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Chapter 11
WHAM!
The basketball
slammed against the backboard and fell to the ground without
passing through the net. It bounced Brian’s way, but he ignored it. Brian
watched it wordlessly as it rolled down the driveway and into the street. An
oncoming car swerved to miss it.
Brian stared at
the ball, slowly coming to a stop on the other side of the
street.
I could easily
go get it…when another car’s coming. It would be an
accident… I couldn’t see the car coming…too grieved to pay any
attention…
Brian even took
a step down the driveway, but his foot stopped him from
going anywhere.
No, Brian.
He didn’t
even try to question where the voice was coming from anymore. He
had began to believe he was going crazy in his torment. WHY?
Brian turned around
and looked at the house. A curtain parted slightly, and
Brian turned away when he saw AJ peering at him sadly. Anger boiled up
inside of him. He didn’t need their pity. All he needed…was what he
couldn’t
have.
Brian retrieved
the basketball when it was safe to go, and once again shot
at the hoop.
***
The shots sounding
from the driveway were angry. Each bitter slam against
the backboard ended abruptly and caused the cringe across Nick’s face.
“Is he still
staring at the road like he wants to dig through the pavement
with his fingernails?” he asked AJ.
AJ sighed and moved away from the window. “This sucks.”
“Oh, wow.
What’s next from the newest Einstein?” a new voice joined them
sarcastically. Nick shook his head at Megan, saying, don’t start. Not now.
Megan glared at
Nick. Her look said it all back: don’t tell me what to do.
Nick just shook his head again, sadly, and stood up to cross the room. He
stopped at the fireplace and stared into space.
“Look at him,” Megan said loudly. “Thinking he’s some bigshot.”
“Nick?”
Howie asked. She nodded. Nick looked up at her, anger beginning to
show in his eyes.
“Megan, not now,” he said firmly.
“Are you hearing
this?” She turned to AJ. “My best friend freaking died,”
she yelled at them. “She’s gone. Not coming back!”
Angry tears coursed
down her cheeks. Kevin advanced towards her and tried to
wrap her in his arms, but she remained solid and backed away.
“Now…he’s
acting all…holier than thou!” she continued, pointing at
Nick.
“I’m not – “ he began.
“Shut up! Just shut up!” she screamed.
“Megan…” Howie tried. “We understand. We all loved Tia. She was special – “
“Special?”
Megan exclaimed. “She was more than special. She was the best
friend you could ever have. And I never even TOLD her!”
Silence fell over
the room like a sudden downpour of rain. Megan ran her
hand over her face and rested it over her eyes.
Four pairs of eyes
watched her. She moved an arm towards the window. “For
Christ’s sake,” she said, her voice filled with tears. “Even
Brian told her
she was…and I didn’t.”
“She knew,” AJ said. “She knew how much you loved her.”
“How could she?” Megan cried. “I never told her!”
AJ walked over
to her. “Megan, she knows, okay?” He put an arm tentatively
on her arm.
“Stop talking
about her as if she’s still alive!” she yelled. He jumped
back, startled, then plopped onto the couch.
“I tried,” he muttered.
Nick parted the
curtain and peered out at Brian as another slam against the
backboard was heard. As he watched, Brian sunk to the ground, clutching the
ball in his arms, hugging it, while tears poured down his face. Nick went
outside and stopped over Brian.
“Why’d
she have to die?” he muttered to the basketball. Nick crouched down
and put his hand on his best friend’s shoulder.
“I can’t answer that, Brian, but we’ll miss her,” he said softly.
Brian jumped up
and stared at Nick. “We’ll miss her?” he repeated. “Is that
the best you could come up with?”
Nick remained calm,
walking closer and attempting to sooth Brian. “Everyone
will – “
But Brian had turned
his back on Nick. “Why?” he screamed to the wind. Nick
stood stock still.
“Why’d
she have to die?” Brian sobbed. Nick immediately wrapped Brian into
his embrace, letting the older man weep into his shirt.
“It’s
okay, Bri. Let it all out,” he murmured. Brian clutched Nick’s shirt,
sobbing unashamedly.
“I loved her,” he mumbled. “I loved her so much!”
Nick just nodded and smoothed Brian’s hair back. “I know.”
Suddenly Brian
yanked away from Nick’s arms and wiped at his eyes. “Okay,”
he said.
“Not okay,” Nick corrected. “You’re not.”
“Oh shut up,” Brian snapped. “And go away.”
Nick, unfazed, shook his head. “Brian, we’re gonna be here for you, okay?”
Brian shook his head. “Leave me alone!” he yelled. “I don’t need you!”
Nick’s hands
dangled helplessly at his sides. “You can always have friends,
Bri – “
“NO!” Brian howled. “You’ll just leave me, like she did!”
And with that he
took off down the sidewalk, running as if his life depended
on it. Nick’s first instinct was to chase after him, but he knew that Nick
may have the height, but Brian had the speed on him. The basketball bounced
to a stop at his feet as he watched his best friend run with all his energy
away.
“He’ll
come back,” he said to himself. He bent over the ball and picked it
up, tossing it in the garage. He went around the back of the house and sat
in the swing.
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