First Inning:
Hey, hey, hey, hey
My head is spinning cause of you
Hey, hey, hey, hey
You've no clue what you do
Your the storm, and the rain
You've got eyes like a hurricane
Hey, hey, hey, hey
You've no clue what you do to me
You've no clue what you do to me /i
http:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNMSZXWWW2M&feature=related
Trouble he will find you no matter where you go, oh oh
No matter if you're fast, no matter if you're slow, oh oh
The eye of the storm or the cry in the mourn, oh oh
You're fine for a while but you start to lose control /ihttp:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHpvlr_kG6U&ob=av2e
On an average day, Reid Oliver could best be described as intense. He knew what he liked, what he didn't, and he sure as hell didn't like ESPN telling him he could possibly be traded to the Chicago Cubs or the Philadelphia Phillies. Any normal day, he would've laughed at the preposterous notion that the Boston Red Sox would be stupid enough to get rid of their best pitcher, him. But today, he just wasn't feeling the filter or urges to let it go.
So, instead, he marched down to his general manager's officer and barged in.
"So, were you ever going to tell me about this, Seamus, or were you just letting ESPN do the honors because you're gutless?"
Seamus O'Dell, the manager of the Boston Red Sox, was in his fourth year as the general manager, and third year of having to deal with Reid Oliver on his team. In three years, he still never managed to get used to Reid Oliver's abrasive mannerisms or constant emails on how he could manage the team better.
"Hello to you too, Reid. What a nice day we're having isn't it?"
"Cut the crap, O'Dell. I woke up this morning to ESPN telling me that I'm likely to be traded to the Cubs or the Phillies. The Cubs, really? They suck."
"First of all, Reid. There's a thing called a door, which you should knock before entering. Second, this is the first I'm hearing of trading anyone."
"Right, and I'm supposed to believe that Lucchino, and Werner were down here last night talking about tea and crumpets, and not talking about how badly we needed to pad the lineup. So what, you're willing to get rid of your best pitcher because everyone else on the team sucks? How is that fair?"
"Well, even if that's true, there's no saying what could happen between now and the trade deadline. Just keep playing like you have been and I'm sure they won't trade you, okay?"
"I'm keeping my eye out, O'Dell. You better hope you're right, because if you trade me, I guarantee there will be hell to pay."
O'Dell sighed as Reid Oliver stalked out of the room and slammed the door shut.
iWell that certainly could have gone better./i
Reid Oliver went to the clubhouse then to grab his favorite glove. He may as well get some pitching practice in before tonight's game. No sense in letting the rumor get to him. O'Dell was right, just keep winning and the owners would reward it.
Just as he turned the corner to head to the field, he bumped into a very firm, strong chest.
"Christ, look where you're going."
"Sorry, I was just looking for Seamus O'Dell's office."
"Yeah, well I guarantee you won't find it if you keep walking into people."
"What do you want me to say? I already apologized."
"Well, I'd like for this conversation to never have happened. Can you give me back the few minutes I just wasted on you, when I could be out practicing."
"Sure thing, Mr. Oliver."
"Do I know you?"
"No, but I know you. 2.1 era, lowest in the post 1920 era. Fastest curve ball in major league baseball. I'm Luke Snyder. I'm the sports editor for the Chicago Tribune."
"So?"
"Well I was hoping to get an interview with you."
"Well you can keep hoping. I don't do interviews, especially not with incompetent morons who don't watch where they're going."
"Hold on. Who just rushes around a corner without looking to see who could be walking by? Looks like I'm not the only incompetent jerk around here."
"You really don't want that interview do you?"
O'Dell could hear the skirmish going on in the hallway.
He sighed as he took a sip of his now cold coffee.
Maybe all Reid needed was to get laid. He was too high strung and it was starting to cause problems off the field. While he was normally high strung, the added stress of potentially getting traded, and the obnoxious habit of sleeping with any and every willing guy in baseball, then ignoring them was making him worse.
His line lit up then and his assistant told him that his wife was on the line.
"Hey, honey."
"What's wrong?"
"What do you mean?"
"I know that tone of voice, what did Reid do now?"
"Either, you know me too well or Reid is becoming predictable."
"I think probably a little of both. So, what's going on with your star pitcher?"
"I think he really needs to get laid."
"What makes you say that?"
