~*~ Chapter 28 ~*~
NEW YORK CITY, NY – Yankee Stadium – Jan. 12th, 2002 – Saturday
Mark kissed Kirstin’s cheek, pecked Grace lightly on the lips and headed to the changing room to meet with the other players. Kirstin sat down and watched Grace standing up, not changing her stare from Mark until he disappeared.
“God, how great is he?” Grace asked as she was sitting down next to Kirstin.
“He’s really nice, G. Got yourself a nice catch there.” Kirstin smiled at her friend’s happiness.
“I know! How lucky am I?” she grinned.
“Very lucky!”
It took a while for Grace to stop grinning at no one in particular. Then she shook her head and looked at Kirstin.
“So… did you talk to Barry?” she asked Kirstin.
“Yeah… I’m in so much trouble…” Kirstin shook her head.
“I knew it! I told you so! What happened?” Grace got worried.
“He tried to kiss me.”
“No!”
“Yeah! I had to turn my face the other way so he wouldn’t kiss me.”
“No!” Grace couldn’t believe it.
“Yeah!”
“He does know about Tom, doesn’t he?”
“Yeah. He saw the engagement ring.”
“What a bastard!”
“He’s a player. And a good one! That’s what he is!” Kirstin just rubbed her forehead.
“You’re attracted to him, aren’t you?” Grace knew her friend too well.
“Yeah… but I mean… who wouldn’t be? He’s gorgeous, and he’s been so sweet and caring and he has… the right lines, the right moves. Oh my God! Look at me talking! I can’t talk like that when I’m getting married in 3 months!” Kirstin was agitated.
“K, calm down. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, you coming here. You knew it too. But we decided you should come and face your fears. Just… don’t give up yet. I know Barry can’t be that perfect. We’ll find something bad about him and you’ll see only Tom is perfect for you.”
“I hardly believe it.”
“No, trust me, we’ll see it. Just keep doing whatever you’re doing.”
“I don’t think I’ll be able to control myself too long.”
“I’ll be by your side. Don’t worry!”
“No, you’ll be with too-tall-for-you-Mark, that’s where you’ll be.” Grace giggled.
“Oh, he’s not too tall for me! Just because he’s 6’4’’ and I’m 5’4’’?”
“Yeah… sorry! My mistake. He’s just a foot taller than you. That’s nothing!” the girls giggled “He should be with me!”
“Of course not! You want everybody now? Isn’t 3 guys enough for you?” Grace smiled but Kirstin didn’t.
“Oh my God, G. What am I going to do with Ashley?”
“You’re going out with him after the game.” Grace informed as she was in control of Kirstin’s personal life.
“But Barry told me he’d come to get me after the game!”
“Then you’ll go out with both of them.”
“What? Are you insane?”
“No, of course not. That would be perfect actually.”
“I can’t see how.” Kirstin shook her head.
“Well, you’ll have the two guys you are having doubts about with you. With both of them together, you’ll see who you think is the best for you. Like…” Grace frowned.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about, do you?”
“No, I don’t.” they just smirked “But it will be good. Or bad. Or both.”
“Yeah, you got that right!”
“Oh, shush! The game is starting!” Grace informed as a song came out on the speakers.
~*~*~*~*~*~
“Ash? Are you ok?” Dan asked. He was worried. Trevor and Erik were worried too. Ashley had been sitting with his head down for the last 15 minutes “The game is starting Ashley.”
“Fuck the game!” Ashley abruptly stood up and left.
Erik motioned for the guys to stay on their seats. He left, following Ashley. Only when they got to the fast food court, Erik was able to catch up with Ashley.
“Ash, wait!” he said taking Ashley by his wrist “Ash, talk! What’s wrong, man?”
“Everything!” Ashley snapped.
“Calm down! Jeez, I’m starting to give Jake some credit here.”
“Don’t say that! Do not say that! Jacob doesn’t have the slightest idea of what I’ve been going through. Just because he has the perfect relationship with his high school sweetheart, he thinks he knows everything there is to know about relationships. Fuck Jacob!” Ashley snapped again and trailed to nowhere in particular. Erik again grabbed him by his wrist.
“Ok. Sorry I said that. But I just want to understand exactly why you’re so down, so mad at everyone.” Erik was trying to be a good friend and Ashley could see that.
“Erik, the thing is… If Kirstin doesn’t wanna be with Tom, and that’s what it looks like, why does she have to run to the stupid baseball player? She knows I absolutely love her. Like… doesn’t she love me anymore? What happened? You know? I don’t talk to her like I used to. Last time we saw each other, at Christmas, I thought we had it all worked out. I felt that she felt something for me and then we were gonna happen, sooner or later, but then, out of nowhere, this baseball player shows up and she’s all over him? What the fuck happened?”
“I know your head must be messed up now. And maybe Kirstin doesn’t even know you still love her. Unfortunately, I can't answer all those questions. You know only Kirstin can. So you have to talk to her.”
“But what if she doesn’t wanna talk to me about it? Like… and what if she says she’s in love with this stupid baseball player? That will hurt so much, Erik!”
“Well, I guess you’re about to find out.” Erik looked over Ashley’s shoulder and Ashley looked behind him. Kirstin was at the balcony, getting a soda “Go.” Erik motioned for his friend to go talk to Kirstin. Ashley looked at Erik and got a smile from his friend, which encouraged him. He made a bee-line and went into Kirstin’s direction.
* Thanx Taryn and Stacie for reviewing and correcting the grammar errors *
~*~ Chapter 27 ~*~
~*~ Chapter 29 ~*~
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