The Hitting Zone

"It looks like you just want to babysit Jake." Kaylee said again.

Noah frowned. "No. I'm hanging out with my friend. That's completely normal."

"I don't think it's normal how close you are." Kaylee shrugged. She ate a chip. "It definitely feels like babysitting."

"It's called being a friend." Noah was getting defensive. "Don't act like Jake is-" He abruptly stopped.

Kaylee smirked. "Normal? Were you about to say that Jake isn't normal?"

Noah looked to me. But I was feeling a little clueless on what was happening at the moment. Alisha left and Kaylee came. Alisha was nice, but Kaylee sounded like she was trying to pick a fight with Noah.

Noah huffed. "You're so annoying."

Kaylee grinned like it was a compliment. "I know. All I'm saying is that you don't have to babysit Jake. He's a big kid. He can take care of himself."

Uhhh, I don't know about that. I looked at her, confused.

Kaylee noticed. "C'mon Jake. Didn't you approach me on your own when you wanted me to join the softball team?"

That's true, but Alisha was the one to show up and call her away from her friend group for me. I have a hesitant nod.

"See? Jake is fine with being with me. I can babysit while you go play." Kaylee said.

Noah rolled his eyes. "Like I'd let you babysit with that attitude." He glanced at me. "That's not what I meant."

"You guys...I'm okay on my own." I told them, finally speaking up for myself. "It's when I'm in a big crowd that I get...uncomfortable." I looked around as our classmates were all in smaller groups eating, talking, and playing. "I have a good view."

Noah rubbed his nose. "Would you really be okay with just Kaylee though? She's kind of mean and you don't really stand up for yourself."

"Hey! I won't pick on him!" Kaylee objected.

"Your track history says otherwise." Noah referred to the time she was mean to us on the bus.

Kaylee looked at me directly. "Jake, do you trust me?"

"Uhh.." I hated to be put on the spot. "In what way?"

"That you can handle Noah not being by your side for a couple of minutes?" Kaylee was really pushing this. I wonder if there was a motive behind this whole argument.

I looked to Noah. "If you want to go play volleyball in the pool with others, then go. I'm fine. Really. Kaylee is...Kaylee."

"That's what worries me." Noah sighed. He got up. "Fine, I'm going to prove to you that I don't have a need to 'babysit' Jake. I just like hanging out with my best friend. So don't be surprised when I come back and accuse me of babysitting."

"Sure, sure. Have fun!" Kaylee waved him away.

Noah took off his shirt, leaving it on the chair. Then kicked off his sandals and waved. "Yell for me if you need me, Jake."

"Sure." I told him.

Noah walked over to the pool area and gave some guys high fives and went in to join the game.

"You don't think I'm mean, do you?" Kaylee asked.

I blinked in surprise and studied her expression. She looked nonchalant, but the way her lips thinned in distress gave her away. "I don't think so." I shook my head. She was just a little rough around the edges. Very defensive of her sister, just like how Noah is with me and his brothers. Our brothers. I started to grin.

"What's making you so happy?" Kaylee pulled me back to the present.

I blushed. "Well...I'm getting adopted."

"Congratulations!" She told me sincerely.

I felt my face get really warm.

"Does Jeremy know?" She asked.

I shrugged and nodded at the same time. "Kind of. Sort of. Like a little bit. I'll see him tomorrow night so I'll mention it to him then."

"That's a little strange. Is it something you can't say over the phone?"

My leg started to shake. "Well..." I started to feel uncertain because this was something I haven't talked to Noah about yet. "I..."

Kaylee waited patiently, no longer acting like a porcupine with Noah being gone.

"I want to tell him in person that...I've started to call Mr. and Mrs. Atkins, 'Mom' and 'Dad'." I looked at her. "That's new. I just started doing that yesterday."

Kaylee wasn't surprised. "Oh. Yea. That's a bit awkward. Not you calling them 'Mom' and 'Dad', but telling your brother. Does he call your uncle 'Dad'?"

I shrugged. "I don't know." I guess I'll have to ask.

She sighed. "Families are so complicated sometimes."

I looked at her.

She gave a weak smile. "It's the same in the Atkins house, isn't it? There's always something going on. Whether it's you." I slouched in my chair. "Or it's Kyle. Dave too. In my house, even though it's only me and Marie, we also have issues."

"Do you?" I asked, surprised. "You and Marie don't get along?"

"We do. Just not all the time." She explained. "Wasn't Noah just mad at Kyle? And now I don't hear any complaints. It's the same for every family."

"Are you mad at Marie right now..?" I asked, wondering if she wanted to talk about it.

"A little. More jealous than anything." She looked a little depressed. "I can only play softball with you guys because I'm not allowed to play for the travel this summer."

"Oh..?"

"My parents think it's better if they invest that money into Marie's summer to visit schools since she's trying to get a full ride." She sighed again. "Marie is so good. Already one of the top ten in the state, yet needs to still visit schools? What a joke."

"Oh." I said again; this time understanding her frustrations. The twins also had some money problems. If it wasn't because I was too scared to leave, then...I don't know what would have happened? A fight? "I'm sorry."

She laughed. "It's okay, I'm just ranting. It's not a big deal in the grand scheme of life, but it sucks not being able to play with the same girls as last year. Instead..." She trailed off, but I had a pretty clear idea of what she was going to say. Instead she was playing meaningless softball with us.

"You know," I spoke up. "Noah feels the same way. Sad about not playing baseball." And it was a little worse for him.

"Of course." Kaylee agreed. "Noah is a baseball maniac. Only he would want to play with a bunch of tools that shunned him for making the varsity team." She looked to the pool where he was playing with the others, including Alisha. "I didn't mean to be rude with you guys. I just wanted him to go and have fun. Not that he doesn't have fun with you, but-"

"I get it." I cut her off. I was too reliant on Noah. He has other friends and interests. And, this was a good opportunity for him and Alisha to be closer, I guess. Maybe Kaylee knew of Alisha's feelings. I was scared to ask because what if she doesn't know? That would be awkward.