535 V2 ch7 (1/2)

”You don't have to if you don't want to.” Noah whispered this time around.

I shrugged. ”It's fine...it's just a little weird.” I scratched my cheek. ”I don't want him to think that I'm using him.”

”It's not like you're accepting money for a meet and greet.” Noah comforted me. ”Just text him tonight and say that you're coming to a game. With your team.”

”Okay, listen up.” Coach spoke over our side conversations. ”The game we'll be going to has already been decided. The school won't be providing rides so get together and talk if you need to carpool. Make sure to talk to your parents, because it'll be a school night. Thursday. Game is at 7:05pm.” Coach went into the details.

After he answered everyone's questions, we broke up and headed for our own ways. I glanced back at the field, feeling a little sad again. I wouldn't play with this group of guys again.

”Are you really going to ask Jeremy to meet the team when we go on Thursday night?” Dave asked when we were all in the car, heading home.

I shrugged. ”It couldn't hurt.”

”What are you going to say?” Kyle asked.

”I'll just tell him that we're coming Thursday night, first.” I repeated Noah's suggestion. ”Then ask if he wants to meet the team.”

”Do you think he'll get us the same tickets as last time?” Dave asked, grinning.

”No way.” Kyle sighed. ”Coach already got the tickets from the organization. There's no way we would get another set of tickets.”

”Plus, it'll be the whole team this time.” Noah pointed out. ”We'd take up that whole section.”

”Where do you think we'll sit then?” Dave asked.

”Probably the outfield or nosebleed seats.” Kyle snorted.

”Nosebleed..?” I paled.

”It's just a saying for seats that are high up.” Noah explained.

Oh.

The twins and Noah spent the rest of the ride home talking about where we would sit and if their parents would give money for snacks besides a hotdog.

Once we were home, everyone went their own ways. Their parents must be working since neither was home. Without baseball, our focus had to be on homework and upcoming finals. Noah and I had it easy as freshmen though.

In our room, I pulled out my phone and stared at the conversation I had with Jeremy a few days ago. I didn't even say thanks to his last text. I frowned.

”Don't wimp out now.” Noah laughed, pulling out his homework and spreading it out on the floor.

I sat on my bed to get out of his way. ”I'm not wimping out. I just...I'm thinking, okay?”

I saw Noah smile and look away.

Embarrassed, I hurried up and sent a message.

Me: I'm coming to your game on Thursday night with my team. To celebrate our CIF championship.

I threw my pillow from my bed at Noah, messing up his papers that he laid out.

Noah laughed. ”What? It's not my fault you don't follow what the A's are doing.”

”But you knew!” I accused. ”You knew I was going to text him. Why didn't you say anything?”

”Just to see what you would look like when he didn't reply right away.” Noah grinned. ”You were like an eager puppy. If you cared that much, you shouldn't have waited for a reason to message him. Just do it everyday.”

I shook my head. ”I don't want to bug him.”

”I bug my brothers all the time. It's normal.”

”We're not normal brothers.” I pointed out. I put my phone down and started on my own homework. ”Plus, you grew up with your brothers. This is different. We're just strangers that share the same blood.”

Noah didn't say anything to that. He knew better than anyone, where I was coming from. We stopped messing around and focused on getting our homework done. We had projects to complete and books to read for an essay due Friday.

Mrs. Atkins was first to come home with pizzas. The smell summoned all five of us. We sat down as she passed out the plates.

”Mom! We get to go to another A's game this week!” Noah announced happily.

She glanced to me. ”Did you guys reach out to Jeremy?”