The Hitting Zone

"Looks like I made him better. You boys are welcomed." Noah held out a hand. "Give me a cookie so I won't tattle."

"You brat. I'm not giving you any! I didn't do anything." Dave huffed and guarded his food like Noah would snatch it.

"It was obviously Zeke who triggered something." Kyle intervened. "Try and blackmail a cookie out of mr. goody-two-shoes."

"Don't worry, I'll report to mom and dad what happened. I'm sure they'll know." Zeke said. "No cookies for you. And, you'll have to run ten laps for trying to blackmail your captain."

Noah groaned. "You're abusing your power! How about you let me off since I'm bringing a superstar to the team?" He patted my back. "Jake will easily become a starter, no doubt."

I didn't dare to look up.

"Oh? You wanna make a bet?" Dave asked.

"Yes!" Noah answered right away. "If Jake makes the varsity team, you run my laps and I get your cookies for the week." I looked at him, incredulously he still wants to make wagers even though that's what gotten his cookies taken away.

Dave shook his head. "What would I get then? You don't actually have much to gamble with."

"Jake will give up his cookies for a month." He replied. My jaw dropped and I immediately started to shake my head. I didn't want to lose my cookies too. And to think that I actually offered him some and risked offending Zeke.

Kyle started laughing and my distress. "Doesn't look like Jake agrees. It isn't fair that you're trying to gamble away his desserts. How about a different trade?" He grinned. "If Jake makes varsity, I'll give up my sweets for a week, and Dave will run your laps. But, if he doesn't make the cut, you have to clean our bathroom for the whole month."

Noah frowned. "That favors you guys too much. Those are harsh terms." He looked at Zeke. "Besides, Zeke wouldn't go for it. He would rat us out to mom."

"Three months." Zeke said. "You lose, you keep it clean for three months. If he makes it, I'll throw in my sweets for a month and won't make you run laps for non-baseball purposes."

The twins were stunned. Apparently they didn't expect for Zeke to up the ante. Noah, however, didn't seem surprised at all. He grinned like the cat that ate the canary. "Deal. No take backs."

Zeke's smile made me nervous. "No take backs." He agreed.

I shivered. This feels like a trap. I don't know for who, but with the bet on and against me, I started to feel sick to my stomach. I leaned over and whispered into Noah's ear. "But I don't know how to really play."

Noah grinned, not even bothering to whisper back. "No worries. We'll discuss the game plan in health after math."

We five finished eating just before the bell rang. Zeke was the first to make his move and walked off without saying anything else.

"Jake and I need to go switch out books at my locker." Noah told the twins. "I'll walk him to your class afterwards. Why don't you go make sure the teacher gives him a seat far away from you two devils."

Dave and Kyle laughed together before replying. "Sure, sure. A seat will be ready. We should also tell the teacher that he doesn't speak very much."

"Only to Noah." Kyle agreed. "We all saw that he could talk so it's not like he's mute. He's just very selective."

Noah rolled his eyes. "Leave him alone." He pulled me away. "Let's get your book."