The Hitting Zone

"That's them." I stated.

"What?" Dave bent over, trying to look where I'm looking. "What are you two talking about? Is this something only short people can see?"

I didn't know how to describe them so I just pointed like Noah did. Soon, Dave spotted what we were seeing. He straightened up, looking awkward. "Should...uh...what do we do?" He asked.

I shrugged. I was even more unsure than him.

"Don't do anything." Zeke spoke up, overhearing our conversation. "Unless you feel the need to do so." He looked directly at me.

"What would I even do..?" I asked. Was there anything to do? It was weird to see Jeremy laughing and being happy with his family, but that's his right. "I have you guys. Aren't we the same way without him?"

Zeke cracked a smile while Noah laughed.

Dave put his arm around my shoulders. "That's right. We have a good time without him too. No need to be selfish." He smiled.

I didn't feel selfish. I mean, I don't. What I feel...is more like a sense of loss. They were supposedly blood related to me too, yet they only took Jeremy.

"Let's go get food before the game starts." Noah suggested. He looked up at Zeke. "Can we get a scorecard too? I'll teach Jake how to keep score and whatnot. It'll be a cool souvenir."

Zeke looked around. "You guys are already hungry again?"

I shook my head. I definitely didn't have an appetite at the moment.

Dave rubbed his stomach, pushing it out. "I'm definitely not ready. I think I ate half the pizza all by myself."

Rhys laughed. "You did. You really did. Let's wait awhile until we actually feel hungry again, Noah."

"When you feel hungry, it's already too late." Noah claimed. "To keep your metabolism going, we should eat every four or five hours."

"Is that why you're so skinny??" Dave asked.

"That's only if you eat balanced meals." Zeke told him. He pulled out a wallet and handed him the debit card. "You can get a bag of peanuts for now. And the scorecard if you want."

Noah accepted the card. "Okay! Jake, come with me." He scooted back the way we came and I followed.

"If you're not back in ten minutes, you'll do extra running tomorrow." Zeke told us, watching us go.

Noah waved his hand. "Sure, sure!" He tugged my jersey with his other hand. "Hurry up, Jake!"

He rushed to the snackbar, and got in line with a grin. The line was short since it was still early. We were up in just seconds.

"A bag of peanuts and a cotton candy please!" Noah greeted the cashier.

My jaw dropped. This kid is helpless. I shook my head. "Zeke is going to be so mad."

"Zeke's not going to know." Noah grinned as he paid for the two items. "I'll finish it while we go find a scorecard." He handed me the bag of peanuts to carry while he opened the bag of cotton candy. He took a big piece out and stuffed it in his mouth. "Want some?"

My lips twitched. "No thanks." It wasn't appetizing to me and I didn't want to take any from the desperate Noah. He might tempt fate and get another bag if he doesn't eat this one all by himself.

Noah plucked the cotton candy as we walked along the tunnel, trying to find a scorecard. We checked out the team shop and found one in a team magazine. In line, Noah finished his snack and went to throw away the trash, leaving me alone.

I stood in line with the peanuts, magazine, and debit card. In my mind, I could only wish that Noah would hurry back before I got to the cash register.

He came back in time, but a familiar face was following him back.

"Look who I ran into!" Noah gestured at Rose.

"Hey, Jake." Rose greeted in her work uniform. "I didn't know you guys would be here at tonight's game. Did you try to get ahold of Jeremy?"

"Hi." I said back, more focused on handing the magazine and debit card back to Noah.

"We came with a friend today." Noah told her, accepting the items. "His dad is the Giants pitching coach. Jake was going to tell Jeremy we were coming, but he forget his phone." He paused to say, "Excuse me, let me go buy this real quick." He left to the empty register, leaving me with Rose.

"Where are you guys sitting? I'll take you back." Rose offered.

"We already found our seats. We just came for a scorecard." I told her. Then I realized what I was holding. "And peanuts."

"No hotdogs or drinks?" She smiled, giving off friendly vibes.

I shook my head. "We had a big lunch. Zeke said we'll eat later. Their friend has food vouchers."

"Good. I don't want you to miss out on the experience. Nothing beats a hotdog and coke at the ball field." She sighed.

"Amen!" Noah rejoined our small group. "That's the only way to watch baseball games in the ballpark."

We followed him out of the busy store and found somewhere to stand without being in the way of other fans.

"Do you want me to let Jeremy know that you boys are here? Where are you sitting? I'll point it out to him." Rose asked again.

"Right behind the visitors dugout." Noah told her, then he glanced at me. "Do you want him to know that you're here?"

I shrugged. "It's fine."

Rose looked between us, noticing the weird atmosphere. "Did you already see him on the field?"

"Yea. Talking with his family." Noah told her the truth.

She looked a little surprised. A little part of me was happy that she didn't go meet them or help them out like she did for us. "His family?" She looked to me. "Not your family?"

"It's complicated." Noah told her, waving his hand like there was smoke in his face. "I don't know how much you know about Jeremy, but his uncle raised him. Without Jake."

"Uh, I knew he hadn't seen Jake for a very long time." She blinked, looking confused.

The urge to ask her about her relationship with Jeremy overcame me. "Are you and Jeremy dating?"

She was startled and pulled her head back like it was in the way of a guillotine. "What? What makes you say that?"

I shrugged. "Chuck said something to me as he took me back to the group the other night." Her exaggerated reaction really stood out. "So you are?"

She blushed. "Well, not really. We're just seeing one another right now. It's very early. Too soon to call it dating."

Now it was my turn to be confused.

"So you haven't met his family before?" Noah asked.

"Oh, no! Way too early for that." She looked embarrassed. "He hasn't met mine yet either."

"Are you going to go look for him now? To tell him that we're here?" Noah asked more questions, putting her on the spot.

She rubbed the back of her neck. "Well, now that I know that his family is here, it's not really appropriate. It would look like I'm being nosy. If he told me beforehand, it would have been different."

Noah nodded slowly. "I understand. You don't have to worry. You don't have to bother him for us. We don't care. Right, Jake?"

I nodded too. "Yea..." It would just be awkward now. "I'll see him tomorrow."

Rose looked relieved. "Thanks. How about I give you my number so we can plan your trips a little better. Jeremy told me that you guys might be coming more often when school lets out."

Noah's jaw dropped. "Really?"

"He didn't mention it?" She asked.

"He did." I spoke up. "I forgot to tell Noah. I was supposed to ask the Atkins first."

"Yes! Yes! Most definitely yes!" Noah pumped his fists in the air in excitement. "This summer keeps getting better and better." He hurried to pull out his cellphone. "I'll put your number in. I'm better at having my phone on me after all."

She rattled off some digits and Noah put them in. The atmosphere was less awkward with everything out in the open. She offered to walk us back to our seats, but Zeke arrived.

"No need. I'll take them back." Zeke stared down at us with a hint of anger. "Ten minutes came and went."

Noah smiled like it was nothing. "Yea, but we ran into Rose."

"We'll run double before the cages tomorrow morning." Zeke stated. He greeted Rose and told her that he was taking us back.

Rose waved as we left her behind.