(A/N: Okay everyone. Two quick things. One, my spanish final is tomorrow, and like it was in the fall, it's an oral exam. I have to talk about a topic for 5-6 minutes, only en español. So please wish your (Hopefully!) favorite writer good luck/pray for me. This is gonna be bad lol. Second, this is a little mature briefly, but then it'll be over. You'll know it when you see it. Anyway, see you Thursday. –James)
Sydney POV
Rushhhhh…
…
Rushhhhh…
…
Rushhhhh…
…
"I'm back. It was my phone. Sorry about that." He smiled at me.
I smile back at him happily.
"Good, I was getting worried that like the radio or something got messed up. I just got this thing back!
"I know. I'm glad we have it back." He smiled and stretched out next to me.
It's Friday, and we decided to skip school and spend our day at the beach.
Much better use of our time anyway.
We pulled the SUV onto the sand, pulled into a little cove close to the water and opened the back then lowered the second row of seats.
The way we have it configured we can lie back here and get all the sun we want. Plus we don't have to get sand everywhere.
Since Austin doesn't have a cooler anymore, we just bought a cheap one, plus drinks and ice.
It's next to him.
"So, I think I know who has been dropping those condoms into my locker overnight."
I pop up and look up at him.
It's really annoying.
"Is it who we think it is?" I ask.
He bit his lip and nodded.
Skylar.
"Gank." I say, crossing my arms.
"She just texted me a picture." He said.
"You have her number?" I yelp.
"So?"
I glare at him. "The picture?"
He pulled out his phone, unlocked it and handed it to me.
Great.
It's a picture of a condom in a clear package.
Underneath is the sugary sweet "Don't forget this Austin baby. XOXO"
THAT…
"Easy…" He said quietly.
I take a deep breath, then glance what name she's under in his phone.
Wicked Witch of the West
I momentarily smile, then look back to him.
"Austin baby?" I ask.
"I don't know." He said.
"Are you sure."
"Absolutely." He said firmly.
He moved to kiss me, but I turn my head.
"Hey…that's not right."
…
"Sydney?" He asked.
"Why do you still have her number?" I ask.
He has no reason to.
They're exes, and she's been dropping notes in my locker.
And he knows that.
They all stay stuff like "You're a gigantic cow bitch. Austin will be mine. And you'll be crying in the janitor's closet on the cold hard ground. *Goat Scream*
I'll admit the last part is funny.
But Austin's mine.
M-I-N-E.
He knows she's been taunting and insulting me.
"Because, I need to know if she's texting me." He replied.
"WHY? Why would you need to know she texted you?" I almost scream.
"Hey…for times like this. Otherwise we wouldn't know who dropped these—" He waved one between his fingers. "In my locker."
"Why do you have that? You don't need that." I say quickly.
"Easy Sydney, relax. I accidentally left it up front yesterday."
"MY PARENTS DROVE THIS YESTERDAY!" I scream.
Oh no.
Oh god.
I'm dead.
So dead.
"They obviously didn't see it. Otherwise I'd be strung up in your basement and you'd be at the doctors getting virginity tested."
…
"Is it called that?" I ask aloud.
He shrugged. "I don't know. I don't have a test I can take. You have to accept my word."
I glare at him.
"As I said when you asked…she got all up on me, and started grinding me. I didn't want it and refused her. She got mad and yelled at me. So I left. Nothing more happened. The next time something happens will be my first."
I sigh and try to relax while leaning back.
"Sydney…c'mon. I haven't done anything wrong. I've got a telephone number, a condom and my word. That's all."
"That sounds awful." I say to the ceiling.
…
"It does. I'm sorry."
"Thanks." I say.
"I'll talk to her. I promise. And don't let her get in your head. Okay?" He asked sweetly.
I can't help but smile, then lean over and kiss him.
He gently picks me up, while still kissing me and gently deposited me on top of him.
And kept kissing me.
…
…
He broke apart and gingerly kissed my ear. "More?"
I scoot up to be closer to him, and he starts kissing me again.
…
…
This boy is my personal vial of cocaine.
I'm completely helpless when he kisses me.
I just become jello.
…
…
I slip my hand under his shirt and run it up and down his side.
He shivered, but pulled me closer.
"Mmmm…"
…
…
Wait…
What's that against my leg?
I barely move my thigh and—
Oh.
Uh oh.
I break apart from him and roll off.
Oh no.
