The Game Changer

by Trio, L. M.

  I glance over and catch the emotion that fills his face. “Anything to do with children. She liked to give to charities that helped children in need,” he says as his eyes glaze over.

  I keep her distracted by pointing to an idea I think she would like, so that she doesn’t notice David getting emotional.

  “Great idea, guys. Don’t stay up much longer, though; you can do this in the morning.” He quickly turns away and heads upstairs.

  After a few more minutes of researching, I make her shut down the computer and get some sleep. I kiss her softly on her lips as I tuck her into bed, saying goodnight. I grab an extra pillow from her bed and start to get up.

  “Where are you going?” She pulls me back down.

  “I don’t want to give David a heart attack in the morning, so I’m going to sleep on the floor.”

  “Oh please. At this point, I don’t think he cares.”

  “That’s what you think,” I say as I grab her comforter and set myself up on the floor.

  “Luke?” She peeks her head over the side of the bed.

  “Yeah?”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you, too. Now, get some sleep,” I order, pulling the comforter over my head and hiding the fact that I’m smiling from ear to ear. I think we may have had a breakthrough tonight. One, she told me that she loves me, I can’t even express the way it feels for me to hear her say it, knowing that she believes in us means everything to me. And two, I’m excited about this fundraising idea. I think it’s exactly what she needs. Her negative energy can be converted into something positive as we make plans to make this fundraiser a success. Each year at this time, she’ll have something positive to look forward to.

  ***

  It’s hard to believe that we are able to pull the fundraising event together within three weeks, but she puts all of her energy into it and works her butt off getting donations and putting out flyers. Thankfully, our friends and family chip in with the planning as well. I have a friend, whose family owns the local Bowling Alley, who is generous in allowing us to use the place for an extremely low fee. And, David’s restaurant donates food and drinks.

  We sell a lot of tickets in school and at the door. JJ makes posters and puts them in most of the local stores. Many of the local businesses donate items or gift cards. The girls make up some really nice gift baskets to use for a Chinese auction. We set up the Olivia Martell Memorial Foundation at the bank, so all checks can be made out to the foundation, then donated to the charity in Olivia’s memory. JJ chooses the Rainbows for All Children charity. They help to restore hope and happiness to children that are grieving. She sets a goal to raise two thousand dollars and we are able to raise almost thirty two hundred not bad for a fundraiser that we pulled together so quickly. This is exactly what she needed, she feels good about helping others that are in a similar situation as her, but some of the kids are at an even younger age.

  Chapter 31(Jesse)

  My birthday passed on April 10th. I decided it was best to put off making plans to celebrate. Instead, that night Luke, Mikey and De came over for dinner and cake. Luke gave me a beautiful bracelet. He still insisted that he wanted to take me out, but I told him maybe after the fundraiser is over. I wasn’t quite ready. I hate that my birthday falls the week after the worst day of my life. It’s not a day I care to celebrate.

  Once the fundraiser is over and things settle, Luke insists we officially celebrate my birthday. I was hoping he would have forgotten about it by now. We end up having a really fun night. We go out to dinner at Los Amigos with De and Timmy. It’s a beautiful spring night. After dinner, we drop them off at Timmy’s. Luke and I take a drive to Cape May for a little alone time. He knows a perfect spot to park the car next to the water, the waves crash up against the rocks causing a spray into the air and sends a light mist through our opened windows. The mood is perfect with the music playing low and the sounds of the crashing waves hitting the rocks.

  We start to get a little adventurous, which is kind of tough in the front seat of a car, especially given Luke’s size, but where there’s a will, there’s a way. He lays the seat back as far as it can go and pulls me on top of him. We finally find our comfort spot and things begin to heat up rather quickly. We start to peel each other’s clothes off, which I have no objection to. After all, it’s my birthday celebration, I am seventeen, we are in a good place, and I am ready. I could care less if we are in a car, a box or a room at the Plaza. I’m with Luke and nothing could be better than that.

