Chapter Text
A week passed since the incident with the Sycamore Guy. Juli sold them a half dozen eggs, and I guess that they seemed to like them cuz they asked for more. Juli and I did what we usually do, though my grandfather has been joining us pretty often lately.
Today I was taking an early walk, more accurately my mom asked me to stop by the post office since I decided to head up to the junior high to talk to the new coach of the baseball team.
See, I joined the baseball team because basketball wasn’t fun with Garrett being a doofus about it. I was sure that after the Basket Boys incident all the bugging would be over with, at least between Garrett and I.
Sherry Stalls was not dropping it anytime soon.
I thought we had an unspoken agreement to just ignore one another. As it turns out, he went out of his way to make the team side with him.
Which is stupid by the way, they weren’t there. They can’t take a sides. Anyway he used mob mentality against a lot of them, and with that tension present it’s pretty understandable why the team couldn’t function.
So I joined baseball. Baseball was fun and I knew a few guys on that team and the fact that Garrett couldn’t catch a baseball to save his life was a plus.
So I went to the Junior High, met with the baseball boys (they were pretty boss) and the coach looked pretty jazzed about getting a new guy. They’re short a few guys
I asked them if I could join in on their training and the coach said it was fine, I would just be warming up on my own. That was great, I was setting myself in the perfect place to get a spot on the team. Yes, I’m that confident in my baseball skills.
Moving on, so I dropped by the post office and guess who I see?
Jack was there with his mom. He looks like his mom, as in just like her. Same dark curls and bright eyes even the beauty mark. She was dressed nice, she had on one of those dresses my mom really liked to wear.
I know I should have greeted them, y’know common courtesy and all but I didn’t.
I just couldn’t. I know Juli didn’t mind him at all, she would have said something by now if she did, but I don’t I just… whatever.
I planned to just drop in the letter and go. Made no eye contact and walked pretty fast but hey this is what I get for ignoring my manners.
“Hey Bryce!” I turn to him and walk over to him, letting him meet me halfway. We made small talk and I properly greeted his mom.
“I’m so glad, Jacky’s made a new friend” Mrs. Lecce fanned herself a bit looked a little under the weather, before asking, “Would you know where the junior high is? I don’t want to be driving around lost come the first day.”
I gave directions and was on my way.
I was nearing the sycamore house when I saw them pull up to their driveway. At first I thought it was weird, but then maybe I was walking really slow. I kept walking, and watched as Mrs. Lecce got out of the passenger’s side and Jack come out of the driver’s side. What ?
He hurriedly went over to the door at the front and opened before going to help his mom. Mrs. Lecce was walking though, a little staggered and when Jack got near she latched onto his arm for support. Then they disappeared into their home.
I went home, and I couldn't stop thinking about it.
It was just… I felt terrible but I shouldn’t. I didn’t know them well enough to be concerned and besides what if they didn’t want me in their troubles. But I haven't been acting neighborly and haven’t been treated them very fair.
Either way, I was planning on telling Juli about it when I looked out window and Jack coming out of her front door. Huh?
I didn’t go outside that day, I helped my dad with some yard work in the back yard. I used as an excuse to not go talk to Juli. I’m being stupid. Real stupid.
The next morning, I wake up to catch Juli. but I forgot that today she goes over to see her uncle Daniel with her dad. So I just walk around, cuz if I go back now I know Lynetta would not shut up about this if she caught sight of me.
So I’m on my walk, and I come up on this slope of empty lot. It doesn’t lead to woods or anything but It’s a basin like piece of land that’s grown some wildlife. Pretty sure a park was supposed to be put there but I guess people stopped caring and just let that spot go.
I was looking and just musing to myself, the trees all and shady and some of the wild flowers were pretty enough, maybe if someone came by and cleared it up it’d look nice.
When I heard the sound of someone running. Jack was running, coming towards me and pretty sweaty. He caught of me and waved and I waved back. Then, he came to stop in front of me and I noticed how fit the guy was.
He looked athletic, maybe he was planning on joining the track team.
“Hey” breathing shallow he put his hands on his knees as he caught his breath
“Hey, how are ya?”
“Good. Great.” He looked up at me, his eye were twinkling. “How’re you doin?” I couldn’t help but catch the slight accent in his voice.
“I’m just taking a walk and uh gathering my thoughts” I turn to keep walking
And he straightens to walk beside me, nodding he says, “Mind my asking what kind? I could use someone else’s thoughts.”
I told him, indirectly, about how I was feeling about my dilemma of disliking people via association which was wet rag move. But he didn’t catch it, thankfully.
“It’s pretty bad on my part to be put down by this girl but she kinda caused a mess of things and the other people that were hurt are already of it, but I-I just can’t be around her.” I lied, easily and felt a slight jitter in my back. I watched him from the corner of my eye before he answered.
“I mean, if everyone else's is over it then shouldn’t ju be over it” again he’s got an accent but I mean he was right. I should get over it.
We talked some more, i don’t think we had a lot in common. He played baseball, was on the team in his previous school. He liked running too. He was from New York and his family was italian. Cool, I guess. He and his mom didn’t get around that day to going to the school, so I offered to show him.
So we went to the school and introduced him to the team, we’re both headed over to school early tomorrow morning for the early practice with the team.
Thanks for reading. -V
For another_alex
I had lost the will to continue this because this is like the only story on AO3 and thought nobody really knew the book or movie. But hey, I’ll finish it for you.