Out of My League

Chapter 4 (Noah)

"Connor Sterling," the girl smiles, "I know."

I think Connor might be on the brink of fainting, so I have no choice but to step in and save him.

"You'll have to forgive my friend, here," I try not to be nervous, but the girl is seriously pretty, "He gets nervous around-"

I cut myself off before I say 'pretty girls.' Accidentally calling her pretty out loud one time is enough; if I did it again, she's bound to leave before her job actually begins.

"It's nice to meet you," I settle on instead, stepping forward and extending my hand to her, "I'm No-"

"Noah Parker," she smiles wide enough that I can see almost every, single tooth in her upper and lower jaw, "I know."

I shake her hand anyway, prompting with my eyes for her to tell me her name.

She catches on quickly, stumbling over her words for a moment before blurting, "I'm Isabella, but all of my friends call me Izzy."

"Izzy," I give her hand a small shake, "It's nice to meet you."

Her eyes are still as wide as a spooked horse's might be, "I, um, I'm-"

She looks like she's on the cusp of hyperventilating, so I reach out and put a hand on her knee.

"Hey, it's okay," I say in a gentle voice, "It's just us. Nothing to get worked up about."

I try my best to help calm her down with that gesture, but I think her breathing picks up tenfold when I touch her, so I jerk my hand back and shove it in my back pocket.

"I'm sorry," she grabs a lock of her chocolate-colored hair, "I'm just such a big fan of you guys-"

"We're just regular people," I say, calm, cool, and collected, "Trust me."

Connor seems to still be gaining his surroundings, but after a firm hand on his shoulder, he shakes out of his head just in time for coach to stride into the dug-out.

I didn't realize it, but the entirety of the team had arrived in between Connor and I's entrance and my conversation with Izzy.

Half of them are looking strangely at me, like they've never seen me be this kind to someone.

I'd be offended, but they probably haven't. I'm not cruel, but I'm not outgoing enough to offer many people help besides those I'm comfortable around.

Anxiety, though, can reach even this Grinch's heart.

I'd been there a time or two or ten.

"Boys," Coach Russell's voice echoes around the small, brick building, "Meet your new team manager."

A few of the boys gape. The majority of the team seem uninterested.

And then there's the two in the back that whisper frantically to each other, as if trying to guess where Kenz might've gone.

"Kenz is on maternity leave," I announce loud enough for all to hear, "She'll be back once she has the baby, but until then, Izzy, here, will be taking her place."

Izzy turns about thirty-five different shades of red, but manages a small squeak and a wave.

Thin silence overtakes the space until Coach Russell announces that we should go take a lap, that practice is about to begin.

At the last second, just as I'm reaching into my bag to grab my glove, I turn around and give Izzy a small smile.

"Don't be nervous," I say, "Remember, we're just regular people."