Love Me (The Love Between Us Book 1)

Chapter Four

Chapter 4

I’ve been on the bus for the last thirty-five minutes with the capacity dwindling down to just four of us remaining. The many stops along the way to my house have given me time to reflect on today’s occurrences. From Julia’s words to Chase’s lips and touches. With my farm house in sight I’m still unaware of how to proceed with everything that happen.

With Chase, I know and even reassured myself many times over the best thing to do is to forget, but with images replaying in my mind every time I begin the process of removal of the incident. It restarts a sensation through my body making it hard to ignore what took place in the gym.

At least with Julia I have some direction with a plan to maybe I can compromise and try out activities of her choosing ever once in awhile.

When the bus comes the halt in front of my house I make my way off the bus. I stand in the driveway taking in my home, the place I feel safe where I know no distractions can take route in detouring me from achieving the set plans of my future.

I notice my dad’s work truck parked near the barn, knowing he is mostly likely in his office I make my way there.

Stepping into the barn I see my dad sitting behind his desk surrounded by paperwork, with his attention on writing what receipt down in his hand in the account book. Even though there is a computer just inches away, my dad would rather be old fashion and remains to use the pen and paper technique.

As a family we know that my father hasn’t caught up with the technology times, seeing how my mother explained to us, that it took her two months to teach him how to send a text on his cell phone.

“Hey daddy”

“Hey Princess” my dad says back, dropping his pen in the process and looking up from his work to offer me a smile.

“Working hard?”

“Nope, just filling in some last minute supplies receipts that I bought today. How was school, looking forward to the homecoming game tonight?”

“Fine, not much happen at school, you know with all the preparations going on. And I wasn’t planning on going to the game.”

“Why not Bree? I would’ve thought Julia would want to go.”

“Ugh, Julia is not quite happy with me at the moment. She got upset when I chose to sit out of all the prepping and practiced instead.”

“Oh, baby girl, I know you worry if you take your eyes off of basketball for the slightest moment you’ll fail at your dreams. But you won’t Bree, you need to allow yourself room for other things in life as well.”

“I don’t know how to daddy.” I say truthfully to my dad.

“Bree, you don’t have to know the how, just let it happen on its own. When an opportunity to try something different is upon you, let it happen Bree.”

“It’s not that simple, if I do that I could get distracted and everything could fall apart just like that.” I argue back to my dad.

“There are times distractions can lead to great experiences, not all distractions lead towards failing or forgetting the path you chosen for yourself. There are some distractions that don’t take up so much room, they can fit with your plans Bree. You just have to know which ones work with the plan and you will know in time, somewhere deep down you’ll know it can work.”

“Maybe you’re right and maybe I should try to start somewhere, I think I just worry so much that something will happen and basketball will be over for me.” Knowing my father makes a good point, especially when it comes to my friendship with Julia. I should allow myself to give her interests chances as well and gives us more time with each other, to make up for the time I was gone.

“I know I’m right, fathers are always right when giving their little girls advice.”

I am unable stop the laugh that comes out of me.“I’m seventeen daddy, I think you can stop referring me has a little girl and princess.”

“Bree, you will always be my little girl, my little princess, no matter how old you’ll get.” My dad says opening his arms for me to come in for a hug.

My father wraps his arms around me has I settle into him. I love both my parents the same, but with my dad there’s a different type of bond I have with him. When I was little and if I got hurt or sick, I asked for him. I take couple of more minutes of comfort in my dad’s arms before breaking away.

“I guess I should call Julia, an apologize and while I’m at it, see if she wants some company at the game tonight.”

“I think that’s a good starting point for you, and it also gives me the chance to give you your gift.”

With a confused look towards my dad, “ What gift? You do know my birthday was two months ago?”

“I know when your birthday is, this is a gift from a father to his daughter on a special occasion.” My father says while smiling with excitement, moves towards the closet in his office.

