Monday, June 1, 2015

The sound of Eminem's voice filled my ears as I sat on the porch of my new house, and I studied my new neighborhood in awe. Less than six hours before, I was just getting off an airplane after a four and a half hour flight from Tennessee to California. The time was 2:38 pm, and though I was tired, I was definitely not going to bed. I wasn't rich or anything, so I never really got to travel a lot; this was the first time I'd moved to a different state since I was three.

Here's a little information about me. My name is Makayla, and I was born in Killeen, Texas, which is in Fort Hood, a military base, because my dad was in the army. My dad left my mom, so she struggled a lot with me and my older brother, and she had to get my grandparents to come and get us, bringing us all back to a tiny town in Tennessee. I live with my brother, mom, and step-dad. I have curly, black hair, blue-green eyes, freckles that I hate, long, dark, thick eyelashes, and dimples on both of my cheeks. My height is 5'4, and I'm 14-years old. I love basketball, baseball, singing, writing, reading, and music.

Anyways, enough about me.

I studied all of the houses around mine, wondering who lived in each of them, and what their stories were. I often had weird thoughts like that.

Snapping me out of my thoughts, I felt someone nudge me lightly with their elbow. I looked over to my right to see my big brother, Luke, sitting next to me, a small smile painted on his face. I immediately paused my music, ripped my earbuds out, and gave him a questioning look.

"Wanna go walking?" he asked. "Mom said it'd be a good idea, and we could probably make new friends somewhere."

A smile slowly formed on my face. "Sure, let's go. But if you forget how to get back to the house, I'm blaming you."

Luke laughed, standing up. "We won't get lost. I have Google Maps."

I chuckled, shaking my head, and stood up. "Okay, let's go."

Without another word, we made our way out of our yard and onto the sidewalk. I stuffed my phone and earbuds into the pocket of my high-waisted skinny jeans. I look down at my outfit, which was a white tank top tucked into the jeans, and blue Vans. I had a blue bandana tied around my wrist; not for a gang or anything, but because it matched my shoes, and it was my favorite color.

"So, how are you liking it so far?" Luke asked suddenly, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

"What, California?" He nodded in response. "Oh, I love it. It's really freaking hot, and it's definitely a lot different than what I'm used to, but... I love it."

Luke chuckled. "I knew you would. You've always been obsessed with the idea of going to California."

"You don't have to tell me, because I know," I replied, giggling. "How are you liking it?"

He shrugged. "I like it, but I'll love it once I start seeing the hot girls."

I laughed loudly. "Oh, you're such an idiot. Yeah, I can't wait to see all the cute boys." I winked at him playfully, and he scowled at me.

"No, you won't, because I'll beat their little asses when they try to mess with you," Luke returned, obviously stifling a smile.

I rolled my eyes, chuckling. "I bet you won't. Because if you do, I'll beat up any girls that try to mess with you."

"Fine, but if they're jerks—"

"I most likely won't be associating with any jerks, so don't worry about it," I broke in, shaking my head and giggling. "Besides, I'd be too nervous to go and talk to any cute boys anyways."

"I don't see why. You look like me, so you know you aren't all the way ugly," he joked. I gasped and punched his arm. "Just kidding, Kayla." He threw his arm around my shoulders. "That hurt, by the way."

"What did?"

"When you punched my arm," he answered, grinning. "It went numb."

I snickered. "You're supposed to be tough, Luke."

"Yeah, well, I still feel pain," he replied, chuckling. "And that really hurt. I'm proud of you though. I taught you everything you know."

"Right," I chuckled, pushing him away from me.

We continued to walk, while holding a random conversation, until we came to a small gate. Luke and I were just going to walk past it until I heard multiple voices, yelling and cheering.

"Hey, what's going on over there?" I asked, more to myself than to Luke, backing up a bit to try and see for myself.

"How am I supposed to know?" Luke squinted his eyes at me. I rolled my eyes in response, and peeked through the gate.

With slight hesitance, I unlatched the gate, and pushed it open. Luke didn't object to the action; instead, he followed me past the bushes until, finally, a sandlot came into view. Nine boys were spread around the worn baseball diamond, playing a game of baseball.

None of them seemed to notice us, so I watched in silence with my arms crossed. A boy with dark hair under a blue LA baseball cap, a white wife beater under an open dark blue button-up, and jeans was standing at the batter's box. He was in the correct stance, with his body turned to the side, legs bent, and bat raised. I watched in admiration as the pitcher threw the ball, and the batter swung, hitting the ball hard.

The boy took off running, and I got so caught up in watching him run, it scared the hell out of me when the ball bounced off of my foot. The boys stared at me, and without thinking, I picked the ball up and threw it as hard as I could towards the second baseman, a tall and lanky boy. He caught the ball, and they returned to their game as if I wasn't even there.

"That was a good throw," Luke complimented. He was bent down, messing with the dirt on the ground.

"Thanks," I muttered, crossing my arms again.

After a few more minutes of watching the boys play, and none of them even glancing my way, I turned on my heels and walked out, since it was clear I wouldn't be playing. Luke followed closely behind me.

I promised myself that I would come back the following day. I absolutely loved baseball, and even if I wasn't playing, watching the game itself still fascinated me. Plus, the boy who looked older than the rest was really cute. From what I could tell, at least . . .

---

If you're reading this, you're the real MVP. Just letting you know. (; It's boring now, but it'll get a lot better, so bear with me.

Stay gold.

(Keep in mind that instead of being based in 1962 like the movie, this story is based in present time. I mean, all you have to do is look at the dates - they're at the beginning of every chapter, haha. So, yeah. Just in case any of you are confused and didn't read the description, in which I've already stated this.)