Jake has been on suicide watch since he's left the hospital, which was two weeks ago. The first week my mom and my dad made him stay home. He tried to convince them he was okay, but they weren't having it. I would always be in the guest room, that is currently his room, making sure he was okay. He hated how much attention we showed him. When we finally let him go back to school, he actually felt like he could breathe. That is until we had the guys watch him along with us. It was driving him insane. He also hated the therapy sessions he had to go to once a week.
I'm walking down the hall along with Alyssa and Jake. Today is our first game and we're both excited and nervous. The team has been working hard these past few weeks and surprisingly, we all look good. Even Virginia and Carmen looks good. I really wish I hadn't said that, but it's true.
"Am I allowed to come to you guy's first game?" Jake asks.
I laugh lightly, "Of course. My mom and dad are coming so of course you're coming. They're not letting you out of sight."
He shakes his head. "I know I scared you guys, but you don't have to keep me on suicide watch. Even my therapist says I'm good."
"You've been to her two times." I state, skeptical.
He rolls his eyes and we enter our history class together. Mr. Buttule is writing something on the board, probably our bell work. I take my seat in the back, beside Jordan. I used to sit by Stephen but after being Jordan's partner, I decided to just stay back here and sit beside him.
"Hey, Midget." He smiles.
"Hey. Mr. Buttule say what we're doing today?" I ask.
He shakes his head, causing his front bangs to move back and forth. "Nope." He says, popping the p.
I run my hand over his hair. "Time to get a haircut, isn't it?" I tease him.
It's getting really long. He can't even push the hair off his forehead anymore and have it spiked up, like it normally is. Instead, he pushes the front hair to the side out of his face.
"I haven't made time to get one. Mom is making me do everything at home. I swear, women have it easy when they're pregnant." He sighs.
I smack him across the arm. "They do not. They constantly have mood swings, their feet swell up and they can barely walk, and they have trouble sleeping. Plus they gain weight. Not to mention when they give birth. Did you know that a woman can endure more pain than what the average..."
He cuts me off by placing a hand over my mouth. Jordan hates when I go all nerdy on him and start rambling on and on about whatever subject we're on.
"Midget, no offense. But I do not care." He says, smirking at me.
I roll my eyes and remove his hand from my mouth. Mr. Buttule soon begins to instruct us on what we're doing today. I do my work, but I mostly think about today's game.
~~~~
I catch the ball in my glove before throwing it back at Alyssa. Right now we're partnered up, warming our arms up. The other team has just arrived and the girls look big and intimidating. We have pretty good size on our team. We're not small, but we're definitely not as big as those girls. Tonight, we're playing the knights.
"I swear, those girls are taking steroids." Alyssa jokes.
I laugh, "They are big, but I believe we can take them."
She catches the ball. "I know we can."
Coach calls us in. He gives us a pep talk and what not. I'm listening until I see Jordan and the guys sitting down in the stands. He smiles at me and mouthes good luck. I smile back, sending him a wink. Since when do I wink at Jordan?
"Abby! Are you listening?" Coach asks.
I turn my attention back to him. "Um, yeah?"
"Then what did I say?" He challenges.
Obviously I wasn't listening to the very last part, but before my attention got taken away, he was talking about acting as a team and cheering each other on.
"You were saying that we should go out there and play our hardest and cheer each other on." I say, hoping that he'll settle with that.
He sighs, "Get your head in the game, Abby. They take the field first. Break it down and get ready to bat."
We all say our chant. It's been a tradition for eight years now to say it before and after every game and after every practice. We all head into the dugout, sitting down.
"Nervous?" Alyssa asks.
"A little." I say, looking at the field at the other team.
I watch the pitcher as she pitches a ball. The ball zooms into the catcher's glove. My eyes become wide. How do they expect me to hit a ball going that fast.
"Okay, I take that back. I'm a lot nervous." I say.
Alyssa laughs, "Don't worry. Just keep your eyes on the ball. It's all about timing. I've seen you hit at practice. You'll do fine."
