Reader! Where the hell have you been, Loca? We're playing some baseball!

Because none of y'all would let me live it down, here is a little music for you to read the chapter to. I call 'em like I see 'em. ;)

-e.g.

p.s. Please believe me when I say, it is a total coincidence that I made Leah umpire. I am, apparently, so Twilight coded that it's bedded deep in my subconscious writing brain XD. I'd ask for forgiveness... but I feel no shame. 

***************

Okay... don't panic. I whisper to myself, taking my spot as umpire with a racing heart. No need to freak out. Just a friendly game of baseball.

While everyone else on AJ's team takes to the field, Robin crouches down beside me in the catcher position. Pulling the glove out of his back pocket he slides it on and gets ready. Our eyes meet, and he makes this face. The kind of face you make when you're equally evaluating and entertained by the person before you.

"What?" I mumble defensively.

Robin's eyes land on Jesse's hat. Then he holds my gaze directly and fights off a small smile, "I didn't say anything."

"It's not what you think." I squeak out before thinking, my cheeks still ablaze. "I mean. You just don't know, because-- Well there's nothing to know---He's an ass. So, just ignore him. Okay?"

Robin breaks eye contact, still wearing that indecipherable smile, "Fine."

I feel the heat in my face kick up a few more degrees and close my eyes to pray for strength. The urge to rip off Jesse's hat and kick it to the moon is strong, but what's done is done. If I take it off now Jesse will only come back over here and put it on me again. Which would cause a scene and another opportunity for him to do something even more embarrassing.

AJ catches my eye and beams at me conspiratorially, giving me a thumbs up as he takes the pitcher's mound. I brazenly flipped him off, which gratified my anxiety to a small degree. Mom, Rosie, and Jordan take the bases shouting at each other over what zones they'll cover. Then we start to warm up, the infield passing the ball around as AJ and Robin throw back and forth.

Behind Robin and me is Nora's team, consisting of Caragh, Cade, dad, Joey, and Jesse. They start to arrange who will bat first. Unsurprisingly, since it is Nora's team, she asks Jesse. He happily steps on deck, winking at me before practicing his swing.

There is no way I can take 9 innings of this. I turn my eyes back to the field and shake my head.

Sucking in a deep breath, and fully aware that I am stress sweating under all my layers, I try to cool myself down by fanning the collar of my hoodie back and forth. My mind spins. I could say I have a headache, or fake twist my ankle... or manipulate the weather with my mind and rain this place out.

The ball comes rocketing toward Robin, and he catches it in his glove with a solid thwack!  The noise pulls me from my head and back to the present. He tosses the ball back to AJ before crouching back down.

"I threw a drink in his face at a wedding once." I blurted, desperate for some form of communication to happen between us. "I hate him. Not in the love to hate him way either. I genuinely don't like him. So, really, there's nothing to say about it!"

Adjusting his feet, Robin catches the ball again before sending it back with a laugh, "Leah, you're the one who keeps bringing it up. I haven't said anything."

Yeah, that's the problem. Till now you haven't said anything!  It's been less than 24 hours since you nearly kissed me and all I've heard from you since then is pass me the stupid butter!

"You're making a face!" I huff, pushing my sleeves up to my elbows. It does little to stop my temperature from steadily climbing. I consider just taking off my hoodie altogether as a reprieve. "It's cryptic and smirky, and I can guess what it means."

"Oh really?" He replies sarcastically, as if I couldn't possibly imagine the thoughts rolling around in his brain. "What's your guess?"

When he throws the ball back nonchalantly, I am seized by the sudden and strong urge to smack him upside the head. Instead, I grumble, "If you'd stop mixing all your damn signals I wouldn't need to guess."

Thwack!  Robin receives the ball again and stands up. Except this time, he turns to me instead of sending it directly back to AJ. When I lifted my eyebrows at him, he furrowed his together, "What?"

I folded my arms stubbornly, "You heard me."

