NOTE: I don't own these Gilmore Girls characters but I do love the show so much.
A/N: Thank you, guys, for all the reviews that I've gotten. Listen, I know what's going on with Rosa is kind of hard and totally depressing for everyone, especially me. You guys are going to have to bear with the plot a little, OK? Don't worry, though. Oh, and for some of you who do not know. Here is a little clarifying for the girls on Jess's team.
Kathy: Best player, first grader, blonde hair, and blue eyes.
Ellen: Energetic one, kindergartener, red hair, and blue eyes.
The other girls are Annie, Melony, Susan, Dorothy, Ruth, Helen, and Amy. I'm not using all of the girls, of course, but I would just like to point certain things out to you guys who might be confused.
Warning: Like I've said before, I know very, very, very little about baseball. Please don't be mad at me.
Replies to a few reviews: I know Jess being the coach on a baseball team seems completely and totally unrealistic for him but I didn't even come up with this story until I met my gym teacher. I swear that the man is an older version of Jess; totally lazy and really smart. I also know that if the girls in this story are in kindergarten and first grade then they would be playing t-ball. I know little about both t-ball and baseball so it goes either way. Can you guys go along with me here? Please? *Uses the big eyes look*
CHAPTER 6
Jess, along with the help of Coach Stone, filed Jess's Red Wolves onto the bus the following morning, finding that they had several problems to deal with. Most of the situations were normal; like a girl having to go to the bathroom or leaving something behind and remembering it at the last minute.
"Exciting day, huh?" Coach Stone asked Jess as the last girl climbed into the bus, the light reflecting off his sunglasses.
"Oh, yeah," Jess agreed, stretching the word no.
He could not help but worry about his team. The girls were good on the field, strangely good for kids their age, but they had not been in a real game before; it was their first as a team. Jess worried that they would lose faith or not be able to handle pressure. The whole thing caused casual churns in his stomach.
Jess and Stone filed onto the bus then, seeing the driver needed to practically keep her ears stapled shut to get over the shouts of the ten girls that were on the bus.
"Hey, quiet down," Jess called out to his team.
The girls immediately ignored him and just continued their loud talking. Jess clutched the whistle he had around his neck and blew a large breath into it, making it house loudly. The noise softened somewhat, causing a smile to spread to Coach Stone's face.
"I knew he'd learn," Stone said to himself with a smile.
Jess made his way to the aisles of seats, all with a chattering girl. He went all the way to the back where Rosa sat, a book in hand; she looked really involved in it.
"Hey." Rosa, a little startled, looked up at Jess. "This seat taken?"
Rosa glanced around before replying to him mysteriously, "The invisible men. It's OK, though. I think they're gone right now."
Jess gave her what he hoped would pass for a sweet smile and sat down next to her, once again, impressed with the child's imagination. He looked Rosa over, glancing at the red and white child sized baseball uniform she wore. A wolf design had been cut out of a pattern and sewn onto the tops of the uniforms.
"You ready for today?" Jess asked her.
"Uh huh," Rosa replied vaguely as she had gone back to her book.
Jess sighed, "Rosa." Her brown eyes floated over towards him. "It's OK if you're scared or, you know, a little freaked out." She stayed quiet. "Really, it is."
Rosa managed a smile, however weak it was. "Thanks, Coach Jess." She sighed faintly and rested her head on the seat.
"You sure you OK?" Jess asked with concern.
Rosa quickly nodded her head. "Yes. The invisible men like to put sleeping dust on me when I'm not looking."
"Oh, I've been there," Jess assured her. "The whole reading thing gives them a good chance."
Rosa nodded in agreement.
The bus soon stopped, signaling that they had arrived at the nearby park Jess's team and the opponents would be playing in. The Red Wolves raced off the bus anxiously, followed by Jess and Coach Stone.
Jess glanced over to see that the other team was also riding up in their bus. They, too, took no time coming out. From what Jess read on their shirts their team was known as the Hot Spots.
"How original," Jess thought to himself sarcastically.
A man with a navy blue baseball cap on his head walked up to wear Coach Stone and Jess stood. "Hey, I'm John Davis." He held out his hand. "You must be the coach of these girls here."
Jess held out his hand and started to say, "Yeah, I—"
John Davis took Stone's hand and shook it. "It's a pleasure to meet you," Coach Davis said.
"Oh, I'm not the coach," Stone explained then gestured towards Jess. "I'm just here to help. Jess here is the coach."
"Oh," Coach Davis said with embarrassment in his voice. "Y-you're the coach?"
Jess shrugged, "That's what they call me. Here I thought it was just a fun nickname."
"Oh, well, I'm sorry but it's just that... how old are you, twenty two?"
"Twenty four," Jess corrected then smirked. "It's good to know the anti-aging cream is working, though."
"Uh huh," Davis nodded. "Well, good luck to you," he said, sounding as if he had already one the game.
"You, too," Jess forced out, completely thrilled when Coach Davis headed back over to his team, which was also all girls.
Stone turned to Jess. "Don't let him get to you. These rival coaches are huge asses."
"Completely noted," Jess nodded.
It took no time for parents to show up for the game, all sitting on the benches that had been set up in the park. Jess looked around, noticing that the only mother that did not seem to be there was Ms. Brookes, Rosa's mom.
The time soon came for the coaches to huddle up their teams to go over a quick game plan for the first play. The Red Wolves huddled around Jess, Kathy making her way to the front of the group.