I wasn't so sure though. I'm not sure what's worse right now. Getting hit by the ball or striking out because I didn't swing at it. I'm seventh to bat, which is kind of good. Maybe I won't be the first one to strike out.
Virginia walks over to me and sits down beside me. "Listen, I know we don't like each other. In fact, I pretty much hate you. But in order for us to win this game, we have to put aside our differences and work together."
I nod my head. "I agree. Just don't try to be a show off in the game like you do at practice."
She rolls her eyes, "If I'm good at it, why not show it?" She stands up, leaving me.
"If we lose tonight, it's going to be her fault." Alyssa says.
We stand up and go over to the gate in the dugout. Skylar, a girl on our team, is up at the home plate. Skylar is pretty fast and has a good arm, but her hitting isn't all that great. The girl from the other team pitches the ball and Skylar swings at it, only getting a piece of.
"Foul ball!" Alyssa says, starting a cheer.
"Foul ball!" The team repeats, shouting.
"Just straighten it out!" Alyssa yells.
"Just straighten it out!" I scream along with the other team.
"And when she do!" Alyssa turns around and points at us, signaling for us to repeat her.
"And when she do!" We all say.
"You better watch out!" Alyssa screams at the third base.
"You better watch out!" We do the same and end up laughing with each other.
On the second pitch, Skylar hits it and sure enough, it goes to third base. Skylar makes it to the first base right before the ball hits the girl's glove at first base.
"Wow, that girl is fast." I say.
"She's on the track team." Alyssa informs me.
The next person up to bat is Lindsey. She's like our fourth best hitter. Alyssa starts another chant and we begin to cheer with her. I wished I would have played before my senior year. I didn't know what I was missing out on.
Lindsey sends the ball to the outfield, but they catch it in their glove giving us our first out. The next girl goes up to hit and she looks terrified. This is her first year playing to, but I could never remember her name. I've only heard it once, when Coach was yelling at her but other than that, no one really talked to her. I felt bad. We're a team. We should be cheering each other on.
I rush over to Alyssa, who's getting ready because she hits after Kelly, who's after the girl's name I don't know.
"Hey, what's that girl's name?" I ask, pointing to her.
"Jasmine." She says.
"We need to cheer her on. She looked like she was about to past out at any moment." I tell her.
Alyssa nods her head, thinking of a cheer. She goes over to the gate and gets ready. "See that batter at that plate." She starts.
"See that batter at that plate." We repeat.
"She's the best in the state!" Alyssa yells.
"She's the best in the state!" We yell.
Jasmine misses the first pitch, giving herself one strike. I look to Alyssa and she gives me a look telling me we're not quitting the cheer.
"She's got spirit, she's got pride!" Alyssa cups her hands around her mouth.
The whole team does this as well. "She's got spirit, she's got pride!" We yell.
"Ha ha ha, she's on our side!" Alyssa gives a small laugh and we repeat her doing the same.
We watch as the pitcher pitches the ball. It looks like everything is going in slow motion, but it isn't. Jasmine hits the ball, causing it to go soaring past the pitcher. She's lucky that didn't hit her. We all stand up cheering. Jasmine is in shock because she hasn't started running yet.
"Run!" We all start to yell, including our coach.
She snaps back into reality and starts to run. We watch as Skylar makes her way past third base and onto home plate, giving us our first point. I clap my hands, excited. Jasmine is rounding the corner of second base, headed to third. I watch as the players on the other team throw the ball, trying to get it back in. Second base catches it and cocks her arm back to throw it to third.
"Slide!" We yell.
Jasmine gets down, sliding on the ground. It looks like she gets there at the same time as the ball. We look to the umpire and wait to see what his call will be.
"You're out!" He yells.
"What!" I throw my hands up in the air.
"It's okay. The game has just started." She says.
