One thing I didn't account for or thought would be a problem was my team. It just slipped my mind, or maybe I thought Zeke would handle it. But, as soon as I walked into the club room with Noah, the place got quiet. Most of the guys were there, yet no one spoke.
Noah narrowed his eyes and pushed me along to our own spot. He glared at them. "If any of you dare to ask for an autograph, I won't hesitate to beat you up."
"You and what army, squirt?" Garret laughed, making a few others chuckle as well.
"I'm serious, Garret." Noah stood in front of me, completely protective. "It's been a long day of being surrounded and being asked the same dumb questions. If Jake could really get his autograph, why would that douchebag publicly deny having a brother? He's just a piece of trash."
"A piece of trash that will take the A's to the World Series." Jason added, getting some more laughs, loosening up the atmosphere. He smiled at me. "We're just curious. If it bugs you, we won't say anything. Our focus should be on winning CIF after all."
"Precisely." Zeke made his presence known as he walked into the room, with the twins and the rest of the guys. Everyone moved to their spot and started to get ready for practice.
Before anyone got to leave though, Coach came in with all of the other coaches, plus Drew. "Okay guys, let's have a quick talk before taking the field." Everyone settled, taking seats.
"There's been a lot of talk about Jake and his situation." Coach stood in the center, looking around. "I know that it's a bit distracting and you're all curious. Don't shake your heads, I know how teenagers work." The guys laughed. "It's alright. That's human nature. But, like everything else in life, there are priorities. School is first. You all better be doing your homework and passing your classes. Weren't you all wondering why Williamson wasn't there for the Servite game? I inquired about it and found out that he was put on academic probation." Everyone straightened up.
"What a loser." Dave scoffed. "If you just do your homework and show up, you should at least get a C."
"Coming from someone who doesn't even do their own homework." Noah laughed.
Coach swiveled to stare down Dave. "You aren't doing your homework?"
Dave stood at attention. "Of course I am! Coach, you know my mom! She wouldn't accept anything under a B!" The guys all laughed and there were shouts of 'mama's boy!'"Stop, you guys are such hypocrites! You all listen to your mom too."
I shivered. Noah noticed. "You okay?" His worry caught the attention of everyone else.
"Sorry, Jake." Dave mumbled. "I-well-and then-it's just-" He sat down. "I'll shut up now."
Seeing everyone's worried glances and Dave's discomfort about his mom comment, I decided to speak up. "It's okay." I stood up and walked towards Coach in the center of the room. "Can I speak for a few minutes, Coach? Just so everyone's questions can be answered and they can put baseball first?"
Coach nodded and stepped back. "The floor is yours."
I swallowed hard, but kept my determination. I faced the group and glanced over their attentive eyes. "I'm Jake."
A few of the guys laughed outright.
"Are you sure?"
"Noo, I thought you were Noah!"
"Is this a self-introduction?"
I nodded and pointed at Julian, who said that last line. "Yes. An introduction. I've never introduced myself. I've been relying on Noah for all my talking." I smiled at Noah. "Thanks."
"Anything for you!" Noah gave me two thumbs up. "Keep going!"
Brushing off the embarrassment, I continued. "I'm from down south. I never played on a team before. I like going to the batting cages." The guys chuckled at the crude and simple intro. Stuff they all knew. So I got serious. "And, my mom almost killed me." Everyone got quiet and it became slightly awkward, but I pushed through it. "Don't worry, I survived." A few friendly smiles and nods. "It's no secret I was placed with the Atkins. They're a foster family and I'm a foster kid. My mom lost custody since she's in jail now. I never knew my father. I had vague memories of a brother. We weren't close."
"So you haven't spoken with Jeremy before?" Sean blurted out.
I squinted, thinking back. My nose scrunched up. "Not that I recall. I was 3." I shrugged.
"Don't you want to see him again? Talk to him?" Mahki asked.
I shrugged. "There isn't much to say anymore. I like being here. Staying with the Atkins and playing baseball with you guys is all I really want to do for now."
"Awe!" Bryce bounced around. "Bambi is so sweet!" That earned another round of laughter from the guys.
"Wait." James frowned, stepping forward. "You mean you wouldn't be able to play baseball with us if you weren't staying with the Atkins?"
"No." Coach answered. "Because he would be moved out of our district."
"Even though he played all season with us?" Theo asked.
Coach nodded. "Even then. But it's not a thought for now so don't let your little teenage minds wander again. Jake is here to stay and to play." The guys cheered. "With the exception of tomorrow." Everyone stopped.
"What is going on??" Garret asked. "Why can't he play tomorrow?!"
Coach looked down at me.
I rolled up my sweatshirt sleeve, revealing a nice line of stitching. "I had to get some stitches. But it doesn't hurt anymore." I looked at Coach and Drew. "I really can't play with stitches? Mrs. Atkins said not to practice."
Coach looked my arm over, then glanced over to Drew. "It's your call." He then looked back at the team. "For now, we'll practice like Jake isn't playing. Sean, you'll take over in the walkthrough. Now, get your cleats on and hit the field."
With the gossip about me being settled, the whole team got moving. I moved with them to the dugout, but was left like a piece of equipment as they ran out to warmup.
"Can I take a look?" Drew sat down next to me. "At your stitches." He clarified.
I rolled the sleeve up again and showed it off.
"Looks good. No sign of infection. Probably won't leave much of a scar." Drew commented. "Have you done any activity or actions with your right arm?"
"Just the usual." I shrugged. "Writing notes and doing homework didn't bug me. No aches. Kind of itchy."
"It's healing quite nicely." He remarked. He thought for a minute. "Let's not try anything today. We'll go to the game tomorrow and make the decision there. Maybe have you throw a few simulated plays and swing the bat from both sides. Try and figure out what can and can not work."
I nodded obediently. "Okay."
He paused for a few seconds before speaking up again. "I'm sorry to hear about what had happened to you. I remember reading the story online when it first happened last summer. I work with teens so it really stuck with me. I'm glad you're alright."
"Thank you." I replied, feeling a little shy.
He looked like he wanted to say more, but didn't. We just sat and watched practice together. Like Coach said, Sean took over at second base when they completed the drills. In the bullpen, only Dave and Kelvin were speaking with the pitching coach, probably going over a tentative game plan for tomorrow.
"Kelvin is better?" I asked Drew.
He nodded. "Yes, no more pain. He's completed the rehab with me and the rehab he did with a physical therapist. Neither of us see why he can't play tomorrow."
"Oh." I hummed. I looked for Alex, finding him with Mitchell and some of the relief pitchers together. It was kind of sad to see him go to a backup roll since we relied on him so heavily in the second half of the season. I glanced at Sean in my spot working with Noah, feeling slightly unwilling to give it up.
