No Shame (Book 2 - No Regrets)

Chapter Twenty-Nine - There Are Shadows

KATIE'S POV

    Christopher and I arrive back at the high school. Part of me wanted to erase what Christopher said about Sawyer and how he had his own reasons for not wanting to me to join him today. I didn't want to believe that this impromptu game was not as random as I had been made to believe; but instead an unofficial tradition of the baseball team, less of a game and more of a social event. I didn't want to believe that Sawyer would ask Christopher to keep me from the game; or that Christopher would agree to. However, a part of me also knew Christopher was not lying, he wouldn't lie to me about something like this, he wouldn't tell a lie he knew would hurt me.

  My body seems to move on it's own, stepping out of the car and walking toward the baseball field. I adjust the baseball cap on my head, my eyes watch where I am walking. Backpacks and sports bags are cluttered around the bleachers, only a couple people are sitting on the bleachers. They are on their phones or working on homework, disinterested in what is happening on the field. My guess, they are siblings or friends who got dragged along.

On the baseball field, there is a mix of members of the team and regularly dressed teens. A scan of the surroundings and I find Sawyer sitting in the dugout talking with Hudson and Jacob. Sitting beside and under the arm of Hudson, with her blazing red-hair, is Savannah who is talking to three other girls I do not recognize.

"Sawyer, you're up!" Matthew calls out as he sticks his head into the dugout.

"Show us that you're not just a pretty face." Jacob calls out.

Sawyer picks up a bat and walks on to the field. He takes his place at the plate, he does a couple light swings with the bat before he gets into a hitting position. The pitcher, a kid dressed in a faded t-shirt with an ironed-on picture of school's mascot, winds up the pitch before sending the ball flying straight for Sawyer.

Sawyer swings too early. "Strike." The umpire calls out before doing an underhand toss to the pitcher. "You're not going to talk to him?" Christopher whispers as walks up beside me.

"No." I say shaking my head. "I wouldn't know what to say." There's nothing to say to him. I move and walk a bit closer toward the dugout area, I stand about ten feet away. A couple people glance over toward me and then look back.

  Sawyer hits the second pitch, the ball sails through the air and across the field. The second the ball starts to fly, Sawyer throws the bat down and raises toward first base. I watch as an outfielder, a member of the team, runs after the ball. A teen boy, dressed in a t-shirt and shorts, on third base sprints to home base. Sawyer makes it to third base as the outfielder throws the ball to an infielder. The ball is in the air being based to the basemen at third as Sawyer slides into home plate. "Safe!" The umpire calls out.

The members on the underclassmen team, some of the upperclassmen, and a couple people clap and cheer. Sawyer is panting and is beginning to get soaked in sweat as Matthew helps him up to his feet. Once Sawyer is on his feet Matthew gives him a strong congratulatory pat on the back.

Jacob, Hudson, Savannah, and another girl come out from the dugout to congratulate Sawyer. Matthew asks Sawyer something I can't hear, Sawyer replies with a wave of his hand. "Unacceptable. Savannah, would you reprise your role as our Lady Luck?" Matthew calls out.

  Savannah laughs, she points at the other girl, a spray-tanned blonde. The blonde shrugs her shoulders and walks over to Sawyer. Sawyer laughs a bit and starts to say something, but he is cut off as with a rapid move the girl takes takes his face in her hands and gives him a peck on the lips. My heart drops and despite the heat that rises within me, I am frozen. There is a mixture of laughter, "ooo"s, and cheers. The girl walks back where Savannah gives her a high five, the two share a laugh. From his face to the tips of his ears, Sawyer's face is a blushing red.