The Hitting Zone
chapter-285

We finished dinner and changed into nicer clothes. We had showered earlier in the afternoon and were just wearing sweatpants which isn't appropriate to wear to a party...supposedly. Noah helped me pick out the nicest clothes that Mrs. Atkins had bought for me when I was first sent here last month. Then we joined the twins back downstairs, where we found them fighting over the keys.

"It's my turn to drive." Dave rolled his eyes.

Kyle frowned. "How can you be sure? We haven't been allowed to drive since Christmas break."

"Easy. You're the reason Dad doesn't let us take turns with Zeke anymore." Noah said. He looked to me. "We better start praying. It'll be a long night. Just the idea of them driving makes me want to stay home."

Dave snatched the keys. "Don't be ridiculous. We can't let you two stay at home alone. You're just kids."

Is he joking? He rather take us to a party than to leave us at home, alone? I glanced at Noah, feeling more and more nervous about this.

Noah just patted me on the shoulder before following his older brothers to the car. The four of us got in and we were on our way.

Kyle looked back at me from the front passenger seat. "Don't look so terrified. Isn't your therapist always telling you to be more outgoing and whatnot? It's good that you speak to us and all, but you should try making other friends. If you don't, you'll never be able to get over your social anxiety."

My lips twitched. "I don't think he would want me to go to a party. He probably meant more normal gatherings like at school and with the team at first."

Kyle grinned. "Most of the team will be there. This will be a good opportunity to speak to them outside of baseball."

"What could we talk about besides baseball?" Noah asked. "We don't share the same classes. It'd be awkward to talk about families. All we have in common is baseball."

"Just be cool for two seconds." Kyle shook his head, tired of lecturing us. "We'll only be there for a couple of hours. If you don't embarrass us, we'll pay for the cages tomorrow."

I straightened up, happy to agree. Noah saw my actions and only sighed to himself before agreeing.

Dave drove without speaking, and was awfully careful not to break any speed limits. It had me wondering why Noah was so against their driving. I thought he did well. We arrived in the suburbs near the school, and parked on a packed street. We piled out and started to walk together, with the twins leading the way.

We weren't the only ones on the sidewalk either. The closer we got to the destination, the more students we came across until the twins stopped before a two story house, just slightly bigger than their own. We walked up to the door, squeezing through the small crowd on the doorstep.

"You guys made it!" A familiar voice called out. Garret greeted us as we just got through the door. Him and Jason were both there and joined our group of four. He looked at Dave. "I was really surprised when you forwarded me Marie's text! Who knew you two were actually close!"

Dave shot him a look, then glanced at Kyle. Then he quickly went back to Garret. "Yep. I was surprised too."

"What was that look for?" Kyle squinted at his twin, clearly not blind of that awkward pause.

"Nothing." Dave's eyes started to wander. "Looks like plenty of others got the text too."

"Most of the junior class is here." Jason added.

We were stuck in the foyer area as there were plenty of teens around, broken off in their own groups.

"Let's head to the backyard." Dave said after a quick glance at his phone. He started to lead the way.

Kyle didn't let him get too far ahead and started to give him a strange look. Garret and Jason didn't want to be left behind and were quick to tag along.

Noah and I looked at one another, but neither of us could tell what was going on. We started to follow, but I suddenly felt a tug from the back of my shirt and stayed in place. Noah had the same reaction as me. We simultaneously turned and the perpetrator let go of our clothing.

"Hey, guys. I was hoping you guys would come too." Kaylee smiled.

"You knew we were coming?" Noah asked.

"Yea, I was there when Marie sent Dave the text." She laughed. "You guys should have seen how nervous she was."

"Nervous? Why?" Noah's eyes widen. "Does she like Dave?!"

My jaw dropped. Is that what was happening?

She shook her head. "No. Gosh, why are guys so dumb?"

Noah relaxed. "Oh. I thought there was something going on. It was weird how they were suddenly close at lunch and then he got a text from her to go to this party."

"Yea, so she can get closer to Kyle." She laughed.

Wait. What.

"Wait. What?" Noah expresses my thoughts aloud.

Kaylee looked at the both of us and giggled. "Don't tell me, you guys didn't know at all?"

"Not even a little!" Noah was surprised. "When did this happen? How did this happen? I thought her and Dave were closer."

Kaylee raised an eyebrow. "No way. Dave's too afraid of Marie. He would just let her be. She only started to get closer to him this week so she could get to Kyle."

"Does Dave know?" I asked, thinking about the weirdness that's been happening.

"Of course!" She grinned. "Didn't he just go to the backyard?"

Noah glanced back to where the twins were headed. "So this was planned?"

"Extensively." Kaylee lowered her voice and stepped closer to us, making me slightly uncomfortable. "Leslie didn't even know she was going to throw a party until this afternoon. Marie was texting Dave, and he said that Zeke would be leaving tonight so it'd be a good idea to try and set something up. If Zeke was around, then you guys would never show up to a party, right?"

Noah was stunned. "Dave's been in cahoots this whole time?" He glanced at me. "Let's go to the backyard. I want to know what will happen next." He looked at Kaylee, who was still standing too close. "You seem to know a lot. Do you know what will happen in the backyard?"

Kaylee's smile never left her face. "Yep! Her and some of the girls were going over ideas all afternoon. Dave obviously knows too. He plays the most important role?"

"The most important role?" I asked. "What's that supposed to be?"

"Wing man."

"For who?" Noah laughed. "Kyle doesn't even know he's been set up.

"A girl can have a wing man too." Kaylee pushed us gently through the crowd. "Come on. You won't want to miss this."

So Dave is Marie's wing man? My head was spinning, not completely understanding how we got to this point. My head was filled with so many thoughts and guesses that I didn't even feel bothered by the crowded atmosphere of the living room as we made our way to the back door.