sunshine of your love - brance

questions and finally some answers

Vance stays true to his word, as soon as the game is over. He hides behind the bleachers. No, not to avoid Bruce, but more in an effort to avoid the bulk of the crowd so he doesn't get pointed out by someone. He waits until there are only a few stragglers before he walks back out. He searches the field but doesn't see a sign of any of the players, he stays out of sight of the people who are still around by walking along the back of the bleachers but continues his search. Or he had at least thought he stayed out of sight. He's proved wrong when a voice pipes up behind him,

"Uh, sorry man, the coach saw you and said people can't be back here."

Vance pivots around, coming face to face with a boy about his height with brown curly hair. He realizes it's the pitcher from the other team. Though the pitcher now looks absolutely horrified, he looks like he's gonna fall over,

"Shit, y'know what. It's fine, I'll tell coach you left. Sorry."

Despite the kid obviously planning on running, his feet stay frozen to the spot.

"Relax kid, I'm not gonna fucking bite you. I'm just looking for someone."
The kid's eyes look nervous and start darting around,

"So, who are you looking for?"

The damn kid is visibly shaking. Vance starts to wonder just what the hell kind of rumors were going around about him that made a kid too scared to even move.

"Seriously man, relax. I'm not gonna kill you for talking to me,"
Vance sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose,

"Let's just say I don't fight without a reason. It's all you need to know."

The kid lets out a very audible sigh and seems to loosen up a little bit,

"Alright, okay, sorry. Just y'know, you got a reputation and I can't fight worth a shit. So I was a little worried."

The kid lets out a nervous laugh. Honestly, what the fuck was with these kids and getting over their fear of Vance so quickly? First, Bruce, then Billy, and now whoever the hell this kid was. He'd have to figure that out at some point.

"I know I have a reputation dumbass. You should also fix that fighting thing before it comes back to bite you in the ass."

The kid laughs,

"Believe me. It already has."

"Then you might wanna get on it, Wonderboy ."

"Wonderboy? Really?"
Vance shrugs,

"If it fits and I don't know your actual name."

The boy sticks his hand out smiling. Seriously, what was with these kids immediately warming up to Vance? It was weird.

"I'm Finney Blake."

Vance already knows that Finney knows who he is but his mom raised him to treat people with respect, but only if they treated him with respect. Most people don't so he doesn't respect most people. The kid waits with his hand out, it's such a difference from not even five minutes before when he looked like he might pass out at the mere sight of Vance. So, Vance shook his hand,

"Vance Hopper."

Finney smiles and his eyes widen like he just remembered something,

"Hey, you said you were looking for someone right?"
Vance nods in response.

"Who were you looking for? Maybe I can help you find them?"
"Bruce Yamada."

Finney sits and thinks for a moment almost like he didn't know who Vance was talking about it but he could see the moment Finney clicked it together.
"Oh! I think his team went to the locker rooms, so you can probably just wait for him to get out."
"Thanks, Wonderboy."
"Am I ever gonna shake that nickname?