Avalon's POV
My phone rings from the coffee table. I pause the movie before swiping it off the table and answering.
"Avalon," a sobbing voice says.
"Mindy?"
"Come get me," she cries.
"Mindy, where are you?" I ask.
"Dustin...please, just come get me," she says. "I'm at his house."
"She's at Dustin's," I tell Collin. He's already on his feet pulling on his shoes before I can say anything else.
He grabs his keys, and we rush through the house. "Mom, we'll be back soon. It's an emergency. I'll explain later." We're in Collin's car before she can even think about responding. "I hope she's okay."
"It's Dustin. There's no telling what he's done," Collin says.
I shift uncomfortably in my seat. It's pouring down rain, and that's only making it worse. I see Mindy's drenched self sitting on the sidewalk. I can't distinguish between her tears and the rain on her cheeks. I roll the window down as Collin stops in front of her.
She jumps up. "Thank you for coming so quickly," she sniffs.
"Get in. There's a towel in the back," Collin says gently.
"Thanks," she murmurs. She pulls the door open and gets in with the towel wrapped around her.
When we get back to my place, I tell Collin goodnight so I can talk to Mindy alone. "I'll call you later."
I head inside with Mindy and get her a change of clothes. Then, she pours her heart out to me. She explains that Dustin talked her into going to his house for a movie. Let's just say Dustin had no plans on actually watching the movie.
"You want me to tell Collin? He'll handle it," I ask softly.
"No," she quickly shakes her head.
"Are you sure?" I smile a little. "I know Collin's looking for one more reason to punch the guy senseless."
She tries to laugh, but chokes and coughs.
The next day at school, I'm talking to Mindy when I feel arms snake around my waist. I smell Collin. I giggle and fold my hands around his muscled forearms.
"Hey, pretty girl." He rests his chin on my shoulder. "Looking cute as usual." He kisses my cheek. He's perky today. Perky Collin is my favorite. He's so cute when he's hyper.
"Hi, CollieBear," I say using my nickname for him from years ago.
Mindy's face twists in confusion.
"It's been forever since you've called me that," he laughs.
"I like it. I think I'll bring it back," I say.
"Not in public."
"Why?"
"Because it's embarrassing!"
The warning bell rings and I pull away from Collin. I say a quick goodbye to Mindy before hugging Collin. A quick peck on the lips and a share of I love you's before we separate.
Lunch is my favorite time of day. Food is my best friend. Well besides Collin, who finds me in the line. He surprises me with a kiss.
"Enough," a teacher says.
Collin pulls away laughing. I smile at him. "Lunch is on me, like always," he says.
"You don't have to pay for my lunch," I say.
"Don't argue, please."
I get my lunch, which is a lot less than what my pig of a boyfriend gets.
"Thank you," I smile at him.
We sit across from each other, and then Mindy joins us. "Hey," she says, not sounding quite herself. I think it's Dustin still.
Speaking of...Dustin leans down next to her. "Mindy, can we talk?"
She snarls her nose at him. "No."
"Come on, baby. I screwed up; I went too far. Let me fix this." He rubs her back.
"Don't touch me." She shrugs his hand off her.
"Mindy," he sighs.
"Go away."
"Please."
"Dude, she said go away," Collin pipes in. "Leave her alone."
"Stay out of this, Grant. This doesn't concern you."
"Please." I see the tears pooling up in her eyes. Mindy doesn't cry. Not in public.
Dustin picks Mindy up, making her squeal. He quickly carries her away. Naturally, we run after her, but we lose track of them.
I follow the sounds of sobbing until I find them in the janitor's closet. Typical. "Dustin, you tried to take advantage of me," Mindy sobs, "and I don't think I can give you another chance."
"What happened at that party?" Collin asks in a whisper.
I explain to him everything that happened, against Mindy's wishes. He clenches and unclenches his fists as he cheeks turn a cute shade of red.
I smile.
"What?" He asks.
"You're cute when you're mad," I giggle. I kiss his cheek.
"Stop."
They closet is quiet now. "I'm going in," Collin says. He busts the door open using some weird trick that I'll have to ask him about later. Mindy is tucked in Dustin's arms as they kiss in a slow, loving manner.
"Whoa."
Mindy pulls away. "It's fine, guys." Dustin lays small, sweet kisses on her neck.
"You sure?" Collin asks.
"Mindy," Dustin mumbles.
"Yeah, get out," she says, trying to be sweet but forceful.
I chuckle before looking at Collin. We shut the door and go back to lunch.
~~~{}~~~
That night as I'm warming up for the softball game, I see Collin standing at the chainlink fence, smiling at me. He's so cute in his dark gray button down with the sleeve pushed up to his elbows and his blue jeans and cowboy boots.
I jog to the fence. "Hey, pretty girl. Looking good out there," he says.
"I'm not the good looking one here, baby," I giggle.
"Oh, but, sweetheart, you are." He kisses my cheek. "So are you gonna let me treat you to a victory dinner after the game?"
"Aw, I already ate before the game, sweetie." I say disappointed that I don't get to go out with him. "What about ice cream?" I suggest.
"Ice cream it is." He smiles. "Play hard. I'll be cheering for you. I love you."
"I love you, too," I say.
Collin's POV
I sit next to Avalon's mom, watching Avalon play first base. She's really good. I'm impressed.
