Tales From Baseball Practice

12.0

Happy Beginnings 

I'm not sure if I should call this the end.

It's honestly the start.

All I know is that it's happy, whether it's a happy ending or a happy beginning.

We spent all afternoon at that café with the desserts, getting to really know each other.

Though nerves were flowing through me, I asked if it was a date.

You laughed and said it was, and thought that I already knew that.

I hadn't. I didn't know what you thought of me or if you liked me like that.

You told me that you had liked me since I returned your keys, and thought that offering me a ride home after the rain made it obvious. Or even showing up to the baseball games.

I guess I'm just a clueless idiot.

When I explained what I meant by taking a break from baseball, you were shocked.

"Why would you give up baseball, you love it!" is what you had exclaimed, causing other diners to shoot you a look.

"Because. I think I love you more,"

You blushed so much your whole face was pink.

Even though I was off the team, we'd still go together to the games. Just you, me, and Dal.

You continued your daily walks with Dal, and the majority of the time I came along.

Maybe I wasn't in sports anymore, but I wasn't going to let that be an excuse to stop exercising.

I found out that instead of going home after your daily walk, you would go to the dog park right next to the parking lot.

Dal seemed to love it more whenever I threw the ball.

Once it went over the fence, and you laughed so hard.

There was a kid on the other side who threw the ball back, asking if they could pet Dal. You said yes, that he was friendly with kids.

The kid laughed whenever Dal tried to lick their fingers.

And when other kids saw, they came running to the fence, petting Dal as well.

The Dalmatian reveled in the attention, and we just stood back, watching how the kids laughed and gave all their love to Dal.

Dal was the only dog in the dog park that day, so he didn't have to compete for the affection.

Summer came quickly, and we were both considering college.

I wasn't tied down to just one anymore, having to start immediately because of my scholarship.

You suggested a gap year. I remember exactly how you looked at me in shock when I said I didn't know what that was.

But when you described it, I knew it was perfect for us.

We wouldn't go back to school as soon as fall came.

We could take more time to consider what we wanted to do in college, what we wanted to do after.

I certainly needed that extra time.

I finally bought myself a car, one that we could travel the country in. 

Dal of course came along.

I don't think he or you would have it any other way.

I hadn't travelled much. Just in my state and the ones next to it.

But seeing the country. Going to national parks and famous landmarks was amazing.

It was all the better with you at my side.

Our gap year came to an end, and we'd visited all forty-eight of the continental states. We even managed to visit Alaska. 

But when the next summer came and college was still up in the air, we decided neither of us were ready for four more years of schooling.

So we took another gap year, just you, me, and Dal.

We visited Hawaii for the rest of the summer, and I wouldn't have wanted to go unless it was with you.

We even decided to go to Europe for the fall.

Going to different countries. Travelling the world. Seeing sights that we'd never even imagined we'd see in real life.

It was spectacular.

Every day, every week, that I spent with you, the more I grew in my feelings and love for you.

I had loved baseball.

But pursuing those dreams wouldn't have made me as happy as travelling with you did.

When we returned back home, we found a college that suited us both.

You went for four years.

I went for only two.

Going to college, not because I had a scholarship to help me get into the major leagues but because I genuinely wanted to go to continue my learning, that was good.

But what was better was sharing a studio apartment with you. Staying up late exchanging study tips and random information we had learned that day in class. Going to the dog park every weekend and Wednesday to play ball with Dal.

I had finally found my dream.

And it was you.