  As I lose most of my senses being caught up in the moment, I am suddenly blinded by the lights of another car shining in through the rear window of our car. I scream, jump, and bang my head on the roof of the car while scrambling to find my clothes and put them back on, while Luke is hysterically laughing at me. I throw his shirt at him, yelling to get dressed. With my luck, it’s a serial killer and we are going to die with our clothes off. Worse yet, it is, in fact, a police officer shining his big spot light towards our car. As I fall back into the passenger seat, my hair wild and disheveled, I swiftly button my shirt. The officer walks up to Luke’s window shining his bright light in our eyes.

  “Is everything alright here?” he asks, staring at me.

  “Yes... it’s fine,” I sputter, breathless. I want to kill Luke for not yet having his shirt on. Plus, he can’t hold back the huge grin across his face. At least, his pants are still intact.

  “Can I see some I.D.?” he asks as serious as a heart attack.

  Luke reaches in his pocket, but comes up empty. “Babe, do you have my wallet?” he asks casually as if he’s at the drive thru, while trying to keep a straight face.

  “It… it probably fell out,” I stutter as I frantically begin to search between the seats, while the officer impatiently waits. “Found it.” I hand it to Luke, giving him the evil eye. He hands the officer his license and insurance card. The officer then heads back to his car to run his information, which in turn sends Luke into hysterics.

  “Oh, my God, you have got to see your face right now!” He bursts into laughter once again.

  “I can’t believe I let you get me into these situations! You are an asshole! Why do I follow you?” I scream. “And put your shirt on!”

  “JJ, this is really funny, you look hysterical right now, your hair, your face... and your shirt…” more laughing, “is inside out and buttoned all wrong!” He can barely get the words out he is so amused while he finally buttons his own shirt.

  Glancing down at my inside out, unevenly buttoned shirt, I quickly reverse it and try to redo the buttons before the officer gets back.

  “Luke… this is not funny. I was almost completely undressed and he shined his light in the car. He had to have seen us.”

  “So what. Do you know how many people he probably catches doing the same thing? By the way... they’re still all wrong.” He points at my shirt as he tries to rationalize the situation and control his laughter.

  “Quiet. Here he comes.” I say as I once again fiddle with the buttons.

  He hands him back the I.D. while still shining his bright flashlight in the car. “Can I ask, what you are doing out here?”

  We both answer at the same time. “Talking,” I say. “Celebrating her birthday,” the moron says at about the same time as I notice my bra dangling from the gear shift. Luke’s eyes follow mine and he breaks out in a huge grin. I reach out and tug it towards me, but I think the officer spots it as well.

  “I see… Well, Happy Birthday, but see that sign over there? It says...No Trespassing. You’re not allowed to be here.”

  “Sorry, Officer.” We both apologize simultaneously.

  “It won’t happen again,” Luke adds with that same stupid grin.

  He lets us go without a ticket or warning and I swear I see him smirking, too. The whole drive home, Luke can’t stop laughing every time he brings it up.

  “I can’t wait to tell Mikey this.”

  “You cannot tell Mikey this… He will
torture me forever.”

  “You ain’t kiddin’... Can we pick up where we left off when we get home?”

  “Don’t push your luck.” I lean over to kiss him. I am definitely ready to pick up where we left off. I’m just not going to tell him that.

  My dad is home early from work, which puts a damper on the rest of our plans for the evening.

  “Hey, guys, where have you been? Deanna called about an hour ago from Timmy’s; she can’t find her cell and wants to see if she left it in the car. She tried both of your cells, but didn’t get an answer,” he says, looking at us suspiciously.

  “Oh, I better call her. I hope she didn’t leave it in the restaurant,” I avoid his question while trying to pull Luke into the kitchen with me before he opens his mouth.

  “Babe, I have to go. I should have been in bed two hours ago. I have to be up early,” Luke says as he drags me to the door, instead. “See ya, David,” he calls in to my dad as we go to stand on the porch.

