Alex pulled up into her driveway and got out of the Explorer, slamming the door. Nick pulled up right behind her and got out. Storming over he started, “ Alex are you crazy, you can’t do this! You can hurt yourself, the doctor said….”
Alex cut him off, “DON’T YOU TELL ME WHAT I CAN OR CAN’T DO!!!!! The team doctor looked at my chart, he examined me, I can play.” She pulled her gear out of the back.
“NO YOU CAN’T!!” Nick yelled at her
“And why not?”
“Because I don’t want you to!”
“Like I’m suppose to just do whatever you say? I don’t think so.”, She spat at him
“We’re getting married Alex, you’re my fiancé, and I don’t want you too.”
Alex stopped and looked at him for a minute, “Okay, I understand”, Nick sighed with relief, “ Then I can call the whole thing off and you won’t have to worry about.” Alex finished thru gritted teeth
“You….you…you can be serious Alex.” Nick stammered
“Yes I am, take your ring back, and leave.” She handed him the ring and turned to walk away, but Nick grabbed her arm and spun her around. Alex slapped him, “I’m not going to give up my dream for ANYONE, not even you.” With that she turned and went right into the house straight up the stairs to her room, where she cried for what seemed like hours.
Nick stood right where she had left him for a long time. The words she spat at him stinging more that the red mark on his face. He looked at the ring that seemed to burning a hole in his hand, what was he going to do? He looked at the house, she needed time, and that was what he was going to give her. He turned to go back to his truck, and stopped. He looked at her Explorer and then walked over and opened the door. He sat the ring on the dashboard and left.
Jason saw the whole thing from the window, he heard his sister crying, and he saw Nick leave. He didn’t know what was going on, but he hoped everything would be all right.
Alex was still in her room 2 hours later when she heard her father screaming her name. She walked out of her room and looked down the stairs, “Alexis Mackenzie you get your butt down here right NOW!” He father yelled
Alex was kind of startled but went down stairs to find a very angry set of parents. Her dad was pacing about mumbling and shaking his fist in the air, her mother just sat there and watched him. Finally her father turned and started yelling at her, “What do you think you are doing? You really think that you are going to pitch, after all you’ve been thru?”
“How did y…”
Her mother answered the question, “Nick just called, he informed us of your whereabouts, because he thought we should know.” Alex was furious but relieved, obviously he did not tell them about the broken engagement. They would have really blown up about that.
“The team doctor examined me and said if I was careful and didn’t over due it I could pitch. I’ve been working with the coach on weights and other things and have even passed my record. I plan to go to college in a month on my scholarship and play for the team.”
Her parents just looked at her, “I can’t believe you would do something like this behind our back.” Her father said
“Dad, it’s my arm, it’s my carrier. I’m 18 and I think I am old enough to figure out what I can and can’t do. I didn’t do anything before talking to the doc, and the coach. I’ve been really careful. All I’ve wanted to do ever since I was little was pitch, and that is what I plan to do.” Alex said this all calmly and waited for her parent’s reply. They didn’t say anything for a moment, “If you screw up your arm where you can not use it at all to do anything, it will be on your conscience, not mine.” Her father stated after a moment.
Alex grinned, “thank you daddy.” She said hugging him
“Just let it be known young lady that if you were younger I’d…”
Alex finished, “I know, beat until I couldn’t sit down.”
“We are letting you control this situation for the moment, but if it gets out of hand, I will put a stop to it.” Alex nodded at her father
She walked upstairs, happy that her parents now knew, and she was still going to pitch. She was happy until she remembered Nick and everything that she had said.
