Title: Natural

Summary: An unknown batter named Edward Masen takes a losing baseball team to the top of the league. Edward lives out his fame but can't seem to shake the idea of the mysterious woman he meets on the train.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. No profit is being made from this work.

A/N: I'm posting just this chapter until The Lies That Bind Us is finished. But Ballward *snicker* wanted me to push his story out there. So, here he is. Enjoy.


Chicago 1952

I reached up on the rack above my seat, placing my suitcase and case on it before sitting down and pulling my hat down to cover my face. My legs went to rest on the seat in front of me as I attempted to relax. I was in for a long train ride into New York from Chicago. Crossing my arms, I slouched down in my seat frowning slightly at my tattered suit. I searched my father's old trunks for a decent one, to be presentable, but came up empty.

"Is this seat taken?" A small tentative voice called out.

I looked up to meet a pair of deep brown eyes staring down at me. "Uh, no. Sorry. Here." I moved my legs off the seat and gestured for her to sit.

"Thanks."

She lifted her suitcase and placed it in the racks before smoothing her pale blue dress and sitting across from me, and opening a worn book. I squinted my eyes to read the title. Wuthering Heights. I'd never understood the characters and their need to constantly damage their own lives. I shook my head slightly and took a moment to look at her.

Her brown eyes were held in a heart-shaped face that was encompassed my wavy brown hair. Her lips weren't proportioned, the bottom fuller than the top, and I became drawn to them as she constantly bit and pulled on her lip. I watched the motion with fascination before I pulled my gaze to take notice of her other attributes. Her skin was porcelain white. I followed my gaze down her small slender body to her long legs that were crossed.

As my gaze drifted back up to her face I saw the most beautiful blush cross her features. She caught me staring. I lifted the corner of my mouth into a lopsided smile. And if possible, her blush deepened as she bit her lip looking back down at her book.

"Hello," I said in a squeaky voice. I cleared my throat to continue. "My name is Edward Masen."

I reached out my hand and her soft hand shook mine. "I'm Isabella Cullen. Call me, Bella."

"Well Mrs. Cullen—"

"It's Miss, not Mrs." She interrupted unaware at my attempt to check in on her status.

I smiled the lopsided smile again, and sure enough, the blush returned. "Well, Miss Cullen," I stressed, "where are you off to?"

"New York. And you?"

"Same."

She bit her lip tentatively. "Business or pleasure?"

"Both. I'm meeting with the Knights. I'm their new right fielder."

She smiled brilliantly and lifted her hand to cup the side of her mouth. "I didn't realize I was sitting next to someone famous," she whispered.

I leaned in and shifted my eyes before speaking. "I'm not the only one." I nodded behind me to the seats in the far back of car. "That's Felix 'Deep Field' Demetri. Three time Most Valuable Player and the leading hitter for the American League. And next to him is famous sport-writer Eric Yorkey."

She looked over in their direction and I felt a need to regain her attention. "But you're sitting next to the most famous. Trust me."

Her gaze returned to mine and her eyebrow arched in challenge. "Oh, is that so? Do you mind if I ask why?"

"I think it'll be better if I show you."

She smiled and I heard shuffling of feet as my manager, Jasper, settled in beside me. "Masen you fraternizing with women? What did I tell you? You can't lose your focus! Sorry, dear. Jasper Whitlock, this knucklehead's manager." He gestured his thumb towards me.

"Nice to meet you, Jasper. I'm Isabella Cullen." They shook hands. "I'll let you have the attention of your player back." She smiled at me and lifted her book back up and continued reading.

I returned her smile sadly.


"We'll be making a stop to refuel. There is a carnival outside. Please, feel free to explore it, as it well take several hours." The conductor called out as he walked down the aisle.

I was grateful for the stop. Jasper had been chewing my ear off for the whole ride about focus and do's and don'ts of baseball. Like I didn't know them already. My focus however, was on the pretty brunette two feet in front of me.

"Are you going to go to the carnival, Miss Cullen?" I asked as Jasper and I stood.

She jumped at my question, no doubt delved into her book. "Uh-I wasn't going to. I—"

"I was hoping to give you proof about out discussion earlier. If you'd like to accompany us." I interrupted.

"Of course."

I reached my hand out to her, helping her out of her seat, and the three of us made our way off the train.

I knew the particular game I was looking for. It was at every carnival. We walked along the games when I finally found it. Knock-A-Can. I walked up to the kid working the booth and slipped him a bill as he handed me three baseballs. I stepped back from the booth and looked towards Bella.

