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Will sat in the dug out, sweating, drinking from his plastic water bottle that made the water taste oddly sweet. He had been told to take a breath after batting practice. Lonnie had him practice alot at home because it was 'sissy' to shy away from a ball. Will's body still hurts thinking about Lonnie's terrible aim but it made him better. He's been getting alot of Compliments lately.
"This is Bullshit." The oldest boy on their team, an eighth grader, sunk down next to him. He threw his bat across the dugout and slumped next to will. Will's eyes darted around as the boy crossed his arms, his chin tucked to his chest. will hesitantly lands his eyes on the boy, holding out his waterbottle. The older looks at it in contemplation before taking it and spraying water into his mouth.
"thanks." He said in a huff. Will smiled, looking around again. He wasnt sure if the boy wanted to talk about it or if he wanted will to mind his buisness. better to be safe, will decided as he figeted with the waterbottle between his knees, staring at the dirt covered concrete of the dug out.
"i mean, obviously that dick threw the ball at me on purpose, it was no were even close to my bat. i mean you saw it!" The boy sat up as his leg bounced furiously. Will wished he had been watching what was happening.
"Uh.. sorry, i wasnt paying attention." The boy slumped back down, still frustrated. "You really think he threw it at you on purpose..?" will thought if he brought it up again he likely did want to talk about it.
"it was way off mark, it hit me in the stomach! and the coach wont do anything because he hates me!" the elder throws his hands in the air as he talks, punctuating his point.
"hates you?" Will says, his voice timidly like he was afraid to speak.
"He hates my family. My shitbag dad jacked his car a few months ago and he's hated me since." the elder ran a hand over his buzzed head, it had grown longer since the season started, his jet black hair now maybe an inch long.
"well, are you hurt?" Will asked, hoping to make the situation better. the boy stood and lifted his uniform a pink forming bruise on the left side of his abdomen. It was blooming quickly so it must've been pretty bad. "ouch." will winced as the older nodded his head dramatically and dropped his shirt, pacing around the dug out.
"my uncle is gonna freak if he see's it." Will watched the boy pace back and forth tapping his chin with his fingers rhythmically.
"uhm, i have some arnica cream if you want some.?" the boy with the grown out buzz stopped pacing and turned to him, confused. "I-it helps with bruises. So do oranges and strawberries.." Will takes a squeezable bottle out of his bag and offers it to the older. "you should ice it when you get home too." Eddie takes the cream, stuffing the bottom of his shirt into his mouth as he applys the cream to the bruise.
"thanks" the older attempts to say through the shirt in his mouth. It comes out more of a 'tanks' but will knew what he meant. the boy hands the bottle back to will and continues to rub in the cream.
"yeah, of course." Will says, shoving the bottle back in his bag. once the other decided he has thoroughly spread the cream he drops his shirt and sits next to will.
"Get hit with rouge balls too?" the boy said, watching the other players run around. it seems the two were forgotten provided no one had called them back yet.
"what?" will looked at the other boy who looked over to will's bag. "oh, no. Just my dad." Will says with a small laugh, looking back to the ground. the older looks over to will, brows furrowed.
"what do you mean, just your dad" the boy says, sitting up. Wills looks up at him., suddenly feeling like he's said something wrong.
"Nothing. i was just kidding.. haha." Wills hands knotted together and he looks anywhere but at the older's face.
"Is your dad giving you bruises?" the boy asks, grabbing wills arm, attemping to get him to look at him.
"no." will says firmly, standing up and sliding his helmet back on. "it was just a dumb joke." will grabs his bat and trots out onto the field, away from the dug out.
"what the fuck?" the older says, now sitting alone in the dug out. He scrubs a hand over his buzzed head and watches the younger joing the rest of the team.