The Hitting Zone

Tuesday morning, Noah was filled with energy again. All he could talk about was how Julian and his brother were going to join our softball team. Zeke drove us to school and parked closer to the building. We no longer had baseball practice, so he no longer parked by the fields.

"I kind of miss Mr. Miller giving us rides." I told Noah as we walked to the main building.

"It's only until school ends." Noah told me. "In the fall, we'll still have practices after school, so we'll go back to parking down there." He shivered. "The twins will be driving us."

I let out a small laugh.

"Jake! Noah!" A female called out. We turned and saw Alisha jogging up to us. We shared some classes with her and I remember her being there to help Noah take a bunch of pictures last week. She reached us in a few seconds, then bent over trying to catch her breath.

"Hey...you didn't have to run." Noah's lips twitched, trying not to laugh at her pathetic state.

She stood up straight and grinned. "I had to. I'm in a hurry!" She pulled out two envelopes and handed us one each.

I blinked in surprise. The pink envelope had my name written out in cursive.

"I'm having an end of the year pool party in a couple of weeks. Just for our grade. Hope you guys can make it." She smiled.

Noah grinned. "This isn't a trick to get us to come to your birthday party is it?"

She laughed. "It just so happened to be the same week as my birthday. You don't have to bring gifts though. I just thought it would be fun to have a huge party to celebrate the end of freshman year."

"Are you inviting all the freshmen?" I asked, eyes wide. This school wasn't huge, but it definitely had a few hundred kids at each grade level.

Alisha laughed. "I'll invite all that I know. Everyone else will just have to decide if they want to come or not."

"That's nice of you." Noah nodded. "We'll come."

"Great!" She grinned and waved as she walked away. "Don't forget your swimming trunks." She found someone else she knew and started to look through her bag of envelopes.

I looked down at the envelope again. A pool party. I looked up at Noah. "I don't actually have to go in the pool do I?"

Noah understood my worries. "Nah. It'll probably be full anyways. We'll just wear trunks and shirts to fit the theme. But then just relax wherever the food may be."

I sighed with relief. I couldn't imagine being in a bathing suit in front of my classmates. All their stares. Their gossip. I shivered. I wouldn't be able to show my face at school ever again.

"C'mon, let's go." Noah nudged me. "You don't have to stress so soon. It's just a party. You've been to a party before."

That's true. I have been.

Except, Kaylee was there to pull us away from the crowd. She might have been a little mean when we first met, but she was a good person at heart. She just really cared about her sister. Just like how Noah cares for any of his brothers. I know if we could just talk to her, she would help us out.

We put our invitations away and went to class. Throughout the day, we saw Alisha pass out the invites in our shared classes. She really was inviting everyone she knew, even the quiet kids in our classes.

At lunch time, Noah was eager to head to where the seniors hung out by the trees.

I held back. "I need to stop by the library real quick. You go on ahead."

Noah gave me a funny look. "For what? We-"

"Math. It's for math." I told him. "Just need to print a worksheet before class."

"Oh." He blinked. "I can wait for you."

"It's okay. I can go alone." I shot him a look. "You don't have to baby me all the time."

Noah laughed, looking a little guilty. "Sorry." He raised the release forms he brought. "I'll go give these to Julian. Meet you back at our table?"

"Yea." I nodded.

He hurried off as I hung back.

I had someone I wanted to talk to. I swallowed a lump in my throat as I made my way to where we saw Kaylee yesterday. Surprisingly, Alisha was there passing out invitations to the group of girls.

A few of them looked my way, noticing me just standing there.

"Jake? You okay?" Alisha came over to ask. "Where's Noah?"

I swallowed another lump, trying to keep relaxed. "He went to talk to a senior. I wanted to talk to Kaylee."

She smiled. She turned back to the group of girls. "Kaylee! Jake wants to talk to you."

Kaylee frowned at me, making me even more nervous. She still came over though, which was a good sign. "What is it? Noah trying to guilt me now by sending you?"

I shook my head. "I didn't tell him. That I was coming here. To talk. To you." I paused a few times, trying not to stutter.

"What do you want to talk to Kaylee about? Without Noah?" Alisha widened her eyes. "Are you going to ask her out?!"

The group of girls started to whisper.

I blushed. "No. It's just...Kaylee won't hear Noah out. So I thought, you might listen if you didn't get mad at the sight of him."

Alisha looked at Kaylee. "What did Noah do to piss you off?"

"His brother dumped my sister." Kaylee's frown didn't lighten in the slightest.

Alisha made a face. "That's not Noah's fault. Cut him some slack. He's a good person." She nodded at me. "Jake too. He's so quiet. How can you keep glaring at him like that?"

Kaylee rolled her eyes. "Don't you have invitations to pass out?"

"I do, but I don't want to risk leaving and letting you beat up Jake." She laughed.

I froze like a statue. Terrified.

Kaylee sighed and shook her head. "She's joking, Jake. I won't hit you. No matter how mad I am." She saw my lack of movement. "What is it that you guys want? Just spit it out."

I put my hands together, nervous. "Well. We're going to play in an adult softball league. Noah wanted to invite you. Since you play softball...you know?"

Her lips twitched. "Yes. I didn't forget that I play softball. Unfortunately, I'm not interested. I have to consider my sister's feelings."

"Kyle isn't playing with us!" I hurried to tell her. "So far its just me, Noah and Zeke. Maybe Julian and his little brother." She didn't look impressed. I shrugged. "Dave and Kyle are going to be gone all summer. Maybe you can talk to your sister..? See what she thinks?" I looked up at her, she was nearly the same height as Noah. "Noah really wanted you to join."

Kaylee wavered. "Hmm. We'll see." She turned away from me and walked back to her friend group.

"That's not a no!" Alisha smiled and patted my shoulder. "Good for you!"

I let out a breath of air, happy to be away from Kaylee's hostility. "Thanks, Alisha."

"No problem." She grinned. "Ya know, if you guys end up being a player short or something, let me know. I don't mind being an honorary member."

"Really?" I asked, surprised. "Do you play softball?"

She scoffed. "No. No way. That's why I said 'honorary'." She patted her bag. "Well, I have some more invitations to give out. Good luck to you and Noah!" She left me with a smile and a small wave.

I returned the smile with one of my own.