Holding the ball in one palm, Robin tucks his glove under his armpit, and pulls his hand from it. Then he steps forward, closing in on limited space. Every muscle in my body tightens as I feel a chill of anticipation flush my neck and arms.

He stops just before me, and parts his lips to speak, but that's all he can get out of him before locking up again. Every second he looks at me feels like years. The memory crosses his face the same time it crosses my mind. Robin's eyes glance at my lips before burning directly into mine. His pupils dilate under the blind of his hat, and he draws in a deep breath. I find my own breath quickening as I swallow my nerves.

Glad my voice sounds bolder than I feel, I reply coolly, "Your pupils just dilated, Robin. Should I guess what that means too?"

Sensing my meaning, Robin narrows his eyes. I wait for him to stop tormenting me, to forfeit playing the "it's fine" game, but he seems completely resolved to win. I let my thoughts flood out through my expression, hoping it will coax him into at least acknowledging that it happened.

Say something, I think. Tell me what you want. Even if it's to pretend it never happened. 

Taking my hand, he turns my wrist until my palm is facing up, and sets the ball in it, "I think, you should warm up."

Normally I would address such a bullshit subject change, but there are more insistent things on my mind. Five, to be exact. All of them wrapped around my wrist. That's when he notices my reaction to his touch.

 "You've got chills..."He smiles, slowly at first, then exultantly. "That's odd, isn't it? Considering it's an unbelievably hot day today."

My ingenious comeback was as follows: 

Standing completely gob smacked while the amplified lyrics of Salt-N-Peppa's "Whatta Man" echoed in the hollows of my cranium... You know... that spot where ones brain usually resides. 

When he sees he's successfully confounded me, Robin drags his hand slowly from my wrist, making shivers race across my skin. He eyes the freshly raised bumps on my exposed arms with a hidden smile, as if it's renewal was proof of his point. 

He glances around before speaking by my ear, "You just shivered at my touch, Leah... Do you want me to guess what that means?"

My face reddens, and I scowl at him. Robin chuckles, satisfied with his ability to dodge the matter at hand, and produce my stunned expression. Turning back to AJ, Robin shouts that I'll warm up next.  After which, he shoots a rebellious grin over his shoulder at Jesse, who folds his arms across his chest and purses his lips.

Nora stands behind Jesse with her eyebrows raised clear to her eyebrows and gives me a thumbs up over his shoulder. She mouths excitedly: IT'S WORKING!

I can't say I disagree... but it's not to my advantage.

Robin: 1
Leah: Candidate for terminal life support.

—

Nora's team scored well for the first few innings, batting well enough to load the bases multiple times. However, our team recovered many needed points by the bottom of the fifth inning, leading us to a tie. Tension and excitement started to rise between the two teams, and we were all feeling the pull of adrenaline at a chance of winning.

This tension didn't go unnoticed by AJ and Nora, who were playing their own game. They were dead set on seeing how often and well they could pit Robin and Jesse against one another.  Little did they know that there was so much happening underneath the surface now, that every push from them equivocated to a shove for me.

Robin remained detached and amused, flashing smug and omniscient looks at me whenever Jesse made a move. And Jesse, despite being consistently shut down, was so amped up by the challenge of beating Robin in two games at once, that he was throwing everything he had into pitching and verbal prodding alike.

At the end of the sixth inning a break was called. Lunch and a much-needed rest in the shade took priority. Thus, my chance to flee.

Wandering to the coolers, I deliberated lying about having heatstroke. If they bought it, I would be able sit in the car and work on edits for the book on my phone. That, or drive home and take a nap for a while. Both options sounded beautiful to me, as they required no one else to be in my presence for the next few hours. No cheap shots at seduction. No infuriating attempts at getting under my skin. No meddling family.

Just me, my book, potentially a cup of coffee, and blissful solitude.

Popping open the lid of the cooler, I grabbed a water bottle and a handful of grapes from a Ziplock. Popping a few into my mouth, I chewed leisurely and moved to my next objective. This was to peel off my hat and hoodie as soon as possible. A second more in these layers and I would genuinely develop heatstroke.

