Nothing Wrong with New | Tagged

[Deleted]

Moving to a new city could be quite intimidating at times, but Leslie wasn't worried in the slightest. Of course, she missed Fairfax and everything and everyone she had left behind, but Chicago was just a big opportunity for new experiences, and she felt ready to take it on. Just like she was getting ready to take on her first time in the ranks of a new baseball team. It was weird, to think that she would walk on a new field and not know any of the players, know the coach, but she was confident that she would have a great time anyway, so she felt very little stress as she grabbed her bag from the trunk of her mom's car and threw it over her shoulder, waving her goodbye as the car drove away. She didn't know Chicago, but she knew baseball, so there was at least one thing that she knew around, and she was glad to be playing again. If they would be playing on the first day, which she highly doubted. It was almost certain that a lot of the players would be new ones, on their very first introduction with the sport, so it was very unlikely. She could wait, it was nice to see that people still wanted to play and kept joining teams. Enough that it made her smile, the prospect of making new friends always a reason to be happy.

The car now out of sight she made her way down to the field, playing with the strap of her bag as she did. That thing was starting to get a bit old, having been through a lot of seasons of both baseball and hockey, but she was deeply attached to it. Always was when it was given to her by her dad. Just like the cap on her head, now more grey than black with the amount of dust it had gathered over the years. As she reached the fence around the field, fixing her cap, she looked at the group of girls already gathered on the other side, curious to see the people that would compose the team. A few seemed to know each other already, talking to one another in groups or two by two. As she crossed the gate, however, a few heads turned her way, conversations abruptly put on hold. To those that looked at her she smiled, before moving towards the bench, dropping her bag on it. She didn't know anybody, but she didn't have to be impolite. Quickly, eager to get started, she opened her bag and dragged out her glove and her bat, laying the latter on the bench. Glove in hand, she started drawing circles with her arms, warming up her shoulders, looking around curiously, her attention still drawn to her new teammates. It would be nice to get to know them.

For Grace Taylor
(I currently do not have a template, will go hunting at a later date.)

[Grace Taylor]

Grace was terrified. Sports meant that she had to show the gangly and uncoordinated kid she was and always had been though today. Today it was worse than ever. So far she had begged and pleaded with her dad not to make her to go baseball practice. She’d promised to do dishes for life, clean until after she was dead and even give up her pocket money as rent in the house and despite all of that. She was still sitting in the car watching the other kids enjoy playing a sport she had no idea how to even start.

She often wondered if her dad would have preferred a son but then why have a son when he was forcing baseball upon her. Fishing yes she would try, running, jumping, gymnastics but baseball. She had argued the entire car ride across until finally there was no more arguing to be done as Ben dragged her bag, glove and bat from the back seat of the car. She felt the weight of her bag on her shoulder before Ben strapped the glove to her hand and held out the bat for her. In her brand new base ball outfit she looked ridiculous.

Grace was the kid who was more arms and legs anything else and above all sports were not her thing as she trudged across the field. Honestly what had she done in life to deserve this she thought as she watched her dad get back in the car and drive off. She knew he wouldnt be too far as Ben never really understood the concept of adult and teenager but then she guessed it was because she knew she would run given the first chance she thought it was safe to make it out of the baseball game alive.

She watched the others cautiously as Grace dropped her bag by the bench. It was clear in the sea of faces that she knew no one, she had the glove on her hand and a bat in the other and she had no idea what to do with either. On the TV it always looked so simple but now Grace just looked around to see what the others were doing as she set eyes on another girl who was drawing circles with her arm. Well it was a start she thought keeping her eyes on the girl as she tried to copy what she was doing though Grace felt more like she was doing a windmill motion or even swimming in air.

This was going to be a disaster she told herself as she went back to the bench and dropped herself down onto it. She had the gear, the baseball outfit her dad had gotten her in the hopes it would give her a little more enthusiasm over it. Yeah, she could wear the clothes but other than tapping the bat against the ground in front of her she had no idea what to do or where to start. Better to be a cheerleader on the bench than take a swing and look like a fool.

[Deleted]

She was still watching the group of girls, warming up her right shoulder, then her left, when her attention was drawn to a bag being dropped next to the bench, just a few feet away from her. Eyebrow raised, warm up interrupted, she took a moment to observe the bag's owner, curious to see who else was to join their team. Yet another face that she didn't know, but much like herself, it didn't seem like the newcomer knew anyone either. She, in fact, looked a little lost, bat in one hand and glove in the other, new outfit that had obviously never been worn before, surveying the group of other girls, looking around as if to search what it was that she was meant to do. Leslie couldn't help a smile, the memories of her own first time in a team coming back to her. It had helped that she hadn't joined alone, two of her friends had been happy to jump in with her, and that it hadn't been the first time that she had played, a few of her summers in Canada spent playing with her dad and their friends, but there still had been a little stress. As she went back to her warm up, moving a little closer to the bench, she caught the girl looking at her, trying to imitate her movements. It wasn't exactly that, but she found herself smiling at her, giggling softly, catching herself thinking it looked adorable. Everyone had to start somewhere.

Quickly enough, however, the girl stopped and went back to the bench, dropping herself onto it, looking every bit of defeated. It stopped Leslie in her movement, her curiosity picked. It was obvious that she wasn't particularly pleased to be here, but was it from not knowing how or not wanting to play, not knowing anyone around, or a combination of both? Or again, being forced to be here for some reason? Maybe getting to know someone before being thrown into it could help, she could let her know that if she wanted a friend, she was more than happy to be that, but Leslie wasn't sure if that would be a welcomed initiative. She took a chance and moved closer, clearing her throat lightly.

"Not your idea, was it?", she smiled at her, nodding towards the rest of the field before sitting down next to her on the bench, putting her own glove back in her bag and dragging her water bottle out of it, putting it at her feet rather than drinking from it immediately. Still smiling at the other girl, she extended a hand in her direction. "I'm Leslie." Okay, maybe extending a hand was unusual, but both her mom and dad always had to do that to introduce themselves to people, so she had somehow gotten into the habit as well. At least, when it was a formal introduction, like this. "The outfit looks great. I should probably get a new one as well, but even if it's a bit old," she pointed to her cap before tapping it slightly from underneath, "I can't seem to let go of it." She laughed softly, turning back towards her, hoping she hadn't scared her off by approaching her like that.

