Walk-Off (A Kris Bryant Fanfiction)

ACT I - Chapter 1 - Spring Training

Jessica's POV

We exited the airport into the hot Arizona afternoon. 

The temperature was in the high 80's as Anthony hailed a cab and packed our things into the trunk before getting inside. 

"Sheraton Grande, please." Anthony told the driver. He nodded and pulled away from the curb and onto the street. 

"So are you excited for your first spring training?" Anthony asked me, seeming very excited to get back to doing what he loves. 

"Absolutely! It's been a goal of mine to come down here and watch you play." I told him, honestly. 

It was still fairly cold in Chicago as the winter winds down into spring, but Chicago weather is so unpredictable, so it was going to be nice to get away for a couple weeks during my spring break. 

"Glad you could make it down, the guys are excited to see you again." He said, peering out the window. 

"Aw, I can't wait to see them again! It's been so long since the last time I saw them."

It's been tough on the Cubs lately, and for an entire century. The Cubs finished last in the central division last year, as well as the year before. They haven't won a World Series since 1908, and the pressure to win is always high every year in a sports crazy city like Chicago. 

The short ride to the hotel ended and Anthony paid the fare, grabbing both of our bags and placing them on the cart before wheeling it inside the hotel. 

The hotel we were staying in for spring training was very nice with plenty of amenities and activities. 

I was definitely going to enjoy my time off here. 

The team had a brief meeting and workout later on this afternoon at the practice facility before they start playing actual games in a few days. 

Anthony checked us into the room and we brought the luggage up to our floor and to our room. 

I slid the key card through the lock and opened the door, helping Anthony guide the cart through the door. 

I unpacked fairly quickly, placing my items in all of the available drawers. We were going to be here for three weeks after all. 

Anthony said he was going to go and meet with some of the guys before the workout, leaving me to myself until he would come and pick me up later on. 

I decided to try and check out the pool area after Anthony left, walking around the complex and exploring my surroundings. 

The pool was fairly large, having several areas with a hot tub and volleyball area, as well as a bar in the pool, where I personally decided that I would be spending time at during the stay. 

Not wanting to get the chlorinated water on me before having to leave, I decided that today, I would just lay out and tan for a little bit before heading back up to the hotel to get ready. 

I laid down on the lounge chair, my back exposed to the hot Arizona rays, I was able to enter a state of relaxation. 

I set my phone to go off in 45 minutes so that I didn't oversleep and that I could have ample time to go upstairs and change. 

I drifted off into a light sleep, the sun acting as my blanket, as the breeze blew lightly over my body, I knew that this was where I wanted to be. 

***

It didn't take long for my alarm to go off, stirring me from sleep once again and forcing me up. 

I grabbed my phone and my beach bag and headed towards the elevator, riding it back up to the room. 

I changed out of my swimwear and into my white Rizzo jersey and a pair of shorts and headed down to the hotel lobby so that I could wait for Anthony. 

Shortly after, Anthony pulled up to the hotel roundabout and I got in the car. He pulled off of the curb and onto the streets, heading towards the Cubs' training complex. 

"I know I already asked this, but are you excited?!" Anthony asked, with a lot of enthusiasm. I laughed. 

"I am, yes. I can't wait to see all of the guys again." I smiled, before looking back out the window to view the area. There were a lot of great spots around the complex, but the view was incredible. The sky was cloudless, showing a ocean of blue above. The desert was partially visible, and it looked incredible, even from far away. 

Soon enough, Anthony pulled into the players' lot of the complex, and we walked through the players' entrance into the lower level of the complex where the locker rooms were.  A bunch of team personnel were here to welcome the team back after the long winter break and to get the team back into the swing of things for the long regular season grind. 

Anthony and I walked into the locker room, where a lot of the guys had already started unpacking their things and getting ready to hit the diamond. 

I met with some of the guys that I hadn't seen since the end of last season, like Starlin Castro, Jake Arrieta, and Hector Rondon. There were also a few new guys on the roster that were signed in the offseason like Jon Lester and Miguel Montero. 

Players continued to file into the locker room as Anthony and I chatted with some of the guys. I looked towards the far end of the room and saw one of the guys sitting on his own, unpacking his things and placing them into his stall. 

I walked towards him, he was still looking down at his things. 

As I got closer, I could tell that he was tall. 

Really tall. 

Anthony was pretty tall, standing at 6'3, but this guy was taller. 

And really, really attractive. 

I walked up to his stall, and noticing my shadow he looked up from his things and at me. 

"Hello." I waved, shyly. He gave me a small smile. 

"Hi." He said back.

"I'm Jessica, Anthony's cousin. Are you one of the new guys?" I asked him. 

"Yeah, I am, my name is Kris." He placed his glove in locker and extended his hand towards me. 

"Kris Bryant."