Double Play (T.Jones)

Chapter 8: International Boy

I jolted forward at 6AM in the morning, awoken by a horrible noise. 

"Kayla! If you dont get your ass out of bed!" My mom screamed at me standing at the foot of my bed. 

See, the thing with this hotel was, there was absolutley no room. None. Since it was just my mom dad and I, we didn't need a big room, so we got a one room hotel. Yup, one room. My bed was actually a fold out couch by the window, which wasn't much of a nice view. Unless you count mountains as a 5 star hotel rating. There was a microwave, oven, and stove. And the closet shouldn't have been considered a closet at all. And finally the smallest bathroom I have ever encountered. It was basically fit for an American Girl Doll, but my parents were the cheapest people you could meet. 

I groaned, and pulled the covers off, "Tell me why we're up this early Mom?" I yawned as I walked past her, to the "closet". 

"I told you last night, we have to go to see your brother, check on him, and then spend the day at the complex with the families. I can't believe you could be so frivolous and forget this, how many ti-" Her voice  was drained out by me turning on the sink to brush my teeth. I closed the door, and changed into a Southeast T-shirt that we had pre-ordered, and some jean hollister shorts. I slipped on some white high stop converse and soon we were bustling out the door.

-

"Ryan!" I screamed when I saw my brother and the rest of the boys. We all  gathered by the hill and sat down on a blanket that Tanner's mom brought. The adults were somewhere talking so it was just us.

"So," I started, "I was thinking we could walk around, and since nothings open yet we could see the other teams, then go out of the complex for something fun to do?" I suggested. Everyone basically agreed, and if they didn't they were outnumbered anyways. 

Tanner 's mom and Brock's mom agreed to drive us when we were ready to go out of the complex, but we stayed in for now. We started walking around, trying to see if any teams were here yet. After a couple more steps, we found the Australian team. I had never even spoke to kids outside America, let alone guys. So I was super scared.

"Hello, were the Aussies, you guys from Southeast?" One of them pointed at my shirt.

Next to me, Tanner spoke up, "Yeah, nice to meet you. I'm Tanner." He shook his hand.

"Roan." He nodded. All of the boys started engaging in conversations when one approached me. 

"Hey, I'm Ryley." He smiled, "You looked a bit lonely."

I didn't have any words, he was straight up hot. His eyes were literally casting a spell on me.

"I'm Kayla." Was all that could come out of my mouth. 

He laughed, and reached out his hand. I shook it and butterflies danced in my stomach. 

"So, you just get here?" He asked. The whole group started walking, and we strolled along too.

"Yeah, yesterday. You?"

"Same. It's so cool in America. I wish I lived here." He said dreamily.

"Yeah, no." I laughed, "I wish I lived in Australia, its so pretty down there." 

"Aye, you're welcome anytime. You'd make it a lot more beautiful." He smiled.

I felt heat rise to my face, the only other person that complimented me like that was Tanner... Right, Tanner, I liked Tanner. So why was Ryley making me blush?

"Thanks!" I smiled back at him. Even though my cheeks were the color of an apple.

Our boys started to drift off saying their goodbyes, almost at the perfect timing. We stopped walking.

"Looks like our times up, but hopefully I'll see you around." He said.

"Yeah, hopefully! Hey, whats your Snapchat?" I asked, and don't even ask me where that confidence came from because I don't even know. 

He reached out his hand, "I'll just add my user." I handed it to him and when he was done, he leaned in. 

At first I thought this man was going to kiss me on the lips, and I think I had heart failure. But he gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and waved goodbye. 

Needless to say, I stood there for a good 5 minutes just shocked. And then I smiled. 

A big smile.

-

"Tanner, if you even try to get shotgun..." I warned him, chasing after him into his mom's car. 

Unfourtunatley , he was faster. He ran into that seat faster than I've seen him steal bases, and closed the door. I sighed, rolled my eyes, and climbed in the back. Tanner's mom was outside talking to the other moms. So it was Tanner, Zach, Isaiah, and I. We all faced each other and Tanner turned around, peeking his head out of the seat. 

"So, who'd you meet from the Aussie team?" Isaiah asked. 

"Roan, hes super cool and funny." Tanner responded while eating Sweedish Fish he found in the cup holder, probably from the 1800s.

"I met Clayton. He's a beast, hopefully we don't face him." Zach stated.

"I met William Unitt, that man was weird as hell." we all laughed, until Isaiah asked me.

"Oh, no one really I-" But my phone, which was on that little arm rest near the driver and shotgun seat, buzzed. 

My reflexes reacted, but Zach's were quicker. 

"Oooooo, whos Ryley, with an Australian flag? Oh and a heart!"Zach teased. 

Tanner's head could not have whipped around any faster. 

"No one! I didn't even put that name in there, he did." I yelled, but my face just grew darker and darker shades of red. 

"Oh, wow. 2 days here and you've already got yourself an International Boy." Zach laughed, throwing my phone at me. 

I was about to tackle him, when Tanner did the worst thing possible.

He opened the door, walked out, and slammed it shut.

His sweedish fish were scattered on the arm rest.