485 Summer Plans (2/2)

”I figured you would want to.” Noah glanced up at me. ”What took you so long? Did you and Dad talk about the court thingy tomorrow or something?”

”That...” I took a deep breath. ”And about this summer ball team you want to join.”

Noah brightened up. ”Don't worry, I'll think of something! If we pester Dad and Mom long enough, I'm sure they'll do something or other to get us a tryout.”

”I don't want to tryout.” I rushed the words out of my mouth, scared of how this was going to play out.

Noah's excitement died down. ”You...you don't?”

Not liking the expression he was giving me, I looked down at my feet. ”No...I don't think I want to play with them.” Even with them not telling Noah about the changed tryout date, they just... ”It won't be like the team we're on now, will it?”

”Well, no, but-”

”And the Coach won't be the same.” I told him. ”What if I can't make the team? Fielding wise, I'm really average.” If that.

”But you're batting is really good!” Noah got up from his chair.

I looked up at him. ”Yea, but it's just not the same.” I decided it was time to bring out my trump card: his concern for my feelings. ”Plus, the other freshmen don't seem to like me. If they also make this summer ball team, won't that mean I have to play with them almost every day?”

”If they dare to pick on you, then I'll fight them.” Noah said defiantly.

”That's not how a team is supposed to be though. You saw how Chris was demoted, what if we get kicked off for being the reason for fights.”

Noah went silent.

Seeing another opening, I spoke up again. ”Plus, I want to experience summer break. In the past, I-” I swallowed audibly. ”I didn't get to do a whole lot of normal summer things.”

”Like what?”

I shrugged. ”I don't know. Go to the beach? Swimming? Go to a baseball game. Without school, I had to spend more time at home with my mother.”

”Oh, right.” He came over and laid a hand on my shoulder. ”Don't worry, we can do all that and then some more.”

I smiled with relief.

After that talk, Noah lost a lot of his anger as we went on with our night. We took turns showering and then got to work on our homework. Even at dinner, he told his parents not to worry anymore and that he would settle on something else to do for the summer. They smiled and told him to take his time to look into some baseball camps.

”You too, Jake.” Mrs. Atkins added. ”If you think of anything you want to do or a camp to sign up for, let us know and we can talk it over.”