Our next hitter gets out and it's time for us to take the field. I'm playing on third base. I wanted to play second, but Coach told me I was better at third. We start throwing the ball to each other, practicing our catches. Virginia is playing at second. Coach thought she was good enough to play at second. Whatever. Skylar is playing at first. She's been playing at first ever since she was in the seventh grade and was on JV. Our hind catcher is a girl named Molly. She's really good and has been playing just as long as Alyssa and Skylar. And of course, Alyssa is our pitcher.
We throw the balls back in and watch as the player from the other team steps up to the home plate. Alyssa turns and give me a thumbs up and I return the gesture, smiling at her.
"Woo, let's go Abby!" I hear someone yell.
I turn my attention to Jordan, who's waving a sign that says number eleven is the best and she's my girlfriend. I smile at him and see that Daniel's sign looks just like Jordan's except for it has Alyssa's number instead of mine.
Alyssa pitches the ball and the girl swings at it, missing it. I do a small little clap to myself, cheering for her. Alyssa pitches really fast and hardly ever gives someone a ball.
The girl misses the second pitch as well and for a moment I think that Alyssa is going to cause her to strike out. Alyssa throws the last pitch and the girl hits the ball, sending it flying between first and second. Carmen runs up and the ball runs into her glove. She throws it to first base and the girl gets out.
The crowd erupts into cheers at our first play. That was pretty good. I clap for Carmen and Skylar. Carmen looks my way and I throw her a smile and a thumbs up. She looks confused at first but smiles back at me, sending me a head nod. Maybe she's not as bad as Virginia.
The next player gets a home run, which sucks. But her arms were the size of Jordan's arms so I wasn't all that surprised that the ball went all the way into the outfield and went over the fence.
They score another two runs on us before we get them out. I think I might have underestimated them. I watch as Alyssa goes up to bat. There's only one person ahead of me before I have to bat. I become nervous all of a sudden. Alyssa hits the ball on the first pitch, sending it to the outfield. She gets to second base and Kelly is on third. I put on a helmet and stand to the side, watching Mya getting ready to hit. She misses the first two pitches, but hits the third, making it to first base.
I slowly walk up to the home plate. Bases are loaded. We don't have any outs. You got this Abby. I look at the pitcher and it's like she can sense the fear on me. I get into the batter's box and hold my bat up. It suddenly feels like it weighs a ton.
The pitcher gives me a little smirk before winding her arm back and sending the ball towards me. Literally towards me. I jump out of the way just in time, causing the ball to go zooming past me. Did she deliberately just try to walk me? You know what? I'm sending everyone home. Including myself. I think back to practice and how Alyssa told me to hit the ball. I even think about all the times I practiced with Stephen.
I take a deep breath, trying to control my pounding heart. I can do this. I can do this. I step back into the batter's box again and wait for the pitch. She releases the ball and again, it comes flying at me. What in the hell? She doesn't want me to hit this ball.
"Hey, pitcher! Stop trying to walk her!" Jordan yells from behind me.
I don't even have to turn around to know that he's mad at the fact that the pitcher is trying to walk me and give me a bruise the size of a softball. I decide since she's aiming the ball at me, that I'll have to step back quickly and try to hit the ball.
"I got this." I whisper to myself.
I take a deep breath again and get back into the batter's box. I'm sending a glare at the pitcher, letting her know she's officially pissed me off. She gives me that same taunting smirk, probably thinking she's going to get me this time. She rocks back before going around, releasing the ball. It's like everything is in slow motion. At the very last minute, I close my eyes and swing with all of my might. The crowd erupts into cheers and everything seems to go back into regular motion.
"Run!" I hear everyone tell me.
I take off, sprinting like we do at practice. I hit the edge of first base and round the corner, headed towards second. I look at my teammates and they're telling me to keep running, so that's what I do. I make it to second and head for third. I don't know where the ball is at and I should probably look to see if I should stay, but I don't. I just keep running. I wanted a home run and that's exactly what I'm going to get. I push myself harder. I look to the side to see that ball was now at second and she was throwing it to the pitcher. I run faster, almost to the home plate. I look to see the pitcher cocking her arm back to the throw the ball to the catcher. I get down and slide to home plate. The catcher places the glove on my thigh with the ball inside of it. I look up at the umpire, waiting to see what he would call.