Putting the remaining grapes I held in my palm into my mouth, I set my water aside, took my hat off, and tugged my hoodie up. My undershirt rode up a bit as I did, and that's when I felt an ice-cold water bottle pressed against the exposed skin of my stomach.

The shock of the cold made me inhale. Before I knew it, I had sucked a full grape into my throat.

With the hoodie impairing my balance and vision, my feet stumbled out from under me. I crashed to the ground like a tangle of limbs, my head ricocheting off the dirt. The impact forced the grape to bounce out of my throat for a split second, but relief was fleeting as my diaphragm seized and the wind whooshed out of me. I gasped out of reflex, re-lodging the murderous grape. Thats when I began to choke.  

Luckily, I knew the best thing to do was stay calm and cough as hard as I could to get it out....Not saying that's what I did.

"Leah?" A voice cried, "Help! Guys help!" 

This is it?  I worked for my throat, completely panicked by the shortage of air in my windpipe. Death by grape!  Oh, that is so messed up.

"I--- She's choking--" 

"Move!"

Someone forced me to sit up and bend over. A hand struck my back hard.

"Take that off. Get it off!" 

My hoodie was ripped off, and my back was struck again. Again. Again. And again, until the grape came flying out of my mouth and I was gasping for air.

"Leah!" My mom rushed forward, holding my face with wide, worried eyes. "Leah, honey, are you okay? Oh my god! Are you alright?"

Caragh and Jordan held Joey, Cade, and Rosie back staring in alarm as the kids tried to peek around them.  My dad was running with Nora and AJ, who overtook him, meeting my mom at my side. I could hear Robin's voice from behind me. It made me turn my head, and I saw him kneeling directly behind me with a tight expression and worried eyes. He must have been the one to aid me.

Beside him was Jesse, who was holding my hoodie in his hands, and wearing the most anxious expression I had ever seen. "I'm so sorry. I had no idea--"

"It's okay. I'm really okay." I did my best to console him, everyone, but found speaking painful. Then, realizing I almost died, I started to laugh like a total lunatic. 

Of all the things I had planned on doing to get me out of baseball... This was not even in the top ten. Nora and my mother watched me worriedly, thinking I had cracked.

Robin sweeps his arms underneath mine. I stop laughing and brace against him to stand. My diaphragm and head complain, but I don't think I have a concussion. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath, savoring the feeling.

"You okay?" Robin murmurs. I don't fail to notice that he keeps holding me despite the fact I'm now standing. "Are you dizzy? Does your head hurt? Are you nauseous?"

"Is it coincidence that I keep getting concussed around you?" I jest, still a little delirious from laughing. 

His eyes widen in complete seriousness, "Are you concussed?"

Though my brain does feel a bit jarred as I do it, I shook my head, "I'm fine."

Mom takes this as her chance to sweep me up into the tightest hug of my life. I hugged her back reassuringly, flashing an "OK" sign to my dad who had met up with the group. His shoulders drop and he presses his hand to his forehead.

"Let's go, come on everyone--" Mom starts to sweep me toward the parking lot, but I stop her. 

"No. Finish the game."

When she protests, I shake my head again, "Seriously, mom, what are all of you going to do at home other than fuss? I just need someone to drive me."

"Fine, I'll take you." Mom says nodding. "Everyone else can play."

I accept, and Mom turns to Dad for the keys. Dad digs in his pocket and steps forward, only to firmly press the keys into Robin's hand. All eyes turn to Robin, who is staring at my dad in surprise. We then glanced at my mom who looked at my dad like he was the one who hit his head.

"Uh, honey. Over here?" She waves her hand at him. 

Dad steps back but doesn't take the keys. 

Instead, he gestures to Robin and says calmly, "Let Robin take her. He can drive stick. You can't, remember? Jess can take us back if anything happens, but, in the meantime, Robin can get her settled. That way he has a vehicle to drive her to the hospital, if need be, and can pick us up when we're done." 

I go to mention that AJ's car is automatic, but Dad looks Robin in the eye and nods his head once as if talking in secret code, "You don't mind, right?"

