After getting a short tour of the house from Brent, Spencer goes to check out his room. The first thing he notices is a baseball glove sitting on his bed with a sticky note attached. The note read "Don't give up on what you love." It's true Spencer did love baseball. Thinking back on it he can't remember the exact time the sport stopped being fun. Perhaps it was around the time when he started thinking that he has to win instead of just wanting to win. Spencer appreciated the gesture from his uncle but the last thing he wants to do is return to the field.
After unpacking the boxes he sent earlier in the week Spencer starts to unwind, laying on his new bed in his new room at his new house, Spencer felt oddly comfortable. Even though he hasn't even been here for a full day, this place felt more like a home than his Florida condo ever did. He looks over towards his desk that he set up in the corner of the room. He starts a new school tomorrow. Sweetwater High School. With the setting sun Spencer begins to feel tired. Traveling is always exhausting. Spencer's attention is brought back to the baseball glove that is laying besides him.
"Love, huh." Spencer spoke to himself before nodding off to sleep.
The next morning Spencer is woken up by a few knocks on his bedroom door.
"Wake up, its time to get ready." Evelyn says through the door.
"Im up." Spencer responds groggily.
After waking up Spencer grabs the clothes he picked out the night before, a red Nike t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Spencer was never the flashy type, on or off the field. He exits his room and heads for the bathroom for a quick shower. After, he heads downstairs to see Evelyn in a yellow sundress and her hair braided on both signs.
"You look cute Evelyn." Spencer says.
"Doesn't She? I did her hair!" Brent shouts from the other room, seemingly proud about this achievement.
On the wall behind her is a portrait of the family. Brent, Evelyn, Colin, and Lia. Lia was Spencer's aunt. Lia was by the definition of the word, beautiful. It seemed like a waste to Spencer that she ended up withering away here like the houses that line these streets. She died due to cancer two years back. Spencer's family didn't attend the funeral due to work. Upon a closer look you can really see the resemblance between Evelyn and Lia.
With the sound of keys jingling, Spencer looks over to the living room.
"Y'all ready to go?" Ask's colin. Spencer, Colin, and Evelyn leave the house and head to the driveway around the back. There sits an older pick up truck, Black and only has the front bench seat.. Colin gets into the driver side while Evelyn takes the middle seat. Compared to the exterior the interior is surprisingly clean and well kept. Living in the City Spencer could take a bus everywhere and most of the stores he visited were in walking range. He never needed a license and had no desire to get one.
Arriving at the high school Spencer was surprised to learn that the school teaches grades 7th through 12th. Colin said there are only around 145 people in their graduating class, there were about 500 in Spencer's old school. The school exterior was tan bricked with red along the roof. A sign out front says "Sweetwater High. Home of the mustangs." What a typical high school mascot. After comparing schedules, Spencer learned that he only has english with Colin. Even though they are in the same grade they probably won't see each other often. It bothered Spencer, although he was the quiet type he never came off as a loner. Like most people Spencer valued human connection. All of his previous friends come from a common interest in baseball. Without that to help make friends Spencer feared that his time in Sweetwater would be rather lonely.
The interior of the school was what you would expect, the walls lined with posters and quotes. The first thing you see when you enter is the trophy case filled with state championship rings and plaques and other various trophies. Mostly telling the tale of the numerous winning football teams here. There was a photo of a baseball team in the case under the photo read, "1989 Division B State Champions."
Spencer had no troubles finding his homeroom class, It was on the first floor straight ahead from the entrance. After walking into the classroom he notices a seating chart on the projection screen. Spencer's name is right in the middle. He's not close enough to be called on a lot but he's not far enough back to goof off. The classroom begins to fill with kids greeting each other and talking about summer break. Some kids give Spencer a glance, but most don't notice him or pretend not too, at least. As people begin taking their seats Spencer looks around to see who he's next too. The one on his left is a guy, he's probably around 5'6 if Spencer had to guess. He has short curly hair and the school's logo on his hat. To Spencer's right is a girl who is about as tall as him, at 6 feet even. Before getting the chance to fully check her out she turns towards Spencer which makes him quickly look back to the front of the room hoping she didn't notice.
With the school day coming and going without anything notable happening Spencer has some time to kill after school. Colin has a 7 on 7 game and Evelyn has band practice. Spencer goes around wandering aimlessly from one thing that attracts his attention to the next. He finds himself at the school's gym. He hears the familiar sound of a metal bat hitting a ball. The sound brings back the memory of the day that caused him to be here. The stares of the audience, the angry shouting by the other team, and the shock from his teammates. Back in that moment Spencer understood what it was like to feel true despair. Just thinking about the cheating incident causes Spencer's stomach to feel like it's in a free fall. Shaking his head as if he's trying to shake away those rotten memories, Spencer notices that his hands are trembling. Not out of fear or even despair, but excitement, it's like his hands are longing for the familiar feeling of connecting a metal bat to a baseball.
"Yo, You're in the way." Spencer hears a voice behind him. He turns to see that it's the guy who sits next to him in homeroom. Luke Baker.
"Oh, sorry."
"It's not a big deal so don't look so down." Luke lets out a laugh while slapping Spencers back. "So, you interested in baseball?"
Interested, of course he is but he can't go back. He can't go back to the sport that he betrayed.
"No, not really." Before Luke can get another word out Spencer walks away.