on deck; a. judge

13.

[a]

Part of me felt shitty for doing what I did to Ellie. I should've let her talk to him instead of being a dickhead about it and blurting it out.

I don't know why, but it just made me mad. She hasn't talked to me since, and I was really starting to feel different towards Ellie. It stung not talking to her, the feeling of rejection sucked, and the last thing I wanted was to be rejected by a girl that I was starting to catch feelings for.

I got home from practice and noticed Ellie was home from work. Guess it was a half day, or maybe she didn't even go in at all. I walked in the front door and took off my shoes, setting my bag where it usually sat. I walked up the stairs, hearing some music playing lowly, bringing a small smile to my face as I went to see how she was doing.

I wrapped my knuckles against her door a couple of times before she turned from her laptop to face me. "Yeah?"

"I, uh, I'm sorry..." I blurt out.

"Cool." She says, turning back around to focus on whatever she was working on.

"El, really. I am."

She ignores me, continuing to work on something. I grab her extra chair from her desk, sitting next to her and I put my hand on her thigh.

"I fucked up, Ellie. I realize that, and I know it wasn't really my place to tell Garrett what happened.."

She turned to face me again. "You fucked everything up Aaron. And for what? Why did you feel the need to be the one to tell him?"

"I was jealous." I cut her off, causing her to go silent. I instantly regret telling her that and I just mentally curse myself out. Stupid, Aaron, stupid.

"Why?"

"I...I don't know.." I take a deep breath, knowing full well why I was jealous but couldn't muster up the words to tell her.

"Some excuse." She scoffs, turning back to her laptop.

"Alright, so my truth isn't good enough for you? I was jealous as fuck, alright? I hated seeing you with someone else. You two were always so lovey and cuddly." I say, my breath hitched in my throat.

"But why, Aaron? You aren't explaining to me why.." She says, still looking at her computer.

We stay silent for a second and she just laughs to herself.

"What's so funny?"

She shrugs, "You're always saying how I want you, but maybe it's the other way around? You got jealous because I was seeing a guy I met from work and it wasn't you." She laughed again.

I sigh. "I really am sorry, El. I didn't want to do that, it was a douchebag move of me. I was an asshole."

"Wow, it's about damn time you admit that." She says to me, crossing her arms. "But," She pauses, "As much as I hate to admit it.."

"Admit what?"

"He didn't make me feel the way you do.."

===

The next day continued as normal. I had an off day, so I decided to hit the batting cages. Not without bringing Ellie with me first. As much as I knew she would probably hate it, it would be entertaining.

I waited around, polishing up my bats as I see El walk into the batting cages. "So you brought me out to the cages, because..?"

"I figured since you're going to be spending a lot more time with the Yankees, you could get more familiar with the facilities."