After getting home from Aspen and the basically silent ride back, Vance could not sleep at all. He tossed and turned all night long, until it was four and he decided enough was enough. He was tired as shit and was ready to go to sleep, but his mind clearly wasn't gonna let him. Sarah on the other hand fell asleep the second she got home. She was tired and she missed Bingo, it was safe to say she was beyond annoyed at the little tap on her window.

"Vance?" Sarah rubbed her eyes as she pushed the window open. "How'd you get up there?"

"I climbed." he shut the window and stood infront of her. Sarah liked that they were the exact same height, she always had. "Sheeps, I can't believe you. I'm so mad at you."

"Vance, i'm so tired." she walked back to her bed. "Can we do this tomorrow?"

"Sarah." he sat down next to her when she laid down, holding her shoulders. "I didn't mean for you not to go. I'm just gonna miss you, that's all. Im sorry."

"It's okay. It wasn't just because of you." she promised as he finally let her shoulders go. Sarah moved over in the bed to give him room after he kicked his shoes off and climbed in with her. "It just made me realize that I have a lot here that i'm not prepared to leave yet. I mean, what am I suppose to do there when all i'm doing is worrying about here? It's just not the right time. I promise I wouldn't determine my entire future around you."

"That last part was unnecessary." he gave her a faint laugh, leaning into her neck and sitting there. "I don't wanna be a dick to you, Sheeps. Next time I act that way, you just gotta-"

He leaned up, grasping her hand and balling it up into a tight fist. "-pull back, and hit me as hard as you can right in the face. That'll snap me out of it."

Sarah smiled as she dropped her fist. "Got it."

"Okay, I just wanted to say that. I should go home." he sat up with an exhale.

"No, stay." she whispered, pulling on his arm. "It's okay, everyone is asleep."

"Are you gonna wake up early enough to tell me to leave?" he laid back down, scooting in closer. Sarah was on her back, but Vance didn't like the idea of his head being cradled on her chest, so he pushed her until she rolled on her side and they laid normal. "Hey, did you hear me?"

"Bingo will wake us up." Sarah mumbled as she already began to go back to sleep.

Bingo did not wake them up.

Sarah woke up to the phone ringing, whoever was on the other line saving them. It was still early so her Dad had likely gone into work, but it wasn't quite time for her Mom. Sarah's eyes widened, first getting up and running to lock the door. The sudden jolt woke Vance before the phone did. He'd forgotten where he was at, reaching over and answering it. "What do you want, asshole?"

"Va-" Sarah began but decided against it, looking up at the ceiling and shaking her head.

"Right." Vance then realized where he was, who's phone he had, and why he came here last night. "It's for you, Sheeps."

"Who is it?" she whispered and heading back over. Vance just laughed in return. Sarah brought it to her ear. "Hello?"

"Hey." it was Finney.

"Shit." Sarah whispered as she held the phone to her chest and mentally preyed he didn't get the wrong idea. She brought it back to her ear. "Hey, Finney. What's going on?"

"Well, I just woke up." he explained, she could tell by the way he was talking that he absolutely was uncomfortable with Vance Hopper answering Sarah's phone this early in the morning. "What's going on with you?"

"Me?" Sarah's voice shot up a few pitches. "Oh...I was just reading Vance a text book for next year. He came over early and I was already studying, so..."

"Smooth." Vance got out of her bed.

"Okay." Finney cleared his throat. "Well, I have a baseball game at eight if you wanna come. But if you're busy with Vance-"

"No, i'd love to come." Sarah cut him off. "Eight?"

"Eight." he confirmed for her. "You can-like, if you wanna, you definitely and absolutely don't have to, but you could bring Vance if you want."

"Oh, he'd love that!" Sarah's face lit up. It was Finneys turn to hold the phone to his chest and curse at himself, regretting just trying to be nice. "Yeah, we'll see you there. Be looking for me!"

"What did you sign us up for?" Vance gave an odd look as he tied his shoes.

"A baseball game in two hours." she looked back at him. "Be my date?"

He scoffed. "You're dreaming."

"Yes, and i'm having a very happy dream." she fell back against her bed, her head hanging off the side to look at him upside down from where he was by the window. "Don't make me wake up."

"I'm not staying the whole game." he warned her.

"Deal." Sarah smiled as she rolled over on her stomach.

"I thought you were suppose to be tutoring these morons?" he walked back her way.

"Not until a month before school so they can have their grades good enough to continue to play through the first month we go back." Sarah smiled as he dropped to his knees right infront of her. "Where do you wanna meet at so we can go in together?"

"Grab N Go?" he suggested. "I'm no longer banned as of today."

"Ah, i'm so proud." Sarah gave a sarcastic grin. "Grab N Go it is."

"See ya, Sheeps." he leaned over to kiss her before standing up and leaving out the window.

Vance had met Sarah at Grab N Go while she was getting a thing of gatorade for the little league team. He first noticed the blue baseball tee she wore with Finneys team across the front. He wouldn't have given it much thought if he hadn't realized that it was tight in the chest and short around her waist. "Are you wearing a kids shirt?"