"Safe!" He yells.
I jump up, excitedly. The catcher sends me a glare and I send a smirk her way. On my way back to the dugout, Jordan sends me a wink and I get a thumbs up from Jake. I smile at them before going into the dugout. Coach pats me on the back and I'm attacked with a million hugs from the team.
"Way to go, babes." Alyssa smiles.
Carmen comes up to me with a blank expression on her face before it turns into a smile. "Way to go, Abby. You got us four points."
"Thanks." I smile at her.
She walks away from me and I spot Virginia sending death glares my way. No matter what I do, it seems like it only makes her hate me more. If the attention isn't on her, then it's a problem.
I turn away from her evil glare and return my attention back to the game. For the next couple of endings the game goes back and forth but in the end, we ended up winning. Eleven to nine.
I'm walking to my car along with Alyssa, Jake, Troy, Jordan, Ryan, and Daniel. Jordan has his arm slung around my shoulders and I'm leaning into him.
"Man, you guys were awesome out there!" Daniel exclaims.
I shake my head and laugh at him. He's been talking about the game non-stop. "We get it. We're awesome." Alyssa smiles.
"I'll catch you guys later. I parked up here." Troy says, doing his handshake with the guys.
Ryan leaves with Troy because he caught a ride to the game with him. Daniel and Alyssa goes over to her car, leaving Jordan, Jake, and me.
"Well, if you two are going to kiss then can I get the keys to the car?" Jake asks.
I toss him the keys and he goes to the car, getting in. I turn my attention back to Jordan, who's smiling at me. It's almost like a proud smile.
"What?" I ask.
"Nothing. You were really amazing out there. I can't believe you didn't play sooner." He says.
I smile, looking down at the ground. I hate when the attentions on me. Jordan knows that, but it doesn't stop him from bragging on me. He places his hand under my chin, tilting my head up to look at him. His eyes are shining bright tonight because of the lights from the field. He leans down, his lips touching mine so softly. I want more. I apply more pressure to this kiss and he sucks in a sharp breath. Lately, I haven't been able to keep my hands to myself. Maybe because spring break is getting closer and I want to take our relationship to the next level.
My hands start to travel down his stomach and he stops them right before they get to his waistline. He breaks our kiss and looks into my eyes. His eyes are showing lust, and I know he doesn't have much self control right now.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" He says.
"Why do you always do that?" I ask.
"Do what?" He plays stupid.
"Whenever I try to initiate something more you stop me." I say.
He turns away from me before looking back at me. "I can't exactly fuck you outside." He laughs lightly, but it's forced.
"Be honest with me Jordan. Do you not want to have sex with me?" I blush, asking the question.
I look down and his hands come to my cheeks, causing me to look back at him. There's something he's not telling me. I can see it in his eyes.
"I do. I really do. It's just... I want things to be right. Perfect. It just never feels like the right moment. But soon, okay. Soon." He kisses me on the forehead before looking me back in the eyes.
I nod my head and laugh lightly. "You make me feel like some sex crazed girl."
He shrugs and smirks at me, "I tend to have that affect on ladies."
I hit his arm playfully. He pulls me close to him and I lay my head on his shoulder, taking in his scent. I get so high off Jordan. It's crazy how in love I am with him.
"Abby, let's go!" Jake shouts from the car.
I sigh, resting my head on his chest before looking back up at him. "Apparently, I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow."
He kisses me quickly, "I'll see you tomorrow. I love you, Midget."
I smile, "I love you, Giant."
He gives me a small smile before walking off to his car. I walk over to mine and get in. Jake is in the drivers side so I'm guessing he wants to drive tonight.
"You and lover boy should really get a room." He jokes, before starting the car.
I laugh at him, but he doesn't know how bad I'm wishing we could get a room. Just me and him.
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Hope you guys like the chapter. A picture of Alyssa on the cover. Don't forget to vote and comment what you think. Only a few more chapters left my loves. ):