Usernames || A Garmau Fanfic

Twenty Seven

"Guys, I...I don't think I can do this."

"Sure you can!" Aphmau's eyes gleam up at me, sparkling in the afternoon sunlight. "You've got this!"

"But what if I'm not good enough?"

"I can assure you, you are," Laurance says, crossing his arms. "And even if you aren't, big deal. At least you can say you gave it a shot."

"What if I make a fool of myself?" I don't wanna look stupid with Aphmau watching.

"You won't! Not if we can help it!" She smiles. "We'll be cheering you on the whole time, I promise."

That doesn't settle my nerves.

"Dale's a chill coach," Aaron speaks up. "He's not going to blame you for having an off day."

"I guess..."

A whistle blows from somewhere behind me and my stomach drops. It's time.

"We'll see you after, G." Laurance grins and ruffles my hair. "You'll be great. Trust me."

"Good luck," Aaron says with a nod, following Laurance to the bleachers. I take a shaky breath and look back at Aphmau who hasn't moved off yet.

"Hey—" She takes my hand and every muscle in my body freezes up— "stop worrying. You're awesome, okay?"

Not trusting myself to speak, I just nod and will my palms not to sweat.

"Be careful out there," she says. "Coach Dale will be watching, but I don't want Gene ruining your chances. I'll be watching him like a hawk."

She makes a face at somewhere behind me and I can only assume who it's directed at. A smile pulls at the corner of my mouth.

"I'll be careful. Thanks, Aph," I tell her and her eyes meet mine again, pulling me back into an ocean of amber.

Before I have time to think, she wraps her arms around my neck to hug me. My whole body is warm enough to just melt right then and there, but my arms manage to hug her back.

I never want to let her go.

"Make us proud," she whispers as she pulls back and I feel the autumn chill again. I pray my face isn't as red as it feels as I watch her run back to where the others are sitting.

There's a second whistle that pulls me out of my daze and I'm forced to turn around and face the situation I've put myself in.

Somehow, Aphmau and Laurance convinced me to try out for the school baseball team. Why they even think I'm cut out for it, I have no idea, but saying no to either of them would not have ended well for anyone, so I didn't have much choice but to agree.

It's around 3 pm after school on a cold Monday, though most of the guys in front of me don't really seem to mind the chill.

"Well, look who we have here..."

I want to shrink into a ball when I hear Gene's voice and footsteps coming near me. My gaze darts to the grass and my arms wrap around my torso, though I don't think it's because of the cold.

"Hi, Gene." My voice is barely a whisper as I see his white Adidas shoes step into my vision. These are just the shoes he wears for baseball; his normal pair are black boots wrapped in buckles that serve no other purpose than being intimidating.

"Oh? Is that how you address your captain?" he questions, patronizingly as always.

"You're not my...my captain yet," I mutter. "I haven't tried out."

"Ah, I guess you're right." He takes another step forward and I feel my hair being pulled back. My head yanks upwards and I'm staring right into his icy blue eyes.