Chapter 10- She is Back!

Alex’s POV

When we arrived Jason saw me and he shouted making all of them look at our direction and ran towards us. They all gave me high fives but Jason and Max had a different things in mind the sat down and both of then grabbed one of my legs making me sit on their shoulder. They stood up bouncing me.

“What the hell put me down guys.” I shouted

“No! The princess it to be presented to the King who sits in his throne.” Jason said and all of us including Mat marched towards Coach’s Office chanting like crazy ass hats.

“What the F*ck are you doing are you not supposed to be practicing?!” He shouted making all of us quiet and both Jason and Max put me down. All of us stood there like a statue bowing our heads just like old times.

“I’m just kidding! Welcome back Slugger I missed you!” He said giving me a hug I can hear the guys give out an exaggerated sigh and then we laughed.

“Mat how are you? I hope you are doing fine” He said offering him a handshake which he accepted immediately of course.

“I’m doing fine sir. Slugger gave me one hell of a smack but I am as fine as can be.” He said smirking. I hate it when I remember that day but seeing Mat doing so well is making me feel better but not enough I can't help but feel guilty for taking away two year of his life.

“Well I taught her well. Why don’t we all go out the field it is such a good day we don’t want to waste it” Coach said and we all made our exit.

We all went out and the guys continued their training. The only one left at the bench was me, coach and Mat.

“Alex why don’t you go join them” Coach said.

“Uhm, I’d rather not coach I had never played since then and I don’t plan on doing something stupid again. Besides watching them play gives me the satisfaction and content I need.” I said watching them.

“Slugger you are a great player you belong to be in the field. Why don’t we get pass the accident already.” Mat said looking at me with such soft eyes.

“You know very well why I don’t like to go back there. When I saw you laying on the plate and me holding the bat with blood all over it.. I . I can’t. I don’t want to.’’ I started sobbing yes I'm a fucking cry baby and Mat gave me a hug.

“Slugger, I understand. You are traumatized, but I’ll tell you again that was accident it was not your fault in fact it is my fault. I should not have jumped that near you. Look at me.” He said as he wiped my tears and held my chin looking at me straight in my eye with his soft eyes.

“Look at me I’m alive and healthy, if it’s not because of you and your parents I’m dead right now six feet under the ground, but I’m not I’m here with you better than before. If not because of the accident you and I had never become friends. I would still be under Gareth’s selfishness and we might be doing something illegal by now. You made me a better person I’m alive and well you don’t have to throw away your baseball career because of what happened. If you remember the time you whacked me with a bat then that was the time you killed me. You killed the old Mat who was always with his friends doing drugs and wasting our lives. Now that I’m back and alive I will not go back there you are the reason in a very twisted way you are the reason why I can start over my life and become a new leaf. Alex you saved me. So when you think of the accident don’t think that you almost killed me think of it as a way you saved my life.” He said smiling and tears also started to flow.

I hugged him so tight, hearing him say those felt like a thousand tons was lifted off my shoulder. I looked at the guys and looked at coach he gave me a smile and gave me glove. I recognize it immediately.

“You kept this? I asked

“Of course. It doesn’t mean that you don’t play for us anymore I would go around giving your glove like it was nothing.” He said smiing

“Thank you so much” I said as I wore the glove it fits my hand perfectly the way each finger enters the glove and connect my hand with it like it was an extension of my hand. I have a personal glove but this was the glove issued by the school the day I quit was supposed to be the day that they give it to someone new.

I smiled when I saw the writing on it #7 my Jersey number.

I ran to the guys and they looked at me smiling I went to Jason and Max Jason is the new pitcher and Max is the catcher.

“So you decided to come back?” Jason said smirking as he shuffled my hair. I swatted his hands away,

“Hey don’t ruin my bun it’s hard to fix it. Yes I would love to be back.” I said as I looked back to where Mat and coach are sitting, they both gave me a wave and smiled warmly like saying “Go you can do it, we are proud of you”!

Jason gave me the ball I held it letting my fingers ran through its seam. I threw the ball to Max but not a pitch I might ruin my hand if I do that without warming up a bit.

After the day I thanked coach and the team and brought Mat back to his house thanking him for the day. I went home and told my parents about what happened and they were thrilled and happy for me.

The next morning my body was so sore I mean it feels like I was hit by a bus or maybe a train! This pain only made me smile I missed it. You might not understand but for the athletes out there I know they know what I mean it’s a bitter sweet pleasure.

For my whole stay here everyday since then Mat and I would go to school and train with the guys. Today was Sunday and even on weekends the guys agreed with coach to have training for me before I go back today we just finished training and I removed the glove and gave it back to coach.

“Thank you coach. I miss this and I will miss you and this team so much” I said handing him the gloves

“You are always welcome here slugger. And why don’t you keep that? You and that glove belong together.”

"Seriously? Won't you get in trouble for this? I asked even though deep inside I seriously want to keep the glove.

"This is a secret, I declared hat glove missing years ago and kept it hoping one day you'll come back for it." He said smiling. I smiled wildly and gave him one last hug.

Jason, Mat, Max and I all went to the mall to watch a movie and play at the arcade and eat without bothering to go change because we would be wasting time.

Now we were all at the park where everything started.

“I can’t believe I’m sitting here looking at the field and I had not puked my guts out yet” I said

“Well that is a good thing at least you got over the accident. It’s good to have you back. It was great having you training with us again it was quite boring and un challenging not having you around.” Jason said.

“Well it was great while it lasted but I have to go back tomorrow. I’m going to miss all of you” I said.

“Okay we will miss you too. Let’s stop this drama we are known as the tough guys at school and crying and moping around like this will make a bad impression on the girls.’’ Max said. For those who don’t know Max he would seem like the big bad wolf but in reality he is actually a cat so soft and kind, if you see past his exterior you can see he is actually hurting about me going back.

This comment made us all snicker. We all finished the ice cream we got before we decided to go back home it was already 10 PM. We all said our good byes and hugs. Mat will be taking a rest until the next semester comes and he will enroll and continue his studies on.

I went home and fell asleep the next morning we flew back.