Strike One

Chapter 12: 6 Billion souls, and all you need is one

Whitney's Point of View:

*A couple days later*

After the night at Hop Cat, I finally got the reassurance I was looking for, Chandler Decker was actually into me. Not, the over the top I'm going to make all these grand gestures to get into your pants kind of into you, the wholesome sweet, I want to sweep you off your feet type of into. I think I like that more that the alternative. That night I sat in my bed I went back and forth debating on whether I should text him or not, and ultimately, I caved.

Whitney: Hi, I'm glad she is not your girlfriend. I just had to say it.

Chandler: Hi to you too. I'm also glad she is not my girlfriend, that would be incredibly disgusting.

Whitney: I'll be sure to tell her.

Chandler: Don't worry, I tell her frequently.

Whitney: You know, you didn't have to come over and tell me that tonight.

Chandler: No, but Lex is really a cool person and I know you are new here. She is good people and would make a good friend to you as well.

Whitney: That's really nice of you. Thanks.

Chandler: No sweat. Besides, if you two become friends that would mean I'd get to see both of you more often, which to me is a win/win.

Whitney: Ha! You should be so lucky.

Chandler: I'll prove it to you.

Whitney: I have no doubt that you will try.

Chandler: Consider that a challenge, I'll accept.

Whitney: Good Night Chandler Bing.

Chandler: Good Night, Whitney Monica lol

After those texts we really didn't have any further opportunities to meet over the last week, or really even see one another. Whether it was us being on the field at different times, weight room, class, study table - it just seems like our schedules are polar opposite. But It’s not like I'm specifically looking for him either. I'm really trying to focus hard on earning my spot and doing well in school. This campus is massive and I'm finding getting from one building to the next in time for classes is becoming an issue.

On Thursday, after my first almost full week of classes I decide to contact my mother and inform her of how my first week has gone. She doesn't answer though, so I leave a voicemail, "Hi Mom, it’s me. I umm, started school as you know and it seems to be going well, I mean all things considered. I'm having trouble making in between classes on foot, I guess next time I need to take into consideration the footprint between buildings. Softball is going really well, I've made it into the mock order, meaning I practice with the main squad as the catcher and or DH depending on the practice. I just wanted you to know I was doing ok, but I really just wanted to make sure you were. Call me back, when you can. Love you." I hang up the phone.

Its normal for that to be our relationship. I just try and not make it my normal with my friends, because they seem to be the only true family I've got. I love my mother, but it will never be the same. I know that she knows that, and I think we both have just come to accept that. It's not her fault nor mine, I think its life. I know we can grow distant from our parents, and I respect that - often encourage it. I say that because, we all need to grow up sometime, right?

I never went without growing up, I had everything I ever needed, my parents never flaunted their money or celebrity, and I grew up knowing my parents loved one another very much and we had a very secure household. Was my mom away more? Yes. But she has loved me through some of the roughest, toughest times in my life and hers. For that, I will forever be grateful.

Saturday is our first fall ball game of the season, it’s against Michigan State and will be held at our home field. This is our rival, both Michigan and Michigan State are about an hour apart within the state of Michigan, both part of the big ten and both want the Michigan resident fan base. It makes me laugh though; you will see families with split households as flags on their lawn. In fact, one of the juniors on the team has a cousin on the Michigan State team, so her family is split.

Tomorrow, Friday after practice we have our first softball family dinner at coach hutch's house, and to say I'm excited is an absolute understatement. Coach Hutch usually grills out, but it's supposed to rain so we are planning on ordering pizza instead - which, for me is exciting. Growing up, Pizza was such a special occasion, my mom was a health nut and my dad followed suit there. Every once in a while, when my dad would take me to a game, he would take me out for pizza before and or after it. I love pizza.

I ran home after my classes to get my softball stuff and grabbed a quick granola bar as I leave as quickly as I came in. I'm doing a pretty intense speed walking to make it to practice on time. I hear footsteps approaching behind me, must be a runner, I scoot over to give them more of a runway. With my softball bag on my back, I do take up quite a bit of sidewalk space. To my surprise the footsteps slow down and walking next to me is none other than Chandler with a giant smile on his face.

"You are incredibly difficult to catch up to have you ever considered speed walking in the Olympics," Chandler asks winded. We both laugh, because he is not wrong. I'm an incredibly fast speed walker, always have been. "How have you been, I feel like we have been running laps around one another all week," he asks me? I smile at him, because he genuinely wants to know how I'm doing, he has the same look my dad used to have when he would ask me how my day was. My dad cared, a lot. Chandler seems to be like my dad, that makes him dangerous because I want, no I need that in my life.

"Umm, Classes are great. I have some really good professors. The only issue I have right now is that even with my quick speed walking abilities, I'm arriving a couple minutes late to every class. I didn't take class location into my class selection process I guess," I chuckle. He looks at me with genuine concern, "Your late to classes?" I shake my head letting him know that I am in

fact late to my classes. "I have an extra bike at my parents’ house that is like a 30-minute drive away, if you want, I could go get it for you." My cheeks redden by the thoughtful gesture. I realize, it's just a bike and he has an extra one, but he is going out of his way to obtain said bike and get it for me.

"Chandler, that is incredibly generous. I would actually take you up on that offer. ONLY IF, you bring me along so I can see some place other than Ann Arbor. Every time I came here with my dad we would drive here pretty much straight from the

airport, well, besides.... never mind," I say to him. He grabs my hand, "It's ok to talk about him if you want too." He stops the both of us on the sidewalk and grabs my other hand into his, so he is grabbing both my hands and staring straight into my eyes. "He would want you to talk about him, the good things, everything that reminds you of him. He wouldn't want you to be sad, though its ok to be. He would just want you to be happy in whatever it is you are doing that reminds you of him," he tells me. I instinctively let go of his hands and wrap my hands around his neck and hug him. No, I squeeze him. He wraps his hands around my rib cage and pulls me close to him. He smells like cedarwood and spearmint. He smells absolutely delicious.

We hold each other for what seems like forever, until he lets go and smiles at me. We are right outside the fields, "How about we go tonight, I can take you to get the bike and we can grab something to eat," he asks? I smile, "Alright, I will shower after practice. You know which dorm I'm in right?" He smiles and shakes his head. He then leans to the side of my head, "I've never brought a girl home," he whispers into my ear. Then ever so gently kisses the nape of my neck and backs away and runs towards his field.

I'm just a girl, no I'm just meat on bones right now. Completely in awe over a boy. I did say he was dangerous.