The Hitting Zone

Chapter 304 Midterms Week

(Back to Jake’s POV)The week of midterms was less about the mid semester tests and more about getting back into Mr. Atkins good graces. We did chores all week with Noah and I focusing on the yard. After cleaning the front yard and making it almost magazine worthy, Mr. Atkins had barely nodded and suggested we do the same for the backyard. So even though Noah and I didn’t have any baseball practice this week, our shoulders ached from the hard labor. The front yard only took us most of the day Sunday, while the backyard had to be worked on in waves, so every few hours right after school we would go out there. We would get a break when Mr. Atkins came home with dinner, but after that came studying for the tests we would have. Even though it would be easy for me and Noah, the same couldn’t be said for the twins. The twins were both in their junior year which was pivotal and had a high level of importance for future college applications.We did yard work after school and they would study. After dinner, they would bug me to study with them which actually meant that they needed me to tutor them in math. After almost a month of me doing their homework for them, they had fallen behind. It wasn’t like they were dumb; they just liked to take the easy way out.It wasn’t hard to tutor them. After dinner, we would just go over old homework assignments that were returned to us and then some old notes of mine that contained the important formulas that would be on the midterm test. It was only time consuming. Afterwards, Noah and I would go to the living room to watch some YouTube videos on how to be a better infielder until his dad told us it was time for bed. At school, the teachers didn’t assign homework for the week in preparation for the big tests. All tests were held on Friday, but I didn’t mind it. In fact, I actually liked it since I didn’t have to worry about interacting with the class or making awkward eye contact with the teacher. It was a simple day of taking tests, turning them in, then waiting for the class to be over.If there really was a bad thing to say about this week, it would be that the boys never got a chance to talk to Mrs. Atkins. That made them worried, which in turn, made me worried. She might be even madder than Mr. Atkins. By Wednesday, Mr. Atkins explained that she was busy with Zeke and wasn’t that mad anymore. She just had a lot on her plate. "I don’t buy that excuse." Noah told me when we were getting ready for bed. "This whole trip is for Zeke. Everything is about Zeke. Zeke is the one that has to do everything and go everywhere. What could she possibly be doing for the rest of the time?"I shrugged. Clueless.If Noah couldn’t figure out why she didn’t want to speak with him and his brothers, then how could I? I don’t think I’ve ever spoken with my mom over any phone. There was no need to. Nor did I ever want to. Mr. Atkins did let Kyle know, though, that he could ask out Marie. On the condition that Noah and I would also have to attend the date to supervise. Us or Zeke. Kyle’s face went from annoyed to suddenly okay with our presence. "Saturday we have two games so it’ll be a Sunday date." Kyle told us Friday afternoon as we headed home from school. "I already asked Marie and she said that works for her. She’ll even bring Kaylee along to entertain you two."I nodded, only wondering to myself how he had asked her. Was it a simple, ’hey, let’s hang on Sunday?’ Or did he do something special in one of the classes they have together. I peeked at Dave in the front passenger seat but he didn’t give anything away. "Woah, wait a minute." Noah spoke up. "You didn’t ask if Sunday works for us.""What could you possibly doing on Sunday?" Kyle asked, glancing at him through the rear view mirror."Batting cages. Duh. Right Jake?" Noah nudged me. I nodded. "Cages. We haven’t been all week. We didn’t get to go last Sunday either."Dave shifted so he could turn to look at us. "Do you really think Zeke would let you go to the cages on Sunday? It’s either we all hang out at home with him or chaperone Kyle’s date."An awful silence fell between me and Noah. That’s right. Zeke should know by the time he gets back that we went to a party. And broke curfew. With their parents showing open houses on the weekends, there’s a good chance he would be in charge. And would even make us spend the Sunday running. "I’ll go with you." I quickly volunteered. "Same." Noah sighed. "Zeke might be in a bad mood when he gets back. We need to win both games tomorrow and play well so he won’t have a reason to nitpick." He smirked. "Good thing Jake and I practiced infield positioning all week.""I’ll pitch well!" Dave declared, determination in his eyes. "That goes without saying." Kyle clutched the steering wheel a little tighter.

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