Making my way out to the field, I felt the sting when I saw Jeff talking to a group of 3 of my teammates, all of them smiling and laughing at every word he said. I rolled my eyes, swallowing the jealousy that rose in my throat. I couldn't of been happier when coach called for us to start our laps, honestly I hated running but if it got my teammates away from Jeff, I was happy. Jogging my way around the field, I soon was jogging with a small group of my teammates, Jennifer speaking first "Hope, do you know if Jeff's single?" I glanced at my teammates, all of them watching me intently, waiting for my answer. I wanted to tell the truth, but my jealousy got the best of me, as I heard myself speak "He's married."
I had to fight the smile, as my teammates groaned in dissappointment. I knew it was wrong, and I tried to convince myself I was doing it for Jeff's own good, but I couldn't help but feel relieved, knowing at least those three would not be pursuing Jeff.
Finishing the laps, I was putting on my gear when I noticed my teammates from the laps, obviously avoiding Jeff now, and I did my best to hide the smile, that fought to cross my lips. I had just secured my chest protector, when I heard Jeff's voice from behind me "Coach wants you to try this on..." I turned as Jeff was holding a brand new catcher's helmet. I blushed as he slid the helmet carefully over my head, my eyes watching his look of concentration as he attached the mask to the front of the helmet.
A question had been bothering me ever since I left him in the gym, so I swallowed my nerves and asked "Jeff, you didn't see anything in the gym did you?" My mind ran wild, hoping he didn't see the scar before I was able to cover it up. Jeff latched the last buckle on the mask, before his eyes met mine, a smile on his lips, he answered smugly "No, Why is there something you want to show me?" his eyebrows waggling for effect. I rolled my eyes, grabbing my glove from the bench, I responded "In your dreams Winger!" as I left the dugout, heading onto the field. The last thing I heard was Jeff shoot back "You wish you were in my dreams Hope!" I chuckled to myself, before I heard coach yell "You both are gonna be dreaming for passing grades if we don't get practice started soon!" I quickly ran onto the field with my other teammates.
The next few practices went off without a hitch, Jeff and I were getting along fairly well, I had done a good job of avoiding being alone with him superbly, and I had done well at ignoring the jealous waves that hit everytime I saw him flirt with a different teammate. This practice was almost over, I smiled when I saw Annie, Troy and Abed sitting on the bleachers. Sammie had her first dance recital later tonight, Annie wanted to be there , so I'm guessing she got Troy and Abed to come along too.
Coach had just called the practice, as I walked over to the fence in front of the bleachers "Hey Annie, What's these two doing here?" I exclaimed, nudging to Troy and Abed. "I'll have you know, T-Bone is one hell of a dancer, so I gotta be there for my girl!" Troy said excitedly, barking loudly at the end for effect. "Troy they're little girls..." Troy's excitement faded befor asking "but there will be free food right?" I nodded my head, watching Troy's smile return as he said "like I said, I gotta be there for my girl!" I rolled my eyes, as I turned to Abed "To be a great director, you have to appreciate all the arts. " I shrugged as I spoke "Let me change, then I'll be ready to go" Turning to head to the locker room, I couldn't help but look at Jeff, who was chatting with Cindy, and I could tell she was using every trick in her double D arsenal, to reel Jeff in.
Returning, freshly showered and dressed, I walked by Jeff who was now talking with a different teammate of mine, Jennifer. The jealousy still raged in me, but it wasn't as bad as it was when he is with Cindy. Standing next to Troy, as I chatted with them, the conversation was brought to a halt, when we heard Jeff yell "Married? Who in the hell told you I was Married!" I closed my eyes tight, I knew what was coming, and in a few seconds I heard what I had been expecting as Jeff yelled over to me "Hope!" I slowly turned around a smile plastered on my lips, as I faced Jeff who was quickly walking over to me and the group.
He immediately approached me, as he exclaimed "Why are you telling people I'm married?" His eyes probing mine,as I seached my mind for some sort of answer. I looked to Annie, who simply crossed her arms across her chest, I looked to Troy, who simply spoke "Messing with a man's love-life...that's cold..." I looked to Abed, who simply seemed to be watching the scene take place. Looking back to Jeff, I laughed lightly before responding "I never said that!" Jeff's eyes still seaching mine, as I looked away, I continued "She must of heard me wrong!" I pleaded, as they all stared at me quizically, I exclaimed "I'm serious! I was mis-quoted!" Jeff rolled his eyes, before making his way back to Jennifer.
I reached for my bag, I had set on the bleachers earlier, as my eyes caught a glimpse of Jeff leaving the field, with Jennifer in tow. The jealousy raged as I watched them walk off the field, i was brought out of my jealous thoughts when Annie spoke sternly " I can't believe you did that Hope!" I smiled as I stood, walking towards the parking lot with Annie, Troy and Abed. "Relax..It's not like it worked anyways!" I said smugly, as Troy responded "Wouldn't it be easier to just tell him?" "No!" I answered quickly. Annie spoke again "I just don't understand why you would do that?" Before I could answer Abed spoke up "She's Hugh Grant." I turned to face Abed, "Are you calling me a 40yr old, british man?" Abed nodded "Your Hugh Grant in 'Two Weeks Notice', in the movie he prevents Sandra Bullock from getting another job and leaving him by telling other employers, she's not available, when in reality he's in love with her and doesn't want to lose her." I scoffed as he continued " In this case, your telling other sexual prospects that Jeff's unavailable, cause you can't admit your true feelings, and admit you want him yourself. Your Hugh Grant."
A week later I found myself walking across campus to the foreign languages department. I wasn't taking any classes, but Annie was home with the flu, and the only way she would stay home and rest is if I promised to get the notes and work from her spanish class. I waited in the hall way until the class exited, waving 'hi' to Piece, Britta and Abed, as I walked into the classroom, seeing Senor Chang, wiping off the blackboards. I spoke loudly " Yeah, well El Tigre can just bite me!" the remainder of the students, left in the room, including Shirley and Jeff froze as Chang yelled back "Who's ass is about to face the wrath..." he froze when he saw me as he turned around, a smile on his lips "Hope!" he exclaimed, quickly wrapping me in a hug. The hug broke as Jeff stood from his desk, his face in shock as he yelled "What? You're a jerk to everyone! Why be nice to her?" Chang's expression turned serious as he approached Jeff, Chang spoke in a mocking tone "Awww, am I hurting little Jeffy Winger's feelings?" Jeff rolled his eyes before Chang yelled "Then tell your mom about your problems, not me! and tell your mom El Tigre had fun last night too!" he said smugly, doing a couple pelvic thrusts for emphasis. Jeff stood there silent, as Shirley stood from her desk, speaking in a low tone "I'm getting our of here, before I see anything else..." as Jeff and Shirley exited the class room.
After talking to Chang, getting the stuff for Annie, I walked out of the classroom, walking around the corner I heard a familiar voice call to me. Turning to the direction of the voice, i see Jeff push himself off the wall, walking in step with me "You wanna tell me what that was about?" I smiled and shrugged "Annie's sick, I promised I'd get her work for her." Jeff shook his head before stating sarcastically "No, how'd you get the shark of Greendale, to turn into a goldfish back there?" I laughed as I explained "Oh Chang?" Jeff nodded "You just have to know how to handle him." Jeff rolled his eyes, as I laughed out loud, stopping in my tracks, as I turned to Jeff, speaking in a lower tone. "Plus, the softball team i the only team he wins money on, so he loves us players" Jeff spoke calmly "Why doesn't that surprise me?" I laughed again, as I walked away from Jeff, I yelled back "It's Chang! Always expect the unexpected!" before entering the science building.