The Laws of Emotion

Chapter Twenty

Margaret couldn't stop giggling. She sat in my front seat, clutching her stomach as she laughed and laughed. It was music to my ears. She thought it was so fun to sneak out of the hospital. However, I didn't sneak her out; I talked to her mother about this, and she agreed that Margaret could come to the scrimmage game. She told me that someone would be there to pick her up so I wouldn't have to bring her back to the hospital.

"You can't tell anyone that we did that," I said in a whisper. She nodded solemnly. 

"That sounds good to me," she replied. I could hear the laughter still in her voice, and her lips twitched.

"Don't stop smiling," I said, parking my car outside of the softball diamond. 

"What?" she asked.

"Lately, you have seemed down," I explained. I shut off my car and faced her. "Seeing you smile has been a great change."

Margaret nodded, her smile slipping off of her face. "I don't like being cooped up in the hospital. I want to see my friends again and go to school."

"I know," I said gently. "I know you do."

"Thank you for bringing me here tonight."

"You're welcome."

She pulled me into a tight hug before leaping out of the car. Her frail body seemed to gain strength just for tonight. She bounced up and down on her feet as she waited by my trunk. I pulled my softball bag out of it, and she slammed the trunk shut. 

"Is Harvey here yet?" she asked excitedly.

I scanned the field and caught sight of his pink hair. Nodding, I pulled her along toward the bleachers. Mom, Dad, and Beckett were already there, and they smiled and waved at me. I stepped up on the first bleacher and held my hand out for Margaret. She took it gratefully. I helped her to where my family was sitting.

"Are these your parents?" Margaret asked shyly. She tucked herself behind me slightly, and I laughed.

"Yeah. That's my brother, Beckett." Beckett raised his hand in acknowledgement. "You can sit here with them while you watch me play."

"Okay."

Mom and Dad separated so Margaret could sit in between them. I caught Mom's eye, to see if they were fighting again, but she avoided me. I ignored that side of my mind and smiled at Margaret. "I'll send Harvey over here, okay?"

"Okay!"

I spun on my heel and nearly ran into Chris and Ethan and Sophia. They all smiled at me, and Sophia pulled me into a hug. "Hey," I said to them. 

"Don't listen to these guys, I'm totally rooting for you," Sophia said quickly, pulling away from me. I laughed.

"Is this true, boys?"

"No, it isn't," Chris said, shaking his head. "She's on Team Harvey all the way."

I rolled my eyes. "What, are you guys betting on me or something?" They shared not-so-secret glances, and I groaned. "Are you three serious?"

"Completely," Ethan said with a deadpan expression. "I placed my bets on you, Sophia placed her bets on Harvey, and Chris is neutral."

"Thank you, Chris," I said, throwing him a smile. "You're my favorite."

"Hey!" Sophia said loudly as I ran away from her, laughing. I glanced back to see her laughing, too.

Something hard stopped me from moving any further. I caught myself from falling by grabbing onto the arm and glanced up. Nick smiled down at me and held me at arms length. "Hi!" he said brightly.