The Hitting Zone

Both of them took showers before we left to meet up with Rose for lunch. It was another nice restaurant for lunch, but this time it was much smaller and there was no private room. This led to quite a few people approaching our table to ask Jeremy for autographs.

Rose sighed and told us. "This happens whenever we go out."

"I think it's kind of cool." Noah said, watching Jeremy talking with his fans and taking pictures. "I can't wait to get to this moment in life. People wanting my autograph?" He pursed his lips. "I think I need to work on my signature."

"Does it bother you?" I asked Rose, noticing that she wasn't exactly having a good time. Since we've met up with her, she had rarely smiled.

Rose gave me a sad smile. "Does it matter if it does? Jeremy can't help it."

I kicked Noah's foot under the table, discreetly telling him to say something. Especially because I had nothing to say to that.

Noah got the hint. "Maybe start asking the manager for some quiet time and tell the diners that Jeremy can sign some autographs after he eats? If that doesn't work, just stop going there. I feel like managers of restaurants should be thankful for Jeremy's presence. They could claim that he's a patron of their establishment."

"That's a great idea." Jeremy had just sat back down at the table beside Rose. "I really hate turning the fans away, but..." He let it trailed off, looking at Rose. "When I'm with you, I don't want our time to be interrupted."

Rose blushed.

Noah fake gagged. "We can leave and give your two your alone time."

"No, no, he doesn't mean you guys." Rose quickly defended him.

"Meh." Noah shrugged. "Let him answer for himself."

We all looked at Jeremy.

"Well...if I have to choose, then I would pick Rose over everyone." Jeremy grinned at her. "You're the number one person I want to spend time with."

Her face turned a deeper shade of red. "Oh, shut up. Stop teasing me. Let's just eat."

Lunch was served and the amount of autographs that Jeremy had to sign went down. I guess most people were still polite and wouldn't interrupt him as he was eating. After lunch though, we had to wait around as he took a few pictures with his fans and signed a couple more autographs.

"Is it always like this?" Noah asked Rose.

Rose shook her head. "Very rarely is he as busy as this. Normally it's just a few autographs. I think it's because he's in the running for MVP. Plus, he did well in the all-star game. And now the A's have a comfortable lead in their division. Unless they go on a long losing streak, they should be playoff-bound." She smiled. "How do you guys feel, knowing a baseball star like Jeremy?"

Noah laughed. "It's a little unbelievable at times."

She looked at me.

I shrugged. "He's just Jeremy to me. I wasn't watching baseball as religiously as Noah. I also didn't know much about the game. Same with the players."

Rose nodded. "That's understandable." She looked a little sad. "Jake...I just want you to know, I'm sorry."

I was taken aback. "What? Why?"

"Jeremy told me about your past. No kid should have such a horrible parent." She looked like she was about to cry. "It's-"

"It's okay now." I finished for her, trying to comfort her with a smile. "I'm okay now. The past is the past. It's what led me to the Atkins."

"But, Jeremy-" She still looked upset.

"Jeremy is trying his best to be a good brother now." I cut her off again. I glanced at Jeremy who was surrounded. "I don't know if he told you, but yesterday, he actually accompanied me to my therapist's appointment."

She blinked. "He doesn't like therapy. He doesn't believe in it."

I laughed. "Yea...but he still went. Still listened. He even talked about his own problems." I got serious. "I didn't realize how much the guilt was eating at him now that we're having a better relationship. Yea, he messed up, but there's no going back to the past."

"You don't know how much I appreciate hearing that." She sighed. "I love Jeremy, but the idea of him not going back to check on you when he knew his mother was crazy...it has been on my mind nonstop. Every time I saw you, I kind of wanted to ask how you felt about Jeremy. Like if you felt like he was just buying your forgiveness by going to all these games?"

I shook my head. "I think it's just him. Baseball is a part of him. It's something my dad did too. One of my earliest memories is watching them play catch." I smiled, trying to recall my dad's face but it was blurring with Jeremy's.

"I wish Jeremy would try to pay us off." Noah sighed. "I would wait until he signed his big deal with the A's first. Get more money."

I shoved him playfully. Noah always had money on his mind.

"I'm just joking." Noah laughed. "Just hanging out with Jeremy is pretty cool. He doesn't treat me any differently even though I was mean to him in the beginning. Let bygones be bygones."

Rose smiled, looking relieved.

"Hey, you guys ready to go?" Jeremy jogged over, finished with the fans. He looked around at the three of us. "Did I interrupt?"

"Nope." Rose grabbed his hand. "I have to get to the stadium so I'll see you later?"

Jeremy nodded. "Sure." He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "I'll text you when we get there."

Rose gave his hand a squeeze, then let go. She waved as she walked to her own car.

"What were you guys talking about?" Jeremy asked as we headed back to his car.

"You, obviously." Noah replied honestly.

Jeremy stopped. "What about me?"

"Just that you're so popular." Noah kept walking.

Jeremy glanced to me, not entirely believing Noah.

"She said she loves you." I told him a little more.

Jeremy was shocked. "Did she say love? Or was it like?"

"Love." I confirmed.

Jeremy clenched his fists. "Don't tell her that you told me."

"What? Why?" Noah asked, turning around.

"She hasn't told me yet. I'm the only one to say it aloud so far." Jeremy sounded sad, yet hopeful. "Just, don't embarrass her, okay. I don't want it to be something awkward."

Noah laughed. "You're the second most awkward guy I know. Good luck."

"Who's first?" Jeremy asked, not offended.

Noah pointed at me. "Jake. For sure."

I nodded in agreement.

Jeremy patted me on the head. "It's okay. Noah might be biased. I'm sure to others, you're normal." Jeremy gave me a few more words of comfort until we got to the car. We piled in and drove us straight to the doctor's office.

This time we didn't run into Maberry. Jeremy told us it was because he was completely cleared last time and was given the green light to play like before. In fact, we would actually get to see him in the lineup for the first time since his injury.

"I hope he hits a home run at every at-bat!" Noah grinned and pumped his fist excitedly.

Nurse Francine had taken us to the same room as last time, letting both Jeremy and Noah accompany me. She took my vitals and then helped me take the boot off. "That's a good looking bruise." She said, impressed by the blue, green, and yellow colors on my leg.