"Oh god. I'm sorry Sydney. I didn't even notice. I got caught up…" he said, blushing furiously and covering the bulge up.
"I…it's okay. I guess. I mean…you got it from me. So I guess it's a good thing." I babble aimlessly.
Shut up you idiot!
You're over here, going on about how…
Wait.
"No Syd, I should still control myself better. I'm sorry." He said, still quite red.
Hold on.
"Sydney? Syd?" He asked.
"Hold on…" I gasp out.
Make up your damn mind.
Come on Sydney.
"Whatcha thinking?" he asked.
"Do you mind if I close the back?' I ask, peering out the window.
Nobody can see us except for straight out the back window.
Score one for the cove.
"Go ahead, why?"
I crawl over and shut it, leaving us and dead silence.
"Sydney…?"
"Lie down." I ask.
He lied back down where he was; bulge a little smaller than before.
I crawl back on top of him, and he quickly inhaled.
"What are you doing?" He gasped.
"I…I wanna do something." I whisper into his ear.
"Which is?"
"Just a sec. Let me start, and then we'll go from there."
Calm…
Easy.
Don't be all freaked out.
I take a breath, then put my head next to mine, then rotate my hips on him and kiss his neck.
He suddenly twitched and let out a quickly silenced groan.
"Whoaaaaa…Sydney…stop. You don't…ohhhhh god." He gasped as I did it again.
"Is it bad?" I whisper into his ear, then kissing it. "Am I bad?"
"No…not at all…but…you don't have to. It's ok. I'll be fine. You can get off me." He said in a rush.
I smile and kiss his neck, then whisper "But I don't want to get off. I want to keep going…" I kiss him again.
He quietly moaned and let out a shudder.
"Baby…you don't know what you're doing. Trust me."
"Yes I do. I know what I'm doing." I whisper, causing him to shudder again.
"You know you're grinding me baby. If you keep going you'll work me off. I don't think you want that…" he said, sounding oddly sad at the end.
"What? I want to do something against the rules…do you not want to?' I say.
Say yes.
Please say yes.
"I…my opinion doesn't…matter." He said, trying to stay calm.
The bulge next to my leg is slowly going down.
"Tell me what you want. Because I want to. I closed the back so we could have some privacy."
"Sydney…I don't want to do anything you're not comfortable with."
"Austin. I'm on top of you. Okay? It's up to you. I'll do what you're comfortable with."
He bit his lip, then rested his head on my shoulder.
"I'm so damn weak."
"No you're not." I say softly.
"I…I want this. I just want…a moment." He muttered.
"Then let's get a moment."
Then he looked up at me. "Sydney?"
I smile and nod.
"You're sure about this?" he asked.
"Take off your shirt." I command him.
He quickly pulls it off him and throws it up front.
Then he quietly let out a breath.
"So…what are you going to do?" He asked.
"Well…I know the signs when a guy wants something. So I'm going to give you a little something." I say kindly.
"English, please. I literally can't think."
"I'm working you off. I think that's what it's called."
"Yeah. You know what'll happen right?" He said.
"Uh huh."
"I…are you absolutely sure you want this?"
I kiss his cheek softly, then put my head next to his again.
"I'll try to stay calm and not freak out. I promise."
"No. React naturally. Enjoy this. This is supposed to be special." I say.
"But that might…I don't…I don't know."
I lower myself to look him face to face.
"Shhh…"
I kiss him, and we're off.
Every movement I make gets another sound, another twitch. Before long his hands are on my jeans and I know he doesn't know what he's doing.
When I separate, he's gasping.
"You ok?" I ask.
He nods and curls closer to me.
"Oh god…ohhhh wow. Mhhmmmmm…"
I quickly kiss him again and speed up.
Before long he's grinding me back, and his hands are under my shirt, which he's never done before.
He's not thinking at—
Suddenly he went rigid and moaned right into the kiss, then grabbed my shoulders and pulled me into a ferocious kiss.
Then we're both gasping.
I…
Wow.
His face is totally blank, with his hands under my shirt and on my ribs.
Then he blushed and smiled.
"Sydney…"
I smile and lay my head on his chest.
He gently turned my head and kissed me.
"I love you. So much. So so much." He whispered into my ear, then kissed it.
"Love you too. Was it ok?"
"Okay?" He laughed.
Uh oh.
"It…I can't describe it. I…whoa!" he suddenly yelped, then yanked his hands out of my shirt.
