First
:Chapter One:

The name sounded awfully familiar to Taehyung. He couldn't place his finger on it, however. He just knew that he's heard the name somewhere at some time.

The name itself wasn't too common and Taehyung didn't personally know anyone of the given name so when he heard it from Hoseok and Namjoon, it caused him confusion.

He shrugged it off for the most part, letting it wander here and there back into his head. He only could wonder why the name itself was so familiar to him and what caused such familiarity. Perhaps elementary school or that one time he went to summer camp, he didn't know.

It wasn't anything significant but rather annoying that he didn't know. It was like forgetting a word and wanting to desperately remember it, the sound of it lingering on the tip of his tongue.

But, regardless, Taehyung decided against thinking anymore about the said name, knowing he would eventually just meet the person when practice happened later on today anyways.

Which came sooner than he usually remembered since here they were, grabbing the plates and the buckets full of balls to carry down to the field.

Each player had something to carry down. Whether that he the helmets, bats, plates, balls, or just something that needed to be taken down towards the baseball field so they could practice.

The season hadn't started just yet. It would turn up in just a bit over two weeks from now.

God, Taehyung was excited. He was perfecting his pitch and working on it everyday just so he could become pitcher.

He was a junior and only had two seasons left in him which he wanted to spend as a pitcher. It was something he never really thought of until seeing and knowing how important it was to be a pitcher. Sure, every position had the pros of being in that certain position but nothing was like being the pitcher.

He was the captain and was stuck at first base. He loved the sport no matter where he was but his love only increased when he realized how versatile he became.

     "He's right there!" Hoseok's voice rang in Taehyung's ears, startling the younger from his thoughts that vanished the moment he heard the elder.

"What?" Frowned Taehyung. "Who's where and why do I care?" He asked, looking around cluelessly.

"New kid! Coach wants to introduce him to us and explain procedures." Hoseok answered as if it were oh so obvious. "You remember, don't you?"

"Yeah, Seok, I'm not you, I was listening." Taehyung rolled his eyes. "But that's fine, we'll tell him everyone's position. He should know how the positions work."

"He does. He said he use to be the best at his school and had many undefeated seasons. He could help us out." Hoseok praised the new kid thoroughly.

At that comment, Taehyung just nodded without a response. Surely they had their few seasons which they were left undefeated.

Okay, maybe not. But, they did have seasons where they only had one loss which was still pretty damn good.

The Panthers were a great team overall. They always worked hard and practiced for three hours everyday. They had outstanding teamwork, amazing communication, and win or lose, they always stuck together and took what they got as a team. They never insulted one another or belittled each other, always wanting to lend a helping hand.

Taehyung hoped that the new kid was willing to be a helping teammate rather than a douchebag.

"As some may have heard," the Coach began once the team gathered around. He stood next to a tall, black-haired teenage boy who had an awfully big nose but that didn't dare take away from his attractiveness. "We have a new member to the team. He's transferring from Busan. Some of you may have heard of him from playing against him but his name is Jeongguk." The elder spoke, waving his hand to gesture to the teenager beside him.

Taehyung peaked over some students' shoulders, sneaking a glance at the new baseball player. The familiarity only grew in size, still not able to piece together who this dude was and why he looked familiar but when his coach had mentioned that they played against him and his team before, Taehyung assumed that was the connection.

But, if that were the case, then why did he still feel like he was missing something?

"Anyways," the Coach started again. "I want two laps around the field and grab your gloves! If you aren't tossing in seven minutes exactly — all of you — it's going to be a long practice." He never broke those unsaid promises.

"We're doing soft toss after tossing, right?" Hoseok inquired, picking up his gloves and pulling it over his left hand while Taehyung took his glove and pulled it on his right (since he was left handed).

"We always do." Said Taehyung and began to jog, Hoseok catching up right to his side. "Partners?" The elder asked and Taehyung nodded in response.

The two of them were always partners for toss beyond the fact that Hoseok still was sure to ask everyday to be Taehyung's partner. They were partners last year and the year before that when Taehyung joined the varsity team.

