"Do you...get picked on? At school?" Jeremy asked.
"Not with me around." Noah puffed out his chest.
"It's just normal school stuff." I told him. With a few exceptions. "It's not because of you."
"Then why?" He stood up. "You're quiet and a good ball player. There shouldn't be any problems."
I blushed.
"He's a freshman on the varsity team." Noah rolled his eyes. "There's bound to be a player or two that disagrees."
"But, he's so good." Jeremy complimented me further, making my face feel like it was on fire. "I saw Monday's game. Jake, I was impressed. You can hit from both side with such fluid motions. I really wanted to ask, how?"
"Practice." I muttered, looking away.
"Jake hasn't played on any teams, just in batting cages." Noah explained what he knew. "So in the beginning, a lot of players were mad that he sucked at everything else. His batting was his only redeeming quality." I poked him, feeling angry. "What?? I said 'was'. Now you can field and turn double plays without getting scared."
"You can go for another round." I pushed Noah to the cages.
"Okayyy." Noah slowly left after grabbing a few tokens.
It was just me and Jeremy. I sat down and so did he. "Mom didn't like me playing baseball. Watching baseball. Thinking about baseball." I explained. "I knew it reminded her of you guys."
"Then...how?" Jeremy asked.
"I felt closer to you and Dad. I remembered little things here and there. There was a bat I would use at the middle school. A coach there would let me play in the batting cages even though I couldn't get a parent's permission to play on the team. He was very nice." I reminisced a little.
"The reason she....did what she did, with a bat...was it because..?" Jeremy gulped.
"She found the bat I was using. It just set her off." I squinted in the distance, trying to stop the stinging in my eyes. "I remember being in pain. A lot of strangers. And...an empty feeling."
"Jake." Jeremy said my name with such pain, it made me look his way. "Just do you know...if I could go back and change things, I would. No matter how tough it would have been."
I looked away, feeling shy. "It's okay. This life isn't so bad. I like where I ended up."
"I heard you spent a lot of time at the hospital after-ya know-last year."
I tensed up. "I don't remember much of that either to be honest. I didn't like it there. I felt alone, yet there were so many people coming in and out." I shivered.
"Sorry." He said. "There's not much I can do now. But. If you are getting picked on at school, let me know. I'll make a visit. I know what it's like to be bullied."
"You do..?" I asked, surprised. Then realized. "You mean...by Mom?"
"That. Most I had some problems in school too." He admitted. "I was still in elementary school when Uncle Jack moved me up north. Just near the bay. I had just lost my dad and my mother was a monster. I had problems. I still do." He frowned. "I didn't have a way to vent. To understand. I'd be picked on for not having parents, or having my uncle and aunt show up for school stuff."
I nodded. I got that. There would be the occasional kid that picked on me for having no parents around in elementary school.
"I had to stand up for myself to make it stop." He looked me in the eyes. "I can see how you feel protected with Noah around, but he won't always be there for you. If you're being picked on, don't be afraid to fight back."
A loud snort signaled Noah's return. "What an adult you are. Practically telling kids it's okay to fight. You know nothing. I'll always be around to defend Jake." He glanced at me. "Plus. Jake would never fight. Ever. He doesn't even like it when I slide hard into second base or home plate. Whenever there's a chance for contact, that's a no-go for him." He pointed at Jeremy. "What did I say in the beginning?"
"Fear. Of. Violence." Noah repeated himself, stating each word firmly.
Jeremy glanced at me, but my expression didn't change. Noah was right. I'm not one for confrontation. Especially if it's physical. Jeremy sighed. "I guess it's not for everybody." He stood up. "You want to go hit a few?"
I nodded.
After clearing the air a little bit, it became easier to get along. Noah was still prickly around Jeremy, however Jeremy didn't make things worse and accepted Noah for who he is. Jeremy let Noah and I bat until our arms were sore and it got dark.
"Are you staying for dinner?" Noah asked as we piled into the backseat of his car.
"No, I gotta get back to Oakland." Jeremy glanced at us, using the rearview mirror. He started the car and drove us in the direction of the Atkins house. "I have to be at the stadium early tomorrow morning and it's probably going to be a long drive back with the traffic."
I looked out the window, trying not to feel guilty.
"Why do you have to be at the stadium so early? The game tomorrow is until 7pm." Noah asked.
"Just want to put in a little extra work. Plus I have some meetings with the front office guys."
"About skipping so many games?" Noah asked bluntly. I also turned to look at Jeremy's reaction. "During one of the games we watched this week, the guys said it was surprising you didn't get a fine or penalty of some sort."
Jeremy looked a little awkward. "Well. It's complicated. You guys don't have to worry about me. It'll work itself out. The A's organization has done a lot for me. They just want to expect the same effort in return."
"So you'll only get in trouble if you don't make the playoffs?" Noah asked.
"It's too soon to say if we'll make it or not. It's a long season." Jeremy said, arriving at the house. "Anything can happen." He watched as we unbuckled ourselves and prepared to get out. Then he followed us. "I'll walk you guys to the door."
"Smart thinking." Noah told him. "It would make a better impression on my mom. Show a little more sincerity."
Jeremy and I both blushed.
Noah looked at me before going on ahead. "I'll head inside first." He grabbed both of our bags and left me behind. With Jeremy.
"Jake. Thanks for meeting with me today." Jeremy shoved his hands in his pockets. "Are you- Did you-" He toed the cement driveway. "What I mean to say is-"
"I had fun. Today." I told him, trying to stop the stuttering. I could see some of me in him. Confused on what to feel. How to feel. How to process the change.
"Good. I'm glad." He looked relieved. "I mean, me too." He walked me to the front door where Mr. Atkins was waiting. Noah and Mrs. Atkins was in the background, talking. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
I froze. "Tomorrow?" Did he say something about tomorrow?
Jeremy smiled down at me. "Yep. It's a surprise." He nodded at Mr. Atkins.
Mr. Atkins smiled back at him. "Have a safe drive home, Jeremy."
Jeremy waved and went back to his car.
"What's happening tomorrow?" Noah asked, pestering his dad. "Is he taking Jake somewhere? Impossible. It's a game day. And he said he had to go in early." His eyes widened. "Is he taking Jake to the game?"
"Nope. We are." Mr. Atkins patted Noah on the head. "Jeremy gave all of us tickets to tomorrow's game."
"Woo-hoo!" Noah jumped up and down, excited.