Chapter Three
Brian had just tossed the ball towards the net just as the girl had stumbled. The ball, shot from half-court, made it into the net, though none of them saw it as they all rushed to help her.
"Are you all right?" a concerned but cautious Howie asked. The girl was crying and paying no attention to those around her. She drew up her left leg and wrapped her arms around it as she sobbed.
"Is there anything we can do to help?" Nick asked, shifting uncomfortably. Gosh, even my sisters don't cry this much, he thought. When she didn't answer, Nick shrugged his shoulders. He'd tried. Nick shared a look with Brian.
Brian looked down at the girl for a second before pulling out his handkerchief. Brian crouched next to her. "Here" he said as he gently nudged her hand with it. A pair of watery, red-rimmed violet blue eyes appeared as she lifted her head to look at what Brian held out in front of her face.
Randi looked up into the kind blue eyes of the stranger who held out a handkerchief towards her. "Thanks" she mumbled as she took it. Randi blew her nose and wiped her eyes. Eventually, her tears stopped.
Brian, satisfied that she was doing better, stood up.
"You okay?" Kevin asked quietly.
"Not really" she laughed hoarsely. "But it's not your problem. You wouldn't want to hear about it anyway."
"Try us" Kevin challenged, holding his hand out to help her up.
Randi looked at the guy. He looked harmless enough. After a small hesitation, Randi put her hand in his and tried to stand. With a small cry of pain, Randi abruptly sat back down on the sidewalk and clutched her right ankle.
Kevin, Brian, Howie, AJ, and Nick all held their breaths, hoping that she wouldn't start crying again. But all she did was moan in pain and massage her ankle.
Deciding it was safe enough, Kevin crouched down next to her. "Wanna try to get up on your good foot? Or would you rather I carried you to that bench over there?" he asked quietly, sizing her up to be about 130 pounds.
Randi thought for a second before deciding to try it again. "I'll try to stand" she told the stranger. Nodding, he held out his hand again. Randi put her hand in his. As he stood, he pulled her up with him. He wrapped one arm around her waist. Another of these strangers, a tall, blond one, moved to her other side. With support on both sides, Randi was able to slowly make her way to the bench by the basketball court.
Howie, AJ and Brian had moved ahead to clear the bench. AJ and Howie put their shirts back on while Brian took the Jeep's keys and went to see if he could locate the medical kit they always asked to have put in their rentals. Brian came back to hear his friends introducing themselves.
"I'm Nick," the tall blond said to Randi.
"Howie" was the short guy with the ponytail.
"AJ at your service madam" said the guy with all the tattoos. Randi gave him a faint smile.
"I'm Kevin," the tall, dark-haired guy that had helped her said. Randi noticed that he had pretty eyes.
"And I'm Brian" said the last guy from behind her. Randi jumped in her seat on the bench and turned. "Hey, I don't bite! Calm down!" he told her, laughing. Randi smiled weakly as she watched him walk around the bench and sit on the grass between the blond, Nick was it? and the bench where she sat. Randi noticed the first aid kit for the first time as he laid it on the ground in front of him.
"So what's your name?" a voice to her left asked. Randi looked that direction questioningly.
"That was me" the guy named AJ said, holding up his hand, smiling.
"My name is Miranda Carey. But everyone calls me Randi or Mira" Randi said.
"You want to talk about whatever's bothering you?" Howie quietly asked.
Randi broke down in tears again.