Nick drove down the street and turned in the parking lot of Hunter Park. The game was already in progress so as the crowd cheered he slid onto the bleacher next to Jason. "Hey Jason, how they doin?"
"Oh hey Nick, you just get here? They’re doing good. It's the 6th inning and Alex just struck the 2nd man out."
Nick watched as Alex shook her head at the catcher on the, and then agreed on the pitch. She wound up and sent her fastball flying into the catcher’s mitt. "STRIKE THREE!!YOU'RE OUT!!"
Everyone cheered as the other team made their way out on the field. Jason sat back down after screaming, "Is this the first time you've seen Lex play?"
"Yeah."
Jason grinned, "She's 3rd bat."
Nick nodded as Jake Weaver made it to 1st base, but Colby Jacobs struck out. Then Alex made her way out of the dug out, grabbed a bat, swung it, and walked up to home plate. Jason started screaming again and Alex smiled. Nick watched as the pitcher wound up and threw a curve ball, Alex didn't move or blink. "Strike one!" The pitcher wound up again and sent the ball straight into the catcher's mitt, again Alex didn't move. "Strike two!"
"Is she gonna hit the ball?" Nick asked looking up at Jason
Jason laughed, "She'll hit the ball alright."
Jason knew what he was talking about, the pitcher wound up, and threw the ball. Alex swung and with a great cracking noise sent the ball flying into left field. She didn't even watch it but took off for 1st base. The crowd screamed as Weaver made it home and as Alex rounded 2nd and slid into 3rd just in time. "SAFE!" Alex got up and brushed herself off. She watched as Chad Elliot sent a ground ball right past the short stop, and ran home.
Nick watched as the game continued. Evertime Alex pitched he was still more amazed than the time before. He had never seen a girl who could pitch a fastball like that, he hadn't even seen a guy who could pitch like that. By the time the bottom of the 9th inning came around Alex’s team was winning, 9 to 3. Alex ran out to the pitching mound, she struck the 1st guy out with no problem, then the second. The 3rd guy got up to bat and Alex knew he could hit her fastball. Colby gave her the sign for the fastball and she shook her head. He gave it again, and she shook her head. Colby yelled time and ran out to the mound, "What’s up Alex?"
"He can hit it."
"What?"
"He can hit my fastball."
Colby just looked at her, "curve then?"
Alex nodded, and Colby ran back to his position. He gave the sign for a curve, and Alex wound up and sent the ball right into the mitt. "Strike one!" Colby gave her the sign for a curve and she shook her head, he tried the sign for a low ball and she nodded. "Strike two!" Colby gave her the sign for a fastball and she nodded. "STRIKE THREE!!YOU'RE OUT!" The crowd went wild, and Nick sat there not sure on what he just saw.
*******************************************************
Alex had gathered her stuff and went to meet her parents when she spotted Nick talking to her brother. The smile on her face died. She didn't know what to do. She hadn't told him about playing because..well she didn't want to, she felt embarrassed and she didn't know what he would think of it.
"Hey, great game." Nick said as she walked up.
"Thanks."
"We planned on going out to celebrate, and invited Nick along, is that okay with you honey?" Mrs. Paine asked her daughter
"That's fine."
" I assume you'll ride with Nick so you can show him where Riccardo's is."
Alex nodded, "okay."
She followed Nick to the truck running thru her mind what she should say. She climbed in the truck and started, "Nick...I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I didn't know what you would think..and.."
Nick cut her off, "Alex, you were great." with that the subject was settled.
******************************************************
Nick had been gone a week, they were doing SNL in New York , and Alex missed him. They had been to busy with rehearsals that he hadn't had much time to call and even when he did he could only talk for a minute. They were suppose to get back today so Alex was hoping that when she got home she would have a message from him. "HEY ALEX, GET OUT OF LALA LAND!!" Colby yelled at her
That snapped her out of her trance. She finished practice without getting yelled at.
*******
Alex was waiting out in front of the school when she heard a voice, "Where's your car?"
Alex turned to find Jake, "Oh, it's in the shop."
"You want a ride?"
"No, thanks. My mom's picking me up."
"oh, okay."
he waited a minute before asking, "So, you decided on a college yet?"
"Well, no. I have a couple scholarship offered, but I'm not sure yet."
"Oh."
"You know," Jake said standing a little bit to close to her, "There’s been something that I've wanted to do ever since you struck me out that first day of practice."
"And what's that?"
"This." Before Alex knew what happened Jake bent down and kissed her soundly on the mouth. Alex stood there shocked, having no idea what to do. Jake leaned back and grinned.
Alex shoved him right into the ground.
"Hey!"
"Don't you ever do that to me again!" Alex yelled, and then spun on her heel just in time to see Nick sitting in his truck staring at her.
