Gym Rats - Jackson Olson x OC

9

Cecelia's POV

Friday night is already here. I decided to do one long workout early this morning, so I didn't have to rush out of the Bananas game... or consider canceling.

When I told Sean about why I was going and what I was doing, he replied, "Don't do anything stupid," as if I've ever done anything stupid in my life.

Lola and I are getting ready for the game in my bedroom. It's rare that I put on makeup nowadays, being so busy with training, but here I am, in front of my mirror, putting on a full face of makeup. Lola is putting her hair into two French braids. I'm wearing my grey bananas t-shirt with a pair of blue jean shorts. Lola is going in a yellow tube top and black jean shorts. As I touch up the last part of my makeup, which is my mascara, Lola checks her outfit in my full length mirror.

"I'm so excited!" Lola says, "Jackson is obsessed with you, he will see you in your bananas stuff and fall over!"

"I don't know how, but I definitely have him around my finger."

"You don't know how? You're gorgeous, you're kind, you're a future Olympian..."

"Let's not go that far Lo..."

"You're going to make it. Stop doubting yourself."

"I'm not doubting myself, just trying not to jinx anything," I say while rolling my eyes and getting up from my seat, grabbing mine and Lola's sunglasses from my desk. I hand Lola hers before putting mine on top of my head. I decided to keep my hair down in its naturally wavy state. I walk over to the front door and put on my Air Force 1s before grabbing my car keys and my small wristlet purse, letting Lola put on her shoes and take a quick fireball shot before we head out the door.

————

We arrive at Grayson Stadium, and when I tell you Dalton hooked us up... I mean Dalton hooked us up. VIP parking, reserved seats by the bananas dugout, the whole nine yards. It kind of felt like a fever dream, finally being able to see a live banana game.

Lola and I get pictures together before we get food and head to our seats. We watch as the boys are warming up, and I point out some of the Party Animals to Lola as she asks who they are. I know most players on both rosters, but not all.

When it's time for the player introductions, we are standing up right in front of where they walk out. When it's Jackson's turn, he walks out, does his Greatest Showman dances, and shuffles close to home plate, I'm assuming to find me, where we instantly make eye contact. He smiles brightly at me before running back towards the dugout. Lola grabs my shoulders and shakes me aggressively, slightly screaming.

"Stop!" I say, laughing like a kid.

"Cece, he's obsessed with you."

The game begins and I am immediately sucked in. Lola is dancing to all the music that is being played, while I am emotionally invested into the outcome of this game. Jackson makes a few good plays, but no trick plays just yet.

We get to his first at-bat of the night, where, of course, he walks up to "The Greatest Show". Lola makes a big deal out of cheering for him, and I tell her to be quiet. She doesn't listen. Jackson lands a base hit in front of the center fielder and that is when I promptly cheer for him, saying, "Let's go Jackson!"

Jackson, while on defense, is making a TikTok where he tries one new food option at Grayson Stadium every inning. I watch him go to town on all sorts of treats, which makes me hungry.

The game goes on and the Bananas are winning through 4. We all get up to do the "Hey Baby" dance. Which Lola forces me to do, despite it being out of my comfort zone. That's why I love Lola. She encourages me to do things that I usually wouldn't.

As the game goes on, Jackson collects a few trick plays in between the legs, but no other hits yet.

We get to "Yellow" and we all turn our phone flashlights on. I sing my heart out with Lola, as this is one of our songs that we have listened to and loved since we first met. We both watch as Jackson climbs on top of the dugout and comes straight to us. There, while Lola has her arm wrapped around my shoulder and I have my arm around her waist, Jackson hands me a thick piece of paper, before swiftly walking away. When the lights turn back on, I realize it's one of his baseball cards with a note on the back written in silver thin-point Sharpie:

Cecelia,
I'll meet you out in the parking lot after the game. Don't worry, security won't kick you out.

I obviously show Lola the note and she squeals like a little kid. I only show a smile, but I tuck the baseball card away safely into my wristlet. We get to the final inning, where the Animals had scored a run. The bananas need two runs to win, and Malachi is the runner on third base. The last out comes down to none other than Jackson. He takes his place in the batters box, the first two pitches are balls, before swinging at a fastball, and he hits a long fly out right to the left fielder, right along the warning track, ending the game. The fans all collectively sigh, but I scream out right when Jackson is heading back to the dugout, "Good effort Jackson!"

We stay in the stadium for a bit to take in the post-game atmosphere. Once it starts getting a little too crowded for me, I pull Lola aside and she knows exactly what I want to do. So, we head out to the parking lot to wait for Jackson. As more cars leave, I become increasingly more nervous, because we are also supposed to leave with the crowd, but Jackson told us not to. Security won't kick us out, I keep thinking.

Lola resorts to waiting in the car as Jackson runs out to me from the stadium. I see Dalton, DR and Ryan all in the distance standing together like proud parents. I shake their presence off and focus on Jackson.

"I'm so glad you came!" He says, "You look great, by the way."

"Thank you," I say, a smile on my face, "I'm happy I was able to come support you. A question, though, why'd you write that note on one of your baseball cards?"

"It was the only thing close enough to paper I could find in my stuff."

I chuckle a bit, "Then where did the Sharpie come from?"

"Also my stuff."

We both laugh a bit. I look up into his eyes where his face is perfectly sun-kissed, I can even see the scar from where he was hit in the face. He can make an imperfection look perfect.

"You didn't hit a homerun..." I say to him, crossing my arms.

"I was close..." he argues.

I shrug, "Not good enough. Need to hit the weight room."

"I have been! With you!" He says, as he's taking my joke a little too seriously. I laugh.

"I'm just messing with you, you were amazing," I say to him, watching as his cheeks turn even more red.

"Thanks. Hey, wanna grab some ice cream? I know a good spot."

"After all that food?" I ask.

"I only took a bite of each thing..." he argues.

I chuckle in response, "With or without Lola?"

"Whatever you want to do."

I look back at Lola, who is texting somebody on her phone. I knock on the passenger's window, which is the side we are standing on, and Lola looks up at us. I motion to her that I'm leaving with Jackson. She opens the door and steps out.

"Finally!" She says, taking the car keys from my hand, "Love you Cece! Have fun!"

"Bye, love you too," I say to Lola, before watching her get into the drivers seat and swiftly drive away.