The Game

Peace (Sam's POV)

It never seems like the right time.

When he liked me, I was with Tyler.

When I liked him, he starts to hangout with Ava.

It gave me peace to just finally end it, to finally know the outcome.

I was glad she was there when I went over, maybe it was a sign that I shouldn't talk to him.

Other than that event Christmas Eve was pretty good, my mom and dad came home early from their shifts. Me, Max, Chase and Charlie all got to open one present early and Gretchen and Cooper stopped by on their way to Coopers house.

As I was filling Gretchen in on the whole order of events that took place, Chase and Cooper went in the basement to play one round of Call of Duty together.

Gretchen gave all the classic best friend responses like, "Girl he isn't worth your time." "You will find someone better."

No matter what she told me, I still couldn't get that sinking feeling out of my chest.

After her and Cooper left, my mom came up into my room.

She circled around my room a couple times before talking, "So what is the whole deal with Ben?"

I give her a look of surprised look and she gives me a smile, "I may not be around as much as the other moms, but I still have the mom instinct. I could tell something was up."

I groan as I roll over and shove my face in the pillow. She sits down beside me and rubs my back, "Honey if I never took the chance of telling your father my true feelings, he'd be somewhere in California right now probably married to a beach bum but I told him the day he was supposed to leave how I felt."

She laughs as she continues on, "Look now I have 4 kids and a wonderful job and life all because I had a little bit of courage."

After a couple more minutes she gets up and walks out of my room.

I roll back around so I can look out my window, the Grey Honda was gone now but the light in his room was not.

I debated texting him, telling him to meet me but I couldn't. I felt deep down that the time wasn't right yet and that I should wait a little bit longer.

~2 months later~

(February 20th)

Life was about as normal as it gets.

Get up, go to school, go to softball, go home, repeat.

We were finally in season and it never felt so good. Our first scrimmage was in 3 days, still a bit chilly outside but perfect time for some softball.

I felt myself in awe as I finally stepped in the dugout for the first time since our last outdoor practice in the Fall.

Coach cleared her throat as we all filed in, "Ladies the season is among us, this is what we have been waiting for. Scrimmages will not count towards anything in the league, scrimmages are meant for learning but still treat each of them like it is the championship game. Take a few moments to stretch and throw, be ready for a long practice tonight girls."

Gretchen slides up next to me as we start to put our cleats on, "Cooper told me that their first scrimmage is tonight, we should go after practice."

I look over at Gretchen and wince, "I mean I guess but Tyler and Ben, that's kind of awkward."

She scoffs, "Don't think of it like that, think of it as us going to watch Cooper and Chase. Speaking of which  he finally got verbally accepted to play at University of Tennessee at Knoxville. So that gives us even more of a push to try and play there."

I gasp, "Aw yay I know how hard he worked for this moment."

After we put our cleats on, I lead the team in stretches and arm drills before we break up into our fielding positions.

I take my stance behind the plate as Leah throws a few warm up pitches, we were going to practice throw downs to 1st, 2nd and 3rd. I glance at Gretchen at 2nd and shoot her a smile.

Once Leah is warm, the non starting girls get ready to live hit against her.

I throw down to 2nd at a perfect angle so our short stop can make the tag.

After practice, Gretchen finally convinced me to go to the game.

When we arrive on the bleachers, I automatically see Tyler, Chase, Cooper and Ben.

Tyler was in center field, Chase was at short stop, Coop was at 3rd base and Ben was still taking some warm up pitches.

I watch him, his warm up pitches even have good velocity on them. It suddenly hits me that I have never seen him play before.

Once the game is started, the other team wasn't doing too hot offensively. Ben was striking them out one after the other.

I smiled as the innings passed by, we ended up beating the other team because of mercy rule 12-0.

My smile never left my face as we walked to the parking lot, he was such a good pitcher. Better than I anticipated.

Cooper walks up to us and gives Gretchen a hug from behind, "Did you see my double I got."

Gretchen and I both nod our heads and give his praises of encouragement.

I see Ben coming out of the corner of my eye, I turn and smile at him. "Wow I'll never question your pitching skills again, you were amazing."

He laughs as he rubs the back of his neck, "Thank you, I'm hoping to continue that same motivation all throughout the season."

I notice Chase walking up holding Maddies hand.

I smile as I give a nod towards Maddie and she blushes.

"Alright lets get out of here, I'm tired." Chase says as he throws his bag in my jeep and hops in the passenger side.

I laugh as I say goodbye to everyone and get in my car.

"Oh boy the things I have to tell you." Chase says as I pull out of the school parking lot.