PLAY BALL
NOTE: I don't own these Gilmore Girls characters but I do love the show so much.
A/N: This takes place six years after season three of Gilmore Girls. I felt badly that Jess's spin-off series got cancelled so I decided to give him one. I hope you enjoy.
CHAPTER 3
The next day, Wednesday, Jess led his team of girls out to the school playground, sitting all ten of them on the long bench that stood near the small baseball diamond. Jess turned to his team, all wearing their school colors gym uniform of red shorts and white t-shirts.
"All right," Jess started off, glad that he had already done attendance. "Today we're going to try to organize the team. It's the first practice so we first need a name. Does anybody have any ideas?"
Names were called from random girls, most girlier or goofier than others. Some of the names included the following: Glittering horse, pink roses, the kitties, ice cream heads, and so on.
Jess looked completely dismayed. Did any of these girls actually read once in a while? Then his attention floated over to Rosa, who, once again, had a book in her hand. Jess skimmed the cover of it before turning back to his team.
"We got a name," he announced. "Red Wolves."
The other girls all looked around at each other, wondering where he had gotten the idea. Rosa glanced at her book cover, realizing that there was, indeed, a picture of a red colored wolf on it. She smiled up softly at Jess, who winked at her.
Jess announced that it was time to play. He called for the first graders, Kathy, Melony, Susan, Ruth, and Amy to all go out into the field. The kindergartners, Ellen, Annie, Dorothy, Helen, and Rosa, all had to take turns to bat so the five of them still sat on the bench.
"Who wants to swing first?" Jess asked, picking up the wooden baseball he had brought out.
"I do!" Ellen cried, jumping up from the bench enthusiastically.
"Fine," Jess shrugged and handed the bat over to her. Ellen held it with shaky hands, as if she had just had a lot of sugar or something. "Easy," Jess instructed, taking the girl's hands and making them hold still. "Just take it easy and swing."
Jess gestured for Kathy, the pitcher, to throw the ball. She did as he gestured and sent the ball so fast pass Ellen that the red haired girl didn't have a chance to even move the bat.
Jess whistled to himself in admiration before looking at Ellen. "Hey, almost," he said then turned to Kathy. "Nice toss."
"I know," Kathy smiled smugly from where she stood on the pitcher's mound.
Jess turned to Ellen once again. "You up for it again?" he asked.
"Sure!" Ellen replied, enthusiasm clearly running all through her body.
After Kathy tossed the ball at Ellen a couple more times, her incredible pitching skill too much for the red headed girl, it was time for a new batter to be chosen.
Soon all four of the first kindergarten girls had gotten a chance to bat, some better than others, and there was only one more girl left to bat before the kindergartners went out to the field to give the first graders a chance to bat.
"Rosa," Jess called, getting no reply.
Rosa sat as quiet as a mouse from where she sat on the bench, so involved in her book that she hadn't even been watching the practice.
Jess, with a sigh, made his way over to her and knelt down to where she sat on the bench. "Rosa," he said softly. "You're up." Once again he got no response so he gently took the book out of Rosa's little hands, startling her.
"Huh?" Rosa whimpered lightly.
"Sorry," Jess apologized. "But it's your turn to bat. You gotta learn to listen," he said, thinking back to the attendance fiasco.
"I'm s-sorry," the brown haired girl stumbled over her words. "I didn't mean it."
Jess stared at her strangely for a moment before nodding his head and saying, "It's OK. Just go out there and play."
Rosa slowly slid off the bench and picked up the abandoned baseball near the batter's area. As Kathy swung her famous swing the ball went right pass Rosa, the six-year-old not even bothering to move her wrist, let alone the bat.
"That's OK," Jess called. "We'll try again." He turned to Kathy and gestured for her to throw again.
Kathy tossed the ball but, once again, Rosa did not move, just stood frozen. On the third toss from Kathy the ball bounced off Rosa's bat a little but she still did not move an inch.
Jess suddenly blew his whistle for the first time since he had gotten it. "That's enough, Kathy." He looked around at his team. "All right, switch."
The kindergartners ran out to the field, the first graders batting. Rosa handed the bat over to Annie, who was up for bat first then went over to Jess, who was busy watching his team.
"E-excuse me?" Jess looked down at Rosa. "Can I have my book back, please?"
Jess glanced at his right hand and realized he still held Rosa's book. "I need you to pay attention to the practice right now, OK?" he told her.
Rosa nodded, looking down in shame. "I'm sorry," she uttered before heading over to sit under a tree.
"Coach Jess!" Jess looked over at Kathy, who was next to bat after Annie. "Rosa needs to be in the field with the others."
Jess shook his head, looking over at Rosa. The girl seemed so still and quiet. Jess didn't exactly have major experience with little kids but he was pretty sure they showed enthusiasm or interest or something. Rosa was just so vague and small voiced; like she wasn't a real person.
"Don't worry about it," Jess said, turning his attention back to Kathy. "Just do what you have to do."
Kathy rolled her eyes in a childish way but didn't say anything.
After practice had ended Jess stayed on the playground, glad that recess wouldn't start for a while. He pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and immediately took one of the nicotine sticks out, lighting it.
"Hey, you looking for this thing known as solitude?" Jess looked up at Coach Stone. "Or do you mind the company?"
Jess put his cigarette between his left pointer and middle finger. "I haven't been alone all day." He blew smoke from his mouth as he spoke. "So why not?"
Stone sat down next to Jess. "How' re things working out with your girls?"
"Crazy," Jess whispered, puffing at his cigarette again. "In one word that is."
"Things can be known for crazy around here," Coach Stone concurred.
"Noted," Jess said, resting the fingers that held his cigarette on his thigh. "They're good girls, just... kind of weird."
Stone chuckled, "You noticed that, too, huh?"
"Little bit," Jess replied, blowing smoke. "Especially that kid, Rosa."
"Little Rose Brookes?" Jess nodded his reply. "Sweet little thing, isn't she? As cute as she wants to be, too."
"How can you tell anything about her?" Jess pointed out. "I mean, come on. The kid doesn't say two words and she's like some kind of freakish popsical during practice."
"Rosa's not much for talking; more of a reader. You know?"
Jess nodded. He definitely understand that. "Yeah, but it's still kind of weirds me out."
"Rosa's a puzzle to all of us," Coach Stone nodded. "But, hey, she's a good kid, just shy."
Jess finished off his cigarette and tossed it off into a nearby garbage. He said, "Once again, noted."
A/N: I have this story very much planned out but if you guys have any suggestions or ideas you want to share then please tell me. Reviews very much welcomed.