The final day of middle school baseball season, the air was warm, the players were covered in sweat. It had been a good game, Royal Woods Middle School had won 4-1, the one run they allowed was in the 8th inning. Lynn Loud was happy with the result, it was another great year of the sport. Most of the those in attendance had left the stands, they were waiting for their kids to get to the cars or trying to get out of the parking lot.

She was kind of sentimental, it was her last season of middle school baseball, next year, High School. Next year, she was going to have to prove herself to other students who didn't care about her time as a skilled baseball player. They were going to want results, good ones. This season was different, she had gotten a special player to join her team, his name, Liam Hunnicutt. Liam was one of Lincoln's close friends, had orange hair, cut in a bowl-cut, he spoke with a southern accent and lived in a farm. He proved also to be skilled at pitching.

"Hey Lynn, are y'all alright?" he asked.

The girl turned her head and looked over at him, he was standing behind the pitcher's mound that Lynn was standing upon. "Yeah, I'm alright, just taking it in," she said.

"Yeah, I'm not over it either, our final game of the season," he said.

She chuckled a little, "This was my last middle school game, I can't believe it."

"Oh, that's right, you're moving up," he said.

"Yep, I passed my classes and get to leave all this," she said.

"Congrats," he said.

"So, are you going to join the team, next year?" she asked.

He was quiet for the moment, he didn't know, that was a surprising question somewhat. Then again, he realized her love for sport in general.

"I think you should, you have a talent," she said.

"I did have fun, playing and all," he said.

"Yeah, it was fun playing with you," she coughed, "I mean, having you on the team."

He took a drink of his bottle of sports drink and wiped the sweat off his brow. The sun was beating down heating everyone and everything in its sight. There was a horn hocking in the distance, it was a familiar one for Lynn.

"That's my ride," she said.

"Ah right, see ya Lynn," he said.

She didn't know why, but she felt a slight melancholy at not being able to continue to talk to him. She had been having that feeling for the past couple of weeks. She didn't know what was, it only happened around Liam. It was that she weighed every other option and that feeling only happened around him.

"There you are, we're going to Burpin' Burger!" Lana yelled out of the window of Vanzilla.

"Well, let's go," Lynn said flatly,

"Lynn, are you alright?" Lola asked, "You usually would be howling or whatever you do, when you hear about going to Burpin' Burger."

"Oh yeah," she said before giving a weak cheer.

"I know what's going on," Lynn Sr. said.

"Huh?" she asked.

"Well, it was her last game as a middle schooler, it's a big moment," he said.

"Yeah, that's it," she said.

Was that it? It wasn't like she was going to be missing her friends and teammates like Maddie, Paula, and Margo; they were going to be in high school with her, on teams with her, they were going to see each other in the summer. But this could have been the reason she was feeling this way. Right?

"That was good game, sis," Luan said.

"Yeah, great work," Luna said.

"Thanks,", she said in muted tone.

A quiet passive Lynn? After she won? That was strange to her siblings. Maybe she was tired, it had been a hot day, yeah, her energy must be slightly zapped. She'd perk up in the air-conditioned fast-food restaurant.

She laid on her bed, her arms and legs spread out, kind of feeling the pain from the game. Maybe something else? For some reason, she couldn't get the farm boy off her mind. That wasn't her mind set until a couple week ago. Now, she had been wondering about him at the most random times.

Her roommate and younger sister, Lucy, walked into the room.

"As much as welcome this mood, I do have to find concern in you being like this," she said.

"Eh, nothing, Luce, just a little tired," Lynn replied.

Lucy didn't know if she wanted to press more for answers or if she felt her sister was really just tired. Lynn did put a lot of energy in that game, she put in her 110% in the game. On the other hand, she had noticed something off about her sister.

The next day, Lynn Sr. was writing down a list and looking around the kitchen before adding more to the list. "It's going to be another hot one today…" the voice on the radio said. Lynn had come into the kitchen seeing her father doing what he was doing.

"Hey LJ, you look more energetic today," the man said.

"Yeah, I was probably just a little dehydrated," she said.

"You should really learn to keep your fluid intake, up."

"You're right."

He looked over at his list and said, "Ok, I'm trying a new dish for dinner tonight, going to need some fresh vegetables," he said. "I'm also going to need some eggs," he added. He looked at the list one more time, folded it, and put it in his pocket. "Well, LJ, off to Hunnicutt farm."

"Wait, you're going to the farm?" she asked.

"Of course, today's one of their sale days and they have the freshest produce in Royal Woods," the man said.

"Hey, uh, could I come with you?" she asked.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"You take me, you can get more stuff," she replied.

"That is true," he said.

It was strange, she really had the urge to visit the farm. She really wanted to see Liam. Her mind was so focused on that, she didn't notice her father off-key singing to country music on the radio. The ride felt like it was taking forever. They made it to the farm, Lynn Sr. went to scope out the produce on his list and Lynn decided to find the boy.

Liam was washing off some vegetables by the hose, the smell of the cow poop reminded her of the day she first saw how Liam could be a good pitcher. She smiled a little. "Hey Lynn!" he called. Maybe it was his accent, but it felt so sincere.

"Hey Liam, my dad is getting some vegetables, and he might need back up," she said flexing her strength.

"You do work out a lot," he said.

"Hey you aren't a weaking yourself," she said.