  “What time’s your game?” I ask. I forgot that he even has a game.

  “Nine, but I have to be at the field by seven-thirty.”

  “Why didn’t you say something? We should have come home right after dinner.”

  “Ah, but that was soooo worth it,” he says wrapping both hands tightly around my waist and pulling me close to him.

  “You’re right… and… I guess it was pretty funny,” I reply as I stand on my tiptoes and begin to kiss him. “I thought we were going to pick up where we left off?” I whisper as my tongue plays with the lobe of his ear and traces down his neck while my hand slowly slides below his waist. I feel his body shudder as I press my body against his. He kisses me passionately.

  “Pleassssse... don’t do this to me tonight... I really, really... have to go,” he answers huskily, unable to remove his mouth from mine or take his hands off me.

  “Do what?” I whisper innocently, teasing him with my tongue, running my hand lower and caressing him.

  “Uh... You’re coming with me,” he growls. “I... I… can’t wait any longer.” He pulls me by the hand towards his house.

  “No! Wait! Stop! I’m teasing. You have to get to bed...alone, but you better make time for me soon. I’m getting very restless and tired of being put off,” I tease.

  “No more putting off. I promise I can’t stand it anymore,” he answers breathlessly.

  “Good. Me, neither. I’ll see you in the morning I don’t have to be in to work till twelve.” I say as I give him one last kiss goodnight and push him away. I finally started my internship at the museum.

  ***

  Deanna and I walk to the game in the morning. They’re still warming up. I spot three men wearing Tampa Bay hats. It’s one of the teams that are highly interested in Mikey and Luke. Shit, he should have reminded me that this was a big game. I instantly regret keeping him up late. We both know better and are usually good about making sure he’s well rested before a game.

  “Oh Shit. Look,” I say to De while inconspicuously pointing in their direction.

  “What’s wrong with that?” she asks, confused. At this point, we are used to having coaches and scouts checking them out at games and meeting with them.

  “Well, he was up a little later than he should have been,” I answer meekly.

  “So I heard,” Mikey’s voice sneaks up on us from behind.

  “Why aren’t you practicing with the team?” De asks with concern.

  “I had to run back to the locker room, the strap broke on my leg guard so I had to get another one,” he answers, before turning his attention back to me. “I see that you’re properly dressed this morning, I guess it was easier not having a spot light in your eyes.” He chuckles as he runs out onto the field.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” De asks, turning to me.

  “It means your brother has a big mouth.”

  “Oh,” she replies as we make our way to the bleachers.

  I know it’s killing her not to ask more. She tells me everything about her and Timmy, and I tell her everything, too, except for the intimate details about me and her brother. I can’t help but start laughing thinking about last night, though. It is much funnier to me this morning than it was at the time.

  “Okay, JJ, spill. I know it’s my brother, but you have to tell me what’s going on. I’ll just block out the fact that it’s him and picture someone else. Make up another name if you have to.”

  We both start laughing. Luke gets to tell Mikey everything and there are some things I want to talk and laugh about with De. It’s just the awkwardness of it being her brother. “Ok.” I agree, laughing.

  I filled her in on the events of last evening and she, too, thinks it is hilarious, which in turn, leads to more questions.

  “So are you telling me that you two haven’t...” she asks, now needing full disclosure.

  “Not yet... and not due to me, either. He always has an excuse. First, it was because I was too young; next, it was because whenever he told me he loved me, I couldn’t say it back. We finally got past that hurdle, which was my own insecurity that my world would come crashing down once I said it out loud. Now, I’m seventeen, barely a year younger than him, we love each other so much, but I think I’m finally wearing him down.”

  “Wow. I’m impressed. I have to tell you, JJ, I’m jealous of you two. I just hope I find that someday,” she says, suddenly changing her tone to a more serious one.

  “What are you talking about? You have Timmy… You love him, right? Is everything okay between you two?”

