Chapter 10 - Baseball

When Sunday finally arrived, Jane couldn't wait for the game. She woke up at eight and had no idea how to kill time before the game. She went down to the kitchen and found her mother making breakfast.

"Do you need any help making breakfast ma?"

"Janie? You're up so early? Excited for the game?"

"Oh you bet! Woke up with a smile on my face and jumped down here straight away, I really need something to kill time. The game doesn't start until three o'clock, so please ma. Give me something to do."

"Well, since you're offering, maybe you can start by setting the table for me."

"Of course ma."

The morning passed slowly. Her father came down and just grabbed some breakfast and then he left for work. Jane got the honors of waking up her brothers, which she enjoyed doing.

She enjoyed waking up her brothers and neither of them had locks on their doors. She jumped on Frankie's bed and yelled: "Wake up!"

"Oh why so mean?" Frankie said grumpy

"Because, I am excited about the Red Sox game and we baked pancakes, so if you don't get up off your ass you won't get any." She said and went into Tommy's room.

"FIRE!" She screamed into Tommy's ear, but he didn't move. Jane tried to yell again but he slept like a rock.

"Fine, than no pancakes for you."

"Pancakes?" Tommy said, sat up and looked like he had been awake the whole time.

"Next time when mom needs to wake you up for school I'll tell her to say that."

Jane ran downstairs and sat down at the kitchen table.

After breakfast she went to her room to find her Red Sox jersey and cap. She put it on her bed and decided not to wear it until she had eaten lunch as well so she wouldn't spill anything on it. She got everything ready for the game but she still had five hours to kill.

She asked her brothers to play basketball in the driveway but after a while they got tired so she decided to go for a run, and then by the time she would get back she would have a time for a quick shower and then Maura's dad would pick her up to go to the game.

"I can't believe these seats Maura, they're amazing!" Jane looked at her friend who was sitting next to her at the baseball game. "Thank you so much Maura."

"You are welcome Jane. And thank you for coming with me. This is really fun."

"Yeah it is, isn't it?" Jane said and looked over the field.

The game was going well and so far Jane and Maura hadn't gotten out of their seats but Jane needed to use the bathroom in the 7th Inning Stretch.

"This is the longest break, we can use the bathroom and buy snacks. You have to try the hotdogs Maura they're the best one's in the world." Jane said.

"I could use a break to go to the restroom, do you need to go?" Maura said and stood up.

"Yes."

"Subsequently, I can purchase us some hotdogs."

"Maura, sometimes I don't understand your fancy vocabulary. Why don't you just say: And then I'll buy us some hotdogs?"

"You think my vocabulary is elaborate?"

"Whatever that means."

"Well maybe I should speak more like you Jane, but I don't think my parents would like that."

"Nah, who cares what they think? You spend most of your time with me anyway. But still, if you like sounding like a dictionary just remember I am not a thesaurus and can't translate all of your big words."

"Oh Jane, you amuse me."

"See! That's a think I'd never say. I'd say: Oh Jane, you are hilarious." Jane said and tried to make her voice sound like Maura's.

"My voice doesn't sound like that." Maura said a little bit offended.

"Yeah it does."

"No it does not."

"Yeah. It does." They were already in the bathroom waiting for a toilet. "Ah, an empty stall." Jane said and ran into it.

Maura thought about what Jane had said. Her vocabulary could sometimes be a little too old fashioned or mature for teenagers. Maybe she should tone it down just a little bit.

"These toilets are repulsive Jane."

"Oh I know, they're pretty disgusting, but seriously, games are long and you often get thirsty, so what other choice do you have?"

Maura shuddered and washed her hands really carefully. Jane couldn't help but to laugh a little.

"Come on, let's get some hotdogs, my treat." Jane said.

"No my treat Jane."

"Why? You already paid for the tickets and you got us the ride, can't I please buy the hotdogs and soda?" Jane looked at Maura with puppy eyes.

"If you insist Jane."

"Oh I do Maura. You just take a seat and I will bring the snacks to you." Jane said and ran towards the line.

She didn't have to wait too long and ordered two hotdogs and two glasses of Fanta. She had enough for popcorn too so she decided to buy one for them to share. She was a bit worried she would spill all the food on the floor on her way back to her seat but she made it back with no spills.

"Wow, popcorn too Jane, I believe the food here is rather expensive."

"Ma gave me money to spend on snacks, she said she couldn't let you pay for everything."

"This is really generous, thank you Jane."

Jane was happy she had finally been able to buy something for Maura. She sat down next to her and started eating her hotdog.

"Wow, I never expected this hotdog to taste so good, I love it."

"Told you."

Maura looked at Jane eating her hotdog and Jane looked back. Jane wanted to freeze this moment. This was the best day of her life and she got to spend it with her best friend.