[Grace Taylor]

Grace felt as out of place as ever, this was all he dads idea and had she been a guy she was sure sports might have been her thing but this. Baseball was a step too far, maybe she needed to focus more on the Disney Princesses to prove she was a girl and not the mystery novels or larking about when her dad was attempting to fish. It was like being thrown into a shark pool where she had no idea what to do or who was approachable. If she got home alive that night it would be a miracle in itself.

Grace looked up at the girl that approached her before she nodded and smiled a little. “No, it was my dad’s. Thought I’d make some friends.” She said not sure if she would make friends or just make a fool of herself but given it was her dad who wanted it. She had to try it. Grace looked at Leslie’s hand for a moment before she shook it and smiled a little less nervously than before. “I’m Grace.” She said not sure if she was making a friend or if she had just stepped out of line and was about to ripped a new one.

After all she had been coping the girl, it was to try and fit in at the end of the day but then someone people didnt like it. It was odd that a girl her age would extend her hand though it was nice that not every kid was full of yelling Hi’s and byes. Her dad was always overprotective of her so introducing herself to people was more a back burner thing. She didnt want the twenty questions when she got back from school or study group though this was all his idea and she would take full advantage of trying to get to know people even if she knew she was a little out of her league.

Grace looked down at her outfit, maybe she should have rolled around in it a bit before wearing it because if it was that obvious it was practically straight out of the packet. Grace looked toward Leslie’s cap as she tapped it and grinned, “It looks good on you and not old at all. It has character.” She stated, “I’ve plenty of things I don’t want to get rid off, especially jeans that are now too short but they door for running around the house because they care comfy.” She explained. Grace was all about comfort in life and giving up on clothes she had for years they usually just turned into old house work clothes eventually.

“So I take it you’ve played baseball before?” She asked hoping that she could ask for some help on what to do or where to start though judging by her cap she guessed that Baseball was a regular thing for Leslie. Grace was more of a, lets try it for the day and run if she couldnt get it but she guessed her dad would just drag her back to practice the next time no matter what. All in all she had the outfit the gear and no clue what else to do with it other than copy someone else.

[Deleted]

Well that was a smile that was encouraging, although a little nervous. She hadn't scared her too much by approaching her out of the blue like that. "Oh, that's a bit rough." She couldn't say she had ever been forced to do something by her parents, joining this team was a decision she had made on her own, and she kind of had forced her mom to drive her there more than the other way around, but she really didn't like the idea. To be the subject of a decision without being considered in the process of making it, that wasn't kind. Unfortunately, that was a thing that she saw a lot, an she began to wonder just how many of her teammates had been subject to the same faith. It made her a little sad. All in all, however, if she wanted to make friends, by her father's decision or her own, Leslie was glad to help with that.

As her hand was considered for a moment, she couldn't help but throw an encouraging smile at the girl, and it grew even wider when her hand was finally taken. "Grace." That was a cute name. "Well it's nice to meet you Grace." Leslie always liked making new friends, and she really did feel like she had made a new one, enough that she kept smiling at the other girl, something along the lines of 'Yep, you're my friend now' kind of smile. Her first one, both in the team and in Chicago. That felt good. Definitely something she would be happy to tell her dad the next time they spoke. He had never been the one to force her into meeting people or ask a thousand questions about those she did meet, no, it was more the other way around in their case. It was quite the shy dad that she had, and he really wasn't one to go out, so Leslie always tried to drag him with her whenever she went out. He made her laugh, always so quiet compared to her. Oh how she loved her dad.

For a time Leslie watched Grace judge her own outfit, looking a little bit exasperated by the cleanness of it. It wasn't bad, there was nothing wrong with it, it looked sharp and Leslie liked it that way. As for her own... "Thank you." She in turn found herself grinning at Grace. That was a very nice thing to say and a very nice thing to hear. Yep, right here and then she decided that she really liked Grace. She was happy to have made her her friend. "And your outfit's not too bad on you either." She liked it when outfits looked clean and sharp. As much as she could like them old and worn-out like her own, but on Grace, new looked good. Even if she didn't seem convinced of it. "Yeah, I could say the same. A lot of my old hockey shirts I kept, nothing better to wear on the week ends where you can sleep in." A few of them had gown a little small for her, the sleeves now reaching only half of her forearm, but she couldn't get rid of them. A lot of memories where attached to them, and she wasn't sure Eric would be happy with her if she gave them away. The thought elicited a giggle. Her dad's friend really was the playful one, always teasing.

To Grace's question she nodded, her smile still stuck to her features. "Yep. I was in a team back in Fairfax, before I moved here. My dad was one of our coaches." She had been the captain of the team, but now that she had left Virginia behind, that wasn't really much of importance. This was a new team, new teammates, a new start, and new coaches. "It's actually because of him that I learned to play. But that was before we officially joined a team." Much like spending the holiday season in Canada had become a family tradition, playing hockey in the winter and baseball in the summer with their canadian friends had become one as well. It had all started with her dad when he was her age, and they had been doing it ever since. She had started to play at a younger age that he had, however, so she had the advantage. At least that is what she told him whenever they played together and were joking around. So unlike Grace, she hadn't been forced to join a team, it had just happened. "And I take it you've never played?" It was kindly that she said it, having no intentions of making her feel more out of place than she already did. Hey, she could even give her advice, if she asked for it, she would be more than happy to help a friend.

[Grace Taylor]

Grace was a little nervous about meeting new people as she never knew if she was going to be the group outcast because she had no idea what to do or if people saw past that. Unlike her dad Grace was lacking in the talking department, she wasn’t the sort that could just spill a few words and be an instant hit she was more a slow and steady sort. “You’re telling me, you didn’t have to do the silent treatment on the way over.” She said with a grin, so yes she had tried to drive her dad a little nuts but like always she failed in that department too. The man was stone cold when it came to some things and this just happened to be the one thing that he was pushing her towards for her own good.

Yes, she would see what happened when she took a baseball to the face that she couldn’t catch. Though she had a suspicion that even that wouldn’t change his mind. The one thing that made it a little better was the fact that at least one person was talking to her. “Nice to meet you too Leslie.” She said with a smile glad to at least know one person’s name from them all. Maybe baseball wasn’t going to be so bad after all she wondered as she saw the smile that Leslie gave. The ‘friend’ smile that she returned glad to see it rather than the death stares she got when she had tried basket ball.

