Who Says Girls and Baseball Don't Mix?

Chapter Two: Step Up to The Plate... On A New Field

River's POV

"Okay, Mom! River and I are heading out to the game!" my brother calls to my mother. I try to step lightly so my mom doesn't know that I'm wearing cleats on the wooden floor. I walk over to the door, open it and gesture for Bay to go through.

"Alright you two! Have fun!" The last part is almost cut out as I slam the door shut. We hurry over to Bay's car, which our grandparents drove down here just a few hours ago, and I hop in the passenger's seat, tossing my bat bag over into the back seat. He starts the engine and we whip out of the driveway before I can even get my seatbelt on. I slam against the leather seats and curse.

"Ooh, the lady has a tongue," my brother teases me.

"Shut up." I feel my phone buzz in the pocket of my black softball pants and I reach down. I pull it out and read the message from Tony.

Hey babe. It's ten o'clock here... And I know it's only eight there, but I'm going to go to bed. Goodnight, sweetheart.

I frown, forgetting there's a two hour difference. I quickly text back. That's good all the same. I wouldn't have been able to talk to you for the next couple hours anyways. I'm heading to a co-ed baseball game and I wouldn't be able to talk to you. Goodnight babe.

I don't get a response back, which makes me assume that he's already asleep. I smile at the phone and tuck it back into my pocket. Bay's sharp brown eyes see me do that and he says, "You realize that you're probably going to have to leave that in my car while we play. Don't want it to break out on the field."

I flex the top of my glove with my hand. "I know." I pull my phone back out and set it in the cup holder right as we turn into the high school parking lot. The baseball field's lights are on and I can see that there are a ton of boys there... and only two other girls. Gordon's Barbie Doll and another girl with long black hair and blue eyes. Both of them looked like they are going to play and automatically I'm worried. These reminded me of the prissy girls back at my old school that would scream and cry if they broke a nail.

"This should be fun," Bay mutters under his breath. I nod and he pulls up to park next to a really nice black Ford Ranger. I hop out of the convertible and grab my bat bag out of the back, shrugging it onto my shoulders. I head out toward the field, not waiting for Bay.

As I get closer, I recognize a few of the boys from the moving fiasco this afternoon. They're all in a circle, playing a game where they toss the baseball to one another with only their gloves. I love that game. I clench and open my glove a couple times and examine the grounds. Gordon is with his girlfriend, leaning up against a fence to the home dugout. He has his arm wrapped around her shoulders and the black haired girl is standing across from them. I shake my head, my brown ponytail whipping me in the face. Gordon looks up and takes his arm from around his girlfriend. She looks disappointed and I smile.

He starts walking toward us and I draw a baseball slowly out of my bag, throwing it into my mitt. Bay catches up with me quickly and falls into step next to me. The boys who were in the circle now look up at us as Gordon starts to yell.

"Finally! Yo, new kids?! Do you like keeping people waiting?" he yells at us. I grip the baseball in my hand.

"We have names you know!" I yell back at him.

"I know," he says angrily.

"Then use them." I hurl the baseball directly at his face. I didn't even notice that he is wearing a glove. The ball does surprise him though and he raises his glove at the very last second. The ball slams into the palm of his glove and a brief flash of pain crosses his face before it becomes icy once again. I smile innocently at him and he scowls at me.