The Hitting Zone
chapter-701

Being left on my own with Kaylee made me feel awkward, but it's not the bad kind of awkward where I felt sick to my stomach. It's just the usual 'I-don't-know-what-to-say' kind of awkward.

"You know I wasn't trying to embarrass Alisha, right?" She asked.

I shrugged. "I don't think she was embarrassed. Maybe a little ashamed? For being called out like that." I looked around to make sure no one was near us. "She really likes Noah."

Kaylee laughed. "Everyone knows, Jake."

I frowned. "Then why would you say anything?"

Kaylee pointed behind me. "To make sure she doesn't end up like that idiot."

I turned around and tried to point out the 'idiot'. There was a small gathering of teens, most who looked familiar and two who were extremely familiar. Kyle and Marie. My lips twitched as I fought off the smile. "Which one is the idiot..?"

"I would say Marie." She leaned forward on the table, resting her chin in her hand. "She's going to follow Kyle to whichever college he goes to."

"Does Kyle know that..?" I scratched my cheek. He hasn't said anything to us. I knew that Marie was interested in what colleges he was visiting, but to blindly follow..?

"Who knows. If he does, that makes him an idiot. If he doesn't, that also makes him an idiot. Two idiots put together. What a match made in heaven." She sighed. "Dating in high school is a terrible idea. It's so emotionally exhausting. Ups and downs. Crushes, breakups, and getting back together." She sighed.

"Are they officially back together?" I asked.

"They've been talking a lot lately." She told me. "They take turns calling one another almost every night."

"Oh." We had been at separate camps so I didn't know. Kaylee really seemed down and out on her sister and Kyle. I can see how it made her lash out on Alisha. "My brother told me that sometimes dating in high school works out." I told her.

She looked surprised. "Which brother?"

"Jeremy." I explained how I called him while at camp. "Him and Noah were talking about girlfriends. Noah doesn't think dating in high school lasts either. But Jeremy said he knows a few guys that married their high school girlfriends."

She smiled and shook her head. "It's highly unlikely, but I guess it does happen." She glanced at her sister. Then looked back at me. "So, talking with Jeremy more?"

I shrugged. "Occasionally."

"Is it weird?"

I laughed. "Always."

She paused. "Do you ever miss your mom?"

My smile fell. "No." I thought how Kaylee didn't know much about my past and decided to expand. "She wasn't a good person, let alone a good mother. She's in jail where she belongs."

Kaylee winced. "Sorry. I didn't mean to pry. I just wonder how it feels. To get a completely new family."

"I can't speak for everyone, but-" I smiled. "It's the best thing to ever happen to me."

"How does it work with Jeremy and the Atkins?" She asked, curious.

"He's nice to them and they're nice to him." I thought about it. "Things were a little difficult in the beginning, but it's gotten a lot better."

"That's good. I'm glad you're doing better." She laughed. "Though it's strange to hear you talk so much."

Am I talking too much? I clamped my mouth shut.

"It's a good thing." She laughed again. "Don't be so scared all the time."

Easier said than done. I shot her a look.

"C'mon, you cant be scared anymore." She told me, relaxing in her chair again. "Noah is like your own personal guard dog. Plus, you have the twins and don't even get me started on Zeke." She cocked a grin. "You have me too."

I relaxed a bit. "Thanks." I looked around. "Didn't Alisha invite KJ too?"

"She should be here somewhere." She told me. "Why? Are you trying to get rid of me?"

I shook my head. "Just wondering."

"I figured. I'm just messing with you." Kaylee said.

I nodded. I was getting used to Kaylee.

"What electives are you and Noah going to pick for sophomore year?" She asked.

I shrugged. "Not sure."

We talked about school and what classes were going to be available for us in our sophomore year. She reminded me that with it being a new semester, all the classes would be changed and we could possibly have a same class or two.

"Do you think you'll share every class with Noah again?" Kaylee asked. "That has to be specially requested, doesn't it?"

"I don't know." My lips thinned. "I don't think they'll want me to rely on him so much. Maybe share a few classes, but lately they've been pushing me to stand on my own."

"Who's 'they'?" She asked.

"The Atkins. My therapist, Dr. Moore. Zeke made me play on a different team than Noah when we went to the Stanford camp." I told her about that experience. I did have Rhys there for support instead, and everything turned out okay.

"All's well, that ends well." Kaylee told me. "You survived that so I'm sure you'll do fine without Noah in every class too. It's good to gain some independence. Noah needs it too."

"You think so?"

She nodded. "Yea, definitely. He's always guarding you and babysitting you. Doesn't it make you feel suffocated?"

I shook my head. "Makes me feel safe."

"Okay, but he can't always be there for you. After high school is college and adulthood. There's a lot of change that comes after graduation. Heck, look around right now. He ran off after Alisha."

I nodded slowly. "Yea, I do need to be a little more independent. But, isn't it nice to be in the same class as your friends?"

"Of course! But not every set of friends get to share every class."

"For the record, we didn't have the same math."

She laughed. "But you were with the twins. Doesnt count."

"Does too!" I claimed. "They scared me in the beginning. Especially Dave."

"Whatcha kids talking about?" A heavy hand landed on my shoulder, making me jump in my seat. I looked up at Dave's smiling face and suddenly felt a chill.

"None of your business." Kaylee rolled her eyes at him.

"Are you sure?" Dave squinted, looking between us. "Because I thought I heard my name. Which makes it my business."

"You misheard us." She shot back.

Dave laughed and took his hand off my shoulder. "Okay, fine. Keep your secrets. Have you guys seen Noah? I wanted to show him this baseball video that Mitchell showed us today."

"He and Alisha left." I told him.

"What video?" Kaylee leaned forward. "Why not show us?"

"Okay!" Dave sat down at the empty chair and pulled out his phone. "It's just a clip of funny errors in the Majors. I know Noah would laugh, but you guys might like it too." He started to play the video and we squeezed in closer to watch.

Kaylee laughed freely at the compilation of errors while I cringed from secondhand embarrassment. It was encouraging to see that pros could make embarrassing errors themselves, but I also had a fear that it would be me in the future.