A/N: Hey y'all! Here's Day 2. This one is quite a bit longer and it kind of skips around a lot, but it's cute. Also it is an AU where Connor is alive because I really wanted him to annoy Zoe and Evan. He will be alive in the rest of these, but just probably a less prominent character. But who'd have thought I'd be writing a baseball story. I grew up with baseball because my brother plays and my dad loves it, and I used to play but now I just kind of hate it, so that's how I wrote Zoe's feelings towards the sport. Anyway, enjoy!
Day 2: Baseball
Larry is dragging Zoe to a major league baseball game, and if Zoe has to go, she's bringing Evan with her.
"So you wouldn't mind coming with me? I'm going to die of boredom," Zoe said, laying down on her bed, phone in hand.
"No, I wouldn't mind. I've never been to a baseball game before." Evan's voice rang from her phone, which was on speaker.
"I've been forced to many times before. I'm pretty sure it's the most boring sport ever. But my Dad loves the Yankees, so we go to opening day pretty much every year." She stared up at her ceiling. "The food is pretty good, though."
"Well, in that case," Evan laughed. Zoe smiled to herself.
"Thank you so much, Ev. Don't know what I'd do without you," Zoe said, sitting back up.
"I know, you'd be going to a baseball game and you'd be miserable while your dad talked way too much about the game, your mom would spend the entire night drinking and chatting up the people sitting next to you guys, and Connor would end up sneaking off to who knows where in the park," Evan said, clearly remembering what Zoe told him about the last game they went to.
"Wow it's like you know my family." Zoe smirked.
"Nah," Evan chuckled.
"Well I'll see you then, I guess," She said, leaning forward on her bed.
"I'll get my non-existent baseball cap ready!" Zoe rolled her eyes and smiled.
"Ok then, sports boy, you do that. I'll see you tomorrow. I love you."
"Love you too," Evan said, and ended the call.
After a long and quite awkward car ride (with Evan, Zoe, and Connor all squeezed into the back seat) the Murphys plus one Hansen arrived at Yankee Stadium. The crowds around the stadium were enormous. At least 1000 people just outside the gates. Evan quickly took Zoe's hand to make sure he didn't lose her. Once they got their tickets scanned, Larry regrouped them.
"Alright, so you all know how it goes. You're free to do what you wish while we're here, but nobody disturbs me while the game is on, and nobody says anything that will jinx the game." Zoe rolled her eyes and looked up to Evan.
"Jinx the game?" Evan whispered to Zoe.
"Don't say anything like 'they're totally gonna win this!' or 'they're gonna get a hit now!' My dad is really superstitious," Zoe whispered back. Evan nodded quickly.
"And Connor, no leaving the park again," Cynthia started. Connor groaned and folded his arms. Evan raised his eyebrows to Zoe, who shrugged. "Zoe, only one bag of cotton candy please, I don't want to have the same problem we did last time." Zoe scoffed and put her hands on her hips.
"Do I wanna know?" Evan whispered as he leaned in towards Zoe. She shook her head.
"Alright, we'll meet back here after the game," Larry said, already walking towards his seat.
"Or when it gets so bad that he can't stand to watch anymore," Cynthia stage-whispered to the kids before turning to follow Larry. The three of them stood awkwardly in silence.
"Well if I can't leave, I'm just going to follow you guys around. Not much else better to do," Connor said, shrugging. Zoe grimaced.
"You really don't have to, Connor," Zoe said through her teeth.
"Fine, but if I can't I'm going to leave anyway, and you can explain to Mom where I went." Zoe frowned and turned to Evan. He raised his eyebrows as he put his hands in his pockets.
"Ugh, whatever. Just don't cause any trouble. And no stupid comments." She pointed straight at Connor, then took Evan's arm.
"Can't make any promises, Zozo," Connor smirked as he walked in front of the couple towards the concession stand.
"I swear to- Connor!" Zoe yelled. She pointed her finger to Evan. "Don't even think about calling me that or I will tell Jared about 'Little Evy.'"
"Ok! You have my word!" Evan exclaimed, his voice considerably higher. Zoe scrunched up her nose and gave Evan a kiss on the cheek.
"Ok, let's go find Connor and get a hot dog." Evan took one of his hands out of his pockets so Zoe could grab it. The two of them walked to the concession stand where Connor stood in line, looking at his phone. They joined the line with him, and Zoe whispered something into his ear, which Evan thought sounded like a lot of swearing. Then she stepped back to stand next to Evan.
"You should get the steak and potato fries, you'd like them." She leaned her head on his shoulder.
"Ok." he squeezed her hand and smiled. As they approached the cashier, Evan felt his breathing get a little heavier. Zoe lifted her head.
"You ok?"
"Could you uh- could you order for me?" He bit his lip and made eye contact with Zoe. She nodded quickly.
"Of course. Whenever you need me to, just let me know." She smiled widely. They reached the front of the line.
"Hi, can we have two hotdogs and some steak and potato fries?" Zoe asked the server, her hand still holding onto Evan's. She faced Connor. "What do you want, Con?"
"Hotdog and a pepsi," Connor said just loud enough so the cashier could hear him. Zoe handed her the money. They got their food and decided to go to their seats. Larry leaned forward, completely absorbed in the game. Cynthia already had a drink in her hand which was most definitely alcoholic, and was very close to annoying the now happy couple sitting next to her. Connor took the seat next to Larry, hoping he at least would have less of a chance of being associated with his mom this way, and Zoe and Evan took the remaining two seats. Most of the game went on quickly. Nobody was scoring, they just kept getting outs. Connor was getting more invested in the game than he meant to, letting out a groan when they made a bad play or jumping out of his seat a little when someone almost hit a home run. Zoe spent a lot of the time explaining the rules to Evan, who'd never been to a game before. As much as she complained about how she hated baseball, she knew a lot.
Finally, the 9th inning arrived. Evan managed to convince Zoe to only get one bag of cotton candy. Connor wasn't being a complete asshole, while Zoe said was an accomplishment. Finally, the bottom of the ninth arrived, and bases were loaded. Two outs. Larry was so stressed Zoe thought he could scream any second. The pitcher threw the pitch. The batter took the swing. And there it went. Soaring. Soaring. Everyone jumped out of their seats. Larry and Connor were yelling their lungs out. Evan held Zoe's hand and raised it in the air. Going. Going. Gone! The crowd exploded with cheering. Fireworks were set off in the outfield. Zoe put her arms around Evan's neck and he lifted her off the ground a little. Her smile was from ear to ear and she touched her forehead to his.
"Not so bad after all, huh?" Evan said quietly, grinning. Zoe scrunched her nose up and chuckled. She leaned forward to kiss him. Until they were interrupted
"Aww, look at Zozo and her little boyfriend," Connor sneered. Zoe pulled away from Evan.
"Connor I swear to God if you call me that one more damn time I will beat the shit out of you," Zoe hissed, pulling one arm away from Evan's neck, about to smack him.
"Zoe Elizabeth Murphy! Watch your language and be nice to your brother!" Cynthia yelled. Zoe rolled her eyes and turned back to Evan.
"Now where were we?" she murmured, smiling. Evan leaned in for another kiss.