"I didn't wanna pay the twenty bucks for one." she shrugged in response, letting him carry one side of the gatorade. "I got this for you."

Vance gapped as she held out a single rose. "You got me a rose?"

"Mhm." she nodded. "Smell it."

Vance took a sniff. "Smells like a girl."

"So, you like it?" she squinted from the sun as they walked toward the baseball field, it had only been behind the store and that's how Sarah usually made all the other ones the year prior.

"No. But, thanks." he gave her a wink. "I'm not staying the whole time."

"So you've said." she could see Gwen. "Who's gonna walk me home?"

"Ugh, you can't walk home yourself?" he mocked her in disbelief.

"Psh, no." she shook her head. "I like the company."

"I'm sure one of your middle school friends will." he mocked as Sarah smacked him. "Ow!"

He smacked her back. "Ow!"

"That's what you get." he shrugged as they approached Robin and Gwen. "See, your middle school friends."

"I'm in elementary." Gwen gave him a dumb look. Vance gave a snort as he looked at Sarah, she rolled her eyes and kissed Gwen on the head. "I've missed you."

"Aw, i've missed you too." she hugged her, using the arm around her to touch Robins shoulders as a hello. "Has it started yet?"

"No, not yet." she pointed toward the field. "Finny is pitching for the first time this year. He's gotten really good."

"He has." Robin confirmed, the chatter of a couple parents made them all look back. The woman retreated their eyes from Vance. "I think you have a couple fans."

Vance looked back and rolled his eyes. "What are you looking at, old hag!"

Sarah kept her back turned, Vance followed as he scooted in closer. "I don't know them."

"I think they know you though." Sarah put an arm around his waist. He removed it and laid it on his leg, letting her keep it there at least. Sarah found it cute he wasn't a fan of PDA, she liked that he'd be down to hold her hand anytime though.

"Hey, there's Amy." Gwen waved to the other side of the field were Amy and Mr. and Mrs. Yamada sat. Sarah did the same.

"Why are they over there?" Vance was confused, finding Bruce in the stands. "Why's he not in blue? Is he golden boy out there to?"

"No, he plays for a different team." Sarah crossed her leg over the other and gave Gwen a gatorade. "Their school is better so as long as Bruce plays with them, the more likely he'll get a scholarship. Scouts already watch him."

"So, I was right. Golden boy." Vance hummed as they watched the boys all take stance. "Is your little dude actually any good?"

"He's got a killer arm." Sarah nodded. "He's great. But I don't understand why they're making seventh graders play freshman!"

"Oh, god. Here she goes again." Robin braced himself. Vance gave a questionable look. "This has happened before."

"They're thirteen playing fifteen year olds. That's literally insane." Sarah shook her head. "That's why they don't win."

"You sure?" Vance gave a snort as Sarah elbowed him.

The crowd was quiet as a boy from Bruce's team walked out to stand with his bat, the empire behind him. Sarah held her breath as Finney threw the ball, landing it right into the glove. Sarah mentally cheered. They did it one more time when he had the ball passed back, keeping a serious look on his face. Once again, it went straight to the glove. Sarah cheered. "Woo! Go, Finney! Woo!"

"Woo!" Gwen cheered with her, Robin clapped above his head. "Sarah, is this your first date?"

"What?" Sarah looked down at her.

"With Pinball-Vance." she whispered with a cheeky grin. Vance heard her, looking up at Sarah with a smirk.

The loud cheers caught their attention, looking over as the boy from Bruce's team ran. Finney was left hanging his head low. Sarah frowned as he walked off the field. She as tempered to cheer for him anyways, but she stopped when she saw the way one of his coaches was leaning on his level and scolded him. "Is he yelling at him?"

"He always yells." Gwen shook her head. "It makes Finney so upset."

"He did this last year?" Sarah looked over as Gwen nodded, they all watched as he got a finger to his face and a push to the side of his head. "Hell no. Hell no."

"Sarah." Gwen looked up as she stood up and was walking their way. "Oh my god, what's she gonna do?"

"Get her ass handed to her." Vance shook his head in disbelief, sitting up straight to watch her the entire time.

"Hey!" Sarah yelled when she was close enough to the coach and Finney. "Did you just shove him?"

"Excuse me?" the man stood up, only about three inches taller then Sarah had been.

"I saw you. Do not put your hands on him again." she threatened with a finger raised up to his face. "They're kids, they're gonna mess up!"

"You wanna coach before you tell me how to do my job?" He rose his voice at her, Finneys eyes widened.

"Wouldn't wanna humiliate you by doing your job better then you." Finney was in completely shock. Sarah never even stood up for herself, he hadn't known what had gotten in to her. He knew it was probably because she was dating a felon, but maybe he liked to think she was just having a moment because she wanted to protect him.

"Oh shit. Is she for real?" Vance watched closer. "Damn. Look at her go."

"Woo, Sarah!" Gwen cheered.

"Get off my field." the coach scoffed, his face red from how many people turned to see what was going on.