With the door open I can’t get a good view of what he’s grabbing within for, but hear jingles of a bell. When my dad steps back, its then when I see where the jingles came from. A small silver bell attach to a blue ribbon surrounded by other ribbons in the colors of white, blue, and silver that all lead to a white flower with a orange basketball in the middle that’s surrounded by more ribbons.

“Your mom said that none of the football guys asked you to pin them, but I told her to go ahead an order you a mum anyways. I thought that it was only right that I give you your first homecoming mum.”

I take in the mum noticing that it has more of basketball theme instead of football. Where most of the ribbons that I saw today had footballs, field goals, mine is made with accents from the sport I love.

“Thank you daddy, it’s beautiful. But you didn’t have to spend money on me, I would’ve been fine without one.”

“You deserve this Bree, beside I wanted you to have this to remember this day, when you went to your first high school homecoming game. I hope its a memory you can share with your future daughter one day.”

My eyes wide on the last part of his statement. “I agreed with you about allowing some distractions in on my plans, having kids however, is definitely staying out of my future plans. But this, giving me this mum, I’ll never forget daddy.”

My father laughs at my wide eyes and response and hands over the mum to me. “You know, I said the same thing about not having kids and nine months after I married your mom your brother Kale came a long.”

“Well, seeing how I’m also leaving marriage out of my plans as well. I think I can leave the kids part out with it too.”

“Love can be one of the best distractions there is Bree. It can lead to changes, I’ll say that. But those changes can just make a future life plan amazing. Don’t ever take the experience of love out of your equation, love can end up being a distraction you’ll might end up regretting in life.”

I’m not sure what my dad meant by when he said about regretting love. I know my dad loves my mom, he never complains about the life he has, only wishing he could provide more for her and us kids. My dad has told me before that he had plans for when he got out of the marines, but on a visit home on leave he met my mother and said those plans had changed the moment he saw her. It might be that I’m just too young to understand love and what it could lead to.

With a kiss to my dads cheek, “Thank you again for the mum daddy, I better go call Julia and get ready.”

“Your welcome princess, if you need a ride to the game just let me or mom know, we can drop you off on our way to Amarillo.”

“Ok, and if Julia forgives me, I might see if she wants me stay over tonight so we can hang out some more. Will that be okay?”

“She’ll forgive you Bree, that girl could never stay mad at you for very long. And it’s fine with me if you stay over, I want you to have fun tonight but just be careful as well. You better go get ready, love you princess. ”

“I’ll be careful, love you daddy.” with my mum in hand I head to my room.

As I place the mum carefully on my bed, I pick up my cell phone to call Julia. It rings three times before she answers my call.

“What you want Bree?” she ask in irritated voice.

“I’m sorry, you were right I do chose basketball over you a lot of times. And for that, I am sorry. I should and I want to start doing more things with you, I want to be able to hang out with you more when I have the chances to.” I pause waiting for her to say something back to me. When nothing but silence comes after a minute or two, I’m about to pull the phone away from my ear to see if she hung up on me. But before I start I hear her voice.

“It took you long enough, and why did you ride the bus? You know I would have taken you home.”And just like my dad said Julia would do, I know she has already moved on and forgiven me.

“I needed some time to think, and I figured you would want to stay in town with your other friends before the game.”

“I would have still taken you home first and then come back.”

“Figured I could save you some gas money, listen it doesn’t matter how I got home, I called because I owed you an apology and wanted to go over something with you.” I’m starting to feel nervous, even though she forgiven me, there might be a possibility she won’t want me at the game with her tonight.

“I accept your apology, what’s the other thing you want to bypass me.”

“Um, I was going to come to the game tonight, I wanted to see if it was ok if I sit with you and your friends?”

“Oh My God! Bree, are you serious!” By her enthusiastic shout in the phone, the nerves disappear.

“Yea, I’m serious, I had a talk with my dad when I got home and he gave me some advice. And I figured I needed to start with you first by making room to do things with you.”

