to his side. The whole team crowded around him, and the coach called the physio over. Jess ran over.

"Jess it's all right, you can go back to training."

"Hey Ash, it's over. Is he gonna be okay?"

"I'm not sure about right now, but I'm sure he'll be fine."

Lachy slowly started to come round, and I out his head on my lap.

"Hey Ash, did you see my goal?"

I laughed, and helped him get to his feet.

"Do you wanna stay for a bit, or I can take you home."

"Nah, trainings over anyways, I can go home."

"Kay then, lets go. Jess, run and grab your stuff kay. Your brothers too." I wink at her, as she runs over to the benches to grab their bags.

I help Lachy to my car, and tell him that he can ride shotgun. He fist bumps me, and I open the door for Jess. I jump in the front seat, and turn on the ignition.

"Seatbelts. Is everybody cool with leftovers for dinner. Your moms working the night shift"

They both seem fine with that.

"Oh, that's too bad, I would have gone through Maccas, but if you want your leftovers." I say, knowing that it will tease them.

"Actually Ash, I think that sounds great, because leftovers are gross."

"Yeah, drive through it is."

"Guys, I was kidding. You are so much like Ben. He begs me to take him to drive through all the time."

"Puh-lease, we are not as bad as Ben." Lachy says.

I laugh and nod my head.

"Well, we can go through drive through now, but only for ice-cream, and you have to eat leftovers."

"Deal!" they say in sync. I laugh at them again, pulling into Maccas drive through.

"Two chocolate sundaes and one strawberry please." I know their favourites off by heart, because we sneak out all the time of movie night, to get ice cream.

I hand them their ice creams, and drive away.

"Thanks Ash."

"Your way more fun then Ben."

"I know right!".