The Hitting Zone

It honestly felt like I had only blinked before having to wake up again.

Mrs. Atkins was calling out to us from the doorway. I cracked an eye open and saw her shaking her head. "You boys..." I followed her line of sight and saw the twins sharing Noah's comforter on the floor. They were, apparently, too scared to go back to their own beds after messing with Zeke. "If you all don't get moving, you're going to be late to school." She left.

With that ominous prediction, everyone stirred.

"You guys don't think..." Kyle trailed off.

Dave picked up right where he left off. "That Zeke would leave us? I wouldn't be surprised." He jumped up. "Let's move!" He ran out of the room with Kyle following right behind him.

Noah also jumped out of bed and started to pull clothes out of his dresser. "Jake! Come on! Hurry up!" He pulled out clothes for me too before running to the bathroom with his clothes.

Seeing the three of them worried, had me worried. Stressed, I got up and shut the door to get dressed privately. Then I hurried out with my backpack and joined the twins downstairs just in time to hear them complaining to their parents.

"Why not?"

"Are you really making us?"

Just as they spotted me, I was brought up.

"What about Jake?" Dave asked. "You're really going to make him walk?"

"Yea, Mom! Are you really going to be so cruel to Jake?" Kyle added.

I don't know what exactly was going on, but it didn't sound good. I looked to Mrs. Atkins, scared of what she might tell me to do.

Mrs. Atkins bit her lip, also showing some worry. She looked to her husband. "Wayne...maybe-"

"No, Mary. No special treatment." Mr. Atkins said from his spot at the table. He looked at me just awkwardly standing in the doorway. "Jake, hurry up and sit down. You need to eat breakfast before you have to walk to school."

I sat down obediently, not really understanding why I had to walk to school. But I didn't want to be late so I should eat while I can.

"What?! We're really walking?!" Noah shouted as he joined us at the table. "Did Zeke leave?"

Mr. Atkins lips twitched. "He left early this morning. Said he couldn't fall back asleep thanks to some pests." He eyed all four of us. "Then, for a birthday wish, he asked us to deny you boys a ride to school."

"That's not fair Dad!" Noah pouted.

Mr. Atkins chuckled. "I warn you boys all the time about pulling pranks...you have to be prepared to face the consequences."

Dave pulled out his cellphone. "Fine. If you guys aren't playing fair, then neither are we. I'll call for a ride." He dialed and put the phone on speaker so he could still eat.

"Hey.." Garret answered with an awkward tone.

"Garret, can you give me and Kyle, Noah, and Jake a ride to school today?" Dave asked.

"You know I usually would...but..." He paused. "Zeke sent out a mass text to the team this morning. No one is allowed to give you guys a ride."

"Are you serious?" Dave asked, eyes wide, staring at his phone.

"No one's willing to risk punishment when Zeke is so set on making you guys walk. It's only two or three miles right? No biggie."

"I'm calling Marie." Kyle declared, pulling out his own phone.

Dave picked up his phone and took Garret off speaker. "Garret, he's just mad because we celebrated his birthday a little bit." He stood up and headed to the living room. "I need you to do me a favor since you're not willing to help." He got out of earshot.

"Hey Marie..." Kyle started to talk on the phone, obviously reaching Marie. "I know it's early, but me and the boys are looking for a ride to school..?" A slight pause. "Well, Zeke left us. He's just mad about a small prank. I'll tell you about it when you get here." Another pause..just a bit longer. "We can fit. It's only for a few miles. Zeke took our baseball bags so it's just us and backpacks. We'll put them in the trunk."

This time there was a longer pause. "Jake might need the front seat, but me and the other two will be okay to squeeze in the back. And Kaylee will understand."

Hearing my name, I was put on high alert. I eyed Kyle until he finished his phone call.

He was smiling. "Good news, we have a ride."

"Yes!" Dave came back into the kitchen just in time to overhear him.

"Bad news, Marie drives a VW Bug." He looked me in the eyes. "It's small. Four person car."

It took me a second to do the math. Four person car...six people.

"Marie's going to talk to Kaylee about sitting in the back with us." Kyle hurried to tell me. "You can have the front passenger seat to yourself."

Oh. I stabbed some fruit with my fork. "Thanks."

"I don't think that's very smart or safe." Mrs. Atkins looked a little worried about Kyle's plan.

Kyle grinned. "Guess you'll have to live with the consequences of not giving us a ride to school, Mom."

"Kyle." Mr. Atkins said in a disapproving voice. "Don't make me forbide you getting a ride. I can and will force you to walk if you take that tone with me or your mother again."

Kyle fought back the urge to roll his eyes and put his focus on eating now that we don't have to rush.

"It's only a couple of miles Mom." Dave tried to comfort her. "Don't worry so much. It's all suburbs too. Jake will be buckled in safely up front, and the rest of us in the back will make the seatbelts stretch."

"Okay." She caved. "I want you boys to be on your best behavior then. Don't distract Marie at all."

The four of us ate in a more relaxed manner, knowing that we didn't have to waste time walking to school. We even had some time to kill as we waited for Marie to show.

Kyle's phone dinged as a text came in. "Okay she's outside. Bye mom!" He was the first one out.

"Bye! See you at the game!" Dave waved.

"Okay, see you boys later! Good luck today!" She walked me and Noah to the door. She glanced down at Noah. "Are you alright, Noah? You've been quiet for the most part and that's unlike you." She reaches for his head.

Noah lifted his backpack. "I'm good. Just a little tired. C'mon Jake. Bye Mom!" He tugged my sleeve and out we went.

I have to agree with her though...Noah wasn't as outspoken as he usually is. He just dragged me to the small car in the driveway. The twins had already put their bags in the trunk before squeezing in the back.

Noah and I put our bags in the trunk too before closing it.

Kaylee got out of the front passenger seat. She smiled at us. "Ready to get close and uncomfortable, Noah?"

Noah laughed as he got in first. "I'll let you sit by the window so the twins don't breathe on you too much. Who knows if they brushed their teeth."

Kaylee laughed and got in as well. They coordinated and cooperated to put on a seatbelt the best that they could.

I looked at the front passenger seat, feeling a little scared.

"Good morning, Jake." Marie greeted lightly. She didn't rush me, and just chatted with Kyle by turning her head.

After a minute of telling myself that it was only a five minute drive, I was able to get in and buckle up.

"So, what'd you guys do to piss off Zeke to this extent?" Kaylee asked as Marie started to drive.

Noah gave her the rundown of our early morning prank.

"That's not so bad." Kaylee shrugged.

Noah laughed. "You don't know what it's like to wake up the beast from his beauty sleep. Jake was legit shaking."

"Jake shakes all the time." She laughed. "No offense Jake."

I shrugged. "None taken." Because it was true.

"Do you think he's over it now? Or will we be in more trouble for getting a ride?" Kyle asked his twin.

Dave grinned, evilly I might add. He was up to no good again. "Doesn't matter. He'll be mad when he gets his next gift from me."

"What'd you do?" Noah asked.

"I enlisted Garret to help me grab some things from the store since he couldn't give us a ride." Dave snickered. "Just wait until later. You'll be able to notice Zeke in the crowd of students."