“I knew that man was a genius, do you want me to come and get you?”

“No, I still have to get ready and my parents said they would drop me off on their way out. My dad said I could stay the night at your place too, I was going to see if you wanted me to, that way it give us more time to do whatever you wanted.”

“Yes! We are going to have so much fun tonight. I am so happy that your coming to the game. Ok, you go get ready, the crowning presentation starts at six-thirty so try to get here a little before then. I’ll wait for you at the gate.”

“Okay, I’ll see you then” With our bye’s I hang up the phone, gather a change of clothes and head for the shower.

After a long shower I find myself standing in from of my bedroom mirror taking in my appearance. Being this is my first football game attending I’m not sure the outfit I’ve chosen is appropriate. I figured with it being homecoming my dark blue skinny jeans, with a dark gray sweater, and brown knee high boots were the best choice. I left my long hair down with my curls in tack and light makeup to finish off the look. Usually I don’t worry about what I wear or trying to fit in, but after the past couple of weeks I have had. I feel the need to make a little effort for tonight, even if I truly don’t want to be there.

My mom’s voice echoing into the room to let me know it’s time to leave gets me moving away from the mirror. I grab the mum hoping my mom can help be put it on and make my way towards her.

“Bree, you look beautiful” my mom says.

“Thank you, do you think I look okay for a football game?”

“You look just find and the outfit will go great with the mum.”

“Oh, speaking of the mum, can you help me put it on?” I ask, has I hand the mum to her.

With steady hands, my mom pins the mum to my sweater gives me a proud smile. “You’ve grown up to be a beautiful woman Bree, me and your father our so proud of everything you’ve done. Enjoy tonight, and have fun too.”

“Ok ladies, it’s time to go. We need to get Bree to the stadium and we my lovely wife, need to get to Amarillo before it gets to late.” My dad cuts in as he wraps my mom from behind.

The three of us pile into the family vehicle and make our way to town. My parents make small conversation between them, as I sit in the back trying to calm the nerves that arise.

Within the distance I see the stadium lights indicating our fast approach. I send off a quick text to Julia letting her know that I’m only a couple of miles out and wouldn’t be much longer until I get there. It only takes her about a minute to reply back that she waiting at the ticket gate for me.

I take the last couple of minutes and spread out the ribbons on the mum to past the time and to keep my mind of the nerves that have taken place in my stomach. When I feel the car come to a stop I look up to my parents.

“Were here Bree, It looks like the stadium is packed tonight.” My dad says looking at me in the rear view mirror.

Great and I just had to pick tonight to come

“Everything will be find Bree.” Comes from my mom as she turns her head to look back to me and gives me a reassuring smile.

“Yea, well y’all be safe on your way to Amarillo, love you both and I’ll see y'all tomorrow.”

“Have fun.” Comes from my parents has I shut the car door, with a small wave to them both I go in search for Julia.

I barely make it out of the ticket line when I hear Julia’s hollering my name.

“Bree, Over Here!” I spot my best friend standing off to the side with another classmate of ours.

“Hey, thanks for waiting here for me.”

“Oh Bree, that mum is gorgeous. Where did you get it?” Julia ask, while tracing one of the ribbons that has my name and lucky basketball number “three” on it.

“A gift from my dad.”

“Well I’m jealous, Mark must have picked the cheapest and smallest mum I think the store had.”

I give Julia a smile,”I’ll tell my dad that next year for our senior years he needs to give us both the biggest mums he can find.”

“That works for me, so are ready for some football?”

“I guess I’m ready as I’ll ever be.”

With a short introduction to the other classmate that will be sitting with us. Julia leads the way to the bleachers and the seats she has picked out, which she says will give us the best view of the crowning presentation and game.

To my surprise Julia has us seating away from the pep squad and from the looks of the crowd surrounding us are more likely parents of the football players. But what gets my heart racing fast, is Julia sits down right in front of Chase’s parents. And just like that the image of the kiss comes back in full force.