She was smiling at me, and I felt the nerves and weight over what I was about to do drape over me. If I missed I might possibly embarrass the girl whose affection I was trying to gain. Taking a deep breath I stood in my pitching stance holding the ball up near my face. I looked towards the cans, took a deep breath and pitched the ball right towards them. They crashed into a pile on the floor.

I looked towards the next one and repeated my actions. The cans flew off the table and spurred off in all sorts of directions. The final one had the same result. As they crashed, Bella ran over to me, gripping my arm.

"That was amazing, Edward!"

Hearing my name roll out from her lips elicited emotions in me I'd never felt. It seemed so natural with this girl, effortless, and yet, I knew nothing about her.

"Can you do it, again?" she asked.

"I'll do whatever you want."

She smiled up at me and I fought the urge to kiss her right then. It wouldn't be right. I walked over to the booth, paying for more, and continued my destruction at Knock-A-Can. At some point, I must've gained a crowd. People circled around me, clapping and cheering me on as I continued. The crowd didn't matter. The only presence I felt in that moment was Bella's. She had a look of pure adoration on her face.

"I bet he won't make the next three in a row," a voice yelled.

I turned and was met with the smug smile of Felix Demetri.

Jasper stepped in. "He's yet to miss one yet."

"A bets, a bet. Fifty says he won't make the next three in a row."

"You're on."

I turned to Jasper, begging him not to make the bet. But, he just waved me off and paid the kid at the booth before turning and handing me the three balls. I looked towards Bella who was biting her lip, nervously, and inwardly smiled. I could do this.

I pitched the first one.

Down.

The second one.

Down.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I readied my stance, opening my eyes, and pitched the last ball.

They came down with a crash.

The carnival erupted into cheers and Bella ran and wrapped her arms around my neck. Jasper patted me on the back as did a few people I didn't know.

"That'll be fifty." Jasper held out his hand to Felix.

Felix shook his head. "Double or nothing."

"Kid," he gestured to the booth, "three more balls."

"No. No. Double or nothing says I can hit off him."

Felix Demetri wants me to pitch to him. This was not happening. Even if I lost the bet, it was worth it for this moment. Bella's arms dropped from my neck as she watched the exchange.

"You're on." Jasper and Felix shook hands.

Eric spoke up. "Three strikes and the kid wins. But I say we take this somewhere where no one can get hurt."

Before long we had created a makeshift baseball diamond with my standing sixty feet from where Felix stood taking practice swings. A large crowd encompassed the field and Jasper was my would-be catcher, with Eric as the umpire.

"Whenever you're ready, kid." Eric called checking in with Felix who nodded.

"Ready."

He bent behind Jasper and Felix got ready to swing. I rolled the ball behind me before bringing it forward and throwing it to Jasper's waiting glove.

"Strike!" Eric called.

Felix looked at him questioningly before shaking it off and stepping back into his waiting position. Eric backed up further away from Jasper and Felix stood and eyed him questioningly.

"How do you expect to call them from back there?"

Eric backed away further. "He's a wild one."

Felix shrugged and got back into position and I threw him the pitch. He swung and missed.

"Strike two!"

The anger within Felix took over. He didn't like being proved wrong in front of a crowd. Or maybe even at all. He rolled his shoulders and spit off to the side before gripping the bat and eyed me challenging.

"I won't miss again."

I ran my hands through my hair and took a breath. Bending forward with the ball behind my back, I stood up and threw him a fastball. He swung his bat and it was as if I was seeing it all in slow motion. The ball went right under his bat and made contact with Jaspers glove.

"Strike three," Eric called in shock.

Jasper stood up and turned clapping his hand on Eric's shoulder. "I believe your friend owes me a hundred."

Felix reached into his pocket, pulling out his wallet, and handed Jasper the money. He walked over to me shaking my hand. "You've got quite an arm. Look forward to hearing about you."

And with that he turned around and walked away in the direction of the train. The crowd jumped and yelled but the only voice I cared about, the only body I watched, was Bella's, as she ran towards me jumping in my arms.

I let the moment take over as I lifted her above me and brought her lips down to mine. They were soft and unyielding as they molded to mine, over and over. Her hands were in my hair, pulling and tangling her fingers within. She tugged gently and I licked my tongue along her bottom lip. She accepted my invitation as my tongue sought hers. This felt right.

I felt her pull back from the kiss and I reluctantly let her. Remorse quickly took over me as I realized I may have moved too soon. Too fast. But as I opened my eyes I saw that Bella was smiling.

She ran her hand through my hair and opened her mouth to say something just as the train horn rang.

"We better get going." Her hand dropped from my hair as she walked in the direction of the train. Jasper and I followed behind her. I spent the whole walk debating whether or not I regretted kissing her. And in the end, I knew kissing Isabella Cullen was not something you regretted.