The past few days have been crazy: I went back to school and found out my rotations have been changed. I start them this Monday and I won't be done with them until the week before graduation. Adrian comes home tomorrow afternoon and the apartment looks like a tornado blew through. I got my stuff packed and looked for something I could wear during the game and then for dinner with Christian. I pulled out an outfit and got dressed.
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(Royal blue Converse instead of the boots for the game; boots for dinner)
I grabbed my things and stopped at Starbucks for coffee and breakfast. I head to the stadium and walk to the office area. I get my work done and head to the field to watch the end of practice. Christian looks over and waves when he sees me. I wave back and sit behind the dish. He walks over and leans against the net.
"You look good. You going out after the game," he chuckles.
"Yeah, this really cool guy is taking me to dinner," I smile, playing along.
He smiles and intertwines our fingers through the net.
"I was wondering if you'd wanna consider tonight a date," he says.
I think for a minute and rub his knuckles with my thumb.
"Yeah, we can make it a date."
"Awesome. I'll see you after the game."
He starts walking away but stops about fifteen feet away.
"There's something on your desk! I want you to wear it," he yells.
He jogs to the dugout and I head to the office to see what he's talking about. I walk in and see a bag on my desk. I open it and see one of Christian's jerseys inside. I roll my eyes and chuckle as I pull out the note from the bottom.
Can't wait to see your smiling face in this at every game!
(•‿•) Christian
I set the note on my desk and Cindy walks by.
"Already wearing his jersey," she asks, grabbing the note.
"He got it for me from the team store," I tell her.
"Uh-huh."
"Cindy, stop."
"Then, why are you dressed up for the game?"
"I'm going out after. One last outing before my rotations start on Monday."
"I thought you didn't start them until the first week of April?"
"They got moved up. They said it could happen."
"So, you're leaving us until after graduation?"
"I'll try to make the rest of the spring training games here in Phoenix but I wouldn't count on it."
"Have you told Christian yet?"
"Not yet."
"You have to tell him."
"I will, but not tonight."
She groans and walks off. I shrug off my jacket and try on the jersey.
"Perfect fit."
I turn around and see Christian standing near the door.
"You're too much," I tell him.
"Well, if we get something going between us, I want the people to know who my biggest fan is," he chuckles.
I take it off and cut the tag off. I put it back on and he smiles. He sits on the desk and grabs my hand.
"I want to see you in this at every game you come to, every practice you come to, and every time I see you at the field," he whispers.
I smile at him and he twirls me around.
"It looks good on you."
"You think so," I ask.
"I know so."
I look at my watch and see it's almost noon.
"You need to get ready for the game," I say.
"Meet me here after the game and we'll head to dinner."
He leaves and I groan as I sit in my chair. I run a hand through my hair and sigh. When I tell Christian about my rotations starting three weeks early, he's gonna be heartbroken. He's a sweet guy and I can see he means well. He's the type of guy Adrian's always saying I deserve. I look at my phone and the time reads 12:54. First pitch is gonna be thrown in about ten minutes and I'm sitting at my desk very close to having a mental breakdown over this. I pull myself together and head up to the field. I stand near the left field bars and smile when Christian runs out. The Diamondbacks won 11-6 and I went back to my desk in the office. I sat in my chair and packed my things. I sighed deeply and held Christian's jersey in my hands. I felt a tear slip down my cheek and I quickly wiped it away.
"Hey, you alright," I hear Christian ask.
"There's something I need to tell you," I say.
He pulls a chair from another desk and sits next to me.
"What is it?"
"My rotations are starting three weeks early."
He rubs my hand and wipes a stray tear from my face.
"I just found out yesterday when I went back to class."
"We can make it work, Blair."
His hand rests on my cheek and I smile sadly.
"How? You'll be on the road and we most likely won't see each other again until after my graduation."
"I'm not against doing long-distance until then if we start something."
He rubs my knee and wipes my tears.
"Do you still wanna get dinner tonight," he asks softly.
"No. Adrian comes back tomorrow afternoon and I need to straighten up the apartment."
"How about this? I'm gonna take my things back to my place and I'll come to yours with dinner."
I nod and he rubs my knuckles. I gather my things and we walk out of the stadium. I head home and put my stuff in my room. Christian comes over with Chipotle and I chuckle softly.
"I thought this might put a smile on your face," he says.
"I'm sorry for ruining tonight," I tell him.
"You didn't ruin anything."
I give him a strained smile and he hands me my food. We eat and he helps me straighten up the apartment. I head to my room and change into a Kentucky State hoodie and some leggings. I walk back out and sit on the couch. Christian sits next to me and I curl into his side. He rubs my back and I intertwine our fingers together.
"So, is this still a date," I chuckle.
"Do you want to be one?"
"I do if you do."
"Then this can be our first official date. What time do you start your rotation on Monday?"
"I got the noon to midnight rotations for the next three weeks. I have the 8-8 in April."
"Eight in the morning?"
"Eight at night to eight in the morning."
"Oh, that sucks."
"Well, EMTs have 24-hour shifts most of the time."
He nods and his fingers dance over my arm. We spend a few more hours watching movies before Christian heads back to his place.