  “Yeah, sure. We’re fine. We get along great... but, I mean, you and Luke, it’s different. It’s like you two are connected in a way that is different from the rest of the world. Watching you two, you just know, it’s the kind of love that will last forever. You bring out the best in each other and it’s not something that either of you even has to think about, it’s natural. It’s hard to explain, it’s not a high school kind of love, or a young love. That’s what I have. That’s what Lori and Matt have. There’s a difference. I don’t know. I just hope I find the same thing someday.”

  I sit and contemplate what she said. “You’re right, I feel it, too.” It is true. I know that what Luke and I share is so much more than what our friends have and I’m not trying to dismiss their relationships. They have great relationships. It’s just different from ours. Luke and I have this intense need for each other. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I’ve been through a terrible tragedy and he pulls me through it and keeps me going. He has this crazy life ahead of him, something most people only dream about and he needs me to keep his life as normal as possible. “I’m going to miss him when he’s gone,” I say, reminding myself about this baseball thing.

  “If anyone can make this work, it’s you two. So, what do you think Mikey’s story is going to be?” she asks, shifting the subject as she focuses intently in his direction on the field.

  “Hmm… That’s a tough one. Hard to say right now. I’m sure he’s going to enjoy the fame for a while, but I think he has a pretty good idea of what he wants in the end.”

  Still watching him and only half listening to me, she responds, “I hope so, I love him and I hope everything works out for him and he stays happy.”

  “You two are on the same page with that,” I say, knowing she isn’t really listening to me, she’s still thinking about him. I know when she says she loves him it’s in a friend kind of way, but I still say there is more to their story than they both realize at this time.

  Thankfully Luke’s late night doesn’t affect his game. The boys have a fantastic and impressive game, as usual. I discretely blow Luke a kiss which he returns with a wink as he heads into the dugout after the sixth inning. I know it’s his last inning to pitch, so I head out to get ready for work.

  Chapter 32(Jesse)

  The last several weeks working at the museum have been great and I’m already learning so much. The week long orientation helped with that. I learned a great deal abou
t numerous artists, their backgrounds, and the history behind their works as I’m a guide in the museum. Sometimes I give tours to groups that may come through, or sometimes, I just walk around and am available for questions that people may have.

  On this particular day, the museum is crowded. It’s a beautiful summer-like day and the shore is crowded with people visiting for the weekend, knowing the weather forecast is as close to perfect as you can get. As I discuss a painting with an elderly, well-dressed couple visiting from out of town, I spot Luke walking down the hallway towards me, looking rather filthy. I excuse myself from the couple as I meet him halfway.

  “Hey, I found you,” he says with a huge grin on his face.

  “What are you doing here?” I ask, surprised to see him, wondering why he is so dirty.

  “Wow, look at you. You look... so...”

  “So, what?” I ask, amused by the boyish look on his face. Especially with dirt smudged across his cheek.

  “Grown up… Sophisticated... How come I didn’t know you look like this when you go to work?” he asks suspiciously.

  “Because this is the first time you have visited me at work,” I tease, licking my thumb and wiping away the smudge.

  “I like it. You look very... teacher-like. A really hot teacher.”

  “Oh, thanks. Now, why are you here again? And why do you look like this?” I ask, flicking his backwards dirty baseball hat.

  He laughs. “Work called, a few people called out. Since I was home early from my game and I knew you had to work, I volunteered to go in for a few hours. We had a job in Cape May. I’ve been planting shrubs all day,” he says, pointing to his dirty clothes. “We just finished, the guys are waiting for me in the truck.”

  “How did you get in here? Especially, looking like this,” I joke.

  “The girl at the front door let me in. You know me… I flashed a smile and she saw past the dirt,” he says with his big head. I roll my eyes. “I’m kidding. I told her who I was and said I had to give you the key to get into your house. I didn’t know it would be so fancy in here.” He looks around.