"He is in a foul mood today and is taking it out on anyone he can find. It was me earlier, now it's a poor sports reporter from the Chicago Tribune."
"Well, maybe we can find him a boyfriend! Are there any other, gay guys in baseball?"
"Unfortunately, Reid has visited every one of those venues, and the other ones are so deep in the closet, there's no telling when they'll ever get out of Narnia."
"Well, then maybe we should find him a good looking non-baseball player for a boyfriend."
"Reid Oliver does not do boyfriends and he certainly doesn't do relationships. He really just needs a really good night of sex, so he can focus on winning and getting us to the playoffs."
"Playoffs are not for at least another five months."
"I know, but I cannot afford to let him get distracted and irritated when I need him focused on baseball. Besides, I'm not looking to get him married, okay?"
"What's wrong with marriage?"
By the tone of his wife's voice, Seamus knew he better come up with something fast.
"Nothing is wrong with marriage, honey. It's just that marriage isn't right for all people, Reid being one of them."
"Well, I think you're wrong. I think anyone can find true love and have a lasting marriage like we have. Speaking of marriage, we are having dinner tonight."
"Okay? Don't we have dinner every night?"
"Well this dinner is at La Rouge with my mother and sister."
"You've got to be kidding me!"
"It's not that bad, Seamus. Just a dinner."
"Not that bad? Your mother still calls me that man."
"It's only because you knocked me up."
"Deb, I knocked you up four years after we were married. What the hell did she expect?"
"Well you did take her baby away from her after all."
"I didn't take you that far considering she lives next door. And why are we having dinner?"
"Gayle got engaged. And we need to meet her new fiancée."
"So, is she actually going to make it down the aisle this time? What is this, the fifth person she's had us meet in three years?"
"She just has very high standards."
"No, she's insane. She can't keep a woman to save her life. I swear if you are a woman and even you drive away women with your crazy, then there's something wrong with you."
"Stop it, Seamus. She's my sister!"
"I know, honey, but really let's be realistic; your sister is one cat away from being that insane lady that lived across from me when I was a kid. She had at least eight cats and when she died, they found her body half eaten."
"That's a terrible thing to say!"
"So, there's no chance I can get out of this dinner?"
"Not if you plan on ever sleeping in our bed again."
"Fine. I'll be there. Crap, I gotta go. It looks like Oliver and the sports reporter are about to beat the shit out of each other."
Seamus hung up the phone and hurried outside.
Both men were breathing heavily and staring daggers at each other.
"Okay, Oliver, don't you have somewhere to be?"
Oliver blinked slowly and looked at him.
"You're absolutely right O'Dell. I'll be outside practicing if you need me. Mr. Snyder, I pray that I never have the misfortune of meeting you again."
Luke just stared at Reid as he walked outside.
Reid felt weird. He flashed back to the weird argument, tension he had with the sports reporter. For some reason he just go to him. The kid couldn't have been more than 21, but damnit he knew how to push Reid's buttons. He threw a few balls and then really let them fly.
He threw one particularly hard one as he flashed back to Luke's flashing eyes as he sparred with him earlier and his catcher caught it and tore his mask off.
"You want to talk about it?"
"God no."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure."
His best friend and catcher of three years, Cristian Diaz just looked at him warily then put his mask back on.
Reid was just going to forget all about the sports reporter from Chicago, cause he couldn't be attracted to someone barely old enough to drink, right?
Meanwhile back in the clubhouse, Luke was sitting across from Seamus O'Dell.
"Okay, Mr. Snyder, I know how much this interview means to you. I also know you managed to piss off Reid Oliver. So as much as I would love to tell Reid he has to sit down for an interview, he is my star pitcher and I don't have the patience or time to deal with a temper tantrum. So, after our game this evening, I will allow you to sit in our press conference and ask two questions to Reid. That's the best I can do."
"I'll take it. I think I can manage to scrounge up an article piecing the questions together."
"Great, now if you'll excuse me, I have a game to get ready for."
Luke nodded shook the man's hand and headed to his hotel.
He lay down to take a catnap before the game when his IPhone rang.
"Hey, Noah."
Luke rubbed his head. He loved Noah as a friend, but they hadn't been together in over four years. When they broke up the last time, it had been for good and Luke had meant it. That didn't stop Noah from trying every few months to convince him they were right together and should get back together.
