Page 42 of Fragile hearts

Carson didn’t see my question coming I can see it on his face. He bites down on his bottom lip then answers. “Everyone was shocked, I mean Willow Hills is a pretty small town, there happens a lot, people die like in any other town. But a murder and attempted murder was a first. I was your age, so I didn’t understand it fully but as I grew up people still talked about it, there were always flowers by the house where it happened, they hated that they couldn’t find the killer, they have opened the case multiple times over the years.” I knew that, even when I moved away I kept track with the case, they never talked to me, but I knew they had searched for new evidence. Every time they would end up empty handed.

“People still know who we are?” I knew people watched me, but I didn’t think it was because they recognized me, I thought it was because of my scar. Cathy remembers me, but that makes sense she talked to us a few days before the attack.

“Almost everyone knows who you are, trust me Sunshine no one has forgotten what happened. Every year on the anniversary they will visit your brother’s grave and place flowers there.”

People visited Mickey? I have been so afraid that no one would take care of me of him. That’s one of the reason’s I haven’t visited yet, because the thought of coming to his overgrown grave is to much to bare. “They visit his grave?”

“Yeah, you and your brother are a part of this town, they will never forget you.”

Holy shit, I know that the attack was a big event but I didn’t think people would visit him, or leave him flowers.

“Do you have plans today?” he asks pulling me back to the present.

“No, why?”

“Do you want to join me later?”

“Join you with what?”

He leans back against the counter. “A friend of my family has a baseball game today. I was wondering if you wanted to come? His words come out rushed. Almost as if he’s scared I’m going to say no. He bites his lip nervously.

“I would love to,” I reply with a smile.

“Really?” His eyes widen.

“Sure would be fun, right?”

He nods. “Yeah, definitely.” He wrings his hands together. “Is it okay if we leave at two?”

“Yeah, fine by me.”

He grins, dropping his hands to his sides, standing more upright. “Great.”

I forgot how much fun baseball games are. It’s been a while since I’d been to one of Ash’s games, but the moment I reach the field. I’m thrown back to why I love it so much. The rivalry and excitement. The way you see people do the thing they love, and how energetic the bystanders are. I thought that I was enthusiastic at Ash’s games, but nothing comes close to the way my neighbor is yelling right now. “Come on. Run!” Carson yells, so loud my eardrums almost burst. “Run, Carter, run!” Carson breathes heavily, stamping his feet on the stone floor. “What is he? Forrest Gump?” I laugh.

He swivels his head. “What?”

“Forrest Gump. The movie?” Carson looks at me, bewildered. “You don’t know Forrest Gump?”

“No,” he says slowly. “Never heard of it.”

I raise my eyebrows at him. “We need to rectify that. We will watch it tonight.”

“Whatever you want, Sunshine.” He gives me a small grin before turning towards the field again.

A few moments later, a familiar face walks over to us. “Kill…Over here!” My neighbor yells, waving his hand at the man. Killian, his face lights up. He nears us, his eyes wandering between my neighbor and me. “Hey, bud,” he greets.

Bud?

Carson smacks Killian on the back of his head before grabbing his arm and pulling him in a tight hug. “You doing okay?” I hear Killian ask lowly under his breath. Carson nods, staring at me and winks. Killian takes the seat on my left, leaning his arm on the back of my chair. “So Alexis… He starts. “Has he been behaving?” He nods his head towards his best friend, who’s glaring daggers at him. He gives Killian a look that I can’t decipher. Killian drags his arm away from me, dropping it to his lap, and grins at Carson but smooths it out the moment he notices I’m watching him.

“He has,” I state slowly, wondering if I’m missing something.

“Really?” Killian lifts his brow. “That seems unlikely for him.” A second later, I hear him groan. Carson quickly retrieves his arm, acting as if nothing happened.

“Do you guys punch each other often?”

“No,” Carson says at the same time Killian says: