It was Katella High School versus Pleasant Valley High School. By the time we showed up, our team was spread out in the stands, munching on sandwiches and snacks. Mr. Atkins pointed us to Zeke and the twins and went to go join the other parents.
"Jake!" Dave hollered as we sat down. "What happened to you, kiddo? Noah said you got sick?" He pushed a plastic bowl over. "Mom delivered soup for you."
I bowed my head over the soup.
"What about me?" Noah pouted.
Zeke placed a wrapped sandwich in his hands. "Ham and cheese."
"Yum!" He quickly unwrapped it and started to devour it.
"Eat up Jake!" Kyle got up and sat behind me. He started to massage my shoulders. "You did great this morning! Who knew you would be so talented in fielding!"
His massage wasn't helping me relax at all. In fact, I started to feel nervous. His hands were too close to my neck. He could easily get mad and start to choke me. I gulped and tried to slide out of his grasp.
"Don't get too close." Noah warned. "Jake had a panic attack. He needs some space."
I gave him a weak smile. Even though he wasn't there in the bathroom when I spoke to Mr. Atkins, he still understood that something was off with me, mentally.
Kyle sighed. "Alright." He went back to his spot on the other side of Dave. "Your fielding was spectacular today. I just wanted to show some appreciation."
Noah wiggled his eyebrows at me. "Hear that? Kyle wants to treat us to a round at the cages."
My spirits lifted and I looked at Kyle hopefully.
Kyle scratched his cheek. "That might be a bit much. You guys are too expensive."
"Wowwww. We save your perfect game and this is how you repay us?" Noah said in a loud, obnoxious manner. The team took note and started to jump in.
"Don't be so cheap, Kyle!"
"Yea! What's the price of a perfect game?!"
"I thought you were the nice twin!"
"Hey!" Dave jumped up at that last remark. He pointed at Garret who spouted off. "We're identical, both in looks and personality. Equal counterparts."
Garret laughed. "Oh? So you'll be pitching a perfect game this afternoon too?"
Dave snorted. "That's not fair. Kyle got the easy team." He straightened up and pounded his chest in a manly manner. "But I will pitch a shutout. We won't give up a single run in this tournament." He declared.
The guys laughed and cheered in agreement.
"Not realistic at all." Zeke dampened the mood.
"And why not?" Dave said, haughtiness leaking out of him.
Zeke nodded at the game we were supposed to be watching. "If you stopped fooling around and paid attention, you would see that Pleasant Valley is about to mercy rule Katella."
"Whatttt."
"No way."
"15-3 in the fourth. One more inning, and they could pull off a called game."
I didn't know what they were saying. I looked to Noah for help, but he was studiously watching the game. I shrugged and opened my soup and started to sip it.
"Why even worry?" Julian leaned back in a relaxed movement. "They gave up runs. As long as we score one more than them, we win."
"And," Garret added. "Dave said he would pitch a shutout."
The guys all laughed, joked, and hollered at Dave. Dave didn't look scared at all. He merely nudged Kyle. "Watch me one up you."
Kyle laughed. "In your dreams. Today's glory belongs to me." He glanced at me. "And to Jake. I couldn't do it without him."
Noah threw his wrapper at Kyle. "Rude. That was my perfect stop that saved the day."
"Wrong." Kyle stated. "What really inspired me was Jake's cheer."
I looked up at him, startled. When did I cheer?
"What. No way. Jake didn't cheer." Dave refuted.
Kyle nodded. "Oh yes he did. In the top of the seventh inning, against the first batter, I was slightly rattled from a foul. I felt the pressure creeping up on me." It was like he was telling a tall tale, instead of something that had just happened. All the guys were quiet, and following what he was recalling. "I've never gotten so far against a team without giving up a hit. But there I was, so close, yet so far. Then just as I was mentally crumbling, I heard someone beating on their glove. To my surprise, it was our very own Bambi! And then I thought to myself, 'if Bambi isn't scared of a ball coming to him, then how could I be outdone?' I'm fearless compared to Bambi!"
All the guys laughed and I started to blush. So that was why Kyle laughed on the mound. He thought I wasn't scared of getting the ball sent my way. When, in reality, I was praying that he would strike the guy out so I wouldn't have to field at all. Awkward.
Dave looked at me with a fire in his eyes. "You'll have my back too, right? I've even paid for a batting cage excursion for you!"
"Yea, because you lost a bet!" Noah rolled his eyes. "The way I see it, you should run the laps we owe Zeke." I nodded my head eagerly. Noah looked at Kyle. "Well? You didn't want to pay for cages? Why don't you return our great play with some generosity?"
Kyle nervously looked at Zeke. "Is that even allowed?"
Zeke was nonchalant. "I don't see why not."
"How much do they owe?"
"Ten laps."
Kyle thought about it. "Okay. Deal. I'll run your laps that you owe from game one."
Noah's smiled almost looked like it could split his face. I also happily downed my soup, feeling much more at ease.
"You're a fool." Brian said from afar. "They owe ten laps, each. That's twenty laps for you!"
The team almost died laughing from the look on Kyle's face. Everyone was struggling for air at the sight of his pale complexion.
Zeke stood up very suddenly. Other people in the crowd started to clap and shout some congratulations. Zeke spoke over the team, as the laughter died out. "Pleasant Valley won. Mercy rule ended the game at five innings." The team returned to normal and the intensity in their looks, increased.