All characters involved in sexual contact, over the age of 18. Based on a true story with a lot of fiction.
*****
Where do you feel you're best? Where do you feel at home? For me, it was on the baseball field, up on the pitcher's mound. On a brisk February day, right in the middle of the month, I stood on that mound as a king. I wanted nothing more but to be here at that moment. Well maybe not anything more, I looked over my right shoulder at a buxom blond named Sarah Smith, short with big breasts and a winning smile. She wasn't looking at me though; she was starring at the man opposite me at the plate, Nathan Willis. He was simply an amazing athlete and person. He lettered in Football, baseball and basketball.
A practice game before regular practices began for the year. We played on the same team. He and I were about as alike as peanut butter and honey. I was 5' 10 190 lbs and spent my time playing video games, while Nathan was at the gym. I wasn't fat, I was wide, I had blue cold eyes and didn't smile often. The only thing I did sport wise was baseball, and I wasn't as handsome or personable as Nathan. I was just a regular guy with a fastball. Sarah had been in love with Nathan, since well, I had been in love with Sarah. But she had never noticed.
Her eyes pierced Nathan while I shook off two signs from my catcher and best friend, Mickey Rourke. He wanted me to throw something off speed but I knew what this guy needed. Mickey got the message and gave me the sign for my fastball; I wound up and threw with all my might. As much as I would like to have thrown the ball at Nathan's head, I threw it to the lower inside corner and he was a mile late with the bat, the sound of the ball hitting the catchers mitt was all I heard. Strike three, game over. As I walked toward the dugout, I looked up at Sarah, a smile on my face, looking for hers, instead she was staring at Nathan, looking heartbroken for him. I just wanted her to notice me, but she only had eyes for him. Mickey ran up to me and hit me on the shoulder, then followed my gaze.
He shook his head and said,
"You gotta think about something else man. Until she realizes Nate is not interested in one woman, she will never see you." That was unlikely, they had been together for years. Nathan was completely loyal to her.
I tried to take my eyes off her. She was beautiful to me, she wasn't the most popular or sexiest girl in school, but she had something special about her. Every guy liked her. I was not as pathetic as some of them. Her and I were very close. Just as friends, she told me everyday how much she loved Nathan. How much they were alike. We had grown up together; she lived across the street from me. Nathan lived across from her, we all got along well.
In the locker room Nathan and his gang were laughing and talking about how good we were going to be this year. Last year, he sat out the season because of a broken ankle and we had no offence. He talked about my fastball at the end of the game and how he couldn't even see it. The reason I secretly hated him so much was because of Sarah, first and foremost. A close second was the fact he was so nice, such awesome he had to know I liked her, and he never said a word once. He was awesome to me, even though all I was a dork who could throw a ball and dream of getting with his girlfriend.
"Ty dude, you should come skating tonight." Nathan called to me.
I instantly rejected the idea; I hated hanging out with the cool crowd. But to be nice I responded in a fake tone.
"Ohh maybe, whose coming?"
"Well it's a birthday party and valentine's day party for Sarah, her birthday is today. So all of her friends and most of the team. She said you were coming."
I had forgotten about her birthday, I wasn't worried about Valentine's Day, I had no one to celebrate with. But I had forgotten Sarah's birthday, that never happened before. She usually makes it into a huge deal but she hadn't mentioned it in a few weeks. A look must have creeped across my face because Nathan then said,
"Don't worry, she doesn't want presents, except from me. You guys get off easy." He joked and his gang all laughed. I joined in lightly relieved he had misunderstood my face.
John Newcomer, our coach walked into the locker room. A scowl on his face, "Mayes get the fuck in here." He said pointing at the office. I shared a scared look with Mickey and Nathan, got up and hurried in behind him, shutting the door.
He began talking without preamble, I looked down, and saw my grades sitting on his desk.
"We got a problem son, a big problem. This is our year. Our year. You are going to go pro if the scouts see your fastball this year. The high school sports committee fucked us. Absolutely, fucked us. They have changed the rules for eligibility, a student no longer need a 3.0 gpa average to qualify for athletics." That didnt sound bad." You now need a C or 78 average in every class you are enrolled in."
I stared at him processing what he was saying, then spoke one word," Literature."
He nodded," If you don't pull your 68 up to a 78 average, the lowest C, by march 17 you will not be able to play this year. I am so sorry son. There is no way around it. You have a month. I will speak to your teacher. Get your her best student to tutor you."
I refused to believe it was happening. I was so horrible at literature; I couldn't understand a word of any of it. My mom knew it and let it slide as long as my other grades were fine. I was the only player disqualified by the rule, but the all the players were highly dismayed.
I drove home thinking about how I was going to raise my grade, I knew I had a huge paper due, based on a few Shakespearean works, next week. I decided to hit the books hard tonight and skip the skating ring. Just as I was about to sit down to read the first book, the phone rang.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Hey Ty, its Kate." Sarah's best friend. She dressed slightly Goth. She wore black a lot, she stood about 5 ' 7 and slim. We got along well, but didn't talk much. "Sarah is looking for you. She had me call you to make sure you weren't skipping her party just because you aren't on the baseball team anymore."
"What? I'm still on it, I just need to get a grade up."
"Ohh, she made it sound final. Sorry."
"Don't worry about it. Kate, Anyways, I am thinking of skipping." I heard a rustling over the phone and heard Sarah speak into the receiver; my heart skipped a beat as always.
"Don't skip my party Ty, I need you there, it's my 18th birthday." She pleaded
"Ok, ok, I will be there."
"Great, can you pick Nathan up, his car is in the shop. Thanks Cutie." And she hung up before I could respond.
I showered, groomed and called my mom to tell her I would be out late. She was a swing nurse and was working a 12 hour shift; I wouldn't see her til the weekend. It was just her and I; my dad had died in Afghanistan in the 90's.
When I arrived at Nathan's house, he was outside waiting, and jumped in the car. I was driving a late 80s Mercedes, sedan. It was a peach of a car, leather and smooth. As I drove we eased in to conversation mostly about major league baseball. Not once mentioning Sarah's name. He could ease into any room, talk about anything, and was so peaceful. The guy was Ghandi for god sakes. I pulled into the skating rink right on time. Sarah met Nate at my car and kissed him. A small amount of bile raised in my stomach, but I suppressed it.
A lot of people showed up, probably 30. Sarah was inseparable, from Nathan skating with him every song. After skating for a few hours, I had grown tired of watching Nathan grab Sarah's ass and her squeal in delight. Grown a bit tired of her hold his hand. I was skating off and noticed Kate sitting alone at a table with her skates off. I skated over and she waved at me.
