Page 22 of Strike Zone

How was class?

I just sat through a 45 minute lecture on dirt.

And now I get to write about it.

WREN

Fascinating. Tell me more.

WYATT

Are you asking me to talk dirty to you?

5

WREN

Why can’t I say no to him? It’s a simple word. It should be easy.

I keep allowing him to get under my skin. He’s like a bad rash that won’t go away.

I can’t believe I let myself get tangled up in this situation. Wyatt is a big boy. If he wants to get Charlie, he is more than capable of doing it on his own. But he read me right and dangled the carrot of competition in my face.

I won’t give him the satisfaction of thinking he has me beat.

I’m doing my part. He is the one who is botching the whole ordeal. Do you know how long I spent studying his stats? Hours. I made color coded index cards and memorized as much information as I could to make him look good. Was he thankful? No.

He makes inappropriate jokes instead about being good with his bat.

Now I’m here waiting for someone to answer his front door because he thinks we need a game plan. I don’t need anything. Then why are you here?

I knock again. A little louder this time to work through my frustration.

Suddenly, the door swings open and Wyatt’s roommate Nash is standing there with a game controller in his hand.

“Hey, Wren.” Nash gestures for me to come inside. I about jump out of my skin when I notice the giant sitting on the couch playing a video game. “That’s Eli. Don’t let him scare you. He’s a teddy bear. Eli, this is Wren. One of my sister’s friends.”

“Hi,” I greet Eli. He doesn’t say anything, just nods and goes back to shooting someone on the television screen.

“He’s kind of shy. What are you doing here? Did you need something?”

“Wyatt,” I say.

“You need Wyatt?” Nash asks with a smirk.

“No. That is not what I meant. I’m here to see him. He asked me to come over.”

“Interesting. He’s downstairs in his room.” Nash points towards what I’m guessing is the basement door as he takes a seat on the couch and starts playing his game again.

“You want me to go down there.” I stare at the door in question. My face scrunches up in disgust. I do not want to be in the same room where Wyatt brings women and does Lord knows what. I thought we would meet in the kitchen to study and figure out a plan.

“He doesn’t bring girls here if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

“Well, it’s true.”

“Why?”

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