“You really think, it looks like I’ve just dressed in it right off the shop floor.” She said as she winced the moment she said it. Well technically her dad had pulled it out of the bag and she had worn it so it wasn’t too far from the truth, it had been transported and given to her and now she was stood in it with no idea. She felt like she wanted to go roll around in the dirt for a while just to fit in but her dad and cleaning, probably safer not to turn up in a bright pink outfit next time because her dad washed it wrong. No the one thing was never to trust a Mr Taylor with a white anything.

Grace grinned, “Old clothes rock, nothing comfier and the amount of things I’ve saved from being thrown out I have a draw full. You should see my dad’s face when I pull out a t-shirt he thought he had managed to smuggle out. No chance.” It might be a game of mission impossible but in the end Grace managed to get back at least half if not more of what her dad tried to throw away. Old, holes in it and worn were a weekend and evening speciality.

Listening to Leslie talk about her dad and Fairfax was nice, Grace knew nothing other than Chicago as she was too young to remember LA. Her dad had travelled but he never spoke about the past much which she put down to her mother’s memories but it was all distant for her. Chicago was home for the past fourteen years and she knew the city well especially the two districts her dad worked as a fire fighter. “See my dad tried to teach me but a bat and a ball in my hands can be dangerous... i’ve put three windows out in the back yard and a neighbours tv dish off the wall though I still blame my dad for that.” She explained.

Ben taught her a lot, fishing which was spectator sport now, climbing which again was a pretty singular sport and camping which turned into a sport when the rain was lashing down and the tent wasn’t ready. “Your dad sounds like a good guy.” She said as Grace shook her head. No, she was as new to this as Leslie was to Chicago. “Nope, never played this in my life. Tried to in the back yard and then dad signed me up here to make friends and learn a life sport... or maybe it was so I can watch a game with him from time to time but I can tell you I try to hit a ball with that end of the bat right?” Grace said as she pointed to the fatter end of the bat she had.

“So you’re a kind of ace at baseball? Because I could really use some help if you had time?” Grace asked wondering how Leslie would take it. Grace was a completely novice with what to do other than run once she had managed to make contact with a ball. She had no style or way of working, she had the kit but a bare minimum understanding of what to do other than stand, hit and run but what direction or just in a circle or to the first person she saw. It was like learning a whole new language.

[Deleted]

Leslie had always liked to make friends, and she never really had an issue with approaching first. Conversation came naturally to her, rarely feeling nervous even when it was the first time that she spoke to someone. Not that it was an initiative that everyone welcomed, but she understood enough not to be vexed if a person didn't want to talk to her. She was the polar opposite of her dad in that regard. Always happy to talk, moving from a group to another, conversation about nothing and everything here and there. She also knew that she could be a little loud in those instances. Her dad, on the other hand, if you did not speak to him, you could almost forget that he was there. Other people, not her, she would never forget her dad, mostly because it was most likely her that would have dragged him along, but he really was a quiet one. Quiet, but very kind and curious, so she never worried too much about him. As Grace grinned she couldn't help but grin back, laughing a little as she imagined her friend's car trip to here. "I sort of did, although, it was for the opposite reasons of you. It was my mom who wasn't entirely too happy with driving me here, and she decided to let me know by not talking." She shook her head, still laughing. "I guess it wasn't something she had thought she'd have to do here, or at least, for a while. I don't have my dad to drive me now." Her mom was a nice mom, but a little more distant than her dad, not particularly interested in sports. She was happy to let her go play a game, happy to see Leslie have a great time, but her interest stopped there.

Yep, Grace was her friend now, and as she returned the same smile that she had offered her, Leslie found herself grinning even wider. This idea of joining a new baseball team only seemed to be an ever better one now, and she could almost high five herself for having it in the first place. And then, Grace winced, still unconvinced by her outfit, but Leslie was not having it. She shook her head and put a reassuring hand on her friend's shoulder. "I do, really." She mouthed it a second time, just to make it clear that she really meant every word. "Don't you worry Grace, you look great." She smiled at her, meaning for it to be reassuring, but she felt her cheeks flushing a little so she gently removed her hand from her shoulder. The smile stayed however. Not now Leslie... "But if you want, we can always smudge it with mud right after." She chuckled, not sure where she would find mud around, but it sure could be funny. And messy. Goodbye pretty and clean white.

"Oh, now I wish I could see that." She giggled for a moment and then took a second to think, wondering where her own old clothes were stocked. "I mostly keep all my sport things. Wait." She put her hands up, suddenly struck by an idea. She reached out to open her bag and dragged her phone out of it, immediately going through her various photos. When she found the one she was looking for she grinned at it before turning to Grace, holding the phone up so that she could see the picture on it. It was a picture of Leslie, age 5, maybe 6, in a red hockey jersey and the tiniest of skates, holding a hockey stick a little too big for her. Not her first time on the ice, but her first time playing hockey on an iced lake, and it had been so cold that day that her cheeks were as red as cherries despite the big coat her mom had made her wear. "I am positive I still have this jersey somewhere." She didn't know where, but she was sure she still had it. The very first one that had been made especially for her. So no, there was no letting go of that one.

As she heard Grace relate her mistrials with baseball, Leslie burst out laughing. "Oh no. I hope the neighbors weren't watching tv!" That must have been a little embarrassing, and she hoped that her laughing wouldn't be taken the wrong way. She had absolutely no intent on embarrassing Grace, but she reminded her so much of her friend Lorrie when she first started, although Grace had a higher count for broken windows. Lorrie however, had a higher count on bumps made into random parked cars. But much like her dad, Lorrie was still in Virginia. Leslie had lived there her whole life, well, until now. There had been times where the family drove up to Vermont to visit her grandparents, but it always been Fairfax, and the outskirts of Ontario and Québec. Chicago felt a little big for her, definitely new. "He is, really is. I love him a lot, but, Virginia is so far... I miss him." Her smile became a little sad as she said it. "I still talk to him almost everyday, but Skype isn't the same thing, you know?"

