The Runner-ups

Chapter 4

I felt all the confidence I had completely deplete out of my body. Whereas Alex stood with a satisfied smile plastered on his perfect face as if he knew it would rattle me.

"Well this just got boring." One of the twins said as they started to become more invested in tossing a ball back and forth.

Parker looked like he released a breath I didn't realize he was holding. Relief flooded his features but then was quickly covered by a scowl directed at me. Figures.

Alex made his way over to me with a significant amount of pep in his step. Once he was in front of me he whistled and looked over my shoulder. Squinting as if to make a point of how far the ball went. "You mind getting that Sully?" he smiled at me.

I felt the flush run up my neck to my cheeks partially because I was embarrassed partially because I was angry. Quickly, I ripped the glove off my hand and slammed it into his chest which only made him chuckle. Pivoting on my heel I started to make my way back to the stands. I had the greatest temptation to run in order to get out of the embarrassing situation but I figured that would only make things worse.

"Awe come on Sully, there's no need to be upset." Alex spoke. I realized I looked like a child throwing a tantrum but I had my pride on the line.

Keeping my brisk pace I looked over my shoulder to yell back at him. "I'm not upset!" I so clearly lied. "And don't call me that." I added looking back up to the stands where OJ was looking at me sympathetically.

I heard the thumps of his feet hitting the dirt behind me as it took him only seconds to catch up to me and match my pace. "What? You don't like Sully?"

My lack of an answer seemed to encourage him to continue as I reached the bottom of the stairs. "It's kinda a tradition to get called by your last name on the team." He smiled at me and gave me a look as if he was waiting for me to understand some sort of joke.

I stopped and turned to face him. "My name is Hallie! Do I remind you of a big blue misunderstood monster?"

"Maybe a little, but that's not what I-"

"Finn! Let's go man, you can flirt with her after practice." One of the twins shouted out to us forcing a rose tint onto both of our faces.

"Dude, shut up!" Alex yelled back then turned to continue our conversation but I was already halfway up the stands making a dash toward the safety of my spot in the stands.

Alex looked as if he was debating following me up here but the yells from the rest of his teammates pulled him back towards the field.

I dropped back into my seat, irritated. "Shit Hallie, you're actually pretty good." Ayana said.

"Apparently not good enough." I mumble, becoming invested in my food.

"Don't beat yourself up. Alex is a really good player. He's had baseball drilled in his head straight from the womb. You should be happy you got as close as you did to striking him out." Colin explained politely and Ayana smiled at him. "And I mean he's a dude so obviously he'a got an advantage." He added and Ayanna smacked him on the back of the head, smile vanishing.

"Colin what the fuck." OJ said calmly and Collin rubbed the back of his head. He smiled sheepishly and shrugged his shoulders.

"Don't listen to him, Hallie. You did a lot better than any pitcher we've had since we've been here." OJ shoved my shoulder playfully to try and cheer me up.

I laughed but halfhearted. I just couldn't stand the idea of someone doubting what I was capable of just because I was a girl.

The rest of lunch flew by pretty quick in comparison to class which dragged by horrifically slow. Only one more class then I got to make my way home and most likely endure another argument on the ride with Parker.