Strike One

Chapter 9 - Hot Keri and c***k (C-R-A-C-K) Fries

Chandlers Point of View:

Getting through Weight training after just having my hands on Whitney will be more than difficult. But I'm going to use her kick ass effort as my motivation. Watching Hutch write her name on the whiteboard above the mirrors gives me a sense of pride. I'm not sure where to place. She makes me happy, it's weird to feel anything toward women other than friendship, so this is new to me. I make a mental note to call Lex when I leave the weight room.

For the next hour or so, the team lifts weights and puts in reps till our bodies are shaking. School has yet to officially start, at least not till Monday. Seeing that it's only Thursday, that means no study table. That doesn't stop Coach from hollering at us all to complete 2 miles in under 15 minutes. That shouldn't be an issue, but our bodies are tired, so this could very well be a horrible start to this year's workouts. We get to the track, and all begin the grueling process of 16 laps around the court beneath us. I'm keeping a steady pace. Hovering between first and second place, I cannot stand being 2nd - I am too competitive. I make everything some type of competition. I hear loud heavy footprints falling behind me. I peered over my shoulder to find Suchy running hard trying to get up near the front. He is struggling and clearly out of shape. This doesn't look good for my good ole' rival, we still have three laps to go.

I decided to fall back a bit and run next to him; help guide him / if you will for some motivation. I sync up with him, look over while we are running and tell him he has to beat me. I decide that the best motivation is my spot, and I don't want to earn my spot with a punk. If he wants my spot, he will have to earn it. So, he has to beat me in all things - running, however, won't be one of them. "Beat me, Suchy. Show Coach how badly you really want that spot. This is the last lap - Beat me," I taunted. He kicks it up a notch and I have to give the kid some credit because he does have a competitive edge, but not one that will outrun mine. I win effortlessly and I have to thank my impulse for running throughout the summer. I found myself running the dunes at my parents' beach house more often than not and I really believe it helped build up my endurance.

I turned to shake his hand because he did put up a decent fight there at the end, after I haggled with him. He swats my hand away, not knowing if it was because of anger or if he was so out of breath, he simply batted my hand away as a last-ditch effort of energy. Either way, the entire team made it across the line in under fifteen minutes, allowing us to go home and rest before tomorrow, our first practice outside/ gloves on. Pitchers and catchers will be in bull pens. Tomorrow will be a great day.

Walking out of the athletics building, I quickly hit my face recognition on my phone to allow me to call Alex.

Rings... Rings...

Lexie - Hey C

Chandler - Hey lex

Lexie- What's wrong? (Commotion in the background)

Chandler - Gah, I hate that you know me so well. Umm, is everything OK, is this a bad

time? I can call you back.

Lexie - oh, no. It's Keri. She is here.

Chandler - Oh, tell her I said hi.

Keri Mckielson is Alex's older sister. Who I neared drooled over my entire childhood? She is like 10 years older than Alex though, so she was never in my league, but my god can she turn heads. She is tall with dirty blonde hair, freckles and a beautiful smile. She is a dental hygienist in downtown Lansing. They even put on a program once every 3 months for families who don't have insurance/low

income to come in on Saturdays for a general teeth cleaning. When I talk about dream women, she's worthy of it. She is, however, married. She married a guy she met on "Plenty of Fish", a dating website. They've been together for a couple of years now and seem to be incredibly happy. I smile thinking about how happy she is.

Lexie - She says, 'Hi little brother'

Chandler - she still doesn't want to leave her husband for me yet.

Lexie - (laughs) No, hahaha! She is home for a couple of days while they are

remodeling their kitchen.

Chandler - Cool. (I am making a side note to go up there this weekend if the timing

works out)

Lexie - Alright, so why did you bother me again?

Chandler - Oh, weird. I just realized I called you to brag about Whitney crushing her

personal record in the weight room and I was there to help her. I do now

realize this sounds dumb and I'm not sure why I called you.

Lexie - Awe, you love her.

Chandler - No. Shut up, I don't love her. I do think I like her though.

Lexie - Well duh, if you just called your best friend to brag about a girl.... I

mean, come on. Stop kidding yourself.

Chandler - Yeah, I guess you are right.

Lexie - You know I am. Now, ask her out.

Chandler - not with her fall ball season coming up, I couldn't do that to her.

Lexie - What about your fall ball - you're messing with your own mental health and

neglecting spending time with her.

Chandler - You're right. Alright, let me test the waters and see. We literally just met.

Lexie - YES KERI. Hey sorry, I got to run. Keri needs my help with God knows what.

Chandler - Catch ya later.

Lexie - Peace

I hung up the phone and continued heading toward our apartment. I forgot something and quickly text Lexi

Chandler - Want to come down here for dinner at all this weekend or me to come up?

Lexie - Keri got mad that I didn't offer the same thing. Want to do Hop Cat tonight?

Chandler - done.

Lexie - Alright, see you around 7.

Chandler - perfect

Alright, I'm going to shower, shave and maybe take a nap prior to heading out for dinner this evening. The shower feels like its removing an older version of my self and I am becoming someone new. I guess what happens when you are that gross from a workout? Ah, who am I kidding - I'm such a sweater. I trim up my beard and get myself dressed in a nice pair of darker jeans, a Michigan baseball shirt and complete my incredibly masculine look with a pair of pink and orange agile socks my mother got me for Christmas.

I throw myself on the couch and flick on ESPN to catch the afternoon top plays from the MLB today. I'm just about to close my eyes when my roommate Luke busts through the door. "Hey, want to get a pizza tonight," he asks? I inform him of my plans with Alex and Keri but asked him if he would like to join us. He agrees and goes toward his bedroom, probably to shower. Luke has a soft spot for Alex, he always has. He calls her perfect - and I promise to crush him if he ever laid a finger on her. She is perfect - and he is not

incredibly picky when he beds different women every weekend. At least, that was how he was last year. The whole college athlete thing really got to him; I think. I mean he is really good at baseball and seems to be a half-way decent looking dude - but he uses that and, it's just not how I operate.

We live within walking distance of downtown Ann Arbor, so I insist we walk. Plus, I don't want to find or pay for a parking spot. He agrees and we take off towards Hop Cat around 6:30 to meet the girls there at 7pm. Hop Cat is a Michigan-based chain brewery/bar - unique food with a really cool atmosphere. They have Cosmic Fries. They used to be called c***k fries because they are like a damn drug - they are so good. So, anytime anyone wants to meet here for food - I'm in.