Oh, fishing. The actual reason why this was happening in the first place. When her dad was younger, Charles, her grandfather, had originally planned their trips to Canada to be fishing trips, but it really hadn't been a huge hit, and instead, her dad decided to start playing sports with the neighboring kids. And here they were, almost 30 years later, still playing sports and not touching fishing with a ten foot pole. "I would suggest you try to hit it with the middle of it rather than with the end." She smiled at Grace, before she picked up her bat and held it so that she could see her tapping the middle of the fatter end, and then the top of it. "Because if you do, that's the best way for the ball to go everywhere but the right way. For example, a window, or a tv dish." She winked, bumping her shoulder against hers to nudge her a little. And then Grace asked for her help, and she couldn't refrain from grinning like a fool. "Well, I'm no major league player, but I would be more than happy to help you." And she really would be, had she had time or not. Anything for a friend.

[Grace Taylor]

Grace was the nervous sort when it came to meeting people first, Chicago was her home and she knew most people on her block. Her second home of the fire house meant that she knew enough people around the city to know a few things though now her dad had the new house she was still a little iffy on if she spent much time there or not. The previous place she would happily hide out all day and wait until shift ended but now, Grace was at home or at the neighbours house where she was apparently a baby sitter for the neighbours boys too.

It was nerve wracking talking to people, once she knew then she was fine but that inital stage between not knowing and chatting away she could be a little awkward. Not that she minded but her dad kept pushing her to meet new people rather than be in her own world which was what she guessed baseball was all about in the first place. Hit a ball, run, make a friend and try not to look like a fool in front of potential class mates. Pretty much the only thing she had down so far.

Grace listened to Leslie, “Ouch, not talking that has to be rough.” She asked as she nodded understanding what it was like to have a parent entirely too happy to take you somewhere. “So you’re new, is this your first time here too?” Grace asked wondering if there was anything she could help her with though she figured two questions in quick succession well she had better not ramble off about things until she knew she wasn’t just putting her foot into something she had no idea about. It was a flaw of hers, to rattle on about something without understand much about it at the time.

Grace smiled and nodded, “Well if you say so, I mean it wont be white for long but looks good enough for now.” She said with a grin as she realised that she might have to keep her dad away from the laundry for a while, the last white shirt she had for anything he managed to turn pink with a stray sock from the basket. Honestly had it not been for Google then Grace would have suffered at the hands of a pink uniform for years and years thanks to her dads lack of understanding colour coordination for the washing machine.

“The mud sounds like a good plan, I mean I need to fit in somehow. If i’ve not worn it for years it at least needs to look like it.” She said with a grin not sure where they would find mud but short of laying it out on the road to be run over a few times she was sure there would be a fix for it somewhere along the way. “Well if you wanted to come over one day, I’m sure you could. He thinks he’s a lot sneakier than he actually is.” Grace stated knowing that her dad rarely managed to keep a straight poker face at the best of times.

Grace watched Leslie as she ran through the photos she had in her phone wondering what she was aiming for.Grace glanced at the photo of a much younger Leslie in her red hockey jersey and skates. Grace grinned before looking at Leslie. “That is a cool photo and serious? Wow you really do keep all your stuff, I only got wise a few years ago with my dad.” Grace explained, “Once he got rid of this bear I had to the local charity shop, it was way too big and he said that the bear was going back to the factory. Me, I believed him until my neighbour took me out one afternoon and I saw the bear, bought him back straight away. I still have him somewhere.”

Well her room was more of a where’s the bed under the stuffed toys, books and some unused sports gear that her dad had tried to get her into. Basket ball, she had one but only on weekends did it ever get used. Grace grinned and nodded when Leslie asked about the neighbours and the tv. “Oh yeah, they were, looked outside and I ducked so my dad was left holding the incriminating evidence. Had to spend the rest of the day fixing it for them.” Grace chuckled as she told the story, sometimes she wondered why her dad had kept trying for sports with her it was a dangerous game to play. Grace couldnt take her laughter the wrong way when she herself was laughing too.

“Yeah I know, sometimes I dont see my dad for a few days depending on his shifts. He’s asleep or I am but at least you have skype though.” She offered deciding that Skype was not a great thing, “Will be move with you here?” She asked not sure what was going on but she knew work could keep people away among other things in life though she hoped that Leslie would get to see her dad more often. Grace looked at her bat when Leslie made her suggestion. “ The middle? Is that even possible?” She asked the middle of her bat was smaller than the end of it. “Ah see so this is where i’ve been going wrong, middle of the bat but still not sure that the middle works because here.” Grace showed her the bat she had.

“It’s smaller than the end, I mean I know we’re kids but isn’t this setting us up to fail?” She said with a grin though it did explain her streak of hitting the end of the bat and the ball hitting everything else as she laughed as Leslie nudged her. “Well I dont think I’ll make major leagues but any league will do for me, so i’ve got middle of the bat and the outfit... I have a feeling that with your help I might not take another window out again.” She said as Grace nudged her back.

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Leslie absolutely did not mind Grace asking questions. What kind of friend would she be if she only asked and never answered? It was actually nice to be asked anything, and Leslie was happy to see that she wasn't the only one who was curious. "Oh well, she had other plans, I bet. I know she wasn't that upset, so no harm done." Her mom was always busy. A kind of busy that didn't make it that she had to be at the office all the time, but the kind that meant bringing work back home. Leslie didn't mind much however, because she could help when her mom did bring it home with her, and usually she had a good time. Always fun to read books before they are published. "First time in Chicago? Yes, we just moved in." Again, it was work that had brought her mom to Chicago, and she had followed. "I have never been to a city this big, it' a bit overwhelming. But I like it." She knew very little about the city, but that only made it that she had a lot to learn and she wouldn't be against Grace helping her a little with that. She'd be very happy actually.

"Yeah, that's the sad thing with anything white, doesn't stay that way for very long," she giggled, wondering why Grace was grinning like this suddenly. Even if you did coordinate your colors correctly, if was the fate of white clothing to turn gray before you could do anything about it. Of course, she never helped it either, with how often she had to run in the dirt at all her baseball games. Sliding to get a base did awful things to pants, but man was it fun. "But at least, we'd have fun dirtying it up. So it's not all that bad no?" she grinned right back, already having fun just thinking about all the possibilities, things they could do. Of course, they wanted to make it dirty, not rip it in anyway. "I'd like that, but I wouldn't want to get you in trouble. I'd ask your dad first..." She had just proposed to make a mess of Grace's outfit, not entirely the best influence she ever had, she didn't want her dad to think she was that kind of impolite. Grace was her friend, she didn't want her to be grounded because she showed up without introducing herself first, or asking permission, and then decided to make a mess.