"What?" I ask.
"I…gosh that was…I'm sorry. I didn't do anything else inappropriate did I?"
"Tons. But it's okay…" I grab his hands back, then slip them under my shirt and onto my hips.
He looks nervous.
I smile and kiss him quickly. "Was it special enough for you?"
"I…There's no way I'm going to be able to sleep tonight. No way." He shook his head and smiled.
I smile back.
"Good."
Robbie POV
Ping.
Out of the corner of my eye I see Cat go for her phone.
C'mon traffic.
Then Cat sighed.
"What?"
"Sikowitz. Just sent me a text saying Sydney and Austin weren't in class today. Asked if they were at a doctor or something."
I bite my lip and groan.
She's having a bad week.
Yeah…last week maybe we deserved to get yelled at for not trusting them. Maybe.
We're giving them the benefit of the doubt there.
But every night Austin "slept", we caught Sydney sneaking back to her room at the crack of dawn.
Well…Cat caught them. Syd forgets that Cat loves working on music in the middle of the night.
She was working in the basement every night except for one, and heard Sydney's footsteps.
The missing night I was actually getting water at the fridge, when I heard the sound of a door creak open, then a brief kiss.
Then our resident temptress in the night crept upstairs.
Poof.
"They're not at the doctor." I say sadly.
Cat bit her lip.
"Unless…"
Oh yeah.
Yesterday. We drove Sydney's SUV to wash it for her. Since it just got back from the shop looking all grimy.
Can't have her in a dirty SUV.
Cat was looking for change for the vacuum, when she nearly had a heart attack.
A…
A condom.
In Sydney's SUV.
I…
I didn't know Sydney took that much after her mother.
Cat totally broke down, saying she's a bad role model, and that she needed to talk to her.
I talked her off the ledge, saying we needed to broach the topic gently.
Extremely gently.
…
I really hope it was there from the car repair people. I don't know. I'm grasping for straws here
Can't you tell?.
"Bathing suits!" Cat suddenly yelped.
Oh yeah.
Found those in the back in one of the storage compartments.
"Crap! We're idiots!" I yell, smacking my hand on the wheel.
"They're totally at the beach. Making out and…"
My stomach quickly flipped, and I'm suddenly regretting having breakfast at all.
"Yeah." I mumble.
"The problem is, her damn hymen broke on that trampoline at Beck's! So we can't tell!" Cat yelled.
"I know baby. I know." I sigh.
"I hate how sneaky and bitchy she's being. Hate it." Cat said angrily.
"I know Cat. But she has enough of a point to hang onto it. Plus, we were like this too as kids. As much as I hate to admit it."
"Not you!" She jumped up. "You were a goody two shoes."
I slow down at the light, then glare at her.
"Oh really now? That bad?" I ask harshly.
"I didn't mean it like that."
"Sure you didn't." I growl.
…
"Cat, I'm just as pissed off as you are. But I don't think there's anything we can do. We just have to plow ahead, let her be rebellious and focus on the task at hand."
"Right. Getting this contract." She took a deep breath.
"And raising the boys right." I add on.
"yeah, Right." She smiled.
Kevin POV
Riiiiiiinnnggg!
Cool.
School's out.
People jump up and rush out the door.
I grab my stuff and am the last one out, except for the teacher.
"Bye Kevin." Coach said.
"Bye." I smile back.
The hall is the normal rush of people. Buses leave in 12 minutes, and people are rushing around.
I'm in no rush. I'm a car rider.
Today Mom and dad have something to do, so Aunt Jade is picking everybody up.
But she's picking Corey up first, so Matt and I have some time to talk.
"Kevin!"
"Hey Kevin."
"K-Man! Looking good!"
I smile to myself and keep going to my locker.
People have been all over me since the locker incident three weeks ago. Adulation everywhere.
I think that's the word.
Adulation.
I need to look it up online.
Anyway, I've sort of turned into a hero. Girls that never paid attention to me now love me, all the guys want to hang out with me, pretty sweet.
But one thing I don't get has happened.
Ashton has avoided me this whole time.
Her friends brush it off, saying she's just being Ashton.
I'm not that dumb. Mom taught me that whenever someone says their name twice when they're acting weird, something is wrong.
She never texted me, which I told her to do.
Maybe I should have been nicer.
I…probably should have been. I was just mad. I think she was just talking to me so that the bullies would go away. Which really bothered me.
