Seventh
:Chapter Seven:

     Two weeks had passed. Two excruciating and annoying weeks of back and forth arguing and consistent banter.

But, Taehyung kept to his word as did Jeongguk and they didn't talk when they were on field to avoid confrontation. They would leave shady remarks here and there to let the other know they weren't slick but that was it.

Until practice hit later on that current day. Things only ended up worse.

"Everyone run their lap? If you didn't, better get to it or you'll be sorry." The coach called out, brows furrowed. His eyes scanned the boys who jogged over, some out of breath while others were perfectly fine. "Hurry up, I don't got all day. I want to move on, ladies."

"You going to toss with me?" Taehyung asked in a mutter, nudging Hoseok's side. They did this every practice. Hoseok did but Taehyung picked it up and began to do it just to make sure.

But, instead of the answer he always received, he was given a different answer. One that irritated him.

"No, I was going to toss with Jeongguk actually. But, you know, if you ever decide to be a big boy, you can join me and him." Hoseok shrugged, not looking at Taehyung who had a look of shock.

"You're fucking with me, right? We've been tossing together since I began here and now you want to throw away all we had? And for what? Some Newbie?" Taehyung whispered yelled, brows pulled in.

Hoseok let out a chuckle. "You act like I broke up with you, he needs a partner too, Taehyung but again, like I said, you can grow up and just toss with us."

"This is basically cheating, Seok." Taehyung crossed his arms over his chest, looking away with sheer annoyance, cheeks puffed out and pout on his lips.

"You're cheating. You have a girlfriend." Hoseok said.

"That's in a relationship, I'm talking baseball, Seok, keep up." Taehyung rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "Which reminds me, I need to stop by her house today. Remind me after practice, please."

"If you don't remember to go see your own girlfriend, that's on you." The elder deemed, turning his attention to the coach once the old man began to speak.

"Took you ladies long enough. You shouldn't even be called ladies, girls would've been done by now." The coach spat, shaking his head. "Today isn't a normal practice. I want to go over positions. I've been watching you all through the two weeks we had here and some of the positions I already decided on." He began, pulling up his clipboard and looking over the names.

Taehyung couldn't wipe the smile off of his face, feeling like he really accomplished something and strengthen his pitching skills. He had been working hard ever since he became the captain and knew he wanted to pitch.

Hoseok even nudged him, both strongly believing Taehyung had this in the bag.

But, oh, how they both were so wrong.

"So, first," the coach spoke, dragging his finger over the page. "We'll start with the captain, Kim Taehyung, number three. You will be first basemen. I know you know how to play that position and I'm impressed with your skill set."

His stupid smile was wiped right off his face after hearing what he would be playing. Taehyung's eyes went twice their size, lips parting.

Hoseok shared his shock. "I-I thought for sure . . ." He trailed, looking over at his younger friend who looked down, feeling ashamed. He thought he deserved the pitching spot. All there was now was wondering who became the pitcher since they didn't have one. They're old pitcher graduated.

"Next, Jung Hoseok, number eighteen, you'll be right field." The coach spoke, going further down the list.

He named other players, Suwun, Minji, Leehyun, Chinhae, and Seojun. None of those five players were the pitcher. But the coach wasn't done yet.

"And finally, I know it's a bit out there but he has quite a pitch and a hell of an arm. Jeon Jeongguk, player number one, will be your pitcher for the season." The coach announced.

Taehyung couldn't bite his tongue. "What?! Him?!" He pointed a finger at Jeongguk. "I'm sorry but this dude is brand new to the team and he gets the most valued position on the team? And for what?! Because he has a bit more muscle?!"

Hoseok grabbed Taehyung's wrist and lowered it. "I think you should calm down, your feelings are speaking."

"Shut up, Seok." Taehyung yanked away from his best friend, shaking his head. Bullshit. That's what it was. Utter bullshit.

"That's what the roster will be like until I decide to change it. Until then, the rest of you are backups or fill ins." Said the coach, ignoring Taehyung's outburst. "Now, run bases."

The captain wasn't having it, seeing red. This was his team, he was the captain, he should've been the pitcher but Newbie got it before him. It made absolutely no sense to Taehyung.

