Running Bases With You

Chapter 21

*Louis' POV*

"Pizza sound okay to you?" I turn towards Annabeth.

She nods with a small smile, so I park the car and turn it off. We both get out and run to the door of the pizzeria.

The place is nearly vacant except for a family of three sitting at a small table near the back. Annabeth and I take a seat at a table for two and wait for someone to come take our order.

"So, did you have fun in Ireland?" I ask.

She looks up at me and gives me a look of unsurity. "For the most part yes, but I can't lie and say that I'm happy to be back here."

I furrow my brows in confusion. "I thought you were excited to see your family? What happened?"

She sighs and looks out of the window beside her. "It wasn't the same. They know something's up, and I hate keeping it from them, but I just don't want them to worry."

I stare blankly at her. "What do you mean? What's going on, Annabeth?"

She groans and puts her hands over her face. She lays her elbows on the table and removes her hands, but when she does I notice her eyes are starting to tear up. I grab her hands in mine. "Annabeth, what's wrong? Why are you so upset? You know you can talk to me about anything, I'm always here for you."

She takes a deep breath and nods. "Yes, I know. But I've already had one person open their fat mouth about it, so I'm reluctant on telling anyone else." She pauses for a moment. "But I trust you."

She closes her eyes for a minute and opens her mouth to speak, but the waitress comes over and interrupts. "My name is Celeste, and I'll be serving you today. What would you like to drink?"

I look towards Annabeth first. "Um, I'll just have water."

The waitress jots it down on her notepad before turning to me. "And for you?"

She smiles creepily at me for a minute and sends me a wink. I look away, quite disgusted, because of her unnatural blonde hair, overuse of makeup, and her provocative clothing. I turn back towards her and give her a fake smile. "I'll have a coke."

She writes it down and leaves.

Thank God...

"Anyways, you were saying?" I turn my attention back to Annabeth.

She avoids eye contact and looks anywhere but at me. "Well..."

I look at her expectantly and gesture for her to continue.

"I haven't exactly been...feeling right." She admits.

I eye her suspiciously. "And, that means what?"

She huffs. "Gosh Louis, my arm hasn't been feeling right, okay! Every time I pitch, I feel like my arm is grinding or something, I dunno... It keeps clicking and popping and making all these strange noises, and it hurts to throw."

I look back at her stunned. "Woah, Annabeth. I've never touched a softball, let alone a baseball, in my life and even I know that that's not good. How long has this been going on?"

She thinks a minute before replying, "Since about October during fall ball."

"That long? Annabeth, you need to go see a doctor or something! Have you told your coach?"

"Yeah, I did. He told me to tell him if it hurts while I'm pitching or throwing, and he'll let me take a break. He told me if it keeps on, to go see a doctor." She explains.

I nod. "Does Talia know?"

Her expression goes from upset to pissed in a matter of seconds. "Damn right I told that big mouthed bitch."