"California State Championships, here we come."
"Don't jinx it, Kaylah."
"Shut up, Brent. I'll say whatever the fuck I want."
"Watch your language."
"Why can't our star player be a guy?"
"Do I detect a bit of sexism? Listen here, you misogynistic idiots, and this goes to all the other boys I've played with and against, I can throw a ball faster than all of you, and swing a bat harder than all of you. Before I came here, this team was a wreck. Face it, y'all need me. And it's about time that y'all show me some hot damn respect. I sit here and take in your insults like I take in a breath, and I still have the strength to win. So unless the insults stop to fucking day, this undefeated season we have will not fucking continue. Me getting insults and sexual comments not from rival teams, but from my own team, I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO FUCKING PUT UP WITH IT! I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO FUCKING HEAR IT!"
For the rest of the drive to Oakland, no one said a word, for fear of Kaylah ripping their faces off.
In the Lost Boys cave, three of them did not want to go to Kaylah's baseball game, but one did.
"Marko, what would be the point in us going?"
"She said she's the star of her team, and they have an undefeated season. You do the math, David."
"Fine. If you wanna go, then go. We won't stop you."
"Thank you."
"So Marko, you are willing to drive an hour away, just to see her throw a ball?"
"Yes."
"I think it's safe to say that you've found your mate."
"But it's not her blood that I want. I just want her."
"You'll have to turn her, Marko."
"I know. But I want to wait on that. I need to know if she's worth it."
"I would say it's dark enough for you to head on out to Oakland."
Marko had to find out if Kaylah was worth it the hard way.
The bus had arrived at the ball park in Oakland, and Kaylah was ready to show the rival team that playing ball like a girl was not a bad thing. She was the best on her team.
"Well, coach. Do you want me batting or pitching first?"
"Draw straws for it."
"No, no, actually, let Brent go first. He's anxious to pitch his heart out."
"You're seriously gonna let me go first, Kaylah?"
"Why not?"
"Okay, then. I will."
"Have fun out there."
There were games when the coach did not put some layers in, but he always put Kaylah in a game. She had the fastest pitch on the team and the hardest swing on the team.
From the dugout, she could see Marko sitting in the stands, next to Michael, who was not looking happy.
"These Oakland Devils won't know what hit them."
Thing was about Brent, he was terrible at pitching. Terrible.
"Batter up!"
Brent threw the ball, and the opposing batter hit it, much to Brent's displeasure.
"He was supposed to miss that!"
The batter stepped up to the plate again. Brent threw the ball, with the same result. And the same result happened a third time.
"Brent, switch places with Kaylah. Now. We need to get on the scoreboard, not look like idiots."
"My pleasure, Coach."
"Please make him miss. Number twenty-three is Oakland's best batter. He's never missed a swing."
Kaylah's trick was she watched how the batter stood. She watched their body movements.
"Thought you'd change the weather. Start a little storm, make a little rain. But I'm gonna do one better. Hide the sun until you pray. I'm a tornado. Looking for a soul to take."
She threw the ball, and much to her team and Oakland's surprise, the batter got his first strike.
"Keep it going, Kaylah!"
"You're gonna see me coming by the selfish things that you did. I'm gonna leave you guessing how this funnel is gonna hit. I'm a tornado, looking for a man to break."
She threw the ball again, and he missed, for the second time.
"I'm not gonna let this bitch beat me!"
"Yeah, I'm gonna lift this house, spin it all around. Toss it in the air and put it in the ground. Make sure you're never found."
When the batter got three strikes, he was pissed.
"You're mine, Bedwell!"
"I'd rather be dead than be yours! It's not my fault you missed! It was three easy swings! But then again, a big stupid goon like you couldn't use common sense if it fell flat on your face and started to wiggle!"
Marko watched the whole altercation, and he planned to make sure that number twenty-three would never bother her again. Oakland might soon have the same problem as Santa Carla.
"Kaylah, you're gonna also be our batter."
"That's fine with me."
"Someone has to do it, cause there is no one else on this team that's any good."
"He means that with love, boys."
"Yeah. Sure I do."
"Alright. You want me back out there now, or wait?"
"Just wait. I want to see what Oakland has up their sleeve."
"See, I treat a baseball game like a poker game, and I've never lost a poker game."
"You've never lost a baseball game either."
"See what I mean? Now Aidan, get out there and strike him out, or I swear, I will strike you out. Don't you boys DARE leave all the work to me. We're called a team for a reason. I have enough weight on my shoulders."