Jane really enjoyed watching the game, and usually when she was watching baseball no one was allowed to disturb her, but sometimes she looked at Maura to see how she liked the game. Maura cheered on for the Red Sox and Jane felt like she understood at least some of it, she never asked Jane about anything during the game. Either she was too busy watching it herself or she just didn't want to disturb Jane.

"Jane, the game is over there." Maura pointed out awkwardly

Jane had obviously stared at Maura for too long so she noticed. Jane immediately blushed and turned away. She didn't mean to stare, she didn't even know why she was staring at Maura, but every time Jane looked at her Jane felt good, she felt peaceful. But now that Maura noticed, Jane was too afraid to look at her again. She simply just focused on the game until the end.

"Wow, this was so awesome. Thank you again, so much for these tickets."

"I'm just happy that you are so happy Jane. And I am glad I got to do this with you." Maura smiled and grabbed Jane's hand to hold.

Jane blushed and when Maura touched her, she felt a tingling in her stomach, but she liked it and was a little pissed when Maura let go, to answer her phone.

"Hello father. We will be right out. Good bye." Maura hung up the phone. "My father is here, come on. I am going to ask him to take a picture of us, in front of the gate."

They walked out and followed the stream down to the parking lot.

"Hello father. Thank you for this, it was truly amazing."

"So you girls had a good time?" Maura's dad asked

"Yes we did. Thank you again Mr. Rizzoli, this was the best day of my life." Jane said.

"Father? Can you take a picture on my phone of us standing in front of the gate?"

"Of course dear."

"Come on Jane. Let's take a picture to remember this day forever."

Jane hated photo shoots. Every year around thanksgiving Jane's mother would try to take a family portrait to send as holiday cards but that was always a disaster. Jane always felt like an idiot as soon as someone picked up a camera. But when Maura dragged her to the gate and put her arms around her Jane suddenly forgot all about how much she hated photo shoots, and she put on the biggest, prettiest smile she could.

In the car on the way home, Jane didn't talk much. She was too busy thinking about the great day she had, she couldn't believe she would have to go home now and tomorrow everything was finally going back to normal.

Maura on the other hand informed her dad on everything that happened. She told him with real enthusiasm all about the game and how the Red Sox won. She also mentioned she would like to go again, and her father said he could definitely get them tickets again.

"Oh my Jane. Would you like to go with me to another baseball game soon? This was so much fun."

"Of course Maura."

"You are so quiet Jane, is everything alright?"

"Yes, I'm just tired."

"Me too." Maura said and grabbed Jane's hand again. She didn't let go until they had arrived at Jane's house about fifteen minutes later.

"Thank you both so much." Jane said as she left the car and reluctantly let go of Maura's hand.

"You're welcome Jane. Hope to see you soon."

"You too Mr. Isles, and send my best to your wife."

"Will do."

"See you at school tomorrow Jane."

"See you Maura." Jane said and closed the car door. She waited to see them drive off and then she walked slowly towards the door.

"Hey Jane." Her father greeted her at the door.

"Hey pop. Were you working?"

"Yes. Just got home. How was the game?"

"Great! The Red Sox won of course and we had the best seats ever! It was so amazing."

"Hey Jane. How was it?" Frankie asked.

"Awesome!"

"Jane! You're home, how was the game?" Tommy asked.

"It was so much fun. Did you guys watch it?"

"Yeah, and we saw you on TV, that was so cool. I am so jealous!" Tommy said.

"It was so cool seeing you on TV Jane, and these seats? How lucky are you?"

"Pretty lucky." Jane said and smiled proudly.

"Well, dinner is ready everybody so come on into the kitchen." Angela called from the kitchen.

Over dinner the family mostly discussed baseball, but Jane was unusually quiet and didn't say much. She also excused herself from the table as soon as she had finished and went into her room.

She still had some homework to do but she wasn't really in the mood. She decided to open her laptop and check out facebook.

Maura had changed her profile picture to the picture of the two of them. She had also shared it and written:

Me and my best friend after a great baseball game! It was so awesome #Redsox

Jane liked the picture and saved it. She admired the picture and she looked at herself and she didn't look that bad. She decided to put it as her desktop background. She was about to log out, when Maura popped up on the chat.

"Hey Jane. How do you like the picture?"

"I love it."

"What does the hashtag thing mean?"

"What?"

"I wrote #Redsox … I see all our classmates do it all the time, what does it do?"

"Lol, Maura. It's just a thing you do, you can click on it and then if somebody else wrote #Redsox you can see their post and they can see yours."

"I see. Well, thank you again so much Jane."

"No, thank you Maura. You are the best friend in the whole world."

"And you are my best friend Jane. Life has gotten so much better since I got to know you."

"Mine too. Well, gotta go. Nice to chat with you Maura. See you tomorrow."

"Bye Jane."

Jane logged out and closed the web browser. She decided to turn on the TV instead and maybe watch a movie. She put her computer away and thought about the day.

Maura was truly her best friend.