Under the Spell of the Kidnappers

a

yelled, raising his a

o the pitcher's mound where my best friend K

er on third base. One more strike, and we win the championships!" I said, doing

eyes darting around the field b

right, encouragin

love was ready. I looked toward our coach, who stood just outside the dugout with his arms crossed and his signatu

od in return, took a de

ter swung and barely tipped it, sending it straight up into the sky. I

, moving into positi

ed her just in case, ready to

d shut around the ball

d instantly f

me midair, staggering slightly but laughing with pure joy

western High Wildcats are your 2013 softball ch

diamond. There were hugs, high fives, tears, and laughter. The whole season-all the long practices,

one of our teammates called out, holding th

xchanged a l

ok the jug from her hands. I

who saw us coming and immediately

now-let's not do an

was t

Gatorade all over him. He shouted, hopping away from t

h couldn't help but laugh as he wiped

ou two girls," he said afte

he sticky Gatorade soaking my jersey. "Don't worry.

added, hugging him

ling us both in clos

rade on his clothes transferred

- they didn't come around often, and when t

rned and saw my mom walking toward us with her purse

are leaving now

ow remember, we left the debit card at Sam's house along wit

Kyrn said with a pr

side by side watching the team celebr

hs to ourselves, right?" I sa

ed. "Oh,

alone in a house for two whole months? Yeah, it sounds crazy-but my parents thought it was a

I had always been the responsible ones in our friend group. Straight A's, varsity at

tely alone for that long was bo

around," I admitted, walking with her

no curfews, no random check-ins. Just us," K

et a real feel for what

artment near campus or stay home to save money. But living

kes before we go home?" Kyrn asked

u're buying

card?" she grinned, nud

of laugh that made your

shift into warm orange hues, signaling the start of summer-not j

rted with one