This morning I didn't get to have proper sleep like always. Scott got up early shaking me and calling my name over and over again, not letting me fall back asleep. Eventually, I got up and we went to the kitchen to eat breakfast.

After he finished, he got up, putting his small plate in the sink. His mom started to talk to him when he finished cleaning it.

"Well?"

He didn't say anything to her just kind of looked around. She motioned to Bill and waited for his answer

"Well?"

She put extra emphasis on it this time pushing him to actually answer.

"He's too busy, Mom"

"Oh no honey, he has some time, you go out there and ask him"

I stood up from my chair and put my sticky plate of syrup into the sink. Scotty slowly walked over to Bill and stood in front of him. I watched from the small window connecting the kitchen and the living room.

"Uh, Bill uh-"

"Yeah"

"I mean, dad, can we- I mean- could you teach me, like you said, how to catch?"

"Yeah"

Bill kept his eyes on his work in front of him not looking at Scotty

"Yeah, but I got to get this done, okay?"

"Okay, thanks"

"Why didn't you ask (Y/n), he is really good at pitching?"

His smile dropped at that. Bill's eyebrows went up from his pause.

"I just uh- think you w-would be better at teaching me"

"I'm definitely not that good, have you seen him?!"

"Can you just teach me later?"

"Oh uh- sure bud"

"Thanks"

He was going to walk off but his mom stopped him. She pushed him back into the room and Bill looked up.

"Bill?"

"Yeah?"

"Couldn't you take a break and, teach him now?"

"Mom, it's okay, really"

She went to say something to Scott but Bill cut her off

"Uh honey, I said I would, and I will but I'm under the gun here"

"How long would it take? Can't you spare half an hour teaching him?"

"No m-mom really it's okay"

She went to say something again but Bill cut her off... again.

"Alright, okay, I'll get my glove"

He walked past me somewhere to find his glove. Scott's mom bent down to his level and talked to him.

"See? I told you"

"Oh great"

He walked into the kitchen and grabbed the back of my shirt. I could easily pull away from being dragged but I didn't really care enough to do it. I'm a little too tired to do it anyway. He brought us into the hallway and let go of my shirt.

"Can you come outside with me?"

"Why?"

"I don't know, extra reassurance?"

"Whatever"

"Great!"

He ran to get his hat and glove and left me in the middle of the hallway. I slightly giggled at how excited he was and I went to go put my shoes on.

-

Bill had told Scotty that he was ready and they both got up. I followed closely behind Scott while Bill leads him out in the backyard.

Bill had started talking about how to pay attention to the ball and the field around him. I told him this multiple times so I think he's got it. It's just the actual 'doing it' part is what messes him up. He always over thinks then doubts himself at the last moment.

I set his position at the opposite side of the backyard from Bill.

"No matter what, in the field or at the bat, eye on the ball. Got that?"

"Um yeah, yeah I think so"

"Now where the ball goes, the glove should go. Got it?"

"Yeah, okay"

Bill was getting ready to throw it to Scott but instead of catching it he completely dodged it.

"S-sorry"

"It's alright, hey um, help him get into his position to catch"

I nodded and walked over to Scott. He had retrieved the ball from the plants behind him. I could tell he wanted to throw it but he didn't know how.

Instead, he ran the ball over to Bill and then back over to me. I spread his legs a little and told him to relax. He took a deep breath and put his hand up.

"Eye on the ball, okay?"

"Yeah, I got it"

"If the ball moves, the glove moves. Got it?"

"Sure yeah"

Bill threw the ball again and Scott made an effort to catch it but he was a little too slow and hesitant making the ball fly right past him. He ran to grab the ball again and Bill looked somewhat confused.

"Maybe you just need a bigger glove. Throw it back to me this time!"

Scotty stared at the ball hesitating a little. He rolled it across the grass and Bill bent down to get it. Bill looked really confused now.

"Scotty, eye on the ball, alright?"

"Got it"

Bill threw it and Scott managed to get hit right in the eye. I winced at the sudden screaming that came from him.

Bill ran over to us and checked Scott's eye. It was pretty bad, all red and swollen. I helped him inside while Bill rushed into the house.

I sat him down in one of the kitchen chairs and he held his eye again. His mom came in asking what happened and trying to calm him down. Bill came over with a rag that was dripping with water.

"Honey no get some ice, ice!"

"Hold on wait"

He slapped the rag on his face making a sound and he finally started to calm down.

"Hold that up to it, alright"

"I just got hit playing with the ball mom, I'm fine"

"Yeah but at least you caught it, just keep that on for an hour, it'll still be black but it won't swell anymore. Sorry, gotta watch out for that curve"

I don't know why, but I got the feeling that Bill was being sarcastic. I grabbed Scott's free hand and comforted him a little bit.

-

After his eye had bruised up we went outside to sit on the front steps. He was upset again and It was making me feel worse about the whole situation.

I heard some footsteps in front of us

"Hey!"

I looked up before Scott and saw that tall guy from before. He's from the Sandlot and those other jerks.

"Um we wanted to play some ball and we need two extra guys, wanna come?"

I looked over at Scott and he shook his head before answering

"Nah, thanks"

"Why not, Don't you like baseball?"

"Oh yeah but um..."

"But what?"

"But my glove, it's busted uh so you know, I can't go, thanks though"

"What about you Pretty boy"

Me?!

"W-well, If he doesn't want to go, I want to stay back to make sure he's okay. Thanks for the offer though"

I would be lying if I said I didn't blush a little bit. I never really paid attention to him before this but he's pretty cute. I looked down to hide my very pink face.

"Well okay, by the way..."

He pulled a glove out of his pants and threw it to Scotty

"I got an extra glove"

He caught the glove and smiled at me

"Come on, now you can go"

He stood up and went to the door

"Mom I'm gonna go play some ball!"

I stood up and walked over to the tall boy. He stared at me again but turned around to run.

"Let's go!"

I ran after him occasionally looking back to see if Scott was somewhere behind us. This guy was pretty fast, we were about the same speed. He started to slow down and turned the corner.