The Art of Stealing Home [TEMP HIATUS]

Chapter 1

If there was one thing about Summer, MacKenzie couldn't stand, it was the overbearing heat. This summer was one of the hottest she's ever known. The sky was clear of any clouds and the field itself didn't provide any shade from the heated star. Shaking off the humidity that clung to her skin like a skin tight suit, she focused on the home plate. It was the last inning of the game, two outs and they had last bat. The bases were loaded and it was top of the order once again. She couldn't help but grin when Courtney took the plate. Courtney was one of the best batters on the team, not to say the rest were bad, she just had a knack for hitting doubles. MacKenzie planted her right foot firmly on the edge of third base, leaning her weight on her left foot. Her muscles tightened, preparing to push off and head for home plate as soon as the ball left the bat. 

Thunk!

Grinning, she heard the metallic ring of the bright yellow ball hitting the aluminum bat. She watched it roll passed the second basemen, completely missing the downed glove. Adrenaline filled her veins as it bounced up and passed the left fielder's glove. She pushed off third base upon seeing Lindsey coming down from second. She pushed off and pumped her long, slender legs as hard as she could, digging into the dirt with her black -and-neon green cleats. The screams of her teammates and spectators was deafening. She was halfway there when the shouts of the opposite team called for a play at home. The ball had gone back from outfield and was now in the shortstops' grasp who had gone out for cut off. Lindsey had managed to get to third, but was told to hold up. MacKenzie raced toward home, but from the corner of her eye, she noticed the ball coming overhead. She slammed herself onto the ground, sliding into home right as the catcher caught it. The glove was slammed down, but her foot had hit the plate a second before. 

"SAFE!" 

MacKenzie breathed a sigh of relief when the umpire cried out, arms extended outwards on both sides. The universal sign for safe. The cheers grew in pitch, they had won the game because of her  gaining the last score. Her team had been up by four and leaving the scores at 10-14 and with that last run, they had pushed to 15. MacKenzie sat at home plate for a moment, trying to calm the adrenaline still coursing in her veins. She had always been a competitive person. Finally she pushed up on her feet, right as she was pulled into a strong hug from behind. "We did it!" Lindsey cried from behind her. Having run from third to enclose her best friend into a powerful hug. Lindsey was half an inch taller than MacKenzie and similarly built. They both had small but slender builds from exercise. Lindsey's skin was a shade darker tan since she was more susceptible to the sun. "As if you had any doubt." MacKenzie quipped, jokingly. Lindsey just shoved her and they laughed it off.

The rest of the team filed out of the dugout and headed over to line up and congratulate the other team. After they retreated back to the dugout to collect their things. For a moment there was quiet save for the light gasps for air from those who had been running bases. Then chatter started up about various things from the games to what they would do after. MacKenzie slid her favorite black-and-blue Easton bat into the black duffel bag. She then slid in her glove in before collapsing on the metal bench. She pulled her black heeled sandals over and pulled off her cleats and green-and white tie dyed knee socks. She dropped them in her bag and slid on the sandals. She sighed in content as she allowed her feet a moment to rest from all the running and being up on them. She slipped her cleats in the bag and zipped it up before pushing onto her feet again. She pulled her long, feathery rust red hair from the ponytail she had tied it up in, She raked her fingers through her hair to straighten it out. 

"What are you doing after the game, Kenzie?" Lindsey called out from the other side of the dugout. Her chocolate brown hair with blonde highlights was down around her shoulders, the middle wavey from having it tied up so long. She was leaned against the back wall, blue Gatorade in hand with the lid off. Kenzie straightened up after a moment of stretching and sighed. "Have to go to my little brother's game and take him home after." She replied, shoulder slumping from both frustration and fatigue. She just wanted to go relax after having a double header. She was lucky her brother's team played on the field a few yards away within walking distance. The park held several fields for all leagues. MacKenzie felt herself tense up when Lindsey's lower lip jutted out in the famous pout that she used to get whatever she wanted. Lindsey leveled her with the look for about three minutes, satisfaction in her hazel green eyes when she saw her best friend cracking under it. "Alright then, maybe tomorrow we can hang out." Lindsey conceded, though the look in her eyes told her that she really wasn't getting off that easy. MacKenzie mentally cursed herself for befriending someone so evil.