I led the way, heading towards the cafeteria, constantly checking that Jeremy was right beside me.
He chuckled. "I'm not going anywhere."
I turned red. "I know. It's just surreal to see you here."
He nodded. "I thought it would be cool to get a better look at your school. See where you spend most of your time. Last time I was here, I-" He stopped abruptly.
Last time was more of a confrontation between us. He thought I was after him and his money. He wanted a DNA test. He...wasn't himself. Now, I know him better. And the same should go for him.
He scratched the back of his head, looking a little anxious. "I made a mistake in the beginning. A lot of mistakes."
"Water under a bridge." I said generously.
"Soo..." He looked around and spotted the Atkins at a big table with the usual suspects. "That's quite a group."
I nodded. "Kyle's girlfriend is Marie. She's a senior on the varsity softball team. Really great pitcher. Her little sister is Kaylee. She might come off a little...mean, but she's nice. And then the one not in uniform is Alisha, she's going to be the manager of our baseball team."
"Oh." He smiled. "Yes, I remember the name Alisha. How does Noah feel about that?"
I shrugged. "Seems cool with it. Nothing has changed."
"Ah." He nodded in understanding.
We reached the table and sat on the ends of each bench, facing one another. Zeke had really brought homemade burgers and all kinds of toppings. He passed out plates with buns before walking around with a container of burgers. He used tongs to place one on everyone's plate and then let everyone help themselves to lettuce, tomato, onions, and condiments.
"It's weird." Kaylee stated. She was right next to me, with Alisha on the other side of her. Then Noah and Dave. The other side was Jeremy in front of me, Zeke, Kyle, then Marie.
"What? Sitting with Jeremy Patterson?" Kyle asked. "Because I feel pretty used to it now."
Kaylee shook her head, then squinted at Jeremy. "No. He just looks so much like Jake."
"Well they are blood-related." Dave let out a small laugh.
"Meh." She glanced at me. "I don't like it."
"Oh." I shrugged, unsure of what to say.
"You guys should focus on eating." Zeke reminded us. "You don't even have an hour to eat. Then digest." He opened another bag full of fruit. "Mom sent me with a bag of mixed fruit. Make sure to eat a banana at least."
I obediently took a banana and ate it before getting to work on my hamburger. With Zeke's reminder, no one wasted any time. We cleaned off all the food on our plates. Dave and Noah both asked for seconds.
"You're staying for the scrimmages?" Dave asked Jeremy, drawing attention to him again.
Jeremy nodded. "Yes. Today is our off day so I thought I would just take this opportunity to see as much as I can."
"You're in for a treat." Kyle leaned on the table. "Jake has been absolutely killing it this week. He's only gotten out once or twice."
"Wow. Good for you." Jeremy told me with a smile. "I remember the bomb you hit in the championship game. Keep that up and you'll be joining me in the majors right after high school."
"I haven't faced any of the varsity pitchers yet." I said quietly.
"Joey almost counts." Noah spoke up from the end of the bench. "He's the best from JV. Good possibility of making the varsity team."
I wasn't convinced. "He's nowhere near the twins or Garret." I thought about it. "Even Brian looked better than him." I had faced Brian in that fun scrimmage last weekend and I would definitely put him before Joey.
"Are you going to stick around too?" Noah looked at Zeke.
Zeke nodded. "Yes. Probably sit in the stands with Jeremy just in case he attracts too much attention."
"You think anyone would come to see him?" Kaylee asked.
"Probably." Noah was the one to answer. "He is a star player. On a playoff-bound team. Anyone in shouting distance would come. Either for an autograph, picture, or something."
As it neared time to go back to the fields, we cleaned up and got moving.
Zeke lifted the empty containers and the bags of remaining food. "I'll take these to the car then meet you at the fields."
Marie and Kyle split off next. "I'm going to take Marie to her field first."
Kaylee started to follow after them. She suddenly stopped at looked directly at me. "You got a second, Jake?"
I was stunned. "Me?"
She rolled her eyes.
"I'll take your bag for you." Jeremy took my bag off my shoulder again. "Noah, you want to lead the way? How do you guys know which field you'll be playing on?"
Noah glanced at me. Then at Kaylee. Then back to me. "Don't take too long." He started to walk to the baseball fields. "Lately Coach has been listing the teams on posters so it's faster for everyone to get to their field. The teams are always being changed." Him, Alisha, Dave, and Jeremy all left.
Just me and Kaylee.
"Soooo..." I stretched out, trying to prompt her to say what she wanted to say.
"I don't like him." She said, looking me right in the eyes.
"Uh, what?" I fiddled with my hat. "Who?"
"Your 'brother'." She said with sarcasm. "Jeremy."
"Oh." I didn't know what to say to that so I just stood there.
She put her hands on her hips. "Don't you have anything to say?"
"Uh..." I searched my brain for something. "I'm sorry you feel that way?"
Her lips twitched. "You're so easygoing. You're not mad at me for not liking him? Does that mean you also don't like him?"
I shrugged. "I think he's okay." I waited a second. "I like him now."
"I just can't stand seeing his face." Her face twisted in disgust. "He looks so much like you. You would have looked like that if you didn't have such a crappy mom."
Ah. We're getting somewhere. I know this feeling. A sense of injustice. "It's okay now, Kaylee." I smiled lightly. "Stuff like that doesn't bother me much anymore. I used to feel...jealous. But, now I have the Atkins. Without my original beginning, I wouldn't be here."
"Hm." She thought about it. "I guess that's true." Her eyes narrowed. "You better start eating more so you can catch up. You should be able to get as big as him."
"I hope so." I nodded.
"I still don't like him." She repeated.
I shrugged. "I'm not sure if Noah likes him either. You don't have to like someone to be cordial."
"Cordial?" She laughed. "Are you studying vocabulary?" She waved me away before I could reply. "You better go or you might be late."
"Bye!" I told her before jogging to the freshmen baseball field.
I found Jeremy with ease, surrounded by players again. Off to the side was Noah and Alisha. I joined them.
"We're on the same team!" Noah grinned. "On the varsity field!"
"Nice." I nodded.
"What did Kaylee want?" Alisha asked, curious.
I shrugged. "Nothing much."
Noah grinned. "I bet I know."
"You know?" Alisha turned to Noah.
Noah nodded. "Of course. Kaylee is easy to read. I hate to say it, but we're a little similar."
I laughed. "Yea. I think so too."
"Is someone going to tell me or not?" Alisha stamped her foot.
I opened my mouth to speak but Noah cut me off. "Nah. It's time to go to the field. Maybe later!" He grabbed my sleeve and started to pull me along, heading to the lower field.
"But my bag..." I said, looking back towards Jeremy.
Noah paused for a second, also looking at Jeremy. Then without warning, he yelled, "Hey! Bag boy! Let's move! Time for warmups!"
That got Jeremy's attention. He said something to the guys and then headed in our direction with my bag still on his shoulder. He caught up with a couple of strides.
"It's almost like I'm a caddy." Jeremy chuckled as we walked down to the varsity field.
"I can take my bag back." I told him.
"It's okay. Let me carry it to your dugout." He said.
I shrugged, not understanding why he suddenly wanted to carry my gear around.