Gage Cilleti has just begun his junior year of high school, and is becoming more and more involved in his school's activities, considering he'd been playing baseball since he was just seven-years-old.
Elijah McCay has just dropped out of school, du...
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The next day wasn't too eventful. And I had spent the last two hours of my Tuesday afternoon, jogging up and down a local neighborhood park. I hadn't exercised in days, and it felt good to finally get out, and be active again. Besides my daily baseball practices. Coach Witherspoon had been riding mine and the rest of the teams asses, because of a game that was happening in less than a week.
Right after the entire state fair ordeal--if I was even allowed to go anymore. After my mother's realization about me sneaking out quite regularly, she'd been adamant on keeping me on a tight leash. Even if it meant keeping me from a once in a lifetime opportunity like meeting Elijah's friends. Especially when I didn't even know he had any.
Even when it came to routinely exercise such as jogging, I was told not to be longer than forty-five minutes or my grounding would be extended.
I'd never been grounded before yesterday, and I can imagine anyone else my age would be thinking--this is such bullshit. But I understood where my mother was coming from. Me, a sixteen-year-old boy, had no business being out so late. Even if it was to see some boy.
Although, I had always the biggest feeling down in the pit of my stomach, that Elijah wasn't just some boy.
And even while being the freaky freshman I was back then--it was different with him. When I looked at him, it felt so much more real than it ever did with Terrance. Or any other guy I'd ever been interested in.
I quickly set aside my thoughts, not wanting to get too emotional in the middle of a neighborhood park. Today was supposed to be about me, and me only. No Elijah, no Rick, no parents. Just me, and my thoughts. And maybe a few horror movies later on in the evening.
Once I've made it home, I slowly shut the front door carefully, listening in closely for any signs of noise. And I'm left surprised when there isn't any. I kick my sneakers off, cringing at the trench of my own stench. But I guess jogging for almost an hour straight will do that to you.
I don't bother letting my parents know I'm home, considering the fact that they've most-likely heard the door shut on my way in. I grab a refrigerated bottle of water, and take a drink, loving the feel of cool air touching my skin.
"Gage, is that you?" My mother calls out to me from upstairs, the sound of a tv playing halting, her awaiting my reply.
"Yeah!" I reply right away, "It's me!"
Knowing she probably has to speak to me about something, I make my way up the stairs, my legs pulsing, practically begging for me to either sit down, or take a steamy shower.
I knock on my parents' bedroom door, patiently waiting for an acknowledgment. Once I get one, I push the door open, a small smile placed on my lips. My father is leaning against their headboard, my mother leaning on his chest. The scene has my smile widening even more.
"How was your run?" My father asks, running a steady hand through my mothers dark strands of hair. The same strands she and I shared.
I shrug, settling with a drowsy stare as an expression. "It was okay, I think I'm just gonna take a shower, then head to bed."
He nods, and so does my mother. "Goodnight--and let us know if you need anything."
The steamy shower was just what I needed after a long day of overthinking and trying not to think about the one thing, or one person, who's always on my mind. The hot water cascaded down my back, relaxing each and every one of my tense muscles.
My run was good, but relaxing in my bedroom, playing some of my favorite movies sounded even better. I shut off the shower, wrapping a towel around my waist, and making my way down the hall, and into my bedroom.
After locking the door, I settled on a comfortable pair of dark sweatpants and a plain pair of white socks. Not bothering with a shirt, I settled in comfortably under my covers, a content sigh leaving my lips.
But just as I'm beginning to relax, my cellphone begins to ring--and loudly, at that. I answer with a gruff, "yes?"
Rick chuckles into the speaker, "you sound exhausted."
"I am, it's been such a long fucking day. I feel like I haven't slept in ages." Sure, my explanation is dramatic, but it's valid.
Rick hums in acknowledgement at my sentence. "I was a little worried, you didn't answer any of calls from yesterday, and I felt kind of bad after I left you stranded at school. And speaking of it--how'd you get home?"
My heart swells at the memory, a smile cracking through my lips. "Yeah, my parents took my cell for a few hours, after they found out that I'd been sneaking out to hang out with Elijah. I didn't get it back until this morning. And I also got a ride home from him."
Rick whistles, my cheeks reddening at what he's insinuating. "You seem to be spending a lot of time with him lately."
I bite at my bottom lip to keep from smiling too widely. And I blush once more when I realize that I probably look like some little girl--gossiping about a boy with my best friend. "It isn't like that, I swear. I'm sure he thinks of me as some child-like figure he babysits."
Rick scoffs on the other line, me sitting up straight in my bedspread. "Oh, come on. We'll see how true that statement is as time goes on."
I narrow my eyebrows, wondering if I'd ever actually get a chance with Elijah. "You think?"
"Definitely."
As I can feel the conversation coming to a halt, Elijah's words from the evening before come into my mind. And I realize that with Rick coming, I'd feel much more comfortable around Elijah and all of his college friends--once I've convinced my parents to let me go.
"Hey, Rick--how do you feel about going to the state fair this weekend?"
I knew Rick wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to go out, especially on a weekend. And I'm proven right when he cheers loudly into the speaker, his smile practically seeping through it. And I laugh, too. "Do you even have to ask? Gosh, I've been waiting for something exciting to happen. I swear, it feels like junior year is going to be all work, and no play."
I nod, forgetting that he can't see me. "Yeah, my social life's been a bit strained--not that I exactly had one beforehand."
Rick chuckles once more, but stops when I hear a door shutting in the near background, an irate voice following afterward. "Hey, Gage, my dad just got home. I'll see you tomorrow and you can give me all the details about this weekend."
I agree, ending the call with a quick, "bye."
My night ends shortly after, me falling asleep with a content smile on my face, thinking of how wonderful this weekend could be. Or how horrible.
