Gym Rats - Jackson Olson x OC

31

Cecelia's POV

After Jackson and I did our workout at the gym, I had gone home to rinse off and put on new clothes to go to practice with him. I'm excited, but also scared out of my mind. I don't have hand-eye coordination. I'm a swimmer. What if I'm not good at it and embarrass myself? I like sticking to what I'm good at.

I'm waiting outside my apartment building for Jackson to come pick me up. I wasn't quite sure what to wear, so I have some black Nike running shorts, my grey Bananas shirt, and black Nike tennis shoes on. My hair is up in a ponytail, and all the makeup I have on is some blush and mascara.

Jackson pulls up to the building, and he quickly throws the car in park and rushes over to open my door, "You look gorgeous," he tells me, before I plant a quick kiss on his cheek as a thank you and get in the passengers seat. He closes the door, before going over to the drivers seat. Once he's in and buckled, he leans over to me and I put my hand on his jaw as I give him a kiss. He smiles as we break apart before we start heading towards Grayson Stadium.

"We are going to get there like an hour before practice starts. I want to teach you how to hit a baseball."

"Saving me from embarrassment," I say, "You're so kind."

"I try my best."

We get to the stadium, where Jackson quickly comes over to get my door yet again. He offers his hand, like always, and I take it as I get out of the car. He lets go of my hand to go get his bag out of the trunk of his car. He then grabs my hand again, and we walk into the stadium together through the player's entrance. There's barely anyone here. The cage has been rolled out behind home plate, and Jackson takes me directly out to the field, making me follow him into the dugout first.

"Pick out which bat you want to use," he says, pointing to his bag, which he had just set on the bench. He has four bats in there, and I run my hand over the knobs of the bats inside. I pick out a black one, which he smiles at my selection, "Fantastic choice."

He walks over to the shelves where all the batting helmets are, taking his out and putting it on my head. It's too big for me, but Jackson's smile when he put it on is nothing short of adorable.

"I'm ready coach," I tell him, putting the bat on my shoulder.

He takes my chin, tilting my head up and kissing me, then grabbing a bucket of baseballs, "Let's go."

We walk out to home plate and I settle myself into the right-handed batter's box. Jackson comes over, helping me fix my stance from behind me, holding his hands over mine as he adjusts the bat to how he stands in the box.

"Okay, now, when you swing, you twist like this," he puts his hands on my hips to show how to twist, as I move the bat by myself. "Perfect," he said, his voice in a lower tone than usual.

The summer air is starting to feel a lot hotter than I remember. I feel goosebumps on my skin.

"Okay, I'm only going to be like ten feet away," Jackson says, stepping back to where he had placed the baseball bucket, "and I'm only going to underhand toss it. So watch the ball."

He tosses the first ball and I swing and miss. Jackson comes back and readjusts my hands, squaring my shoulders from behind me again.

"WHAT ARE YOU TWO LOVEBIRDS DOING?" We hear the PA from overhead scream in our ears. Ryan. "HAVING FUN?"

"Go away Ryan!" Jackson screams up to the media box, as if Ryan is Jackson's obnoxious younger brother. Ryan laughs into the microphone before he disappears. The two of us laugh at him as Jackson goes back out to the bucket of balls. After a lot more swings and misses, I finally hit the ball right back to Jackson. "That was good! Now just hit it harder."

I try my best, but I go through at least a dozen swings and misses before I hit a ball and elevate it a little over Jackson's head and behind him, close to the pitchers mound. "Good job Cee!"

"Can I learn a trick play now? I'm not cut out for offense."

Jackson laughs, coming back over to me and taking his bat off my shoulder, as well as his helmet. I look over as I see Jesse walking towards the two of us, and Jackson takes a step back, knowing Jesse wants to talk to me.

"Cecelia! It's a pleasure to meet you," Jesse says, extending his hand out. I shake his hand. "I'm so happy you're able to come and see practice, maybe after you're back from Paris we can get you to throw out the first pitch."

"What if I don't win a medal?"

"Who cares? You're a Savannah legend regardless. Plus, you're a part of our family now."

I chuckle a bit, as I notice Jackson had walked away from us to put his stuff away, "Sounds good to me. I'll be available!"

"Perfect. Look, I gotta go, but have fun with the guys today," he says, before he waves and walks away from me as Jackson comes back with two gloves in his hands.

"Take this one," he says, handing me a yellow glove. I put it on my hand.

"That's the one I usually use. I'm trying to break in this one," he says, pounding his fist into the pocket of the navy glove on his hand. Upon closer inspection, it is lime colored in the webbing.

"That's pretty," I say to him.

"Just like you."

I give him a bit of a side eye before we walk back onto the field. Ryan makes his way onto the field and Jackson peers over at him.

"Hit us some ground balls, would you third wheel?" Jackson asks Ryan.

"All the power has gone to your head."

Ryan goes back to the dugout to grab a bat, before going over to the bucket of balls. I wait for him to be ready before coming out to the infield with me. Jackson shows me how to normally handle ground balls, to which I pick up with ease. He stands there, amazed by my skill already.

"Okay, we will try between the legs," Jackson says, which he shows me. Dalton comes on the field and decides to act as the first baseman. Jackson shows how he does it between the legs, which he throws perfectly to Dalton. I try my best to follow him, fielding the ground ball from Ryan, but not getting the ball anywhere close to Dalton. We try, and try, and try, and the best I can do is overthrow it 10 feet above Dalton's head. I look over at Jackson, not happy with the results. Ryan starts packing it all up, helping Dalton collect the baseballs, as their practice is starting soon. Jackson kisses my temple in reassurance.

"You make it look easy," I tell him.

He laughs, "Thanks."

Ryan then comes over to us, "So, Cecelia, I hear you'll be throwing out a first pitch for us after Paris."

Jackson puts his glove over the hat on his head, "I have to teach you how to pitch too?!"