Willowcliffe

Taylor

Taylor insisted on going to every one of Becka's softball games. She didn't care if she had to work, or if she was too tired or too hungover. It could be 95 degrees outside with the hot sun beating on her reddening forehead, or it could be a chilly thunderstorm with the wind blowing down her jacket. She didn't care; she was there for every game. 

Becka was a natural athlete. She was the only freshmen to make the varsity team, and started every game as a catcher. She wasn't initially inclined to play softball, but since watching Taylor play on the weekends, she decided to join the local middle school's league, and was recruited from there by just about every travel team and private high school in the area. Taylor quit when she was Becka's age now; she could never stick with one thing for too long. Softball became boring to her, and she never meshed with coaches easily. But if Becka was playing, Taylor was there. 

"You here by yourself?" said Tobias. Taylor whipped around, jumping slightly. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you," he laughed. 

"No, no, you're fine. Yeah, my mom is working today, I think she should be here soon," Taylor said, scooting over on the set of bleachers so Tobias could climb into the seat next to her. 

Tobias Ault Jr. was one of Taylor's best friends growing up. Her family was good friends with his, which is how Taylor started playing softball in the first place. His father, Tobias Ault Sr., was coming off of his fifth year of retirement in the Minor League's, and quickly became the varsity girl's softball coach at the high school and headed a travel softball team of his own. Taylor can remember the two of them throwing a baseball back and forth until the streetlight couldn't illuminate the ball any further. She always tried to take his head off; he was always more ginger and gentle with her. They had grown apart over the years, since he was a year younger than her and never in the same social groups in high school. Taylor tended to hang out with the kids from the other side of town, while Tobias was Student Council President and head of about five other clubs at school. Still, despite him still being in high school, he looked older than she remembered him being. His arms, which were normally noodles, began to look toned, and his jawline was becoming more pronounced. His sandy blonde hair was a messy mop on his head, and his newly straightened teeth added to his charm. 

"What are you doing here?" Taylor asked. 

Tobias shrugged. "It's a nice day, I guess I just didn't feel like going home just yet." He pulled a textbook out of his bag and opened to a page with a homework assignment in it. 

"Is it still bad there?" Taylor asked in a soft voice. Tobias shrugged again. He normally wasn't one for lengthy conversations or talking about his feelings; they were normally summed up with a shrug or a look. Taylor couldn't blame him for not wanting to go home. His mother was in the later stages of Multiple Sclerosis and was completely dependent on caretakers to feed and change herself. Tobias didn't like to look at her or even be in the same house as her at times, and would tend to walk around the shores of the cliffs well into the night. 

"So, how's senior year going?" Taylor asked, eager to change the subject. 

"Alright, I guess," he said. "I'm ready for it to be over." 

"Then off to The Ohio State University?" 

"We'll see." 

Taylor furrowed her brow. "'We'll see'? What does that mean? You committed already, haven't you?" 

"I'm just not sure what I want to do, that's all. With life and shit, you know?" 

Taylor let out a low chuckle. "Yeah, you and me both. And besides, tons of kids go in undecided, that's no big deal at all."