She's the only person at this school besides Kevin that knows who my mom is. The only person!
I trust her!
I close my locker and turn to see a mostly empty hallway.
"Kevin?"
I jump and whip around.
"Ashton! Hey! I've been meaning to talk to you!" I beam at her.
She's talking to me.
"Yeah. Me too. School's been tough though, you know?"
"Yeah. How are you?" I ask.
"I'm good. How's the whole hero thing going?"
"Uhm…weird. And awkward. It's been like a month." I say.
"Three weeks." She quickly spouted out.
She's counting?
"But who's counting? I'm not. My friend told me that the other day." She went red.
"Okay. Is your mom picking you up?" I ask, starting to the pickup area.
"Yeah. But I was going to get a drink first." She said as we walked by the vending machines.
"Oh, okay! I'll get it. What do you want?" I ask.
She moved her mouth weird, then said "Uhh…uhm…water's fine."
"Okay." I say.
Water.
$1.25.
…
Klunk.
I pull out the bottle of water and hand it to her smiling.
"Thanks Kevin."
"No problem…" I say, getting a Raderade and paying for it.
Klunk.
"Well, my friend is this way. I'll see you around Kevin. Text you later?' She asked.
"Sure! Sounds good. Bye!" I smile and wave.
She smiled, then took off the other way.
Hope I didn't make her late.
I sip my drink, only for Matt to be waiting for me at the door.
"So…what'd she say?"
"Nothing really. Just talked." I say.
"really?"
"Oh yeah, and I can text her now." I add on.
"Hmm." He said. "I guess that's good. Right?"
"I don't know." I admit.
"Girls suck man."
They really do.
I sip my raderade, and then Jade's SUV popped up.
Kevin hops in the front, an I go around to the other side.
"Hey Kevin!" Aunt Jade chimed.
"Gaga!"
I turn and see Olivia beaming at me.
"Hi Aunt Jade. Hi Olivia." I smile at her.
I don't think she likes me all that much.
"How was you guys' days?" She asked, starting home.
Corey smiled and waved at me.
"Nothing exciting." I say, as Olivia reached out for me.
I smile at her and hold out my hand like Corey does.
He and Olivia get along a lot better.
Olivia reached up, snatched my hand and pulled it to her
"Why do we have Olivia?" Matt asked.
"To give Aunt Tori and Uncle Andre a night off. She's staying with us. Your sister and you are staying with Cat and Robbie if that's alright."
"Yay!" Corey cheered.
Olivia giggled and waved my hand around.
"Do you like my hand Olivia?" I smile at her.
She's a cute little baby.
She didn't reply, then brought my hand to her head and covered it and giggled.
Aunt Jade laughed.
"She's being silly isn't she Kevin?"
"Yeah. I didn't think she liked me all that much." I say.
"Oh don't be ridiculous. She loves all you guys." She said, then pulling home.
Mom and Dad are already here. We all pile out and start to the house, with Corey hanging back with Olivia so he can bring her inside.
"We should leave the door open for him." Matt said, and I nod.
Makes sense.
"You wanna do some fielding practice?" I ask.
"Sure. Ask your dad."
"Ask me what?"
Both Matt and I yelp and jump.
"Oh…hi Dad."
"Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you. How was school?"
I shrug.
Matt said "Boring."
Corey suddenly came on holding a very happy Olivia, who is still giggling.
"Boy she's happy." Dad smiled.
Corey turned around with a big smile. "Hi daddy."
"Hey bud. How's Olivia?"
She let out a very loud giggle and kicked her feet.
Dad smiled then took Olivia and made a silly face, causing her to giggle again.
Then I'm being hugged.
"Hi Mom." I say.
"Hey Kevin. How are you?" She said as she hugged Matt.
"I'm fine. Can we go hit?" I ask.
"Sure. Just keep it down and be safe please." Dad said.
"Gaga!" Olivia said, causing me to turn.
She's grabbing for me again.
Uhhh…ok?
"Take her Kevin." Mom said.
I gently walk over and pick her up like Mom and Dad taught me.
Olivia giggled and kicked her feet, then turned to my chest and let out a happy sound.
"Aww. She's happy." Aunt Jade said.
"Hey Jade. How was traffic?" Dad asked as I smile at Olivia.
"Not bad. Is Ellie here yet?"
"Up here!" I hear Ellie say, then come racing downstairs, getting Olivia's attention.
