Trouble in Paradise

Chapter 3

Jackie is picking me up early for Sams baseball game tonight. His game starts at 6, and she picked me up at 4:30 so we could pick something up for dinner on our way there.
  
We pull into the gravel parking lot at the baseball fields at 5:21, and there is already a short line to pay.
  
After we pay and get inside, i follow Jackie over to the bleachers, we sit down in the front row.
  
"Wheres Sam at?" i ask, after glancing at the field and not seeing him anywhere.
  
"Hes over in the bullpen practicing," Jackie points over to a large rectangular cage where i see two boys in baseball uniforms practicing. "We can go over there and talk to him."
  
I follow her over to the bullpen. I see Sam perfectly now. Hes wearing his baseball uniform in the school colors, grey and navy blue. His matching hat is pulled down low over his eyes.
  
Sam gets in his stance, ready to pitch.He winds up and suddenly pitches the ball forward, landing smack dab in the middle of the catchers glove.
  
"Eighty-two miles per hour," his coach hollers at him, " not bad, Tucker."
  
Not bad? Are you kidding me? Eighty-two miles per hour, thats the fastest ive ever seen anyone throw, i mean besides the pitchers on tv that i see. That was amazing. I even seen the catcher shake out his gloved hand.
  
Sam sees Jackie and i standing along the fence surrounding the bullpen, and he walks over to us while his coach is momentarily distracted with helping the other pitcher with his stance.
  
"That was an amazing throw," i tell Sam.
  
He grins at me, then looks down at what im wearing. Jackie had lent me her East Bay t-shirt. On the back it has 'TUCKER' written on the top in big bold letters, and the number 12 below it.
  
"Where'd you get that?" he asks.
  
"Jackie let me borrow it. I thought i'd show some school spirit to help you guys win tonight."
  
Sam is grinning at me again, looking me right in the eyes. We are interupted by his coaches booming voice.
  
"Tucker!" his coach hollers, "stop flirting with those girls and get your ass over here and practice!"
  
Sams grin grows and he hollers back , "Coming coach!" then he turns to us, "ill see you after the game then?"
  
I nod.
  
"Good luck tonight loser," Jackie says before we leave to go back over to our seats.
  
  
Every time Sam would walk out to the pitchers mound, i would watch as his eyes scanned the crowd, looking for me. And when he found me he'd wink and grin, making me smile back at him.
  
That was our little routine now.
  
Before he would throw a pitch, he'd take his hat off, wipe the sweat off his forehead with his sleeve, then reajust it back on top of his head. I thought it was cute. It must be a habit, a cute, adorable habit. I smiled whenever i saw his hand reach for the bill off his hat.

East Bay ended up winning, 6-2. I was so proud of Sam, he played an awesome game.
  
Im following Jackie through the parking lot, Sam said hat he would meet us at her car.
  
"Hey! Jackie!" someone calls out from behind us, "how are you?"
  
We turn around. Jackie knew who they were while i had absolutely no clue.
  
It was a young couple. The woman was short and her hair was a light blonde that reached her shoulders. Shes cute, i think to myself.
  
The man standing beside her has caramel brown hair, and his eyes glistened in the sunlight just like… huh? Sams!
  
Wait, so are these people Sams parents? They look way too young to have a son Sams age.

  Jackie hugs Sams mom and then shakes his dads hand. And i thought Sam was tall, his dad is atleast a foot and a half taller than me.
  
"And whos this?" Sams mother asks.
  
"This is Lexi Merrhit. She just moved here," Jackie introduces me to my boyfriends parents.
  
His mother smiles, and boy, how similar it looks compared to Sams. They look so much alike, its crazy. She could be easily mistaken for Sams twin sister, shes definantly young enough.
  
"Nice to meet you Lexi. How do you like East Bay?"
  
"Its great. Everybody is so nice here"
  
"My son goes to East Bay. Actually, he should be around here somewhere," she looks around the parking lot with her eyes, "Does the name Sami Tucker ring a bell?"
  
"Yes. Yeah. Hes actually in my geometry class."
  
"He is, really? You know, he actually struggles a lot with math. Maybe you could come over sometime and you two could study together."
  
"Id love too."
  
"Okay, hon," Sams dad interupts, "we should get going."
  
"Yeah, we better get going Lexi, or we will be late," Jackie says. "I was nice talking to you." She says to Sams parents as we both pull away.
  
"Do you think they liked me?" i ask once we get to her car.
  
"His mom sure did. Absolutely. His dad, eh… not so much," she must see the concerned look on my face because then she says, "Honestly, dont worry about it Lexi. Sams dad hardly likes anyone, he hardly even likes Sam, but hes got to learn to just deal with his stupidity sometimes," Jckie is grinning at her own joke toward Sam.
  
Sam walks over to where we're standing behind Jackies car. "Whats wrong?" he asks, obviously noticing my worried expression.
  
"Nothing. Im fine."
  
I look up into his eyes, hes looking at me with concern.
  
"Seriously. Sam, everything is okay," I reassure him. I smile up at him.
  
He grins back at me. Then he hops swiftly up onto the trunk of Jckies car. "So, are guys going to meet me at Tanners or what?"
  
I look over at Jackie for clarification, she shrugs.
  
"What are you talking about?" i ask.
  
"Theres a party at my friend, Tanners house tonight. Are you going?" Sam asks, his eyes were pleading and i knew that he wanted me to say yes.
  
"I guess i can go for a little while," I say, making Sams eyes light up.
  
"Great. Lexi can ride with me, and Jackie, you can follow," Sam says, not putting up much room for an argument.
  
He hops down from the trunk of the car, and grabs a hold of my wrist, dragging me along to his truck.
  
Sami stops in front of a huge, grey, suped-up Ram truck. He walks me over to the passenger side door, and opens it for me.
  
"This… is yours?" i ask. Im speechless.
  
"Yeah," he stares at me, "why?"
  
"No reason. I was just wondering."
  
He giggles shaking his head, "okay."
  
He really is freaking rich. Its unbelievable, id never be able for afford this, in my lifetime.
  
I climb up into the truck, and he shuts the door. Then walks around to the other side and climbs into the drivers side, starting the engine.
  
It makes a vroom vroom sound a couple of times before switching into reverse and backing out of the parking space.
  
Hes grinning as he peels out on the gravel, and i laugh to myself. Boys and their toys.