Hoseok was the only one to make Taehyung feel apart of the team and Taehyung cherished that more than anyone knew.

"He's a good looking boy, isn't he?" Hoseok kept a conversation as they jogged around the field.

"Jeongguk?"

"Yeah, Newbie!"

"Good looking is an understatement, honestly. I know I have a girlfriend but wow, that thing shouldn't be walking around at our school." Taehyung said more as a joke but there was some hidden truth in his words.

"We walk around in our school, you don't think we're total babes?" Hoseok after offended.

"Seok, no offense, but take a look at Newbie, 'kay? Then look at us. We were the hot ones at our school but now that he's here, I don't know, that's some competition." The younger replied, making lap one with Hoseok.

Hoseok scoffed and laughed, rolling his eyes playfully. "If you really say so. It's his Busan blood that adds to his deceiving good looks."

And with those words, the two best friends laughed and spoke back and forth about Jeongguk's good looks, finishing up their second lap around the baseball field. They immediately grabbed a baseball, going to outfield where they stood two yards away from one another.

Taehyung started with the ball, taking it in his left hand and tossing it gently at Hoseok.

Toss had three different sections. First, they would just toss with their arms to get it going, then, they would step another few feet from one another and start using all of their upper half. Finally, with a few more steps taken back, toss would turn into actually throwing the ball using your whole body.

It was just to work the body and get ready to prepare for the rest of practice. It was a warmup to practice, working your arms and how to give extra power into the ball.

Nothing too much but just enough to get their bodies stretched.

     As the two passed the baseball back and forth, creating small chit-chat here and there, a voice cut in, making Hoseok catch the ball and hold it while he turned to his right.

"Jeongguk, hi," the elder greeted.

Taehyung got a good look at the boy, squinting his eyes as his mind fired back into work, trying to piece together why exactly this boy was so prominent. It might've not been a big deal to anyone else and the readers might believe Taehyung was exaggerating but this was getting annoying to him.

"Um," Jeongguk started. "I just wanted to know if I could toss with you two. There's an odd number and I don't know no one else besides you." He spoke directly to Hoseok. His voice was a bit higher pitched for his looks but it wasn't anything bad.

"I don't think Taehyung here would mind." Hoseok pointed down at the captain who blinked a few times, shaking his head in response.

"I don't see why not." He added quickly, catching the ball when Hoseok tossed it back at him.

The three created a triangle, Jeongguk standing to the left of Taehyung while Hoseok stood on the right, both far back. Taehyung took the small ball and threw it at Jeongguk who caught it with ease.

"Nice throw."  The Newbie complimented. "Are you the pitcher?" He wondered.

Taehyung shook his head. "First base but I'm working on becoming the pitcher." He informed, watching Jeongguk throw the ball Hoseok's way. He noticed the way his form was perfect and he had just the right whip.

"Hoseok hyung here said your name was Taehyung? Aren't you the captain?" Jeongguk inquired, adjusting his glove on his left hand.

Taehyung nodded to answer the question. "I am, Hoseok here is co-captain. He's right field just in case he didn't tell you but I don't doubt it. What position do you play, Newbie?"

"Coach said he would determine what I play after watching me for some time." Jeongguk responded nonchalantly, catching the ball from Taehyung once more.

"See! Told you you two would just love each other! Already chatting away!" Hoseok grinned, not exactly wanting to seem like a third wheel in this weird newly found bond the two had and would eventually lose in a second.

"Love is a strong word." Taehyung chuckled playfully.

"What? Don't believe in love at first sight?" Quipped Newbie, a smile on his handsome face. "I believe I found the one the moment our eyes connected."

The three of them knew very well that this was only a joke due to Hoseok's choice of words, Taehyung and Jeongguk were barely friends, they just knew how to have fun.

For the time being.

_______
A/N:

No, feelings are not involved. I just want to toss the idea of them being friends around before it all crumbles.

-Hopefully this is good to you so far and stick with me! It's a slower start but we'll jump right in soon!