First Base
School was over and done with for the day and Abe was walking to afternoon practice, thinking about what strange new practice rituals the couches would make them today.
"A-Abe?"
Abe turned around to see none other than his low self-esteemed pitcher, Mihashi. "Yeah, What is it Mihashi?"The calm, cool, and collected catcher asked in response.
"U-umm…Well…I-…uhg…" Mihashi stammered,"I-I… wanted to ask you…"
"If you have something to say, then say it!"
Mihashi stuttering and stammering is nothing new. Everyone was pretty used to it by now, including Abe. It's just that sometimes it really got on Abes nerves for a reason he had no idea of. 'He should be able to ask me a simple question without stuttering so much by now.' Abe thought to himself with annoyance. Weather Mihashis' face was turning red with embarrassment or distress, Abe couldn't tell.
"I-I have a t-test tomorrow a-a-and I need help with math…..S-S-So…I was wondering if you would….help me ….study…?"
Abe let out a sigh,"Is that all? Look man, if you need anything, anything at all, just asks. Okay?"
Mihashi just gave a light nod in response with his cheeks still red.
"I'll come over tonight after practice and we'll study together. That okay?"
"Y-yeah…That's fine..."
Abe put a reassuring hand on the pitchers shoulder,"Now, let's get started with practice. We can't start slacking off when we have such a big game coming up." Mihashi gave Abe a smile and nodded,"R-right!" Then ran for the dugout to get ready for their normal warm up throws. 'He's like 5 year old….' Abe thought,' I wonder if he acts cute like that on purpose.' Wait. Did he just call Mihashi cute?
During practice Abe found himself staring at the pitcher more than necessary. He watch very close when Mihashi pitched, but not really paying any attention to the pitches themselves. He was watching Mihashi. His stance. The windup. The pitch. He watched the same thing over and over again, like he couldn't get enough of it. He let his mind wonder, which is not something he let happen. Ever. For some reason today, he was out of it. He couldn't stay focused. Not as long as Mihashi was standing right in front of him. He tried his best not to show how off his game he was in front of the team. The catcher needs to stay focused so the rest of the team can stay focused. He knew that couch would defiantly notice, there was no hiding that from her. He didn't care as long as the rest of the team couldn't tell.
"All right guys!" The couches interrupted everyone, making them stop dead in their tracks. "Let's wrap it up and call it a day!" Team ran into the dugout, packed up their stuff, and headed for home. Mihashi waited for Abe buy the dugout exit. He had gotten his stuff ready and was about to leave, but the couch stopped him. He knew this would happen.
"Abe, is everything alright? You seemed really unfocused today…"
"Sorry couch, "Abe apologized. " It's nothing really. I've just been out of it all day…"
"Well, whatever the problem is, you should take care of it, and soon. We can't have you spacing out during a game."
He told the couch that he would take care of it and that it was nothing to be worried about. He walked home with Mihashi in silence. Buy the time they were in Mihashis room the pitcher still hadn't said a word. He just nodded and shook his head at Abes questions. He probably didn't know what to say and was internally freaking his self out about it. Which was fine with Abe, it gave him a little time to think. Whatever the problem is you should fix it, and soon….. What was his problem and how is he supposed to fix it? He kept thinking about how he was looking and Mihashi. No, not just looking, but starring at his pitcher. He's suppose to look at Mihashi and make sure he doesn't over excerpt himself , it's his job as a pitcher, but not like that….that was just a total creepy "Ima stalk you stare" he was giving Mihashi.
"U-umm…Abe?"
Abe was pulled out of his inner monologue when Mihashi finally spoke up. Abe turned to face his pitcher who currently stopped working through the problem set he had been told him it do, "Hmm?"
"A-are you f-f-feeling alright? It's just that you seemed kind of distracted … today… A-and if it's something I did…..I'm sorry!" Mihashis face was almost beet red.
'Typical Mihashi… Something's wrong this me and he thinks it's his fault….' Abe took a good long look at the blushing pitcher. He was starring down at the table with tears building up in his big hassle eyes. A light flush of pink appeared on Abes cheeks. His heart skipped a beat. That's when it hit him. He liked Mihashi…. Not the like as in teammates or friends, but the like as in the romantic sense. Wait, that can't be right. Can it? That has to be it; there's no other explanation for this feeling that's been building inside of him from the first day he meet the timid pitcher. Without thinking, Abe quickly cupped Mihashis chin and tilted his head so they were now making eye contact. Mihashi gave questioning look but didn't struggle. Abe gently pressed his lips to Mihashis, brushing their lips together. Mihashis face turned cherry red, his eyes went wide. He was freaking out at first, but then he slowly began to relax into the feel of Abes lips and started to return the kiss. The kiss only lasted for a minute or so before Abe pulled back, breaking the kiss. They looked at each other with blank expressions, but as what happened started to sink in, Mihashi started to spazz. He twitched, shook his head, and flailed his arms. He would have stuttered if could've formed a complete sentence.
"A-be!-…Wha?...Uhh-..Bu-! I-!"
Abe thought it best to stop him before he hurt himself,"I like you. That's what's been bothering me all day. I guess…..it didn't really sink in until just now. You didn't do anything wrong."
"A-Abe…" Mihashis face was still red," I-I-I'm…I m-mean, I r-r-really…"
"Just come out and say it." Abe was getting ready for the 'Sorry, but I don't feel the same' speech."I'm not gonna get mad or anything like that."
Mihashi took a deep breath a said as calmly as he could," I-I really like you too…."
That was the last thing that Abe expected to hear. "You….you do?"
Mihashi nodded,"F-f-f-for a r-really long time now…"
Abe gave Mihashi a caring, loving smile before kissing him once more. No more studying was done that night
