[In Process] A Monkey With A Baseball Bat.

Chapter Three: Boy's Day Out

The boys meet face to face once they wake up, Wallace glances at the phone in Joyce's hand. Joyce smiles, sliding it into his pocket, "Opal has classes today, so it's a boy's day out today!" Wallace awkwardly smiles rubbing his neck walking to the kitchen, "That's good. What would you want to do?"

Joyce hums sitting on one of their counters, "Maybe we could go out clubbing?" Wallace glares at him gripping the fridge handle, "Joyce."

He laughs, "I tried. We could just walk around downtown, I do need new sneakers. OH AND A NEW BAT!" Wallace rolls his eyes cracking an egg into the hot skillet, "Fine. We can do that, as long as you have your own money this time." Joyce pumps his fist in the air, "YES!"

The two drive around the street stopping at the different shops talking, they pick a nice-looking cafe to go into. They sit at their booth waiting for their coffee to be delivered by a waitress to their table. Wallace's heart skips a beat; it's almost like a date, he thought, watching as Joyce plays with the napkins on their table. Wallace and Joyce's coffee was placed down, by the waitress, on their table. Joyce had a fruity drink with strawberries, he always loved sweets.

Wallace had a black coffee with ten creams, he didn't like sweets but bitter coffee was never something he looked forward to. Joyce sips at his drink while talking about his next batting strategy and that Wallace should get better at doing curveballs. Wallace chuckles watching as Joyce's eyes light up when he talks about their next competition. His blonde bangs messily stirred on his head after he ran a hand over them.

Wallace takes a sip of coffee then notices a certain brunette outside behind the window walking past. Opal was with a taller man talking as they walked, her hand softly touching the man's bicep. "Uh... Joyce. I gotta go-"

"Bathroom? Sure thing mate, I'll see if they have any sweets I'd want." The blonde slightly licks his bottom lip smiling, he loves all sorts of sweets. Wallace leaves the booth quickly walking to the front door then sprinting out to catch up with Opal. "Hey! Opal! What- what are... you doing?"

Opal turns around giving Wallace an awkward smile, she tells the man she's with one moment and grabs Wallace's arm pulling him a little way away from the man. "What are you doing? Don't just call out to me in public. Weirdo." Wallace yanks his arm away rubbing his wrist staring at her, "Well it's kind of weird you tell Joyce you had classes then you're walking around with... some guy."

"My personal life is none of your business Wall, but, if you must know he's a co-worker. We have a project we have to work together on."

"Okay? You still told Joyce that-"

"I didn't tell Joyce how long my classes were. I got out early and he had already texted me that he had plans with you. Of all people..."

She shifts her weight looking at Wallace's unflattering cartoon t-shirt. She taps her painted nails on her purse, "So if you will, I have other places to be Mr. Detective."

She shoots him a glare before catching up with the man walking off with him. Wallace's stomach turns as he walks back to the cafe in defeat. He slumps into the booth with Joyce who was downing a cheesecake with strawberries. "Wall, the bathroom isn't outside you know?"

"Sorry I thought I saw someone I knew. Also don't go too hard on that thing, you still have a diet you have to watch."

"Yeah, yeah dad."

The boys left the Café going to the sports equipment shop, they started looking through bats, baseball mitts, and cleats. Wallace turns a mitt over, looking at the detailing on it, he needed a new one soon. Wallace looks back to see Joyce in a trance over a red metal bat, it had a black handle and a slick finish. He knew how much Joyce loved metal bats, he tried to stick with wood bats so he didn't hurt anyone as much if he threw it.

Wallace walks over putting his hand on Joyce's shoulder shaking him softly, "Hey man we can get it, you can use it for practice?" Joyce frowns, "It won't be the same weight Wallace, you know I couldn't"

"Well, you can still get it? Or I can since your birthday is soon... like an early birthday gift?"

"Nah, it's fine, man I'll just get a wood bat, I need one anyway."

Wallace frowns, making a mental note to get the bat once Joyce goes out with Opal again. The boys left after getting a new mitt, and a new wood bat. They spend the rest of the day out and at their final stop Joyce's phone rings out playing a stupid song they liked two years ago. He picks it up leaning against the stone wall, "Hey Opal!"

"Yeah, we're about to go back to the apartment... What?"

Wallace frowns awkwardly scratching his neck, was this the first time she talked to him today since this morning? He didn't know what to do but lean against the wall like Joyce, watching him talk. "So there's a new club you want to go to? Would it be fine if Wall joined? Yeah... I know but, Wall likes clubs too..."

Joyce scrunches up his eyebrows frowning, he quickly darts his eyes to Wallace then stares back down at the ground, "We can plan a date.. a full one just this half day kinda- mm.. okay, so... he can go?"

Wallace looks away feeling even more awkward, Opal didn't want him around, he shouldn't go. Joyce hangs up looking up at Wallace smiling sheepishly, "She said there's a club and you're invited... but- you gotta bring a date too! You did at least get one girl's number at the last party, right?"

"Yeah I actually did- I think it's still in the hoodie from that night! Let's go back to the house and get ready, yeah?"

Joyce nods as they make their way back into their car driving off to the apartment. Wallace quickly starts to rummage through what he wore last night groaning softly to himself unable to find it. the small slip. He then looks at his red hoodie pulling it to him, digging into the pockets he awkwardly yanks out the piece of paper debating on contacting the girl. He barely knew Bella but he wanted to go out.

Wallace slowly dials the number, biting his bottom lip. He let the phone ring two times before a quiet female voice answered, "Hello? This is Bella"