"Aw, Cap is mad he didn't get the position he wanted. Poor wittle baby." Jeongguk teased which was awfully surprising since Taehyung was typically the one to start their arguments.

Taehyung snapped his head over. "Don't fucking talk to me, pussy." He spat, brows narrowed. "I didn't ask you."

"You don't need to ask me, I have my own mouth." Jeongguk shrugged. "But, ya know what, this might be a good season. Now every time I go to pitch, I can look back at you and blow a kiss." He winked.

Taehyung tried to keep shut, balling his hands into fists. Hoseok stood by his side, muttering they should get to bases to get ready to run since the rest of the team was waiting on them three.

Jeongguk wasn't done though. Not at all. "Aw, look at him tremble. Someone has anger issues, do you need a time out?"

And that's all it took before Taehyung ripped away from Hoseok and shoved Jeongguk to the ground, getting on top of him and pulling his fist back, ready to hit Jeongguk square in the face.

Hoseok was quick, grabbing his arm and tugging his best friend back, trying to restrain him.

"Get off of me!" Taehyung yelled, fighting against Hoseok to hit Jeongguk who shoved Taehyung off of his body, sitting up. He wiped away the dirt that got on his practice clothes, looking quite angry at the actions just made towards him.

Hoseok refused to do as Taehyung demanded, pulling him away from Jeongguk.

One of the students, known as Suwun, went to Jeongguk's side and helped him stand up, telling him he had dirt on his behind which was wiped off by the new pitcher of the Panthers.

"Boys!" The coach yelled, Taehyung stopping his fighting. He used Hoseok to pull himself up, dusting off his own self. "Now, I don't know what the hell that was but I know for damn sure I better never see that shit again!" He yelled at Taehyung and Jeongguk, not caring for who started it. "Both of you, ten laps! Each!"

Taehyung looked at the elder man. "He started it! He kept teasing me!" He pointed an accusing finger at the young raven-haired teenager.

"Kim, fifteen laps. Keep testing it and I'll make you a backup, captain or not." The coach threatened. "Mad over some little remark. Childish, Kim."

Taehyung pinched his lips together, breathing heavily. He shook his head, walking away from Hoseok and past Jeongguk who made sure to laugh at him.

Jeongguk didn't get away, however.

"Jeon! Fifteen laps with Kim!" The coach said loud enough, Jeongguk sucking his teeth. "I knew I should've waited longer." He muttered to himself, a bit embarrassed he now had to run fifteen with Kim.

Hoseok sighed. He really didn't understand why they had to go at one another throats like they did and why the two of them made the issue worse.

They were doing pretty good from his point of view and then Jeongguk decided to start the issues back up. That didn't even make sense to Hoseok. From his perspective, Taehyung was the one who would throw out shady remarks, make dumb comments just to annoy Jeongguk but this was new.

Jeongguk was the one who decided to rile up Taehyung by teasing him over a position he knew Taehyung wanted. It was so messed up and so uncalled for.

Some people just don't care to fix things or try for better relationships.

Some people is Jeongguk and Taehyung who rather bark at one another like crazed animals. Never actually made sense to Hoseok but if this is what they needed to do in order to begin to like one another, than so be it.

He was anyone's personal therapist nor was he a marriage counselor. This situation was something the two of them needed to do together to solve. Hoseok didn't want them to fight since he personally liked both of them and wanted to be friends with both of them.

He knew this was all on them to figure out.

***

     The agonizingly long practice finally ended. Coach really made them work hard today after the dramatic scene Jeongguk and Taehyung pulled.

The team had it bad but the coach really made Jeongguk and Taehyung hate practice today. They did extra of everything, laps, pushups, bases, and all. Coach didn't play that game and didn't like it that the two teenagers wanted to have a little kitty fight.

     Currently, Jeongguk was grabbing the bag of helmets, carrying it over his shoulder. He walked alone. One of the other teammates offered to help but Jeongguk had too much of an attitude to accept it.

He was so angry at the captain, Kim. How dare he actually go as far as to physically attack him. It really took Jeongguk off guard. And off his feet. But that's besides the point.

He just couldn't comprehend the thought process the older of the two was going through. Jeongguk wish he had time to react because he would've been quick to block the punch himself and not look like a deer in headlights while Hoseok stopped Taehyung.

