The Hitting Zone

Chapter 1175  v4 ch23 Finals Week

The ride home was awkwardly quiet. The only sound came from the radio playing today's hits. Grampa sat up front next to Dave, who drove us back safely. Noah and I actually sat in the middle row while Kyle took up the back by himself.

As we got closer to home, Grampa looked back to see only me awake. "Can't sleep?"

I shrugged. "Harder to fall asleep than to stay asleep."

He laughed. "Yea, it'll change on you when you get old like me." He glanced back again. "You're not still feeling tense from the boy's spat, are you?"

I glanced at the sleeping Noah.

"Don't worry about it. Families fight. Even the best of them." Grampa continued. "Heck, Mary was so stubborn and hardheaded that she would go weeks without talking to me or your grandmother." He smiled. "There were times she would apologize and times where we had to. Even a few times we would just let it die down on its own. Families that can forgive or understand are ones that can stick together. I don't believe any of you boys will say or do something unforgivable. You'll always have one another's back."

I glanced at Noah and caught him twisting his lips. I gave a small smile. He was awake and I knew he agreed with Grampa. Kyle could be a jerk sometimes but if anything were to happen to him, Noah would be there if he could.

Dave pulled up the driveway and into the garage. "We won't beat up Kyle no matter how annoying he is. At worse, we dye his hair again. He didn't love that."

I let out a laugh. Yea, he really didn't.

"I heard that." Kyle sat up in the backseat. "If you idiots try to touch my hair or appearance again, I'll draw on all your faces while your sleeping."

"I'd like to see you try." Noah snorted. He stretched in his seat before opening his door. He hopped out. The rest of us started to get out and unpack the car too.

"Better sleep with one eye open tonight." Kyle smirked.

"If you do anything during finals week, Mom will be the first to kill you." Dave patted him on the shoulder. "The best time to do anything is the night before you leave for the minors." He grinned. "Also saves you from any retaliation."

Kyle grinned and patted him back. "I like the way you think."

Noah rolled his eyes and grabbed his things before heading inside. "If Jake and I can think of a prank for Zeke when he's away at college, then you aren't safe either."

Kyle and Dave both glanced at me, knowing that the singing gram was mostly my idea.

I hurriedly grabbed my stuff and followed Noah. Not like it was much safer inside since we all shared a room, but at least with Noah around, he should take the brunt of the twins.

Noah and I used both bathrooms to shower first, still having the stink from playing baseball earlier in the day. I scrubbed off the dried sweat, kind of feeling like another moment has passed. The tryouts are over. Next step would be finding out the roster next month and heading to North Carolina in August. With or without Noah. I took a couple deep breaths. Either way, he would be there even if it's in the stands.

Come Monday morning, I was the last one to wake, dragging my feet through the whole routine. Getting dressed. Brushing teeth. Brushing hair. Grabbing a nearly empty backpack, mostly to carry pencils, pens, and a calculator. Nothing more was due. Just finals to take.

"You look terrible." Kyle commented when I sat down at the table.

Grampa but some effort in breakfast, making scrambled eggs, chocolate chip pancakes, and crispy bacon. I filled my plate with it all.

"I think he looks like his usual morning self." Dave replied. "Drowsy and half-asleep. Better this than-" He stopped himself.

"Better this than his vomiting because of anxiety." Noah finished for him. "Don't be afraid to say the truth." He looked at me. "But Kyle is right. You look a little more exhausted than normal. Are you going to fall asleep during your tests?"

I shook my head and started eating.

"Give him some time to warm up." Dave said. "Noah, you have your first final with him so just keep an eye on him. You might have to throw something at him if he starts dozing off."

I rolled my eyes.

"Looks like he's more awake than he's letting on." Grampa chuckled. "Stop picking on him and fuel up. How about we discuss dinner ideas for tonight?"

"Steak!" The twins said simultaneously.

"Off the grill." Kyle added. "It's perfect weather. We can even do little veggie kabobs so Mom knows it's a balanced meal."

"Are you kids going to invite any of your friends over to watch the Stanford game?" Grampa asked. "I'll need a head count before I go grocery shopping."

"I'll send out a text to see if anyone is interested." Dave pulled out his phone. "Some might not be able to come if they've got to study. Not everyone can be as smart as us."

Noah rolled his eyes. "You have Jake tutoring you in math all the time. You should be saying that not everyone has a live in tutor like you."

"Shhh." Dave shushed him. "I know you've asked him for help too."

The bickering lasted all the way until we reached school. I just soaked it in, happy that it was the normal little things instead of a big fight brewing.

I was definitely awake for the first final of the day, not needing Noah to throw anything at me. During break, Alisha and Kaylee were by our lockers, wanting to know how our weekend tryout went. Noah left out no details, even telling them that I lost to one of those Servite guys.

I rolled my eyes. "You try hitting a 90mph curve."

"I will!" Noah said excitedly. "As soon as the summer starts. I want to get Cody to come over so I can give it a go. He doesn't have to go all out. Just let me see it a couple more times."

"Ok, but before that, what about this weekend?" Alisha asked. "Is it another weekend at Stanford or should I host a birthday party?" She glanced at Kaylee.

"Don't know yet." Noah told her. "We find out tonight if they move on. Hey, if you guys want, you can come over and watch it with us."

"My parents won't let me leave the house during finals week." Kaylee shook her head. She gave a small lift of the arm in a sling. "Plus, I have a physical therapy session this afternoon. And Wednesday. And Friday."

"Wow, that's a lot." I commented, having some experience with PT during my hospital stay.

"Just small sessions. Move my fingers and stretch the arm this way and that way." She gave a small shrug. "Months away from throwing a softball."

"Don't sell yourself short." Noah patted her good shoulder. "This is just the start. I bet you'll be able to throw casually before you leave for SoCal."

Alisha let out a heavy sigh. "Don't talk about her leaving. It makes me feel sad."

"Why?" Noah asked, confused. "If anyone should feel sad, it's Kaylee."

"I'm just going to miss how things are now. With the four of us." Alisha defended.

I nodded. "Me too. I don't like change."

"Life is always changing." Noah rolled his eyes. "But that's okay. We'll all still be friends. Even if we aren't in the same places physically, just know that we're all either a text or phone call away." He looked at Kaylee. "Do us a favor and visit Disneyland without us. We'll visit you and make you play tour guide."

Kaylee cracked a smile. "Yea? I'll make sure I'm ready for you guys."

"I love that idea!" Alisha clapped her hands together. "We should start talking to our parents about it. Like throw the idea around and maybe look up some details like flights and hotels."

"I feel like we should wait until one of us can drive." Kaylee said with a smile. "I'll probably be last to qualify, but next summer this could be a thing."

The bell rung to signal the end of our break. But at lunch, Noah ran the idea by me again.

"Going back down south wouldn't bug you, right?" He asked as we unpacked our lunches. "Like I know Jeremy did anything to leave the area because…ya know. Are you going to be the same?"

I thought about it. "It's not the same, I think. Besides, I know where she is. There wouldn't be anything to fear down there anymore."

Noah grinned. "Good. Because I'm really liking this idea for next summer break. Like if we can talk Mom and Dad into letting us go and making a big trip out of this. Like we can go to some of the stadiums down there and see the Dodgers, Angels, and Padres. It would be awesome."

I laughed. "I think you better start with the budget layout. Like Kyle did when he wanted to do that pitching camp."

"I've got time." Noah said confidently.