Once she saw Ellie, she forgot I'm here and reached for her.
"Well hi! Come here little cutie…" Ellie gushed and grabbed her.
"Let's go." I say to Matt and Corey, and they follow me at first to the garage to get the stuff, then out back beyond the pool.
Right now Corey gives us 20 throws to me at Third. I throw it to Matt at first, which is his new position.
…
…
Dang it in the dirt.
"Sorry!" I say.
Matt waves his glove at me, saying it's no big deal.
Good.
Good.
…
Dirt again!
I sigh and pound my fist into my glove.
High?
…
Way high!
I stop and wave my arms. "What the heck man?"
Corey called out "I dunno?"
"You okay? This is weird for you. At the start of the year you were on fire, but then you had that 0-4 and your fielding is starting to slip." Matt said, tossing the ball in Corey's direction
"I don't know. I'm not doing it on purpose…" I grumble, easily getting to another ball.
Get it right this time dang it.
It sails right over Matt's jump and outstretched glove.
"Crap!" I yell
Then I hear the back door open and close.
"Whoa!" Someone called out.
I freeze and turn around.
"Austin?" Matt asked.
"Hi Austin!" Corey chimed.
"Hey guys, sorry to interrupt. Kevin, dude. What's going on with your mechanics man? They're awful!" He said, stopping at the chest in the back and pulling out a glove.
"They are?" I ask.
Well this is embarrassing.
"Yeah, sorry. Don't mean to be rude, but yeah. Corey, throw another one down here. Matt, I'm coming to you." Austin ordered.
I step out of the way as Corey throws on as hard as he can.
Austin easily gets to it, then lazily flicks it to Matt.
But the ball wasn't slow at all.
POP!
Matt stared at his glove.
"Another one please Corey, but this time to Kevin." Austin said.
Come on.
Don't mess up now.
…
HIGH!
"Okay okay. Let's just stop there." Austin said, motioning for Matt to throw him the ball.
He easily caught it.
He almost looked bored.
"Okay Kevin. The first lesson of fielding your position is?" He asked.
"Eye on the ball." I say.
"Right. Number two?"
"Stay low."
"Good. Are you staying low?" He asked.
"yeah. I'm not missing anything I should get to."
He smiled lightly.
"Sorry, but you're not. You're high all the way. Especially on the throw. You're like this." He said.
Then he srunched up, clearly high and throwing it to Matt.
Also high.
"See?"
"that's a bad throw by you." I say defensively.
Austin gestured for the ball.
Then he fired one right at Matt's waist, where he caught it.
"You're a good first baseman already Matt. Nice job on the position change."
"Who told you that?" Matt asked.
"You're Dad. They're inside with Sydney and everybody else." He said. "Okay, so, you gotta stay down. Corey, I want you to throw one. And Kevin, when you get it, freeze."
He pulled out his phone.
…
Freeze.
I feel stupid.
Click.
"Okay, stand up." Austin said, showing me his phone.
Is that me?
He's right.
That's why I'm all wild!
"Now, try to get lower." He took the ball from me and tossed it back to Corey.
I stay lower this time, but the ball still went high.
"What?" I cry out.
"It's both ends. You can't let your mechanics go when you rise to throw to first. Stay low. Like a cobra." He said.
Corey threw another one, and I try to stay down.
Pop!
"hey!" I smile.
"Pretty good. Again." He said.
…
It did it again!
"Yay!" Corey cheered.
"You fixed him!" Matt called out, then throwing it to Corey.
"Thank you, thank you, I'm here all week." He joked, causing us all to laugh.
"You play baseball right?" I say.
"I do." He smiled.
"Show us something. Sydney said you're good."
"I'm very good. But not until you make 5 good throws to Matt."
He then smacked his hand in his glove and gestured for us to go.
…
1
…
2
…
3
…
4
…
5!
"Yayyy!" Corey cheered.
"Nice throws." Matt called out, walking over.
When he came over, he gently whacked me on the head with his glove.
"Okay, okay. What do you guys want to see me do?" Austin smiled.
"Home run!" Corey cheered.
"You know about that?"
"Yeah." I say. "Sydney has your ball in her room still She said when you hit it, it was such a line drive it sent everybody diving for cover."
Suddenly a frown fell on his face.
"What?" Matt said.
"Oh, nothing. Just thought of how I never get pitched to. That game they did and I made them pay. Since then, nothing."
"Really?" I say.
