The Hitting Zone

We talked a little bit more about healing before talking about Dave's injury. Jeremy reassured me that he would be in good hands with Dr. Shanfield looking over him. And I believe it. Eventually Noah came out dressed and it was my turn to shower. I turned the water on hot and let it rain down on me. I did a few stretches before finishing.

Back in the room, the amount of people had multipled.

I was quickly pulled into a headlock. Dave tangled up my wet hair and laughed loudly. "Mr. MVP!"

I laughed too and struggled to get out of his hold.

"Be careful!" Kyle called out.

I quickly froze, realizing that Dave was injured.

"You're worrying about nothing, Kyle." Dave let me go. "Even Jake wasn't freaking out and I had my arm around his neck."

"I forgot." I glanced at his right arm. "How's it feeling?"

Dave lifted his right arm to show a wrist brace was on and his pinky was taped to his ring finger. "I feel great! I was allowed to take some strong painkiller before he reset the bone. The brace is just for caution. Mom thinks I'll be too reckless without a heavier reminder."

"Putting Jake into a headlock counts as reckless." Kyle argued. He turned to the others. "Tell him, guys. I'm not the crazy one here."

Zeke, Rhys, Jeremy, and Noah, all nodded in agreement.

Zeke walked over to get between us. "Kyle, you don't have to be so loud. A simple warning or reminder would suffice." He focused on Dave. "But he is right. You're just high on drugs right now. As soon as that fades, you'll probably going to be in pain."

Dave laughed. "Jokes on you guys. I have painkillers for the next two weeks." He pulled a bottle out of his jacket pocket and showed it off like his own MVP medal.

Zeke's eyes narrowed. "You better take that as instructed."

Kyle snorted. "Mom shouldn't have even let him hold it to begin with."

"Let me see." Jeremy came closer. Dave willingly handed him the bottle. Jeremy looked it over and slowly nodded. "Yep, this is the strong stuff. Be careful with it. Also...you know you can't drive, right?"

"Yea, yea, they told me." Dave waved the braced arm freely. "Not like I should anyways." He put his injured arm around my shoulders. "You guys are just a bunch of worrywarts. Let's worry tomorrow and let's celebrate Jake tonight!" He started to sway me side-to-side. "MVP! MVP!" He chanted.

I laughed, glad he was feeling well enough to mess around. It wasn't long before Noah joined and started to shout along. I also pitched in, really happy that I won the MVP of the tournament. Just for this moment alone.

Eventually, we had to leave and meet Mom and Dad downstairs in the lobby. We split up into two groups to take two different cars. Noah volunteered the two of us to go with Jeremy. Dave came along too.

"Is Rose not coming with us?" Noah asked as we walked to the car. "I didn't see her in the lobby."

"She was probably tired from doing the doctor visit with Mom and Rhys." Dave butted in. "Could you imagine? What a drag!"

Jeremy chuckled. "No, well technically she was tired. It's been a long weekend. But she got a notification that something she ordered was ready at the store so she needed to go pick it up. It's some Christmas presents for her parents. She said she would meet us at the restaurant."

"She's pretty cool. Are you guys living together yet?" Dave asked.

"Not officially." Jeremy told him and winked. "Ask me again in a couple of weeks."

"Wow! You're moving fast!" Dave caught the hint.

Jeremy turned sheepish as he ran his fingers through his hair. "Do you think so?"

"What's fast?" Noah asked, interested.

I also paid attention.

"They're going to move in together 'officially'." Dave raised his eyebrows up and down.

"I thought you guys already lived together though?" Noah asked Jeremy.

Jeremy shrugged. "I mean, I bought a house. That she stays at six days out of the week. The next step is to naturally ask her to marry me."

"We'll be invited, right?!" Noah got excited.

"Naturally!" Jeremy nodded. We arrived at his car and got settled in. Me in the front passenger seat right beside him; Dave and Noah sat behind us.

"We'll get to see so many professionals up close!" Noah exclaimed. "I should bring an autograph book and tell your guests that it's like an attendance sheet."

The three of us laughed and Jeremy started to drive.

"Are you trying to propose on Christmas?" Dave asked, leaning forward.

Jeremy glanced back using the rear view mirror. "Sort of. We'll go to her parents place on Christmas, and then we'll come back to my house. That's when I'll do it."

"Ew. Romantic." Dave commented.

Noah pulled him back and leaned forward. "Are you going to do rose petals everywhere? You see that kind of stuff in the movies all the time."

Jeremy's lips twitched. "Am I that predictable?"

"At least you're making it more intimate with just the two of you." Dave said. "It'd be awkward if you asked in front of her family and she said no."

Noah smacked him. "Don't say that."

"What? It could happen."

"Yea, but you don't say it to his face."

Jeremy chuckled. "It's okay. I thought about that too. Sometimes I feel like we're moving too fast, but when you know, you know." He paused. "And, it's okay if she says no. I don't think we would break up over it. Just postpone that next step."

"Sometimes you sound so old." Dave blurted out, making Noah and me laugh. "No, no, seriously. Jeremy is like what, only five years older than me, and seven older than you two. And he's talking about buying houses and getting married. Like damn, do I have to start preparing for that shit?"

Jeremy laughed too. "Obviously not. Everyone goes at their own pace. I know guys my age that married their high school sweethearts. And I also know guys way older than me that don't even have a significant other at the moment. Heck, some guys I went to high school with are still in college. It just depends."

"Do you guys think Kyle would marry Marie after high school?" Noah mused.

Dave faked gagged. "Ew. No. That would be a dumb move."

"I think..." I spoke up and the other two quieted down. I cleared my voice. "I don't know about marriage, but I think they would go to the same college. Kaylee says Marie has been looking into the same schools as Kyle."

Noah laughed and nudged Dave. "Looks like you'll be third-wheeling for the next four years."

Dave rolled his eyes. "If I even go to the same college as him."

I turned back to look at him, surprised. I couldn't imagine the twins not being together. They even spent the summer going to recruit camps together.

"I agree." Jeremy said. I swiveled my head to him. He shrugged. "I think this is a good age to start making decisions on your own about your future. Don't be like me...just doing what I was told since junior high."