"Noah, stop. I'm in Boston to interview Reid Oliver. Yeah, the star pitcher. No, I don't know what kind of hair product he uses. Why would I ask that? Sorry, I didn't realize I had to run my work schedule past you. First of all, Noah, you didn't tell me about this film screening until two days ago. I told you that I already had this booked. Yeah, I'll try and get Reid Oliver's autograph for you. Okay, yeah, I'll talk to you later."
Luke sighed and shut his phone off. Sometimes, as much as he loved Noah, he wanted to throttle him. Right now, felt like one of those times.
He set his alarm for a half hour later, and closed his eyes.
The first thing he saw when he closed his eyes was Reid Oliver's flashing blue eyes and hard, chiseled jaw as he stared at him.
Where the fuck had that image come from?
Luke brushed it off as nothing more than a flashback to their first meeting.
He most certainly did not find the biggest douche bag in major league baseball attractive. Right?
Later that evening, Luke was sitting in the stands watching the game. Reid did fairly well through six innings, and then gave a run up. The Red Sox were up four to one in the bottom of the sixth, so they took him out and brought in a reliever. Reid did not look happy. Luke somehow managed to catch Reid's eye as he stormed off the field. That seemed to make Reid even more angry, and for some reason Luke wanted to rub the tension off his face.
Wait, what? No, I don't!
Luke shook his head and watched the rest of the game.
Then, he was being ushered into the press conference and chose a seat near the back.
Questions were asked then it was his turn.
He stood up and addressed Reid.
"So, Mr. Oliver, how did you feel being taken out after the sixth inning? Do you think you had more in you?"
"What the heck kind of question is that, Mr. Snyder? Of course I could have continued. The only reason I agreed to come out was because we had such a large lead. Could I have continued? Maybe you should let the professional sports writers ask the questions."
"Actually, I have one more question allotted to me, Mr. Oliver. So you're not at all worried that this organization is going to trade you for a few batters? After all, it's said you have the best bullpen in all of baseball and you need to pad your lineup."
Reid's face blanched at that question and he wavered for a bit.
"Why would I be worried? I am after all the best pitcher in baseball and even if I did get traded, I'd just end up with another winning organization."
"Even the Chicago Cubs?"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Snyder, you were only allotted two questions."
Reid ignored him and turned to the next sports reporter.
Luke had his answer. Reid was worried, and that's all he needed to know to write his expose.
He headed to the waiting car to take him back to the hotel.
Reid Oliver was standing outside smoking a cigarette.
"Didn't anyone ever tell you that smoking is bad for athletes?"
"Didn't anyone ever tell you it's impolite to comment on other people's habits? Especially people who can't stand you?"
"I never was one for following directions."
"Oh, I'm shocked." Reid laughed and rubbed the butt of his cigarette out with is foot.
"So, I was thinking."
"Good to know there is gray matter up there after all."
"I'll have you know, Mr. Snyder, not all athletes are dumb jocks. Some of us are capable of higher reasoning and rational thought."
"Well when you find one, let me know."
"You really shouldn't be so rude to me."
"And why is that?"
"Because I was going to agree to let you interview me, but now I think I'm just going to go find a hot piece of ass and get laid."
"By all means, Mr. Oliver, if you want to go get laid, don't let me stop you."
"Call me Doctor."
"What?"
"Everyone calls me Doctor Oliver."
"Why do I have to call you Doctor Oliver?"
"It's a nickname. I went to med school and got drafted out of college."
"You went to med school?"
"Why is that so surprising? I'm not an idiot, Mr. Snyder."
"So you decided making money throwing balls at people was better than saving lives? Or were you going into a specialty field like plastic surgery?"
"I wanted to become a neurosurgeon if you must know."
"And you chose making money instead?"
"I'm not going to do this forever, Mr. Snyder. I hope that when I retire I can go back to school and finish my degree up."
"Won't you be old and decrepit by then? Oh, wait I know what it is. You're going to get a job at the hospital, because you'll need their services so much anyway. It's a perfect fit."
"Are you always this mean to someone who's trying to help you?"
"No, only to those who are rude to me without cause."
"Well, maybe you should get over it, take me to dinner in that fancy waiting car of yours and ask me questions about baseball."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, I'm serious. I figure you won't quit hounding me until I give you the interview and at least this way I can get a free meal out of it."