He nodded.
"4 games, 12 intentional walks." He said.
That sucks.
"I got intentionally walked last year. It sucked. I wanted to hit!" I say.
He smiled and looked at me.
"They intentionally walk 12 year olds?" Austin asked. "I didn't get it until I was 14."
"They did to him because he had hit everything for what felt like a month." Matt said.
"Hmm. Congrats. Well I don't know about a home run. I don't want to break anything."
"PLEASSSEEEEE!" Corey bounced up and down.
You can see Austin give in.
I think he does want to hit one.
We've got a big backyard, what's the danger?
"Fine. Go ask your mom and dad Corey. Please." He said.
Corey sprinted away.
"Thanks for your help." I say.
He smiled and ruffled my hair.
"No problem. Your sister and I just got back from ice cream, and the first thing I saw was your being springy at third. So I came and helped. No big deal." He shrugged.
"Springy?" Matt asked.
"It means you're getting high at third. Or any position. You can do it anywhere. When I hear it, it's usually "Austin, you're springy!". Then I know to focus, get down low and fire the next one on to first.
Then I hear the back door open.
"Okay, I gotta see this." Aunt Jade said.
"They said yes!" Corey sprinted out, carrying two big bats.
Mom and Dad have drinks and are simply looking on.
"Hi Sydney." Matt said.
"Hey Matt."
I poke my head around and wave to her.
She smiled and waved back.
Austin is focused on the tow bats, seing which is heavier I think.
Then he tossed one aside.
"Where do you want it?' He asked Matt, Corey and I.
"Uhhh…" Matt said.
I don't know.
"Over that empty house!" Corey jumped.
"He can't do that." Daddy said.
"Don't doubt him. That's a bad move." Sydney said.
"Fine. Over the house. C'mere Syd." Austin said.
Syd walked over, and Austin whispered something to her and she nodded and smiled.
"Okay…ball please."
Corey handed him one, and we all step back.
"The weapon is loaded!" Sydney called out, getting the adults to laugh, but give Austin a odd look.
"Okay…over that house and into the street." Austin called his shot, then pointed at the house.
The house is at least 400 feet away.
That's like 450 feet to clear it.
"I'll believe it when I see it. Sorry Austin." Dad said.
"That's fine. Go." Sydney said.
Austin simply tossed the ball up, and then he loaded up his body and—
PWIIIING!
"Holy crap!" Uncle Beck yelled.
That ball is right towards the house.
BUT STILL GOING UP.
"Got it!" Sydney said.
…
The ball did fall beyond the house, with an nice dull sound.
It's a quiet neighborhood.
"Wow…" Aunt Jade said, as the adults clapped.
"I feel like I suck." Matt said.
Austin laughed. "You'll get there."
"Again!" Corey gave him another ball.
Austin turned to the parents.
"Go ahead." Mom said.
PWIIIING!
"That is so not normal." I blurt out, as this ball is higher than the last.
Austin is doing some kind of lean thing, away from the house.
Like he's telling it to go.
A even duller "THUD" sound says it cleared the house.
"I'll get it!" Corey yelled, quickly followed by Matt.
Then ran out thru the back fence.
Sydney came over and hugged him as Austin handed me the bat.
"Stay down springy." He joked, and I laughed.
"I see why you're so good." Aunt Jade said.
Austin shrugged. "Thank you."
"Do you do that in games?" Mom asked.
"No t usually that bad. What Corey messed up on, is he let me put the ball where I wanted it. Mid-thigh. If I get pitches there, then…that happens." He said, gesturing to the empty house.
I was sure he was going to break a window.
"Is that why they don't pitch to you?" Dad asked.
"You heard about that?" He asked.
"Thru her. She's always mad when she comes home. She wants them to let you have a chance or something." Dad smiled at Sydney.
"Well maybe it's fair already." Aunt Jade said.
Austin smiled.
"Maybe. But it's more fun when I get to take a swing or two."
Suddenly Matt and Corey came running back.
They come back to us gasping.
"Okay…the first ball went farther, got stopped by the wheel of the car all the way down the street." Matt gasped.
"The other one went…into the mud." Corey said, holding up the muddy ball. "They don't have grass in their yards for whatever reason."
"Wow." Mom said.
Sydney simply came over and hugged him, then took Matt's ball.
"Look, another bruise!" She smiled.
"Yep. I need more of those." Austin joked.
Everybody laughed.