The Hitting Zone

'Focus on something else.'

Yea, okay, easier said than done Dr. Moore. I cursed him internally as I walked to my seat in class.

After the small hearing in court, Mrs. Atkins really made me go to school. They signed me in, excusing my tardiness, then made me go to my class. It was the middle of Biology so as soon as I walked through the doors, all eyes were on me. And when they realized who I was, the whispers started.

"Settle down, class is still in session." Our teacher said, taking my tardy note. "Take a seat, Jake. Noah had already turned in your homework for you. Right now we've started chapter 24."

I nodded and scurried to my seat, keeping my head down. Ignore, ignore, ignore.

"Hey, how'd it go?" Noah asked.

I gave him a thumbs up, causing him to grin.

We didn't say anything more about it as the teacher restarted the lesson.

After class I wanted to share the good news with Noah about playing baseball together and being able to stay in his parents house, but oddly, our classmates started to crowd us after the bell.

"Jake! Is Jeremy Patterson really your brother?"

"Is that why you're so good at baseball?"

"Have you heard from him yet?"

"No way, I heard he doesn't want anything to do with Jake. That's why it's all in the news to begin with."

"Do you think you can get us an autograph at least?"

"HEY!" Noah screamed. Everyone quieted down. "Leave Jake alone you guys. He's staying with me and my family. I'm his brother. Kyle, Dave, and Zeke are his brothers." He grinned. "I can sign autographs if you want! You'll have to hold onto them for a few years though."

"Psh. Show off." Someone rebutted. A lot of the students around us started to laugh.

More students filled up the classroom, trying to get to their seats for the next lesson. Noah grabbed me by my backpack and started to push me through the crowd, hurrying to our next class. A similar commotion happened once we arrived. They saw me and started to whisper.

"If I can have your attention please!" Noah hollered after we got to our seats. He stood up on his chair. "Listen up. Yes, Jake is here. No, he won't be answering your questions."

"Why not?" Someone called out.

"Because he almost died!" Noah said dramatically. Yet...it worked. The class got quiet and some even averted their gazes from me. "Have some respect and give him space, alright?" Some mumbled and whispered to one another, but at least they weren't hounding me anymore.

"Nicely said, Mr. Atkins." The Spanish teacher clapped his hands at the front of the room. "Now if you don't mind, please show some respect to the class belongings and step off the chair. I know your parents will be extremely upset if the school sends them a bill for a broken chair."

Noah jumped off it and sat properly. "Sorry, Mr. Juell. I was just making a class announcement."

"If you can say it again, but in Spanish this time, I won't hand out punishment." He raised an eyebrow.

Noah blinked. Blinked again. His cheeks got some color in them as he scratched his nose. "Well...I've already forgotten what I've said. Sorry?"

Our teacher shook his head. "I hope you put more effort in learning the language, Noah." His eyes shifted around the room. "As for the rest of you, this is class time now. If I hear something unrelated to what I'm teaching, then I'll start handing out detention slips. Save the gossip for your lunch break. Now, let's begin."

Between the teacher and Noah, the class almost felt normal. I felt the occasional side glances, but like Dr. Moore said, ignore it. Treat it like a game. They're just watching my performance.

For lunch, Noah decided it'd be best to hide out in the library and avoid the other students. We didn't even sit out in the open where the computers were or at an empty table. He took me down a row of books, stopped in the middle of the aisle, and sat down on the carpet. I crossed my legs and sat opposite of him.

"So what happened?" Noah asked. "Give me a run down." He started to poke around his bag, opening up his lunch and pulling out the bag of cookies.

I frowned. "Are we allowed to eat in here?"

He shrugged. "Probably not. I don't think anyone will check though." He took a bite of the cookie and swallowed it in seconds. "Sooo? I reckon it's good news since you came to school and everything. I was a bit nervous."

I leaned back against the bookshelf. "It wasn't so bad. Mr. Pickens did most of the talking. I'm allowed to stay with you all, and he's getting me a note to show others, saying I can play ball."

"That's great!" He exclaimed.

I looked around to make sure his yelling wouldn't attract attention. "I don't think you should be so loud in the library."

"So are you going to practice today?" Noah asked, ignoring my quiet comment.

I nodded. "I'll go, but your mom said not to play." I held out my injured arm. "It's getting itchy so it must be healing. I'll tell Drew and Coach, then play in the game tomorrow."

"That's a relief." Noah sighed. "This game is a do or die, ya know. Just like those tournaments in the beginning of the season. If we lose, we're out."

I gulped.

"C'mon Jake, backbone remember?" He laughed, eating his second cookie.

"It's kind of hard after Mr. Cameron said that we're facing a team that hasn't lost." I muttered.

"We only have one." He shrugged.

"Two." I corrected.

"Tournaments don't count." Noah countered. "As long as Dave pitches well, we'll be on even ground."

"If you say so." I pulled out the baby carrot sticks out of my own lunch bag and started to eat.