Jeongguk's thoughts were cut off when he ran into something, wincing when he fell over. Great, this was the second time he fell but he wasn't alone.

A boy was right beside him, hand cupped over his mouth. He also seemed to be in pain. At least he didn't do it on purpose like some people did.

"I'm so sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going." Jeongguk said. He was just walking and the boy who looked his way was in practice clothes as well. He recognized what he was doing by the impact.

This was someone on the track team. Jeongguk didn't know who it was but that didn't mean anything.

The boy moved his hand and it revealed blood. He had bit into his bottom lip when he collided with the side of Jeongguk, now having teeth marks and blood all on his lip.

"Shit, I really am sorry." Jeongguk stood and helped up the student, looking over his face. "Let me take you to the locker room to get some paper towels. The nurse won't do anything for you." He said, turning to pick up the helmet bag.

He swung it over his shoulder again and guided the runner to the big corridors, using his free hand to pull over the door and let the injured boy inside first.

The aforementioned had yet to say anything but his mouth had blood all in it and Jeongguk was sure he didn't want to spit it anywhere.

The younger set the helmets down, he would take them to where they needed to be after he helped the student. They weren't important right now.

The pitcher directed the track runner to the locker room and helped him to the sink. He then parted to go grab some paper towels so the boy could wipe away any blood he needed.

The boy had dark brown locks which looked utterly soft. Some strands were wet due to sweating but that didn't take away from the overall softness his hair held.

He also had a soft tan covering his skin, plump lips, and was more on the shorter side but Jeongguk was only a few inches taller.

He assisted as much as he could to the shorter teenager who still had yet to speak a word.

"Again, I'm sorry, dude, I wasn't watching where I was going and-" Jeongguk was cut off once the boy waved his hand, taking a paper towel from his hand, placing it by his lip. He spit some extra blood into the sink, washing out his mouth out with water.

"Busan?" The other spoke finally but Jeongguk didn't understand what was being asked of him. The shorter guy must've known because he spoke before the younger could question it. "Are you from Busan? Sounds like it."

His accent. Jeongguk nodded. "Yeah, um, I'm new to this school, only have been here for two weeks."

"I know," the other said. "I'm Jimin, by the way. And, may I just say you are solid." The said Jimin guy directed his attention to Jeongguk who looked confused.

"Huh?"

"I mean, I wasn't looking where I was running to because I wanted to see how far I was ahead and next thing I know, there's a bolder in front of me." Jimin elaborated on his words. "I thought I ran into a pole at first."

"I'm sorry? I'm sorry for getting in the way for sure but I guess I'm sorry for being . . . Solid?" Jeongguk wasn't going to lie, this felt awkward but the other didn't seemed fazed.

"It's fine. We both can take blame, honest mistake on both halves." Jimin offered a smile, a bit more blood on his lip but he wiped it away before he could be notified. "I notice you still haven't introduced yourself, reason why?"

"Oh, yeah, I'm Jeongguk." The aforementioned said, trying to mirror the friendly smile but he looked more disgusted than he did friendly. "Are you in track or were you just running from an ass beating?" Questioned the younger of the two.

"Hah, you're funny too? You got it right the first time, I'm in track. Telling by the bag you were holding that smelt like pure garbage, I can only assume you're in baseball." Jimin and Jeongguk clicked immediately, both having good vibes and the conversation carried out pretty well.

"Us baseball players don't stink, that bag just hasn't been cleaned in awhile." Jeongguk defended.

"Which would mean you guys aren't very clean. Therefore, you guys stink, right?"

"If that's what your logic tells you but I know for sure I don't stink." And they continued to talk.

Jeongguk eventually went back to grab the bag and put it away and they continued to talk until Jimin had to return to where his track coaches were.

At least Jeongguk had more than just Taehyung's friends to be friends with.

________
A/N:

1. Yay! Jimin is here!
2. What's your favorite duo so far in the story (not ship related)? Taekook, Vhope, Namkook, Hopekook, Jikook, or Namseok?
3. Yoongi and Seokjinnie will come soon but like I said before, the main four is Tae, Koo, Joon, and Seok!