"Well, thank you." She grinned back, laughing a little. "Although, no, I may have exaggerated a bit. I don't have the skates anymore," she joked, putting her phone back in her bag. "That was my first jersey, had to keep this one." Her dad would have been a little saddened had she given it away, but it would have been Eric who wouldn't have let her live through it. Improvised coach of their hockey team back in Canada, he had made it for her before she even knew how to play. To him it was inconceivable that she could not not play if she really was her father's daughter, and he had made a point to show her how to. "Oh no. How did your dad react?" It was a bit sad to hear that it had been given away like that but she was glad that Grace had found it again. Her dad mustn't have been that much, and the thought had her giggle a little. If Grace was always so full of funny stories like this, she had all intentions of keeping her around forever.

And she laughed again, a little louder. Yeah, forever. "Oh I really wish I had been there." It must have been frustrating for the neighbours, and Grace's dad, but it was funny, and she couldn't help but laugh with Grace. But then the conversation turned to her dad, and she fell quiet a little. "Yeah, we have Skype," she nodded, before she continued, a little smile on her face. "Although, when it's for him to laugh at my French, I'd rather not have it." That is what she got for having a dad who happened to be a French teacher, but she was only teasing. She loved her dad too much not to miss an opportunity to talk to him as often as possible. "Wait, a few days? What's your dad's work?" That was sad to hear. To have her dad around, but not being able to see him. But she knew how it was when work got in the way. The same was happening with her mom, although to a smaller extent than it did with Grace's dad. "Oh I don't know, but I'd love that. You know, I might just start bothering him about it until he does." That was an idea. But her father had never really been one for change, she didn't know how the idea would be received. "I am sure he'd like to meet you." That she was certain about however.

"Oh Grace..." She was absolutely adorable, and Leslie had a hard time refraining a nervous giggle. But she did shake her head. "No, not that part. If you do that, you are sure to receive it in the forehead, and we don't want that." She rose an eyebrow at her, a little amused, but not mocking her in the slightest. It wasn't her to mock someone. "I meant here." She tapped on the exact middle of the fatter end of the bat that Grace was now holding. She really didn't want to see what it would look like if she tried to hit it with the smaller middle. Nothing good, definitely. "I'm down with any league, as long as I get to play with you." She put down her own bat, the friend smile again on her face. "Yeah, we'll make sure to prevent another broken window. I you ever want to practice outside of here, you just have to ask." Because Grace was a friend, and she helped her friends. And she liked Grace, so she'd help anytime.

[Grace Taylor]

Grace had just grown up with her dad and the mum part was a mystery to her. She heard the stories about it but her dad worked a lot and if it was over night then she hardly slept until he came home. “So long as there’s no harm done.” She said with a smile, Grace was used to being busy and being shuttled between three different places. If it wasn’t school then it was home and after that to the neighbours or the fire house which was anyone’s guess as to where she was on any given day.

“That’s great.” Grace said with a smile, she hadn’t met many people who weren’t Chicago born and bred. She strictly wasn’t that either but then she was too little to remember anywhere else which meant that home was the city that froze over in winter. “Oh Chicago is a fab place, I mean if it’s base ball you like you really need to go to Wrigley Field or the museums which are great... there’s load to do here.” She knew she was rambling but then there wasn’t ever a dull moment in the city, she knew that if she was allowed she would have been out exploring every day but then it was only when an adult was available to go too.

“Yeah, white isn’t a great colour expecially not for people out age. I mean serious do our parents really think we’re going to come home clean?” She said as if every time she set foot outside she went in search of a mud puddle. Sometimes if in life the mud puddle just found her faster. “No, cant beat fun and cant beat dirt either.” She said with a smirk, yeah clean white things of any kind were a crime because they never stayed that way. Grace shook her head at asking her dad, “He’d probably be horrified if I didnt get it dirty... more like ‘where did you go’ ‘I’ll fit you with a tracking device to find out’” She teased though she didnt put it past her dad.

Grace laughed and nodded, “Yeah you cant throw away history like that, I mean it’s a one of kind jersey.” Sport and Grace, she was the sort that tried but never really got it or rather she hadn’t found the sport that suited her yet though if her dad had anything to do with it then she would find one eventually or she would join every team and club in the city to do it. “He reacted with a look that said how... then I think there was an adult conversation had with the neighbour and my bear has stayed ever since.” She said with a grin, it was look she wasn’t about to forget any time soon. The ‘how did it get back here’ look followed by confusion.

Grace noticed that Leslie had grown quieter when she spoke about skype and her dad. “Oh he doesn’t does he?” She asked grinning as she shook her head, “My French means I can order a fish for dinner or say hello. Anything more and it’s all English from there.” She said with a grin, English was at times tough enough let alone anything else. Grace nodded at the mention of a few days, “He’s a fireman but his shifts can be odd, cover work or twelve hours. It’s the twenty four hour ones are the worst because he can be home and sleep for hours then I have to sleep so then it can be a day or two before we actually say anything more than ‘hey’ to each other.” Grace hadn’t ever minded, she’d grown up with that way of working.

“Hey I would and I’ll even harass him about it too if you want?” She offered, she would even see about getting her entire class involved if it meant that Leslie’s dad would move with her. “Oh he’s not met me yet so there’s time for anyone to change their mind on that.” She joked, Grace tried to be the liked kid but then she would say something or just well practical jokes were a passion of hers that weren’t always well received as she hoped. Then again her role models in life were in a fire house so really people were lucky she hadn’t done worse over the years.

Grace looked at Leslie when she said it was the wrong part, yes well this was getting more complicated than she had ever thought. “Woah I value my head so no thanks.” She said with a laugh as she stared at the middle of the fatter end of the bat. Well it was slightly more reasonable than the skinny part of it she thought. “Thanks, well I’m sure you’re in a better league than me but I’d be happy to get to play alongside you.” She said grinning at the friend smile on Leslie’s face. “You know practice would be great, I dont think this will be enough because really it’s taken me this long to know how to use the bat right.” She said though she was serious about using it right as beyond swinging it in the general direction.

Novice wasn’t really in it, all out baseball newbie was more like it and that was putting things in a good light. The clothes and equipment looked good but when she hadn’t a clue how to use it, then the problems started though she was glad to count Leslie as one of her friends. The girl knew what she was doing which was always a help to someone who hadn’t any idea.