"Gosh, thanks," he said, a slight blush on his cheeks.

"Hey LJ, need your help now," her father called. She had to walk away. More she still couldn't figure out why she felt this way. Her father pointed at a crate with some eggs, she helped bring them to Vanzilla. Lynn Sr. followed with bag full of zucchini, summer squash, and cucumbers. "I also though I could try some new ideas for the restaurant," he said with some excitement.

"Hope you aren't getting to carried away," she said.

"Of course not," he said.

Liam walked up, he was holding a bag of freshly washed tomatoes. His shirt was also wet.

"Thanks, Liam," Lynn Sr. said.

"Sure thing, , hope you enjoy them, they have got to be the best tasting ones we've ever grown," the boy said.

Lynn couldn't help but just keep starting at him, it was like the only thing she could think about. The conversation was lost, they could have been mentioning the end of the world and she wouldn't have known. She also didn't know he hand had slipped and ended up cracking a couple eggs.

"I'm sorry," she said.

"It's alright, Liam's getting something to clean it up," Lynn Sr. said, "But, are you alright? You seemed off recently."

"I don't know, I mean, I thought I was feeling a little down about the end of middle school, but for some reason, I keep thinking of…Liam," she said.

"Like how?" he asked.

She tilted her head up to her father and looked at him, "It's weird, I feel funny when I'm around him, like I've eaten a big meal, and when he's not around I feel like I'm about to barf," she said.

Her father smiled, he placed his hand on her shoulder, "Remember, last year, how you felt left out when all your roller derby friends had crushes?"

"Yeah, wait, are you saying, I have a crush on…" she stared to laugh, "You're kidding right?"

"Nope, I think you have your first crush," he said.

Then the man just realized what he said, his daughter, another daughter, was beginning the next step: having crushes and that love thing, it was happening again. By now, he was a pro, he had gone through 4 other daughters and their various love trials, but there was something different this was Lynn, the girl he had given his name to, it was strange.

"No, maybe it's like that time, I had a crush on that one guy, it was just…dehydration," she said.

It couldn't be could it, and with one of Lincoln's friends, that's was weird. Liam came back with some paper towels.

"Thanks," Lynn Sr. said.

She looked at him, her mouth was dry as she tired to say something, anything. Maybe her father was right, he had experience. Liam looked over at her and smiled.

"It's hot enough out here to fry bacon on a truck," he said.

"Yeah, it is," she mustered to say.

"Can you come inside for something to drink, my Mee Maw makes the best Lemonade," he said.

"Uh Dad?" Lynn asked.

"Go on," he said.

Liam poured lemonade from the pitcher into two different glasses. He handed one to Lynn and he took sip from his own. Lynn took a drink, it tasted good. The two of them sat down at the table in the kitchen.

"This is refreshing, ain't it Lynn?" he asked.

"Yeah, I should share some with my dad," she said.

"Great for a hot day, I even drenched my shirt," he said.

"Ah, so that's why it was wet," she laughed.

"Yep, did it after I did the tomatoes," he said.

"So, uh, Liam, have you thought about playing any other sports?"

He set his glass down , "Nah, but I did think about your question from the other day, and maybe I will play baseball again, it was fun."

"That's good news, the school team will need you, since I won't be there anymore, and Paula, and well you know."

"Otherwise, I don't my schedule too packed, I have stuff to do on this here farm and of course with Lincoln and the others."

"You know what? I had fun playing on the same team with you."

He smiled, "Yeah, it wasn't that bad playing with you either."

She could feel her heart beating faster. It could mean that she liked him and liked him more than a team mate. Even so, what if she did? What if he didn't like her that way; a first crush and first heart break at the same time would be something. "Wait, I'm Lynn Loud, I charge against my fear, not get beaten by it," she thought.

"Oh, do you mind if I get a glass for my Dad, he might be…"

"Think nothing of it, I pour another glass for him," Liam replied.

"What do I do? Do I tell him?" she asked her father.

"I can't believe it, my LJ is asking me about boy advice," he said with tears running down his face.

She rolled her eyes and grunted, his reaction to this is how he reacted to his other daughters, maybe this is why she had a hard time with this, her body was protecting her from her father's reaction.

"Well, sweetie, think of it as a football game, it's the final quarter, and you just scored a touch down, do you want to try for the extra point field goal or the 2 point?" he asked.

"Ah, I see what you're saying," she said.

"This is going better than Leni, I had to scramble for a good one for her," he said, "Good luck, I'll be right here."

She walked back into the farmhouse, her heart was beating faster. Wait, what was she going to do exactly? It was truly her first time, and she wondered how anyone else ever did this, what does one do? Just go up and ask him out? She wasn't going to fear, she didn't fear. She let out a breathe, puffed out her chest and walked into the kitchen until she let out a cough.

"Did your pa, like the lemonade?" Liam asked.

"Liam, I was wondering… I was wondering if you would like to go the movies, with me?" she asked.

The boy froze for a moment, that was unexpected. She got nervous, did she do something wrong? The through ran through, her heart hadn't stopped beating quickly. Liam smiled.

"Well, I can't go today, but how about tomorrow, do you want to see that new zombie film they've been talking about?" he asked.

"Yeah, that'll work for me," she said.

"See ya, around 2, tomorrow?" he asked.

"Cool, that's good for me," she said.