The Hitting Zone

The Wilson brothers went back to their own house as we did the same. Once we got home, Noah and I both had to rush to take showers.

I saw him pick out a pair of navy blue swim trunks to wear, matching it with a white polo shirt. "Very preppy."

He threw a pillow at me. "Shut up. It matches, okay?! That's what's important."

I caught the pillow and threw it back onto his bed. "Do you think it's okay if I don't wear swim trunks?" I glanced down at the khaki shorts I had put on, matching it with a short-sleeve button up.

"Yea, it's fine!" Noah told me, moving to his desk. "Not everyone is going to swim. In fact, I know a few kids who don't even know how to swim, so you won't stand out." He pulled out Alisha's present. "Can't forget this."

My lips twitched. It's not very often I knew something that Noah didn't. He was going to make Alisha's day by bringing her this present.

Noah pointed at the small box on the desk. It came in the mail two days ago. Jeremy had signed enough baseball cards for me to pass out to my classmates. "Don't forget that."

I obediently picked up the small box with one hand, and put my phone in my pocket with my free hand. I was ready to go.

Noah put his phone in his pocket as well and led the way out of the room. "I can't believe Jeremy signed so many cards for you. If we have extra, we should sell them online."

I made a face. "If we have extra we should just hold onto it in case someone doesn't come to the party."

"You're too nice." Noah laughed.

Downstairs we met with Zeke, who had also showered, but wasn't ready for his own party. But he had more time than us. Zeke pulled out a comb. "Come."

Noah leaned forward and Zeke brushed the tangles out of his hair. Then he did the same for me. Zeke then surprised us by pulling out his phone and taking some pictures. "For Mom."

Noah didn't need any prompting. He grinned, made funny faces, and started to pose. I just stood there awkwardly, portraying a statue.

Zeke finished and put his phone away. "Okay, let's get going."

"The twins aren't coming?" I asked as we followed him out to the car.

"I'm only going to drop you two off." Zeke said while getting in the driver's seat. Noah got in the front passenger seat and I sat behind him. "I'll give them the address to pick you guys up from." He glanced at Noah. "But you'll have to decide what time to get picked up at."

Noah looked surprised. "I get to decide? The twins will actually be waiting around for my text? Is this a scam?"

Zeke started to drive us to Alisha's. "Yes, you get to decide, but don't be surprised if they text you the whole time wondering when it's time to pick you up."

"Probably late afternoon." Noah shrugged. "It's not like a real party. Her parents will be there."

Zeke glanced at him before focusing on the road. "Just because adults are there, don't mean that there won't be kids causing trouble. Like Mom said, no drinking. If someone offers you a beer, what do you say?"

"I'm allergic." Noah said flatly.

"You are?" I asked.

Noah laughed. "No, but it's a good way to get out of trying something without sounding like a loser."

I looked to Zeke for confirmation.

"It doesn't matter if you look like a loser or not." Zeke said. "If they make fun of you for saying no, then they aren't your friends. If they aren't your friends, then they don't matter."

Noah looked up at him. "Have you ever had any alcohol?"

Zeke shook his head. "No."

Noah wasn't convinced. "Why not? Have you never been to any parties? That can't be right..."

"I'm a student-athlete." Zeke stated. "Students have rules they have to follow. Athletes follow an even more strict set of rules. I won't judge others for drinking illegally, but I won't do the same harm to my body. To be on top, you shouldn't do anything detrimental to your body. Especially in the growing stages." He shrugged. "There's plenty of time for me to drink alcohol after my career."

"Such a goody-two-shoes." Noah joked. He looked back at me. "We won't drink either, right Jake?"

I nodded. I didn't have any urge to try alcohol. I saw what it did to my birth mom, how it took over her life and how she became so dependent on it. And...how it changed her behavior. I shivered.

"Are you cold?" Noah asked.

I shook my head. "No. Just...a bad memory."

Noah's face darkened. "Forget that woman. You have a new mom. A new family."

I nodded. Yea...Mom and Dad.

Zeke pulled onto Alisha's street and we saw it packed with cars parked on the curb. I wonder if they're all going to her party too. Zeke stopped in the street in front of her driveway. He looked at us. "Be good. Be smart. Be safe. Have fun."

Noah and I both got out of the car. Noah pointed at Zeke. "You too! Laters!" He closed his door.

"Bye, Zeke." I closed my door as well and followed Noah to the sidewalk.

Noah held the gift for Alisha and I held the small box of baseball cards. As we walked up the path to her front door, we saw some classmates.

"You guys brought gifts?" Shaun, from Health, asked, looking slightly embarrassed. "Didn't she say no gifts..?"

Noah nudged me.

Oh. I cleared my throat and showed Shaun a glimpse of what was inside the box I was holding. "S-some classmates asked...for Jeremy Patterson's autograph."

Shaun's eyes widened as he got a look at the stack of baseball cards. "Wow! He signed all of these?! How nice of him!" He sighed with relief. "You had me scared! I thought I was going to be the only one not to bring a gift."

"I'm sure her close friends gave her gifts." Noah remarked. "I wouldn't worry about it though. She invited so many of us over, it would be insane if we all brought gifts."

I noted how Noah didn't mention that he was carrying a gift.

Shaun looked relieved after Noah's reassurance though. We three made it to the door just behind some others. Alisha's mom was there, greeting everyone.

"Hello! Hello!" She smiled at us. "Party is in the backyard. Just go on right through to the glass doors. Alisha's dad is on the grill, and some of the food is already done. Help yourselves. Drinks are in the coolers. We have all kinds of soda. We have water and juice."

"Hey! Noah!" Alisha yelled, coming down the stairs. She waved excitedly. "You guys made it!"

Noah nodded. "We wouldn't miss it." He glanced at Shaun. "Hey, we're going to talk about softball stuff for a bit. You can go on ahead."

Shaun grinned. "Sure thing." He looked at Alisha. "Happy birthday! And thanks for inviting me!" He waved.

"Thanks for coming! We'll catch up later!" She told him. She then pulled on Noah's sleeve, dragging him to the stairs.

I slowly followed.