[Deleted]

For most of her life she had lived with both her parents, and to be living exclusively with her mother was a very recent thing. Well recent... It had been a year since her parent's divorce, and she wasn't entirely accustomed to it, so it still felt new to her. Not bad necessarily, but new. "Yeah, no harm done, aside from her maybe getting stuck in traffic on the way back to the office." She giggled, trying to imagine the scene. Oh she wouldn't be too happy about it if it were to happen. "Although if she does, she might not want to drive me again." Another giggle escaped her before she looked back at Grace, returning her smile. As of this time Leslie had not a lot of places to go to that necessitated her mother to drive her. In-between school and home, the only other place that she had to go was the DA's office, and it wasn't that often. She did not move around too much.

Leslie nodded as Grace spoke, trying to picture in the middle of the skyscrapers the museums and the field she had mentioned. "Lots to do is always fun. Especially with friends, no?" She wondered if Grace would want to do something with her one of these days, aside from the occasional baseball game, of course. If she liked the museums, it would be nice to go with her, or go anywhere with her actually. Did they have nice cinemas? Maybe cafes and restaurants? "What do you like best?" She asked her friend, eager to learn more about the city, but about Grace as well. Why not get to know both at the same time?

"Well they know not to expect that from me." She found herself giggling again, remembering all the time she had come home with dust in her hair and other times with snow everywhere on and in her coat. White wasn't a color she wore often, but dirt was a whole other story, and when the two combined, it was a messy mess. What was even more worth it was the look on her mother's face when not only she used to come back dirty but when her father came back just the same. You don't do sport and stay clean. "Nope, can't beat that." Her smile grew wider as the memory floated around her mind for a moment. "Then we'll make sure to roll you into the dirt before the end of the game." That would be another funny memory to add to her list of times sport got messy, and it made her laugh a little louder.

"Yep, can't find one like this anywhere." She nodded too, wondering jut how many more years she would keep it. Probably enough that one day her own kids would wear it too, but that was quite a long time away. Still, it was a nice thought. She better make sure to keep it in good condition. "That must have been priceless." The longer Grace spoke the bigger her smile grew to have her laugh again at the end of the story. It must have been one expression that would be hard to forget, but then again that was if she wanted to, and Leslie was sure she didn't. It made her wonder how she could get her own dad to react like that to something she did.

"No he doesn't." She shook her head too, smiling fondly. Her French wasn't that bad after all, and even if he was a teacher, he had a tendency to encourage rather than tease. Besides, her practising usually ended up with her helping her dad correct his student's assignments. It was good practice, although maybe a little odd. "Well that's a start! Much like baseball, have to start somewhere." She nudged Grace as she said it, still smiling at her. French was a difficult language to learn, and definitely not the first choice of many people if they had the opportunity to learn a new language, so Leslie was happy to learn that Grace had learned a little.

As Grace spoke Leslie backed away a little against the bench, looking at her friend with a sad expression. "Oh. Then I hope he doesn't get those shifts often. That's rough." She did not know if it did happen often, and even if the case was and Grace might have grown accustomed to it, Leslie found it hard to believe she had, and she felt a little sad to learn that her friend did not see her dad often. Not seeing a parent for a long time was hard, and when Grace proposed to help her convince her own dad, she was back to smiling again. "That'd be great, and don't worry, if you do that, I'm sure he'd be even more happy to meet you." It was very nice of her, and Leslie knew her dad would like Grace, and she wanted to have him meet her even more now.

"It is a nice head." Leslie laughed along, once again nudging Grace as she said it. She really did not want to have Grace hurt herself, so she was glad to have at least prevented a somewhat dangerous situation. "Hey, we're in the same team, same league. And speaking of playing, I think we have to go." She turned her attention away from Grace to look over at the field, where she saw their coach trying to gather up the girls that were there already. "Let's go!" In her eagerness to start she quickly turned to grab her glove and before Grace could protest she grabbed her hand and dragged her with her towards the field.

And so begin their first practice. Leslie found it to pass quickly, but she did not know if it was the same for Grace. Luckily for her friend, however, a great number of their team were new to the sport so the coach had taken a little more time to explain everything, and they hadn't started with anything too complicated. She had found herself keeping an eye on her friend the whole time, answering her questions whenever she had some, and when they ended the practice with a very quick match she made sure to be on Grace's team.

"So, how was it?" she immediately asked as they found themselves walking back to the bench where she had left her bag, wanting to know how Grace had found it all now that it was over. She really hoped she had had a great time, but still she knew baseball wasn't for everyone, and Grace had expressed concern from the very start, so she wouldn't try to convince her of anything if she had found it not to her liking.

[Grace Taylor]

“That’s not harm, that’s just Chicago.” She said with a grin knowing that the traffic in the city could be insane some days. Its why she walked from school home, it wasn’t worth her dad making the drive some days though she often wondered if he did just to make sure she got there. Grace laughed and nodded, “Hope she does bring you back because this wouldnt be the same without you.” She stated knowing that it would a be a dull game without Leslie there to show her what to do. It was that or she would ending up swinging the bat with the wrong end of it.

Grace moved around a little, there was school and home, the neighbours house which she usually just jumped the fence anyway. After that was the fire house though she didnt often go there now, simply because at fourteen maybe she had out grown sitting around flashing lights and sirens all day. “With friends it’s even better because that way its loads more fun.” She said wondering if Leslie would be up for doing something like that. There was so much to see and do and even now spending her life in the city she knew she had gotten around it all. “Me, I like loads, museums are great, mystery things and tours you know like this is the haunted house of Mrs Whoever.” She said trying not to sound like a teenager crazy person.

Grace loved her mysteries and anything attached to history had a bit of mystery to it. “There’s great food... and some not so great food around too but cinemas too are great.” She said trying to think of things she enjoyed doing. “What do you like to do best?” She asked curiously wondering what it was Leslie did in her spare time apart from baseball. “I think my dad likes to expect it but never happens.” She said laughing, Grace wasn’t the clean cut kid that made a face at every puddle and stayed out of the mud no she’d be the first one in it given half a chance but that didnt make for a very clean white wardrobe.

“Dirt is good no matter what.” She said laughing nodded as Leslie said to make sure to roll her in the dirt. The messier the better in her mind. “It was, it’s kinda like when you’re supposed to be in one place and you pop up in another. Kind of like ‘swear you were there a minute ago’ look then again he’s had a lot of practice at it.” Grace was used to just appearing places, it was what she did though since when her dad ever thought she’d just stay in the one place was beyond her. He never did so why should she?

