The Hitting Zone

"You're him?" The man looked down at me, arms folded across his chest. He had sunglasses on, making him seem cold and distant. The words added even more distance.

My anxiety jumped a level higher and I subconsciously took a step back. This isn't what I expected.

Noah frowned. "What's with that tone? Are you here to see Jake? Why don't you sound happy to see him?"

"This isn't your business kid." The man spoke. I couldn't even tell if he looked Noah's way when his glasses were that reflective. All I could see was my own pale complexion. "Well? Do you have anything to say?"

Anything to say? Who? Me? I backed up a little more and shifted a little behind Noah. Noah would know what to do. He always had a plan and was never short on words.

Sure enough, Noah folded his own arms across his chest and stood a few inches taller than me. He looked up at the man. "Why would he have anything to say to you?! Especially when you come at him with an attitude like that? What are you here for?"

"Who are you? His lackey?" The man finally gave his attention to Noah. "I'm here for Jake."

"Yea, well, I'm his brother." Noah claimed boldly. "More of a brother than you are at least."

"I never claimed to be." The man said, his expression looking as cold as ice. "I wanted to see the boy who's trying to drown my career in drama and controversy. We cut ties." He tilted his head. "What is it that you want now?"

Before I could back up anymore, a firm hand landed on my shoulder making me jump. The hand squeezed my shoulder with assurance. The owner of that hand spoke. "Sir. With all due respect, this isn't the time or place for a discussion. In the future, please go through Jake's case worker, Doug Duncan, before reaching out to Jake." Zeke gently used some force to turn me around in the direction of his car. "Let's go you guys. Mom and Dad are waiting."

My heart rate finally started to calm down as we walked away from that man.

"Wait." The man's voice seemed to echo across the field and parking lot. "I want you to know that we'll be doing the DNA test."

"So what?" Dave scoffed. "That won't mean anything to us."

"But it'll mean something to the public. Once they know that you're only related to that woman then they'll stop vilifying me for being cold hearted." The man said to my back.

"That's where you're wrong." Kyle stated. "We know how cold you are to your own little brother. Regardless if you share the same dad or not, you're still a dick."

"Yea, what a loser." I could hear Noah's hurried footsteps before he appeared on my empty side. "Let's get home."

"I guess it's true that pros have such inflated egos." I heard Dave say from behind us.

"No kidding." Kyle agreed. "We can only hope that Zeke wouldn't be like that in the near future."

"What did he even come here for?"

"To show off what a jerk he is?" Kyle offered up.

"HEY!" No one could react in time for what happened next. I didn't know what Jeremy wanted to accomplish by stopping us, but I was startled as a big hand clamped around my arm, swinging me around to face him. "Don't just walk away!"

All I could do was wince and try to cower back, but his grip was too tight. I started to tear up.

"What are you doing?!"

"Let go of him!"

"Are you crazy?!"

Noah and the twins were the first ones to attack and try and pull him away.

"What the hell is going on here?!?" A deep voice yelled out, grabbing everyone's attention. Coach was ten feet away, holding a bat in on hand and pointing at Jeremy with his other. "I suggest you let go of my player, young man. You're walking a very thin line here."

"Tsk." Jeremy swung my arm down and took a few steps away, distancing himself from us. "I'll be in contact."

"That's your prerogative." Coach said. "For now, I'll be asking you to leave these minors alone. In the future, if you find you have something to say, I suggest you use your words and not your hands."

Jeremy glanced at me and noticed me holding my injured arm, the same arm that he had just grabbed. For a second I thought I saw a grimace, but I must have been mistaken. It was impossible to see any expression behind the sunglasses he wore. Without another word, the man known as my brother turned away and walked into the sunset towards the parking lot.

"Jake?! Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Noah moved in front of me and looked me over starting with my arm and then looking into my eyes. "You're crying? You're crying! I'm going to go give him a piece of my mind!"

"Hold it." Zeke laid his hand on Noah's head to keep him in place. "No need to chase him for a fight." He glanced down at my arm. "I'm sure Mom will have plenty to say."

"I'll give her a call." Coach said as he walked closer to us.

"That was good timing Coach!" Dave said in awe. "I was worried that we were gonna have to fight that guy."

"Garret called me from his car saying he saw a stranger approaching you guys. He thought it might be a reporter, but-" Coach sighed looking at me cradle my arm. "Does it hurt?"

I shook my head as I bit my lip.

"Come on, Jake." Kyle chuckled. "You can't say it doesn't hurt when you're crying like that."

"Can we sue him?" Noah asked. "Can he just grab Jake like that?"

"I'm sure Mom and Dad will know." Dave said. "Shouldn't we hurry home and go tell them what happened?"

"No." Coach said firmly. "We don't know who else might be waiting in the parking lot or if that man wants to approach you guys again. Wait here with me as I call your parents. I don't want you boys out of my sight until I see you with your parents."

"Coach, we aren't toddlers, we can make it home." Dave said.

"No." Zeke surprised them. "We'll do as Coach says and wait for Mom and Dad. We don't know what to do in these kind of situations after all." He lowered his voice. "We should probably tell them to call Mr. Duncan and Dr. Moore as well."

I could feel their eyes fall on me.

I didn't have any words though. I could only sniffle and make sure that my snot doesn't run down my face like my tears. I was hurt. I was hurting. Inside and out. The physical pain was nothing compared to the turmoil within. I couldn't comprehend what had just happened? Why was I treated like the enemy? This isn't what brotherhood is supposed to be like.

Why is our relationship so different compared to the Atkins brothers? Is it because he thinks we're only half-siblings? Why was he mad at me? Shouldn't I be the one to be mad at him?