"Not at all," Robin flashes a hesitant look at my mom. Once she nods her permission at him, he then stares at me, "If that's what you want?"

"Alright," I reply, feeling a headache start roll in. 

The sensation dazes me for a moment, and I lean back on my heels for a moment. The moment I pull in another deep breath it fades.  I make a circle around everyone giving hugs goodbye. When I end at Jesse, I offer him a brief hug, "Don't feel bad, okay? It was an accident."

He hugged me back tight in response. Then he says teasingly, but not in true Jesse fashion, "I've already got two reasons to feel better, just by hugging you."

Rolling my eyes, I pushed him away with a scoff. For the first time, I did it with a smile. Jesse chuckled lightly. 

--

Robin guides us back to the truck, walking beside me in utter silence. I try not to feel the intensity floating off him, but it hangs over us like a storm cloud. 

I try to break the tension by saying, "Well, that's one I didn't expect to cross off the list. A near death experience will be good for the book!" But the joke doesn't land, so I stop trying. 

When we arrive, Robin treads ahead to the passenger side and opens the door for me. Then he waits, head directed slightly down. 

My eyes flash to his face questioningly as I step around him, trying to make out the thoughts in his head for the millionth time today. When I still find no answers, I drop my shoulders in defeat, and it dawns on me: I am the only one who treated this new dynamic as temporary. A game. Robin didn't falter because he wasn't even playing... He was earnestly pushing me away. 

Wasn't he? 

Regret sinks in my stomach, and for the first time, I wished that almost-kiss never happened. Our relationship was too messy, too up and down, and I didn't like the way it upset our friendship. I missed him.

That was easily the worst part of it all, because even with the challenging looks and flirtatious remarks today, I wasn't getting my Robin. Just a character of him. One he started to play the second he chose to leave my room. Of all the things I imagined that moment leading too, a communication breakdown was not one of them.

 Leah and Robin: Perhaps, nothing less... but, certainly, nothing more.

Robin offers his hand to help me into the truck, and I take it. "Thanks." 

Approaching the seat, I pressed my hand into his to hoist myself into the truck. That is until he's using our joined hands to pull me back out. 

I stumbled down from the truck and turned to face him. Robin steps forward and bands his arms tightly around my waist, sweeping me up into an embrace that flushes my body with an unexpected calm. He holds me like I'm seconds from slipping away, so I don't move a muscle except to speak.

"Oh," I inhaled, unsure what do to or say. My mind spins off without me, "Okay...Umm...You good?"

As I say this, Robin clears his throat and lets me go. My eyes widen with recognition at how flustered he appears, like he's the one caught off guard by that embrace. When he staggers back, as if suddenly struck in the stomach, and apologizes, my heart expands bizarrely in my chest. 

That's when it clicks... and I know.  I don't know how I know, but I know.

To counteract his own surprise, Robin sticks his finger in my face and stumbles over his words, "It's just, I'm-- You are a walking hazard!  Do you realize how many times I've had to--- but this time! -- Just chew your stupid food! Because if you scare me like that again, ever, I'll..."

His words dissolve on his tongue, and Robin's expression grows more confused and defensive the closer he takes in my changing expression. When I start to smile, despite feeling his frustration, he snaps crossly, "Damn it, Leah! I'm serious--" 

Robin stops talking... but that's only because I've pressed my lips to his.

-----

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Righto... Sorry, I just had something in my throat.... Needed to clear it up. 

EHhEM.

Hello, lovelies! 

:D  Heh.heheh

How we doin? Huh? Okay? We okay? I'm fine. Totally fine. Hmhm. Yep. Super casual. Nothing special happening here. doo do dooo. 

Anyway, well, I've got to go...bathe my goldfish and powder my ceiling.

I hope you enjoyed it. <3 

This chapter is dedicated to my new follower and supporter 

Thank you so much for your amazing comments and for taking interest in Research: Romance! I can't wait to start reading your works as well :) 

Okeee Love you byyeee~~~ 

e.g.