Grace laughed and nodded when Leslie nudged her, “I hope I’m better at baseball than French because if I’m not then this is going to be a very short game.” She said half joking, if she was awful at it then it would be short though she didnt exactly expect her to be in line to play for the Cubs next season. Languages weren’t her favourite subject but she understood the importance of them and if she knew a few words then to her that was alright, probably know a few more by the end of term but much like baseball if practice had anything to do with it then she might have a better understanding.

“I’m used to it, it can be a few shifts a week depending but it’s what I know.” Grace hadn’t ever seen it as sad, sometimes yes when it was parents day at school or she needed him to be there and he was working but then it was work. That annoying adult thing that stole her dad for hours on end but when he got back safe it was really all that mattered to her. “You say that now but there could be a reason my dad works long shifts.” She said grinning toward Leslie, “But my dad would be happy to meet you too. Least I can show him I made a friend today.” She said happy to have done so as at first she wasn’t exactly sure she would have done.

“Thanks, wouldnt look too great with a baseball sticking out of it.” She said laughing glad to know that at least Leslie would look out for her. “Yay, thats great!” She said as she watched Leslie before seeing the coach trying to gather the girls before she was dragged toward the field. It took her a moment to find her own feet but once she did she kept up despite feeling nervous about the entire thing. Practice began and it felt like as soon as it had started it was done as she found she was actually enjoying herself.

The explanations were great and Grace tried to understand everything though she was eager to get back to next practice to see what else there was to it. Grace asked a lot of questions and was glad when Leslie was on her team as it made for a much easier time of it. Walking back to the bench Grace couldnt hide her grin as she nodded, “It was great, I mean I didnt think it would be this fun and yeah I love it. How was it for you?” She asked not sure how she felt given there seemed to be a lot of people with as much understanding as her there. For a seasoned player she wondered if it was fun or like going back to baseball school over again.

[Deleted]

Leslie couldn't help to laugh at that. "Well that's going to be my excuse now." Of course she wouldn't push it, but if the city itself was at cause, she wouldn't miss the opportunity to use it as an excuse. She did want to come back after all. She simply hoped she wouldn't have to do so on foot, and that her mom wouldn't be too grumpy about being stuck in traffic a little bit more often. The city was a little too big to do everything on foot after all. "Oh that's so nice, thank you." Her smile grew wide as she looked at Grace. Now she wanted to come back even more, especially if Grace decided to come back too.

"Always is. That's why I prefer it that way" She nodded as Grace spoke, wondering the same thing as her. Of course she would be happy to do something with Grace one of these days. She was always happy to do something with her friends, always why she tried to organise activities as often as possible. Already she was thinking of what they could do the next time they met up, waiting on Grace's input to decide on something. "They have those here? Oh we have to do one." Her surprise was really about the fact more than about Grace mentioning it. They had a few of them in Washington, she had done maybe one with a few of her friends on one Halloween night, but never more than that. Never could she get her dad to do one with her. "Hum I usually go for the food. I do like the restaurants here and there. That is also nicer with friends." It was also easier to drag her dad along on those outings.

She laughed along with Grace as she mentioned her dad's expectations, or maybe were they just very thin hopes at this point. She did not really know how often Grace had a meeting with a puddle of mud. And yes, she was absolutely up for rolling Grace around in the dirt of the field before they went home, Grace just needed to say the word. Still laughing she listened as Grace spoke of her dad. It only mad her laugh even more. "My dad does that too, the face. Although, he's easily surprised, it's not much of an achievement." You accidentally closed a door a little louder than usual and you would find Mark having jumped a feet up. Of course never would she purposely try to scare her dad, but it did happen a few times, when he wasn't too aware. Oh how she loved him.

"Well, I'm fairly sure French is harder than baseball, it's going to be fine." There was very little place in Leslie's mind to think of Grace as an awful player. No, she was learning, and no one was good on the first try. She certainly hadn't been. Besides, learning was fun. Another good thing about it was seeing all of the progress one had made when a little later everything seemed so easy. "You're going to do great." Practice for French she had had a lot. Did help that her father was a teacher, but she had a lot of occasions to use it outside of the house. Same for baseball, but she knew not everyone had the same opportunities as her, not the time to practice as often, so she wouldn't judge. A little practice was better than none.

All she had ever known... It was a hard concept for Leslie to integrate for she had known both her dad and mom to be there all the time, so to her it was still a bit of a sad thing. Well, until recently... Grace did not seem too phased about it, so she guessed it was all okay. "True." He was a firefighter after all, the reasons for which he couldn't come home were good ones, definitely. Good ones, but dangerous ones... "You did!" She had made a friend, and Leslie planned on keeping it that way, keep being Grace's friend even outside of the baseball games. And she had heard so much of him, the next step was to officially meet him.

"No, definitely wouldn't." She laughed along, shaking her head. "The only head decoration you need is your cap." And that was the end of the conversation as she grabbed Grace to drag her towards the field. She felt a little bad watching Grace looking for her footing, that and thinking it was also adorable, but quickly enough it was forgotten as she saw her friend starting to trudge behind her. All throughout the practice she thought it was really nice to see Grace having fun and being curious about everything. It was a lot of questions to answer but she gladly answered them all Even now as they reached the bench she was very happy to answer her again. "It was great. I'm glad you liked it." And she was. Even if they did not play per say, it was fun enough to be spending time with Grace that she didn't mind the rest at all.

Quickly she grabbed her bag, throwing her glove and bat in it. Her mom wouldn't come to pick her up before a little bit, being that she had something important to do back at the office, but she didn't mind. She didn't know if Grace's dad would be coming around soon however, maybe she would have to wait alone. "Do you have a phone? Might be easier to plan something if I have your number." She turned to Grace, grabbing her phone out of her bag. If she didn't have one it wasn't too bad, she could always propose something at the next practice, but she would like to be able to talk to Grace more often

note: sorry it took so long D:

[Grace Taylor]

Grace laughed when she said it was going to be the excuse now. Traffic she was used to, it was a nightmare yes and whenever you needed to be somewhere there were always line for blocks but Grace didnt mind. Her dad on the other hand was a liability on the car horn and thought he was driving a fire truck at times then again she didnt mind the getting to the fire house for a call quick either. Nothing like flying past traffic being bundled into a seat and told to sit there and not to move an inch until they came back.