"All right, guys," Jess began. "This is what we've been practicing for. Let's do this right but only do up to your best. Don't go crazy out there and remember, no sliding into the bases. We don't need any busted heads out there." A few giggles escaped the girls at that. "OK, hands in." Jess held out his hand, signaling for the rest of them to put theirs on top of his. "One, two, three..."
"Red Wolves!" they all exclaimed then broke apart from their team handshake.
Both teams took their positions on the large baseball diamond. As the game started things looked good for the Red Wolves, especially with Kathy's pitching. When the third girl on the Hot Spots team came up to bat Kathy was ready for her.
The blonde girl tossed the ball out at the other girl. The child from the Hots Spots whacked at the ball with her bat, sending it flying high. Kathy could not believe her eyes as the girl ran to first plate.
"That OK," Jess called out to Kathy.
Kathy just nodded a little, a completely forlorn look on her face.
It was soon the Red Wolves' turn to go up to bat. Jess's team all stood lined up, him wondering which one should be up first.
"Well... any volunteers?" Jess finally asked, showing he had full confidence in all the girls.
Everyone turned their attention towards Rosa, catching her off guard. "Why are you looking at me like that?" the brown eyed child asked defensively.
"Rosa's the best batter ever," Ellen said, pointing at Rosa. "Let her do it!"
"Rosa?" Jess said to the girl, clearly meaning that it was entirely up to her.
"What?" Rosa couldn't believe her ears "No! I can't—"
Jess gave her a glare and reprimanded, "I said don't ever say can't." He turned to the entire team. "Look, guys, I better not ever hear can't on this team again. We've come too far, tried too hard. We are not giving up now. You got it?"
"Got it," they all replied simultaneously.
Jess looked down at his brown haired batter. "So, Rosa, cut the whining, get you're butt out there, and grab that bat."
Rosa finally stood. "OK," she agreed determined.
The players took their places again. The game was near an end. Rosa picked up the bat and held it tightly, trying to stay focused. The pitcher of the other team tossed the ball out at her and Rosa swung the bat, smacking the ball and sending it flying high. She took off then, running to the bases, her teammates shouting cheers for her. Rosa landed on the last base... safe!
"Score!" the announcer cried. "The Red Wolves win!"
Every member of the Red Wolves team raced out to Rosa, patting her on the back and screaming cheers. Rosa looked around, amazed, a large smile on her face.
Coach Davis walked up to Jess, shaking his hand. "Um, good job," Davis forced out.
"Thanks," Jess nodded then looked towards his team, going over. Rosa looked up at him. They stared at each other for a moment before Rosa ran out and wrapped her small arms around his legs. Jess, taken back by the display of emotion, knelt down and hugged her tightly. "Good job, kiddo," he whispered to her.
"Thanks, Coach Jess," Rosa whispered back.
Jess, finally breaking his hug from Rosa, looked at the rest of the girls. "Good job," he said. "You guys did it."
"Well, I did have a little help," Kathy said proudly.
The girls filled with giggles; Jess laughed as well.
All of a sudden Rosa felt her arm get yanked and she looked up into the angry eyes of her mother. The blonde woman looked completely fumed.
"There you are!" Ms. Brookes snapped. "God, how long does a damn game last?"
Jess looked over at Ms. Brookes. "Hey, if it's OK, I thought I'd take the team out for pizza or somethin'," he said.
Ms. Brookes stared closely at Jess before replying angrily, "No." She then took off, pulling Rosa along fiercely.
Jess shook his head and went off after them. "Hey," he called after the blonde woman. "Wait." She turned to him. "Is there a problem here?"
"No," she snapped. "Just leave us alone. We're going home."
"Mommy, ouch," Rosa moaned as her mother held her hand tightly.
"Ms. Brookes, can you please let Rosa go out with the team?" Jess asked.
"Mommy," Rosa moaned again.
Ms. Brookes glared down at her daughter and suddenly began to shake her violently. "Just shut up! We're going home."
Jess looked horrified at the display. "Hey, take it easy," he said to Ms. Brookes.
"I told you to mind your own business, Jess!" the blonde cried all too familiarly then realized her slip up.
Jess stared at her closely. "Hold on. Don't I know you?" he asked.
"N-no. I've never seen you before." The woman turned to leave again, yanking Rosa along.
Jess grabbed the woman and spun her around. "Shane... is that you?"
Ms. Brookes was taken aback. "It's Shane Brookes," she uttered. "You never could learn my last name, huh, Jess?"
Jess just couldn't believe his eyes. "Shane... oh, God. I haven't seen you since..."
"Just be quiet!" Shane exclaimed. "Just—"
"Shane, stop," Jess interrupted her anger fest. "I want to have a word with Rosa's father. Maybe I should talk to him and—"
"You'll need a shovel," Shane said, her voice turning to hurt. "H-he died a while back."
"Mommy?" Rosa looked confused. "You know Coach Jess?"
"I told you to shut up!" Shane yelled at her daughter.
"Hey!" Jess was appalled by the display. "Stop it."
Shane sighed angrily. "Jess, I've had a long day and the last thing I need to worry about is you. So just mind your business and stay the hell away from mine." She stormed off then, tugging Rosa along.
Jess shook his head slowly. Something wasn't right and he had to put a stop to it.
A/N: I am really tired. So if the ending of this chapter sucks then I am really sorry. I also do not have time to re-read because I am in a total hurry here. So, once again, I'm really, really sorry. Well, good night. Please review.