Timmy's POV:
"Come on, Zito," I groaned at my roommate, still scurrying around the hotel room. It was almost ten in the morning, and I was anxious to get to the team jet that we flew on. I was standing at the door. In line with Bochy's dress code, I was wearing a button-down shirt, tucked into dress pants, with my usual bow tie. Headphones hung around my neck, and shades were on my face as armor from the public.
The door to the bathroom opened, and Barry Zito emerged, wearing a towel around his waist.
"What's the hurry? We don't have to be at the bus until eleven."
"It's ten already!"
Zito looked indifferent. "So?"
"So let's go!"
"Dude, seriously, is there something in San Fran that you want to see? You've been moping about for days, and now that we're going back to AT&T, you're suddenly in a huge rush?"
I shrugged. "I have plans with my girlfriend."
Zito's face relaxed into an understanding smile. Since I joined the team, Zito was always the person I'd been closest to, besides Posey, of course.
"Gotcha. I'll be down in a few minutes, if you could grab a coffee in the lobby?" I shot him a thankful smile, and headed down.
Sammy's POV:
"Drop your gloves; half at second, half at home," my coach called out. A collective groan issued from the team, although we obediently obeyed. Jogging, I made my way to home. Walking to the pitching mound, Coach rolled us each a softball.
"Ready, Set...GO!" At the shouted burst, the first person in each line shot off, bolting as fast as possible around the bases. Both girls were encouraged by their teammates, standing in line at the bases.
"Come on, Rosi! You got this!" I called, and as the girl from the other team rounded the plate, I steped up, being next in line. I reached out to the ball, both hands outstreched, yelling encouraging words as I did this. Rosi flew by me, handing the ball off to me as she ran by me. Switching it to my right hand, I shoved off of my toe, planted hard in the dirt. Approaching first, I took my turn, hitting the inside of the base with my left foot as I sprinted beyond it. Focusing hard, pumping my legs and arms for all they were worth, I continued to run, taking short, clenched gasps as I approached home.
"Come on, you can do it! Almost there!" I pushed myself harder, harder, before passing off the ball, and allowing my momentum to carry me forward. Putting out my hands, I hit the fence hard, effectively bringing me to a halt. I walked back to the line, and put my hands on my knees as I breathed hard for a moment, before continuing to cheer my team on.
I was so focused on the race at hand that I didn't notice the lone human, leaning casually against the fence.
Timmy's POV:
She was cute when her face was flushed pink from running, with strands of hair escaping her ponytail. She was also a good team player, calling her other teammates my name, encouraging them, cheering them on, even as she gasped for breath. I had placed myself in a deliberately hidden area, vines dividing me from whatever parents or friends had gathered on the bleachers to watch the practice. The coach called them all together, and as they converged on him, his head was hidden among the mass of girls taller than him. I chuckled slightly; it was an amusing sight to see.
The coach finished whatever he was saying to the girls. "Do your break, and see you Saturday." He called as he walked off the field. As I watched, the girls formed themselves into a huddle, each slinging their arms among the shoulders of the girls on the left and right of them.
"Left, right, left, right," one murmured as they began to sway, causing smiles and light laughter among the team. Suddenly, in perfect unison, their voices broke out, ringing across the hilltop.
"It's Bears time, it's Bears time, what, what!
It's Bears time, it's Bears time, roo, roo..." As I watched, slightly fascinated by this softball war cry, they repeated the verse not just once, not twice, but three times, before breaking apart and putting a hand in the circle.
"ONE, TWO, THREE!"
"BEARS! YOU KNOW!" At that, they broke apart, saying their goodbyes as they walked back to the dugout. My eyes were fixed on Sammy, who had reached up, and was now doing something to her hair, which had previously been hanging in a high, long ponytail. I realized, after a bit of watching, that she was twisting it into a bun. Her friend said something to her that made her grin, and in the middle of talking to her teammate, her eyes roamed over her head, scanning the crowd, before rotating slowly and resting on me. I grinned, and her eyes lit up, making me catch my breath. With a breathtaking smile on her face, she ditched her friend, and ran towards me. I grinned, shoving myself off the fence, and opening my arms to catch her in the middle of her running leap. My arms locked around her waist, and I internally fought back a moan as her legs wrapped around my hips. Her arms came up, locking themselves around my neck.
Her next move shocked me, as her mouth came down on mine, surprisingly soft, yet still somehow hard. Unconsciously, I let her slip smoothly through my arms down to the ground, my arms remaining around her waist as her fingers threaded themselves through my hair. I moaned into her mouth at the sensation. Our lips moved, perfectly in sync with each other. Her lips slid open, ever so slightly, and next thing I knew, her tongue was probing lightly at the spot where my lips met hers. I allowed her to tease open my mouth, her tongue gliding smoothly across my lips, leaving silky, wet trails. We kissed for a while longer, before she pulled back, eyes gliding slowly open. Her chocolate eyes were soft, and a small smile graced her mouth.
Her fingertips were still playing lightly through my hair, sending shivers down my spine.
"I missed you," she whispered, face a few inches from mine.
