Zach and his friends all eye you as you trot onto the diamond. You're a bit smaller than them, even as a guy, since most of them are 16 or 17, and you are only 14. They glance at each other, as if to confirm that none of them know who you are. You're pretty sure no one will recognize you...after all, you specifically bought a tank top figuring that way it would be obvious you were male.
"I just moved into the area," you add belatedly, suddenly realizing how odd it was to just walk up to them. They all give you skeptical looks, all except your brother, who suddenly sprouts a grin.
"You can have Vince," Zach smirks at the opposing team, "if you take the new guy." You can tell Zach's doing this because he thinks you're a little kid who can't play worth a dime. His friends seem to have the same suspicion, but faced with the temptation of getting Vince on their team, they nod begrudgingly. The two teams head to their benches to get ready, but your team doesn't seem to have high expectations of you.
"Just try not to hit any pop fly's," Dean, the team captain, squints at you. "Bunt if you have to, new guy. We play until two hours is up and whoever is ahead wins." Apparently you are also going by "New Guy," since no one's bothered to ask you your name. Which is kind of a relief, because you forgot to think up one.
As the game gets going, you sit on the bench while your team is at bat. You've been placed dead last in the lineup, probably in hopes that the time will run out before you get placed at bat. Suddenly, you hear giggles and a few cat-calls from the bleachers. Turning, you see some of the girls from your school, mostly ones from the cheerleading squad. It begins to dawn on your why Zach didn't let you play with his friends anymore. How could the guys show off for the girls if they were getting their butts kicked by a girl two years younger than them? Even though some of the youngest girls, which are 14 like you, are giving you curious looks, you scowl. Stupid guys, all they're concerned about is their image, that's why they wouldn't let you play anymore.
A few innings go by without major incident, but thanks to Zach's pitching, your team is stuck at zero runs, while his has scored once. It's nearly 6 PM, and with two outs, you finally get your first at-bat. Vince had managed to hit a double, but is stuck on second base.
"Look, just bunt away," Dean instructs you with no faith at all in your skills. "Vince will get home and at least we'll have a tie." You don't bother acknowledging his instructions and head over to the plate. You have to admit, you're kind of irritated. Even though you're one of the guys now, they're still treating you like you're a useless little pest, even though if given the chance you could beat the pants off any of them. The more you think about it, the more it's pissing you off. And to top it off, Zach is on the mound, smirking as if you're an easy out.
For the first pitch, you choke up on the bat like you're going to bunt, but don't bother swinging as Zach lands a strike with a fastball. You ignore the groans coming from your team's bench, and let Zach get even cockier. His second pitch is a curveball, and this time you pretend to take a small swing and miss. Your team's bench is certain you're useless now and is starting to get their stuff together. Zach is full-on grinning now, and you know exactly where he's going to place the ball. He always does it when he's certain he has the batter's number, and this time is no exception. As the pitch comes in low and away, you settle in and swing with all your might.
All of the boys' jaws drop simultaneously as the ball makes a perfect arc over the fence. In fact, they are all standing still watching the ball as it thunks on the other side, including Vince. It's only when you round first base and holler, "Run, already!" that Vince and the rest of your team come out of their reverie. However, the best part is seeing the look on Zach's face as you round third, as he is still staring in the direction the ball went. When you reach home plate, you find yourself being pounded on the back by every guy on your team. As the group finally begins to break up and head their separate ways, you lean back against the fence to catch a breath and revel in your victory.
"You play pretty good, new guy. What's your name?" You start as you realize Zach is the one speaking to you with a smile on his face. Crap! You forgot to think up a name!
"Er...Aaron! My name's Aaron," you stutter out nervously. Zach doesn't seem to notice.
"You should play with us again sometime, Aaron. You got a number?" Zach asks you, surprisingly friendly. You obviously can't give him your real cell number, so you shake your head.
"I broke my phone, still haven't gotten a new one," you think fast and blurt out. Zach digs around in his bag and manages to find a pen, but after a bit of rummaging, no paper.
"Ugh, here you go," Zach says, and before you can react, reaches out, pulls your forearm over, and writes his cell number on your arm. "Call me or text me when you get a phone, we could use a player like you. Or just to hang out, whatever." Dumbfounded, you nod as Zach tosses his duffel bag on his bike and takes off. It's only at that moment you realize you have to get home as soon as possible and change back; even if no one is suspicious, if you get back late you will have to come up with an excuse. You take off running madly for home.