248 The Softball Team 3 (1/2)

”So much arrogance for a shrimp.” Marie commented.

Zeke ignored her, and kept his eyes on Noah. ”You have two minutes to explain.”

Noah started from the beginning from when we going to sit behind the twins. He even went into detail about the challenge between both teams since Kyle and Marie couldn't play nice. As for us sitting three to a seat, he ended his mini speech with, ”We'll agree to sitting in the back, but we refuse to sit with an extra person. Jake has a valid medical reason.”

I do?

”He does?” Marie rolled her eyes. ”Stop lying and go already. If we're late to our game, we won't have enough time to warm up properly.”

Zeke looked down at her, tilting his head. ”It's never been a rule that freshman have to triple up. If anything, the girls should since they're smaller.”

”Of course you're siding with your littlest brother.” She glared at Noah directly. ”Nepotism won't get you far in life.”

Uh oh. Noah's least favorite word.

Noah was ready to attack, but Zeke held him back by resting a hand on top of his head. ”Go sit.”

”But-” Noah wanted to protest, yet stopped with a single look from Zeke.

Zeke turned back to Marie. ”You should try acting more like a proper captain and less like a middle schooler. You're not only the representative of your team, but also of the school. Don't shame us with that ugly attitude.” Zeke glanced at us two. ”Didn't I say to go sit?”

We nodded and hurried to the back.

”Zeke was too cool.” Noah said, happily as we sat in the very last row. ”Like ice cold. He shut down that Marie like it was nothing.”

I nodded. Then I peeked forward to see how she would reply to Zeke. At this point, most of the players for both teams were on the bus and finding seats. Even though it was a packed bus, no one spoke since all eyes were on the two captains of the two different teams.

Marie stood up again, this time trying to face off with Zeke. But Zeke didn't give her the chance. He merely turned his back to her and walked to the front of the bus and took a seat in one of the front rows, just behind the coaches. Marie stormed up the aisle, only a few seconds behind. She skipped over Zeke and went straight to the unknown coaches. She spoke with one of the women, who in turned got up to speak with Coach Wilcox. She must be the head coach.

I nervously looked at Noah. ”Do you think coach will get mad and force us to get a third person?”

Noah shook his head. ”No way. If Zeke won't make you, then coach wouldn't either. He knows everything, remember? Worse comes to worse, we'll get off and call mom and dad for a ride.”

”They're going even though it's an away game?”

Noah nodded. ”Yep. I told you they go to all games as long as they don't have something previously planned.”

The woman coach finished speaking with our head coach, and turned to Marie. We could see her lips move, but at the back of the bus we couldn't hear a word. It didn't matter though, because Marie stomping back to her seat said it all. Coach must have told the softball coach what was wrong with me.

I slumped back in the seat, a sense of relief washed over me. How exhausting. Is my life always going to be like this? I looked into my hands and saw beads of sweat. My sense of anxiety hasn't gotten much better. I thought I was doing well, speaking more, not flinching as much, but I'm still the same. I stood behind Noah and didn't speak up. Strangers shouldn't make me so afraid. I let out a sigh.

Noah leaned forward, looking at my distraught face. ”What's wrong? Do you want the window seat instead? Would you be more comfortable with your back to everyone?”

I shook my head violently. ”N-n-no. Definitely not. I want to see everyone.” I looked out the window behind Noah. Then looked at the aisle. ”I'm good here.” I didn't want to feel even more trapped. Even though it was just Noah, I don't think I could stand being boxed in.

Noah shrugged and leaned back, trying to find a comfortable position on the very firm bench we shared. ”This isn't so bad. Whenever we went on field trips as kids, everyone wanted to sit in the back so it'll be like reminiscing.”

I blinked. ”Why did everyone want to sit in the back as kids, but not now?”

Noah tilted his head. ”Have you never been on a bus?”