"She's right, boys. You better listen to her."
But Aidan did the exact opposite of what his team wanted him to do.
"He has got to be the best batter I have ever seen."
"Shut up, Aidan. You know I can bat better than him. Just don't make me bat your head."
"Kaylah, you're up."
"It's about time. I don't wanna sit on my ass through the entire game."
"And you shouldn't have to."
"This bitch is back out here?!"
That was two lives Marko might have to claim.
"Thought you'd take a swing. Try another girl, try another night. But it's the pain that brings my force of nature back to life. I'm a tornado more disturbed than an F5."
She hit the ball and made it all the way around the field.
"You won't get a second chance, bitch!"
"Hey, I'm gonna lift this house, spin it all around. Toss it in the air and put it in the ground. I'm gonna lift this house, spin it all around. Toss it in the air and put it in the ground. Make sure you're never found, oh, yeah."
She hit it a second time, much to Oakland's surprise.
"You will fucking lose, bitch!"
"I'm gonna lift this house, spin it all around. Toss it in the air and put it in the ground. I'm gonna lift this house, spin it all around. Toss it in the air and put it in the ground. Make sure you're never found."
"I'm gonna make you regret the day you ever started playing baseball!"
"The winds are getting stronger. And the sky is falling through. You ain't got much longer. Till the rage rips off the roof. I'm a tornado. And I'm coming after you. Throw the damn ball, Oakland. I ain't gonna stand here all day!"
She hit it again, and Oakland was pissed.
"You were supposed to lose!"
"According to you, I was."
Oakland put in a different pitcher, thinking that would change the tides of the game.
"We got you this time, Santa Carla!"
"Russian roulette is not the same without a gun. And baby when it's love, if it's not rough, it isn't fun."
Kaylah hit the ball again, and this pitcher always got a batter struck out.
"We're winning. We are fucking winning."
"Don't jinx it, Coach."
"Kaylah never jinxes it."
One Oakland player tried to trip her on her way around the field, but she caught it just in time.
"Let's try this again."
"Do or do not, Oakland. There is no try."
"Don't push your luck."
"Oh, I don't need luck."
Second hit, and she made her way around the field again.
"This is impossible! I always strike out a batter!"
"Maybe God thought it was your turn to get struck out."
"Shut up!"
Her final swing, and she hit it. A home run. Santa Carla won the game. A little boy in the stands caught it.
"Coach, go tell that little boy I'll sign that ball for him."
"I certainly will."
Kaylah headed for the locker room. She used the girl's locker room since it was also a softball field. She showered and changed into something fancy, and her family was waiting for her outside.
"Kaylah! The little boy does want you sign the ball."
"Where is he?"
"Right here."
"Hi, buddy. What's your name?"
"Mark."
"That'll be easy for me to remember. I have a nephew named Markie and a friend named Marko. How old are you?"
"I'm five."
"I bet all the ladies are all over you. You are just too cute for the ladies to not love you."
That made the little boy blush. Marko was watching her, and smile came across his face.
"Thanking you for signing my ball."
"Well, technically buddy, I'm also the one who gave it to you. I am the one that swung into he stands, and you caught it."
Kaylah signed the ball with not just her name, but also a sweet message that said, cherish your childhood. It doesn't last forever. Mark gave her a big hug and even gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Kaylah, you have always been good with little kids."
"I don't know why."
"Bedwell! You're mine!"
It was Oakland's batter and the always strike out pitcher. Marko stepped in, but Kaylah stopped him.
"I'll handle this, Marko. I love how you guys just simply called me a bitch in the field. That's really the best you got? Come on, y'alls have got to have better insults than that!"
"Why don't you drop the accent? We're not falling for it."
"I can't drop the accent. It's all natural. Unlike your balls."
They went to hit her, but she tackled them both at once, and brought them to the ground.
"Get off of us!"
"No! Now you listen here, and you listen good, cause I don't like to repeat things! The next time you wanna think your better than a woman, you come find me, and I'll show you how much better at things at woman can be. You won't have an ounce of manhood left. And if you don't like my accent, plug your fucking ears!"
She kicked them in the chest and headed for Lucy's car. Marko followed her.
"Hey, Kaylah."
"Hey, Marko."
"I must say, I am impressed with your baseball abilities."
"A lot of people are. And a lot people get pissed about them too. Just look at Oakland. They'll always hold this grudge against us."