Walk-Off (A Kris Bryant Fanfiction)

Chapter 2

Jessica's POV

I tossed and turned in the hotel room bed, the TV still playing the same infomercial about different sights and activities around the area of the hotel for what has seemed like hours. 

Anthony slept soundly on the bed across from me. 

I envied him, seeing that my 45 minute nap earlier in the day may not have been the best idea, seeing that I couldn't fall asleep now.  

Figuring that I probably wasn't going to be sleeping anytime soon, I slipped on my blue Vans and headed out of the room to explore more of the hotel. 

I stopped near the small indoor pool, where a couple of people were still swimming, the moon peeking through the skylight above. 

I made my way to the hotel lobby and decided to head into the bar just past the check in, joining a few patrons who were watching one a couple of the games going on on the West Coast. 

"Can I get you anything?" The bartender asked me as I sat down at the bar. 

"Just a water." I smiled, accepting the glass a few moments later. 

I looked around the bar until I locked eyes with a familiar set of ocean blue orbs.  

The boy from earlier at the ballpark. 

Kris. 

He saw me and looked away, looking down towards the floor. 

I thought it was adorable that he was shy. 

Mustering up all the courage I could this late at night, I walked over to where the blue-eyed boy sat. 

"I don't even get a wave? I thought you'd remember me." I joked, pretending to be slightly offended. 

"Sorry, I'm not really good around new people." Kris admits, his face turning slightly red. 

"It's okay, you don't have to be nervous around me." I say, giving him a comforting smile. 

Kris and I sat at the bar in an awkward silence after that for about fifteen seconds. 

"Oh! Can I buy you a drink? Or do you not drink, I mean-." He fumbled over his words before I stopped him. 

"Kris, I'm really easy to talk to, I promise." I giggle, placing my hand on his shoulder. 

Damn, this kid is built. 

Kris just laughed quietly, finishing off the water that he had been drinking. 

Kris slides the bartender a ten dollar bill, thanking him for the drink. 

"I should probably head back up, we need to be up early tomorrow." Kris says, getting up from the bar. 

"I'll walk up with you. I mean if you want..." I say, awkwardly spitting out my sentences. 

"Didn't you just get down here a couple minutes ago?" Kris asks, pushing his chair in. 

"Yeah, but it's okay, I can always come back." I say. Kris nods and I follow him out of the bar and back towards the elevators. 

"So... where are you from?" I ask, trying to make small talk. 

"Las Vegas. But I went to school in San Diego." He explains, pressing the button labeled for the 4th floor. "How about you?" 

"I'm from Florida, and I go to school in Chicago so that I can be near Anthony." I say, leaning back on the railing in the elevator, still looking at Kris. 

"That's pretty cool how you and Anthony are close like that. I never really had that growing up." Kris says, and I immediately feel bad for him. 

"I'm sorry, Kris, I-." 

"Don't be sorry, Jessica, it's okay, it's not like I wasn't loved." Kris chuckles, turning towards the door as the elevator reached the fourth floor. 

Kris allows me to step off the elevator first, and then follows me down the long hallway until we reach his room. 

"This is my stop." Kris says, taking his room key card out of his pocket. "Which room are you in?" Kris questions. 

I look at the room number for Kris' room and remember mine. 

"That one." I say pointing right next door, laughing. 

"Oh, cool. Maybe we'll run into each other a few more times." Kris smiles. 

"Yeah, I hope so." I say. We both just stood outside Kris' room for a few seconds in silence. 

"You should probably head to bed. You have to be up." I say out of the blue, awkwardly. 

"Yeah, you're probably right." Kris says, unlocking his door and pushing it open. 

"Well... goodnight." I say, feeling kind of deflated.

Kris smiles and walks over to me wrapping his arms around me.

"Goodnight, Jessica." Kris whispers, before parting from me and heading inside his room, closing the door behind him. 

I didn't move however, standing outside of his door for a couple of minutes before finally walking away, heading back into my room.

Anthony still slept soundly, while I remained more restless than when I had left my room a short time ago. 

All because I couldn't get the tall, blue-eyed boy next door out of my thoughts.