The Hitting Zone

The bus ride was eerily quiet compared to the craziness after the game. The endorphins had worn off and almost everybody had passed out to go to sleep. Not me though. Some things can change, but some still stay the same.

Across the aisle I could see Noah knocked out, laying down on the small bench with his feet against the window. I really can't see how that was a comfortable position to sleep in.

Dave, Garret, Julian, Mahki, Jason, and a lot of the other guys were also snoring away.

Even Zeke up front had his eyes closed, head against the window.

The only one, that I could say with confidence, that was still awake, was Kyle. He sat in the row in front of me and his phone was lit up for most of the way home. I was able to see his reflection in the window, just typing away in his phone. I could only guess that he was texting someone, but it would be impolite and rude to read so I didn't say anything to him.

Once we made it back to school, it was real late. Almost midnight.

"Finals should be on weekends." Noah complained as he held his stomach. Him, his brothers, and me were all heading to the car to load it up and head home. "I'm so hungry, I might pass out."

Dave's stomach growled. "Please don't talk about food until we're home. I really hope Mom put something together before we go to bed."

"Did you all complete your homework for tomorrow?" Zeke asked, completely ignoring their complaints.

"Easily." Noah grinned.

I nodded in agreement.

Dave rubbed his nose. "I'll have to do some math during lunch." He glanced at me.

I gave him a subtle nod so he knew that I already completed the assignment.

"What about you, Kyle?" Dave asked.

"Hmm?" Kyle kept playing with his phone, not minding the conversation at all.

We had loaded up the car and were finally a few minutes away from the house. Kyle sat in the back without fighting Dave for the front like he usually did, but it wasn't too noticeable. Until now.

Noah, who sat in the middle, peeked over to look at what he was doing. Kyle quickly shielded the phone.

"Can I help you?" He tone was a little harsh as he looked down at Noah.

Noah leaned back, showing some unhappiness. "We were just asking if you got all your homework done? Why are you so defensive? What are you hiding on your phone?"

"None of your business." His timing was perfect, saying that to Noah just as we arrived home. He was abled to hop out of the car, got his bags out then hurried inside.

"Do you think he was looking at porn?" Dave asked.

Noah busted out laughing and I turned red with embarrassment.

"Give him some space." Zeke spoke up and told us, making Noah and Dave stop their snickering. He glanced at us, making eye contact with every one of us before saying, "Kyle might be down that he didn't get to play today. Go easy on him."

Dave rolled his eyes and got out of the car. "That's the way it is sometimes. How do you think the other guys in the pen feel for not going in? Heck, some of them didn't pitch an inning all season." He got his bags out and left for the house.

"Why is Dave all mad now?" Noah was bewildered. I was right there with him. If he couldn't understand his brothers, how could I?

Zeke sighed. "Don't bother them. Let's get inside and eat something. School is going to be a headache tomorrow." He got out and so did we.

"Are we still having practice tomorrow?" I asked.

"No." Zeke replied as we walked I to the house. "No more practices. It isn't permitted. Today was it." He gave a sad smile. "No more high school baseball for me."

Noah grinned. "Don't be so sad. You went out on top."

Zeke chuckled, pushed Noah's hat down before going into the dining room.

Mrs. Atkins had prepared some grilled cheese with tomato soup and already had it laid out. She smiled when she saw the last of us come in to sit down. "Congratulations! Again." She laughed for herself.

"We don't even get steak for being champions?" Noah pouted, swirling his soup with a spoon.

"Another night, Noah." She told him. "Steak is way too heavy to have so late at night and right before bed. We'll let each of you pick a place to eat this week in order to celebrate."

"Oldest to youngest!" Dave shouted.

"No way! That's unfair." Noah pouted.

They started to bicker with a few interjections from their mom, while Zeke and his dad talked about Rhys potentially going to the same college. Only Kyle and I were silent.

I was happily dipping my grilled cheese into the tomato soup so I had a reason for being so quiet: I was stuffing my face. Kyle, on the other hand, was not. He only ate half a grilled cheese before picking up his phone, scrolling.

Zeke, who sat in between the twins, glanced over, yet didn't say anything about it. It was hard to tell if he was worried about it or not.

"So, are we letting Jeremy come around more often now?" Dave asked. "There was some extreme awkwardness with him and that other man around."

"That other man is Jake's uncle." Mrs. Atkins informed him. "He..." Mrs. Atkins looked at me.

I blinked, unsure of what she wanted.

"We'll just play things by ear for now." Mrs. Atkins sighed.

"Are we still adopting Jake?" Noah blurted out, freezing the room. Even Kyle looked up from his phone.

"Why wouldn't we?" Dave frowned. He looked to his parents. "Did something happen?"

"Nothing happened." Mr. Atkins cleared his voice. He looked me in the eyes, noticing some fear in my eyes. "We still have every intention to go through with the adoption regardless of your relationship or lack thereof with your blood relatives." He paused. "That is...unless, you want to try to be a family with them. We will always respect your choices, Jake."

"I want to stay here." I blurted out as quickly as possible.

"Whew! What a relief." Noah grinned.

"But if things ever change-" Mr. Atkins hesitated.

I frowned. "Nothing can change my mind. I like it here." I looked around the table. "With all of you. I don't want to be anywhere else."

All of them smiled with true happiness, proving that my choice wasn't wrong. Zeke wasn't big on emotions, but he didn't hide his grin. Kyle was going through some kind of distress, but he still didn't shun me away. Dave and Noah were the easiest to read.

"Does that mean we can change Jake's last name to Atkins?" Noah asked, practically bouncing in his seat.

"Is that something you would be interested in, Jake?" Mr. Atkins asked.

I tugged on my ear, a little self-conscious about the attention. "I, I, I." I gulped. "If it's okay..? I rather not carry my mom's maiden name anymore. I want to close that chapter of my life."

Mrs. Atkins beamed with happiness. "We'll get right on it. If we can, we'll time it with the official adoption. Until then, just know, that you're already apart of this family."

Somehow, that one sentence was ten times better than winning the championship game. I felt like I was burning up as I went back to eating. The hot soup must be getting to me.