The Hitting Zone

Dave let Kyle drive us back, letting everyone keep the same seats. We had a fun night. School without the classes. I wondered if this is how other students felt watching our games?

"Do you think we'll go again next weekend?" Alisha asked Noah.

Noah shrugged. "I don't know. It depends if the A's are playing at home and whether Jake wants to go."

Dave leaned forward. "You mean on whether you can convince Jake to go." He grinned.

Noah pushed his face away. "Shut up. Jake likes going too." He glanced back at me. "Right, Jake?"

I nodded.

"It looks like the A's will clinch their division soon." Kaylee commented. "Is your brother excited for playoffs?"

I nodded again, then grinned at Noah. "But, Noah is more excited I think."

Noah sat up straight. "Of course! The A's have been sneaking in the playoffs only to be kicked out in the first round. This year is our year! Everything is lining up perfectly!"

I believed it too. This year has been the best of my life. It would only be fitting if Jeremy had a great year too. He hit a few roadblocks but that's nothing.

Halfway through the week, the A's really did clinch their division, securing a spot in the playoffs. Unfortunately as September ended, they hit a rough patch, losing quite a few games. It didn't mean too much, but it wasn't a good feeling as October started.

Just like how I thought Noah was more excited than Jeremy, I also thought he was more stressed. The night before the A's would take on the Tampa Rays, I had called Jeremy to wish him luck while Noah paced around nervously.

"You guys know to leave early tomorrow?" Jeremy asked. He had given us tickets for the first home game of the ALDS.

"Yea, Mom and Dad said they would pull us out of school early so we can beat the traffic." I told him. "We already told our coaches that we would miss practice." I glanced at Noah. "Noah's so nervous he can't sit still."

"That's not true." Noah came over so he could speak up for himself. "Jeremy, how confident are you in tomorrow's game? I mean, we're missing practice for this, so you have to win."

Jeremy chuckled. "You don't have to go if you don't want to."

"No!" Noah exclaimed. "I can't miss this! Who's to say I'll be able to experience this again?"

"He's been this high strung all week." I told Jeremy calmly, already used to Noah being loud and anxious.

"Was he like this before your own championship game?" Jeremy asked.

"Not really."

"It's different!" Noah told us, still excited. "I was in control then. I got to play. I got to bat and field and just be there for my team. Tomorrow, it's out of my hands. I can only cheer from the stands. Ugh! Why can't I be in the majors already?!?" He fell to the floor and stared up at the ceiling.

My lips twitched and I tried to hold myself back from laughing.

Jeremy didn't. He laughed outright. "I'm glad I became an A. I don't think I could stand Noah cheering against me. I'll see you guys tomorrow. Rose will meet you at the gate."

"Sure." I let him go, knowing he needed to rest.

We did too. The plan for tomorrow was school, leave at lunch time, then meet with Zele and Rhys at his parent's house. We were all going as a big group, taking two cars. Rhys's dad didn't make the playoffs with his team so this would be his first time joining us. His mom too. With the three of them and the seven of us, it was an even ten.

When we showed up at their house, Mrs. Johnson showed us to the spare rooms so we could drop off our backpacks. We were planning on staying the night so we wouldn't be on the road so late tonight.

We spent a couple of hours at their house before heading to the stadium nice and early. It was only then that I got to see how busy it was. We ran into traffic despite leaving adequate time before the game started. Then there was the crowd. It was like a giant party outside the stadium as everyone waited for the gates to open.

Dad called Rose to give her our specific location. She showed up in her A's gear and greeted us. Dad introduced her to the Johnson's and then she volunteered to take some photos for Mom's album.

"I heard the stadium already sold out for tonight and the possible game four and game five?" Noah asked Rose as she guided us to our seats.

Rose nodded. "It was quick! Thankfully management offers players their choice first." She glanced back at our parents. "Jeremy said you guys didn't want any game four or five tickets..?"

Dad laughed. "We're hoping the A's win the first three so there won't be any game four or five. But even if there were, the boys can't go. It'll be a school night."

Rose nodded. "I understand. I'm hoping they do it in three too." She showed us to our seats and had a staff member come over to get our drink order. "Don't forget to message me if anything goes wrong. I'm still on the clock after all."

"Noah might need a chill pill." Dave remarked glancing at Noah's bouncing leg.

Rose laughed. "I can't offer you any of those, but I'm sure he'll settle down once the game starts." She left us to go back to work.

Noah turned to look me in the eyes. "Jake, I'm so happy right now. I already loved you as a brother, but now I really love you. Thanks for having another brother on my favorite team."

I laughed at his seriousness.

Dave slapped Noah on the head. "Wake up already. You're so annoying."

As game time neared, the stadium really started to fill up. Not an open seat in the house. It was also crazy loud. As every starter was introduced, all I could hear was the roaring of the crowd. The national anthem is the only thing that brought some peace to the spectators.

"Play ball!" A little kid announced from the home team dugout. The crowd cheered and it began.

Noah was still anxious as the A's pitcher dealt with the Rays. He cheered for every out and only took a breath as the teams switched. The first A's batter struck out on a foul tip. The second batter earned a walk. Jeremy was up third.

Noah got up to his feet and pulled me up as well. "Come on! We have to cheer."

I awkwardly stood, feeling self-conscious as others stayed seated. Noah was unbothered, yelling for Jeremy to get a hit and drive in some runs. I couldn't say if he heard Noah or not, but miraculously Jeremy made great contact and powered the ball out of the park. A home run!

Noah jumped around, grabbing onto me and yelled as loud as he could. I have a feeling Noah wouldn't settle down at all tonight. Or throughout the series. Maybe the whole month of October should be given up.