"Get out of my face." she matched his exact tone. He gave her a smile, an attempt to belittle her as he leaned in closer so their noses touched. Sarah pulled her fist back and slammed it right into his face, just like Vance showed her the night prior.

"Holy shit!" Finney yelled out in shock as his coach stumbled back a little, red blood falling from his nose.

"Oh shit!" Robin yelled. "Hit him again!"

"Hey!" a feminine voice spoke up, making Sarah turn around as a brunette from the stands walked down. "That's my husband."

"He shove your kids around too?" Sarah asked her. She didn't know what came over her either, she just felt an un-godly amount of anger.

"Don't you touch my husband, little girl." she shoved her to the side, making Sarah stumble just slightly into the fence due to how close they were. She held her husbands back. "You okay-"

"Hey!" Vance stormed over, getting to them rather quick. "Don't you fuck with her, old ass lady!"

He body slammed her, making her and her husband both go flying back. Sarah gapped as she turned to watch it happen. The man sat up first, the shove to the ground not doing much after that punch. Vance turned to Sarah. "I can't believe you just did that, Sheeps. I-"

The coach wrapped his arms around his tightly and tried to yank him back. Finney flew back into the gate in fear. Sarah's eyes widened, not sure if he wanted to take care of that on his own. She decided against it, spinning and jumping up on the man's back so he'd let Vance go.

"I think they need some help over there!" Robin came running over as the woman started to tell off Vance, getting a punch straight to the face. "Aye! Sarah! Get him around, girl!"

Sarah yanked the man's neck some so he'd stumble, body facing Robin as he kicked him right in the balls. The man fell to his knees, making Sarah let him go. Gwen slammed into Finneys side. "Are you gonna let them defend your wife like that?"

Finneys eyes widened. "What am I suppose to do?"

"I don't know!" Gwen tossed her hands up. Gwen grabbed the woman's hair and yanked it hard as the man had hold of Sarah before he could fall over. Finneys eyes widened as he yanked her down to the ground as Sarah tried to get his grip off of her. Robin went to help trying to release the hold on her sleeve. He took a deep breath and threw his hand into the man's face.

"Ow!" Finney cried out after hitting him, not holding his wrist right.

"Holy shit, Finn." Robin laughed when the man finally did let Sarah go, joining his wife on the ground. "Did you just throw your first punch?"

"Ow." he repeated himself.

"Thanks, Finney." Sarah kissed his forehead, now realizing the large crowd they attracted. "We should get out of here."

"Sheeps." Vance grabbed the back of her neck to spin her around. "I'm so proud of you right now."

"Yeah?" her face lit up as he grabbed her face and kissed her.

"Guys!" Bruce yelled as he ran around the dugout. "Someone called the cops, come on!"

"Come on where?" Robin yelled as they took off.

"I know a place!" Bruce yelled, running through the woods as they all followed. He lead them a little deeper, having to cross a small bridge over a tiny creek before making it to a large rock. "Welcome home."

"This is your home?" Robin looked at it.

"Cavemen?" Sarah panted as she hunched over. "Holy shit, i'm gonna puke my breakfast."

"Don't you puke." Vance threatened her as Finney rubbed Sarah's back and held her hair back. "Sheeps, i'm gonna puke on you."

"Oh, I took one of these." Gwen pulled her sipped at gatorade from her dress pocket and gave it to Sarah. She chugged it. "Sarah, I can't believe you punched that guy."

"Yeah, my Dad fell over because of that." Bruce laughed loudly.

"That was my first punch ever." Sarah held her chest as she sat up, thanking Finney for the help with a hand to his shoulder. "Yours too."

"I'm so proud!" Robin cheered for the two as he got between them, arm around Finney and other arm around Sarah's waist due to not being able to reach her shoulders. "Try to go for the mouth next time. There will be blood."

"Always draw blood. Scares the shit out of people." Vance held the back of Sarah's neck again. "That four am lesson really paid off."

"We should document this day." Bruce pointed to the rock. "A lot of people come here, sign their names on the rock."

"I've never even heard of this being out here." Finney admitted as they all looked at the large rock.

"Why would you?" Gwen gave a snort, Vance hid a grin.

"Vance, gimme your knife." Sarah encouraged, tapping his arm until he did. "Shit, I don't know how to carve."

"Weak." Vance took it from her. "It's not hard."

"Then show us if you know how so well." Sarah rolled her eyes. They all watched as Vance used a smaller rock to hit the end of his knife until it made a V, seeing as though his full name would have taken longer.

He smirked and handed it to Sarah. "How was that?"

Sarah rolled her eyes but hid a smile, taking it from his to follow the tactic.

After a good thirty minutes, they each documented that day one by one. Denver's Golden Boy and Golden Girl, their local felon and his mini me, and a set of Blake siblings that fit right in the middle of it all. An unexpected group, but one that had the strongest of bonds and the most painful stories. A group that deserved to stay together no matter what, a group Billy Showalter would have fit into perfectly, a group that would have protected Griffin Stagg with their lives. A group that seemed to love each other the most, all formed and bounded over getting into a Little League fight.

V, S, F, B, R, G.

•

kylie speaks

i'm not crying, YOU ARE!