When we pulled into the parking lot of O’Reilly’s, a park close to Pleasant View High, the sky had turned dark and the time was just past seven. I had a few hours before I needed to be home.
“Are you going to play baseball again?” I asked Dean as he parked his car.
He turned to me, placed a baseball cap on backwards, and smiled. “Is that okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I’ll watch.”
“Thanks. This game was kind of set up a few days ago, but I canceled.” he confessed, pulling the key out of the ignition.
“To go out with me?” I asked, slowly.
“Yeah, it was worth it though. But now I get the best of both worlds.” Dean grinned.
I smiled back.
We exited the car and Dean quickly joined my side, taking my hand. The feeling of his skin on mine stirred a fire in my belly. Dean led me to a group of guys, all with backward baseball caps on, hanging out on the field. Their faces were overjoyed upon seeing him, thinking he wasn’t going to come.
“Guys, this is Annabelle.” Dean introduced.
“Hey!” They all said, doing a little half wave.
“Hi.” I said back, shyly.
“You go to Royal Heights high?” One of them asked, readjusting his cap over his messy dark brown hair.
“Yeah, you all go to Pleasant View High right?” I asked all of them.
“Yep.” They all said in unison.
I wished them a good game before Dean led me to a small sitting area. “Are you going to be okay here? I mean is this okay?”
I nodded and smiled to him. “It’s okay, I don’t mind sitting and watching.”
Dean smiled as he reached over and squeezed my hand. “You’re cool you know that Anna?”
“Duh.” I stated, feeling weird. Seriousness clouded Dean’s face and before I knew it, the back of my hand was pressed against his lips.
“Dean.” I murmured, lost in his eyes. He lowered my hand, I sat down, and we stared at each other in silence. After a few seconds and without another word, he turned and ran back to his friends, joining their huddle.
His kiss was sweet and warm, and… nice. But, it felt wrong and I wished it didn’t.
*~*~*
After their opponents showed up, I watched Dean play ball for about an hour. It seemed more like a practice, but I was having a good time. Every so often Dean would wave at me with a smile.
Everything was going great, that is until I felt the desperate urge to pee. I tried holding it for as long as I could, but my bladder wasn’t taking no for an answer anymore. Dean looked up as I got up. I pointed to the bathroom and he understood.
I entered the public bathroom and waited in line for my turn at one of six stalls. After a slow moving line, I finally had my turn fifteen minutes later. The line behind me had progressed, so I did what I needed to do in record speed.
After washing my hands and about to walk out, angry yells came from outside, halting me immediately at the exit. I peeked from the doorway and noticed more people on the baseball diamond than before.
“Get off!”
“We’re still playing here!”
Dean’s friend Joe was yelling. His arms flailed wildly with Dean holding him back.
“Get off! We’re still playing here!” A familiar voice screeched out, clearly making fun of Joe. The crowd parted and I noticed a few girls hanging about. One of them looked really familiar as her auburn hair flew in the wind.
What’s she doing here?
Donna and her crew of ‘hot’ girls stood behind the group of guys. The crowd spread apart, showcasing Joe’s opponent. Equally as tall, with a puffed out chest and a trouble-making persona, I couldn’t believe it.
James was the one antagonizing Joe.
Dean pulled Joe back again and whispered something in his ear.
“What a bunch of pussies!” James yelled and then laughed along with his boys. Joe turned around, angry as hell.
“What did you call me bitch face!” he roared.
“Joe, stop!” Dean yelled, trying to keep him still.
“Yeah Joe, stop!” James mimicked squeakily. Dean stood frozen, obviously shocked by James’ behavior. Joe used Dean’s shocked state to his advantage and charged towards James, who looked like he was ready to hit someone too.
Donna and her crew squealed like idiots behind him. “Oh-my-God! James, No!”
Joe pushed James, barely making him move. James was strong. Dean and his boys quickly joined in, as did James’. They pushed and swung at each other while random people hanging about made a run for it.
Oh my God! I couldn’t believe this was happening. I gazed at the definition of horror in front of me. There was no way, now way I could go out to that. I was staying in the safe bathroom.
The girls were yelling and squealing. “Stop!”
Police sirens rang loudly and that did it, the fight quickly broke up. Everyone scattered, running away before cops showed up and arrested them for fighting. James and his boys, plus Donna and her ‘hot’ girl crew ran to their cars. Dean and his boys did the same.
All their cars pulled out of the parking lot and minutes later a police car showed up. They wandered around, searching the area for any trouble. After a few minutes, the police left and I sighed in relief. With my heart rate back to normal and on step number five past the bathroom exit, I suddenly realized something horrible.
Dean left without me.