I Don't Dance (a major league baseball love triangle)

Chapter 2: Getcha Head In The Game

The first last straw was during the National Anthem when Alek had to stand in between Corbin and Jake and couldn't stop catching them sneaking looks as their heads were bowed. They should be ashamed of embarrassing themselves in front of AMERICA. Alek was proud of himself for ignoring them and, while on the field for the top of the first inning, he was doing a pretty good job staying focused on the game. Brandon did a good job striking out the first two batters and grounding out the third. Then in the bottom of the first inning, with Corbin batting first and Jake batting second, he was free of them and could relax in the dugout with the guys.

Squeezed in between Domo and Gabi at the dugout fence, his arms slung over and his chin resting against it, he was stuck in between an argument in Spanish. Alek knew an embarrassing thirty words give or take in Spanish despite playing for Team Mexico in the World Classic. At least the argument seemed unimportant considering how often Domo laughed.

Alek watched Corbin immediately get a home run in the blink of an eye. He launched to his feet to congratulate him, but was put off by the sight of his mini celebration with Jake. They were hugging instead of the normal high five that becomes like a handshake and boy did the hug linger. Then Jake stepped into the batter's box and Corbin was walking down the steps into the dugout, high fiving each person he saw. He ducked his head when Gurrie- who towered over him like the purple giant that he is- swiped his helmet off his head and then playfully shoved him on the back. Alek, who loved Corbin dearly, grimaced at the sight of his hair. The man could legitimately be hot if he didn't wear that horrendous headband that pushed his hair back from his forehead. He looked ridiculous and honestly looked better with the helmet on. Alek had nearly forgotten what Corbin looked like with his hair untouched so he spent the next three at-bats thinking about his hair. Great. He missed Jake's strike out- lmao- and Ketel's fly out and Christian's ground out. Before he knew it the inning was over and he hadn't congratulated Corbin yet. He was a fake friend fr.

He caught Corbin as he was stepping out onto the field for the second inning. Jake was getting water and was none the wiser.

"Hey."

"Hi."

"Nice homer. What was it? 400 feet?"

"412."

Alek smiled at his correction as they jogged past second base. Knowing time was running out between the innings, he hastily said, "Keep that Corbin magic going, ok?"

Corbin grinned between chews of gum before racing past him to right field where he caught a ball from the first base coach. He then threw it to Alek just as the center fielder got to his spot. He had forgotten how much he missed tossing the ball with Corbin. And with Gurrie. When he threw it back to Corbin, the right fielder nodded to Alek's confusion and threw it far past Alek. He wasn't sure if he was meant to dive for the throw, but when he heard the slap of leather he understood it was never meant for him. Instead of throwing it back to Corbin, Jake extended his arm to gesture to Alek, who pulled on his best fake smile.

The game of toss between the three outfielders continued for another minute until Brandon took the mound again.

A ground out to Suarez at third base was the first out and the next was a foul out on the first pitch behind home plate to Gabi. Alek had hardly any time to grow anxious in center before Brandon wound up to throw the next pitch for the third out. The batter took two strikes and the stadium erupted with cheers. Get loud! flashed across the screens wrapping around the stadium. Already ready to race back to the dugout, Alek was further towards infield than he should have been. A rookie mistake. But in his defense he was trying to escape Jake.

WHACK

"Shit!" exclaimed Alek as he scrambled backwards to center left. The ball was flying right to him. Wait, right of him. He leaned right and waved off Jake. He was right underneath the fly ball. Right there.

Jake chose to ignore him. Typical from a best friend stealer. "I got it, Alek!"

While Jake sped towards the fly, he leaned into Alek's bubble. His cleats dug into Alek's and his arm stretched into Alek's face. Alek fell back to avoid him while Jake caught the last out in mid air since he "tripped" on Alek's foot and "accidentally" elbowed Alek in the face.

Pinned to the ground by a 6'foot-something-too-tall man, Alek was stuck staring up at the roof. He struggled to push and claw his way out all while complaining about how much he missed Gurrie. As if purposely torturing him, Jake refused to move. What did he have wrong with Alek? It was Jake who was the best friend stealer.

Luckily, his view was replaced by familiar brown orbs peering down, paired by lightly freckled rosy cheeks.

"Corb?" Alek groaned. It was like looking up at an angel, except the sound of harps being replaced by the gathered yapping of the fans. Speaking of fans, he had yet to see any posters mentioning him! They were all addressed to Corbin. Far too many were asking him to be their boyfriend. Well jokes on them he clearly already has one.

"Are you ok?"

"Ye-"

"Now I am."

Alek froze. Did Jake just respond for him? Or was Corbin only worried for a dirty-blond white man?

Corbin spared a smile before he looked over his shoulder and returned with a frown. "Get up. People are growing worried. The athletic trainer is about to run out."

He then held out his hand and hauled up Jake. Their fingers were intertwined for five seconds and that's five seconds too long. Alek didn't glare long before Corbin helped him up and inspected his already bruising nose. He brushed his fingers gingerly across the yellowing skin and murmured an apology as Alek shivered.

"Sit with me in the dugout?" Alek asked as he was being dragged off of the field. (Jake was literally running to the dugout. Running away from his responsibility probably).

"Only if you get your nose checked out."

"Deal."

In the dugout, after he had his nose checked out, Alek pulled on his batting gloves with Corbin standing beside him. Jake brushed past them, holding Corbin's gaze before lazily drawing his eyes to Alek to glare at him before taking a seat next to Joc Pederson. Their heads were bowed as they whispered conspiratorially, Jake's eyes darting toward the pair. It took everything in Alek not to flip them off. Corbin's encouraging smile distracting him.

"Now batting, number five, Alek Thomas."

Shit, he forgot to take practice swings in the on-deck circle. He was too busy glaring at Jake and Joc. Great, now he definitely looked suspicious.

His at-bat ended with a strikeout. He was no better than Jake McCarthy. Great, he was never going to hear the rest of it.