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Chapter 5

The school days were all the same. Bradley, James, and Logan continued goofing off. This senior class has been one of the best classes I have been in. Since everyone had a car and could drive themselves we did a lot more out of school than we ever expected. Our senior hangout spot became Bradley's house. We would have parties and just spend all-nighters talking about crazy irrelevant things. Before we knew it Christmas break was here.

The class had decided to get together after school to go to a nearby park. I picked Bradley up and we met at the park near Logan's house. When we got there the only person there was Logan and James. They seemed to be having an actual conversation where they were talking to each other. Bradley jumped out of the car and ran over to the two of them as I was turning off the car. The moment I stepped out of the car, Logan stopped talking and looked over at me. It was obvious that I was the reason he had stopped.

"Hey, where is everyone else?" I asked when I finally reached the group that was standing in the middle of a basketball court.

"Well, it looks like everyone else decided it was too cold out to do anything. Anna and Ken had to work so it's just us." James answered as I put a sweatshirt over my head.

"Oh." I replied. Not sure how everyone was going to respond to the others not being here.

"So we going to play or what?" Logan inserted sternly as he grabbed the baseball from Bradley's hand and tossed the bat to James. I didn't know how to respond to Logan's inputting question. The way he asked reconfirmed by suspicions that I was the reason that he didn't talk a lot, but Bradley and James could get conversations out of him. I guess he didn't like me, but I don't know what I did to have gotten on his bad side.

"I guess I'm with you James." I stated as Bradley ran to the pitching mound and Logan was already standing in the outfield. James was standing at home plate with the bat up near his head.

"You ready to feel this ball against your bat?" Bradley yelled purposely being perverted.

"Aren't I always?" James replies letting out a laugh.

Bradley throws the ball and it comes speeding towards the bat. The moment I think James is just going to jump out of the way instead of taking his attempt at hitting the ball, he swings forcefully placing the baseball back into the air towards outfield. James drops the bat and starts to run to the first base. As I yell for him to go faster, he hits first base and makes his way to second. Logan picks the ball up from the ground and begins to run full speed towards second base. Bradley begins running towards second base yelling for Logan to throw him the ball. Logan ignores his tryingly helpful calls and continues to run towards the base. Right as James is one step away from placing his foot on the second base, Logan beats him there. James runs right into Logan's body and falls backwards onto the ground. As I feel the tension about to rise between the two guys, Bradley begins to laugh. Logan looks at Bradley and lets out a small laugh as he puts a hand out to help James up off the ground.

"Try and do better than me!" James states as he walks past me to wait his turn to bat again.

"You ready for this Mother Teresa?" Bradley Tauntingly yells from the pitcher's mound.

"Make sure you don't go easy on me, now." I smile back as I bend my knees and circle the bat in my hands. I watch the ball closely as he releases it from his hand and it flies towards me. The summer I was forced to play softball back in middle school is about to pay off. The ball flies behind me and hits the chain link cage behind me.

"I thought I said do better than me, Theresa." James laughs as he throws the baseball back to Bradley.

"Maybe I do need to take it easy on you!" Bradley jokingly sport talks.

"Naw, that throw was just too cheap. It would have been a waste to use such a good swing on it." I try my best to sports talk back. I see Logan slightly laugh at my remark.

Without any warning Bradley releases the baseball and it comes flying towards me at a speed even faster than before. Before I can do anything, my mind moves the bat forward to hit the ball. The ball goes flying over top of Bradley's head and lands in outfield. I make it to first base and keep myself there as James goes back up to bat. James, being stronger than me seems to hit the ball twice as far and we both take off running to the next bases. I finally end up home, but James is taken out again by Logan's speed. I am once again standing at home base with the bat in my hands. He throws three times each time having me strike out.

If there is one thing that I am actually good at in baseball is pitching. I take the baseball and stare Bradley in the eyes as he teases me with his cocky head movements. I bring the ball back to my side and thrust my leg forward to bring more force behind the baseball. The ball leaves my hand and reaches the bat as Bradley swings. The ball flies through the air far over my head and I watch as James stumbles backwards to catch the ball before it reaches the ground. I begin to run towards first base, but James gets the ball straight from the air. Bradley lets out an exaggerated sigh and begins to walk back to where Logan is standing with his arms crossed, leaning against the chain cage. He pushes off the chain link and walks over to pick up the bat. He leans down to pick up the bat and on his way back up he rolls his shoulders which makes him seem taller and buffer than normal.

He turns sideways and brings the bat to his head. His light brown eyes are looking straight into mine and I can feel the tension he is holding his body in. I turn my body to the side and step forward making the ball leave my hand all the while never taking my eyes off of his. I hear the baseball hit the metal bat and take my eyes off of him to see the baseball seconds from my body. Before I can react the ball hits my shoulder with such force it turns me sideways. Logan stops running towards first base and starts running towards me as I fall off the uneven ground.

Logan is the first to reach me, "Are you ok?" His deep voice asks as he reaches out his hand and puts it on my other shoulder.

I reach for the baseball that is sitting on the ground right next to me. "Gotcha!" I say as I tag his leg. I immediately drop the baseball as the sting from the hit resonates down my arm. I let out a hiss.

"Let me see." Bradley demands as he falls onto his knees in front of me.

"I'm fine." I try and reinsure Bradley.

"That's what you said when you fell of your bike and had a concussion." Bradley jokingly replies trying to lighten the mood. I move the hoodie to the side to expose the shoulder and the clear imprint of the stitches can be seen in the skin. I can tell Logan has been looking down at me since he got to my side.

"Nice hit." James says as he walks up to us. Logan jerks his attention from me to James.

"I really am fine, Bradley." I say once again.

"Fine, maybe we should play something else though."

"You only want to do that because we are in the lead." I jokingly say. James and Bradley laugh and Logan remains kneeling with his hand on my shoulder. Bradley extends his arms and helps me up. Logan puts his hand under my arm and helps me regain my balance. He leaves his hand around my arm as Bradley lets go and turns to James who has picked up the baseball. I look down at his hand wrapped around my arm and follow his arm until my eyes are met by his looking down at me.

"Thanks." I say hoping that this awkward moment would end.