“That’s great.” She said nodding, Grace tried to organize life with friends but she wasn’t always successful. She was either dragged away or her dad was a whole other kind of crazy when it came to a sleep over. She knew the last one she had, there was a fire and she had almost died but then that was a one off but her dad had gotten on the crazy train and insisted on knowing the parents of her friends and doing a fire check. So not cool. “Really? That’d be great, there’s loads here like the Congress Hotel and the room 666 mystery.” She added knowing that she was a little weird but then mysteries were fun.

“It is well the food is great, have you been to any of the places yet?” She asked wondering if Leslie had managed to eat anywhere she liked or if she was still finding out about the city. When it came to food Grace took after her dad though she couldnt put away a steak like he could but she would try and come up short every time. “Trust me, anytime a kid does something surprising it’s an achievement. Dont sell yourself short, I mean once my dad thinks he’s got me figured out you’ve got to throw something new there.” She said grinning, so yes she liked to mess with her dad a little like the time she convinced him she was going to be a vegetarian.

It backfired as she had a weeks worth of fruit and veg to eat but she soon changed her tune though for a few days he thought she’d seriously gone off meat. She had lived off peanut butter on everything that week. “I’m glad you think so. At least that’s one of us.” She said with a grin, Grace wasn’t too sure how easy baseball was going to be but then at least she had a friend who knew how to play which was as step forward for her. When it came to baseball her dad was a fan and she just tried to work it out. Sometimes she wondered if he wanted her to be a boy but then if she could annoying him as much as a girl, then he would have a world of trouble if she was a boy.

Grace nodded as she grinned glad to have made a friend, it wasn’t that she didnt try but then at fourteen making friends wasn’t as easy as it had been when she was eight. Besides she was sure that if Leslie hadn’t been there then baseball would have been a nightmare and she would have been leaving the practice with her head in her hands swearing that she would never go back there again. She had done that enough times with sports already to add another one to the list was just going to be normal as she wondered if that was what her dad expected of her.

“Yeah I did thanks, it’s a lot more fun that it looks on TV.” She said knowing that it was something her dad went a little batty about but beyond hearing the commentary she didnt know the first thing of who was winning. She could just see if her dad was happy or yelling at the TV as if it would make a difference to what was going on. With her bag in her hand Grace couldnt wait until next practice, she was sure her dad would think she was crazy but she had enjoyed it as she listened to Leslie ask about a phone.

“Oh yeah, would make it a lot easier.” She said as she grabbed her phone and read off her number to Leslie. “See and my dad said that giving me a phone was for emergencies only. Life has emergencies like planning things.” Grace added as she glanced across the street. “You hungry or thirsty? There’s a shop across the street if you want to get something while we wait, my treat for listening to me be annoying all of practice.” She offered grinning happy that she had found a friend and one that she could talk to outside of a week to week practice.

Notes: No worries at all.

[Deleted]

Traffic was what it was. She never really had to deal with it, or at least she hadn't had to so far, but she knew it did happen to her mom and her dad. Probably a little more to her dad, since her mother had a more flexible schedule and could leave for work whenever she wanted to. Early morning traffic when her dad was trying to get to school was a bit of a tale to tell once he got back home later in the evening. When he used to come back home, she should say. Still, he could handle traffic better than her mom, even if he usually was a little more pressed in time than she was. It was funny to see how different the both of them were in this situation.

She nodded with Grace, certain of what she was saying. Doing things alone had its good sides, sure, but it would never beat doing something with friends. A sleepover could happen from time to time, but it wasn't her typical idea. It was a rarer thing than going out for dinner. On the other side, most of her friend knew her dad so she had very little to worry on that front, and he was always happy to see her friends, so no complaints from him. It was actually her friends that she had to warn when they came over. He usually made quite the breakfast the following morning on those sleepover occasions.

"Loads of them? We should save some for Halloween night!" That was a long way away, but Halloween was perfect for this kind of thing, and considering she might be a little too old now to go trick or treating, she had to find something else. Not like Scary Movie Night was a winner with her dad, usually. She was also fairly certain a haunted house wouldn't please him too much either, but this year, it was that or trying to stop her from crossing the door to go collect candies. If she was able to convince him to move before then. "Not really. Know any good place?" They hadn't been around long enough to know the right place to order chinese, or the right place to go for the best steaks, and even more important, where to find the best pizza. The only cuisine she had tasted had been her mother's, and no offence to her, but she did not cook like her dad did. She herself even said the same.

"Well not really my intention to scare him to death." She laughed a little loud, picturing her dad's reaction if she really did try to surprise him. She never did mess with him on purpose, never really did with anyone, but her dad, unlike said everyone, was easy to scare, hence why scary movies weren't his favourites. Oh if Grace met him and did not know that, she might be in for a surprise herself. You spoke a little louder in moments when he had no idea you were there and you would make him jump. He never really expected people to make him jump so that did not really help. "And I am afraid it wouldn't take much to do that, you'll know when you meet him." She had all intentions of introducing her new friend to her dad, might as well warn her now.

"Come on, don't sell yourself short!" She nudged Grace a little bit, a reassuring smile on her features. Of course, they would start slowly, they wouldn't throw her into the difficult stuff and simply hope for her to make it work right? Or if they did that she would make sure that Grace got the proper base, on her own, or maybe even she would ask her dad. A weekend of intense baseball practice with her dad and Grace just sounded amazing to her, although she wasn't sure it would the same to Grace herself. Maybe she could propose it one day, maybe even they could turn it into a barbecue and invite Grace's dad along. A little bit like the old days...

"I guess that's true for a lot of things." Okay, a lot of things, but maybe not everything. She liked sports, but bungee jumping and parachuting definitely looked better on TV than in real life. Still, she was very happy that Grace had enjoyed herself in trying something new. Of course, there was still a lot to learn, but one day of practice was already a day done, and that was great. "Life emergency, like dinner." She giggled along as she entered in her phone the number Grace had given her. If it involved the possibility of food, she could consider it an emergency. At Grace's question she looked up from her phone, a little surprised. "You have never been annoying Grace. And yeah, that'd be nice." Her surprise quickly turned into a smile, and in a movement she put her phone back into her bag and swung it over her shoulder, ready to go.