On the Run: The Texas Files ✔

Chapter 23: The Deal with the Devil

"Robinson!" Tyler shouts. "Get your ass on the mound!"

I roll my eyes. "I'm coming!"

We've been practicing for three hours today. It's hot, and I'm exhausted. It's been like this for a while.

It's been two and a half weeks since I started pre-season practice. We've been out here every single day after school for at least three hours, if not more.

He works us to the bone, that's for sure. I have blisters from throwing pitches.

Luckily, Parker and I have made up, sort of. Everything is back to normal, except he and Tyler have been oddly...civil to each other.

Tyler is up to something. I don't know what it is. I have been avoiding direct eye contact to be sure he won't try to hypnotize me. Parker has no idea what's going on, but he likes keeping the peace, so he's not going to jinx it.

Tyler comes over to me. He eyes my blistered hand.

He shakes his head. "You haven't played in a while, right? I'm starting to think you never have before and that contest was a bluff. Your pitches are getting sloppy."

I look at him right between his eyes. It's something I've been trying. It makes it look like I'm making eye contact without really doing it.

"Are you really questioning my skill?" I ask. "I've been out here every day working until my hands bleed, Owens. I don't know what else you want from me."

We've started calling everyone by our last names. It's apparently a team thing.

He shakes his head. "Adams!" he shouts at Ben.

Ben full-on sprints over to us.

He has his lackeys well-trained. I'll give him that.

"Fix her hand or whatever you do after a game. I can't listen to her bitch at me anymore today." Tyler orders.

He walks away, leaving me and Ben alone.

Ben examines my hand. "God, what have you been doing after practice? Sticking your hand in beehives!?"

I sigh. "I'm not used to working this much, all right? I haven't played on a team before."

It's true. Either I'm not in-season for baseball or they won't let me play because I'm a girl. It's been a rough time trying to figure out how to play an organized game.

"Besides, it's November," I say. "It's the off-season. Why is he making us practice this much?"

"Training," Ben answers. "We don't keep our spots year to year. We have to try out every year to make the team again. You should be honored he even invited you to his practices. With Owens' training, you're pretty much locking in a spot on the team in the spring."

I nod.

I didn't think Tyler cared this much, but this team is his baby. He's the captain and wants it to succeed. 

"Adams! Robinson!" Tyler yells from the dugout. "I don't pay you to gossip like school girls! Get your asses in here and ice your championship-winning hands before I cut them off!"

"Race ya," Ben says as he runs from me.

"Unfair!" I yell as I take off after him.

This is my life now. I go to school for eight hours, practice for four, and do homework for three, all to keep the peace between two guys.

What am I doing?

~~~

When practice lets out, it's dark, so I give Parker a call. If I get captured, at least someone knows about it.