"Okay, let's go."
Half an hour later, they were seated at La Rouge, one of the nicest restaurants in downtown Boston.
"So, what is good to eat here?"
"Anything, really. I personally always get a steak."
"That sounds like heart attack waiting to happen."
"Sounds like fun to me."
Luke ordered the salmon and steamed vegetables, while Reid ordered a bacon wrapped steak topped with onions and mushrooms and two baked potatoes loaded with bacon, cheese, and sour cream.
"So baseball really takes it out of you, huh?"
"What?"
"You eat all that after games you pitch in, right?"
"This? Nah. I just like to eat."
Luke just shook his head.
"So, Dr. Oliver, just a few questions. What's it like being called the best pitcher since Greg Maddux?"
"Well, it's, oh shit. "
Reid slid down in his seat.
"Is something wrong Dr. Oliver?"
"Uhh, pretend you're with me."
"I am with you."
"No, I mean with me."
"What? Why would I do that?"
"Because you see that guy over there? I sort of slept with him, and then never talked to him again."
"Isn't that Michael Spiers, the shortstop for the Cleveland Indians?"
"Maybe."
"Wait, you're gay?"
"How in the hell did you not know that? Everyone knows it."
"Well, until now it had been an unsubstantiated rumor."
"Really? An unsubstantiated rumor? I was caught having a threesome with two other guys."
"Like I said, I don't know you from Adam, it's all hearsay until I'm told directly."
"You really are a rare breed, aren't you? Oh fuck, he's coming over here."
Reid was desperate to keep Michael away from him so he leaned over and kissed Luke.
To his surprise, he was being kissed back.
Luke pushed him away a few seconds later,
"Did it work?"
Reid was too stunned to do anything but sit in his chair and stare at Luke. Who was undoubtedly the best man he'd ever kissed."
"What?"
"Did it work? Is he gone?"
Reid looked around and saw that Michael was sitting down in a different part of the restaurant."
"Yeah, it worked, thanks for that."
"Don't mention it, also never do that again."
"So, you're gay too then?"
"What?!"
Luke blushed bright red.
"It's not that big of a deal, Mr. Snyder. No straight guy kisses like that."
"I was just caught off guard, that's all."
"Really?"
"Fine, I'm gay, are you happy now?"
"Oh, that's funny. I get it. Gay is happy. You're funny"
"And you're a douche bag."
"Oh, whatever. Mike knew it wasn't anything permanent. I was horny and he was hot."
"I had no idea Mike was gay."
"He's bi, or so he claims, but he likes having cock up his ass, so that's pretty damn gay to me."
"How can you be so cavalier about it?"
"What? Sex? Why not? Sex can be pretty damn fun, especially if you're with the right someone, or someones."
"You are disgusting."
"You're one of those?"
"One of what?"
"Prudes. The kind that make anyone who dare like sex out to be evil."
'I like sex. I just like it with someone I like and never with more than one person."
"You don't know what you're missing."
"But I bet you're going to tell me, right?"
"Actually, I need to get back to my apartment. I have an early day tomorrow."
Luke paid for dinner and headed back toward Reid's apartment.
They pulled up to the sidewalk.
Reid sat there and stared at him,
"Well thanks for an interesting night. But I need to do something before I leave."
"What's that? You're not planning on killing me are you?"
"Depends on how good you are at breathing through your nose."
With that, Reid leaned in and kissed Luke again, this time using his tongue to force Luke's lips open.
Luke, almost of his own volition responded.
Then their tongues were dueling and Reid grabbed Luke closer. Luke was almost straddling Reid at this point and could feel his erection growing. Reid groaned and moved his hand to Luke's hair and deepened the kiss. Luke could feel Reid's hardness against him and he groaned.
Then his phone went off, and they burst apart.
Then the kiss was done and Reid was out the door.
"See you later, Luke."
Luke shook his head and tried to comprehend what the fuck had just happened.
Had Reid and he actually just made out like teenagers in the backseat of a car? And had he liked it?
Fuck. He had. A lot.
Luke looked at his phone. 1 missed call. Of course, it would be from Noah Mayer.
He was tempted to throw his phone in the harbor and be done with it.
Instead, he headed back to his hotel room. Tomorrow was going to be a long day of traveling.