Gym Rats - Jackson Olson x OC

40

Jackson's POV

Friday comes and we have a game in Savannah, but more importantly we are having a surprise party for Cecelia to celebrate her accomplishments. She, and both of her medals, are coming to throw out the first pitch today. She thinks we're driving to the stadium super early to teach her how to pitch, which is a part of the fun, but in reality we are giving her a party: Bananas and Party Animals style.

DR, Ryan, Dalton, Tanner and I all put in a good amount of work. We are barbecuing, having cake, and even doing some karaoke, all out on the field before the fans come. Our plaza party starts at 3, but we are getting to the field at 10. I pull into my parking spot and go to the passengers seat to get Cecelia. I take her hand as she steps out, wearing her brand new yellow Jackson Olson jersey, a white crop top and blue jean shorts underneath. I kiss her cheek as I go to the trunk to get my bags. Cecelia opens the back seat to grab her backpack, which has her medal boxes, her extra pair of shoes, and a baseball glove in it.

She wraps her arms around my bicep as we walk into the clubhouse, making sure she doesn't see what's going on outside. She saw all the cars in the parking lot, but she is completely clueless. I think she's just happy to be at the field with me, and I am perfectly content with that. We get to my locker where we set down our bags, and Cecelia reaches into her backpack for her glove. I get my glove out too, as to not look suspicious.

"I'm ready!" She says happily. I love her, she's always up for a challenge.

"Alright, let's go," I say, leading her out of the clubhouse and onto the field, where everyone is waiting for her. Once I step aside to reveal Cecelia to everyone, the group erupts into loud cheers. The group isn't just all the players, but their significant others and families too.

Cecelia chuckles, "What is this?"

"We wanted to throw you a party," I say, putting my hands on her shoulders and inching her to the outfield, with a little resistance, to where everyone is. Dalton comes up to her and congratulates her, giving her a hug. Soon, a lot of the guys follow suit. Cecelia makes sure to thank everyone who comes up to her and says something, but when she's finally free, she takes a step back and slides her hand into mine.

"We got barbecue and a cake for you!" I say as I lead her towards the tables of food we have.

"This looks good," she says. The group of us all start making plates. Cecelia doesn't fill her plate up like she normally would with me, only taking a hamburger and some mac and cheese, while my plate is filled to the brim. We don't care that it's still the morning, we're all gonna eat.

After a long time of eating and talking to Ryan, I realize that Cecelia had drifted away from me. I frantically look around, "Where'd she go?" I ask.

"I don't know, she's your girlfriend."

I peer over to see Cecelia talking to the little girl Jesse is currently fostering. The girl, who is 4, is enamored by Cecelia as they talk and pick at the grass together. Maybe this kind of stuff isn't Cecelia's speed, but I'm glad she knows how to make it work for herself. I go over to Cecelia and sit on the grass with her as the little girl starts running towards the foul pole to her Cecelia how fast she can run.

"I don't need a party, you know," she tells me, "I just wanted to learn how to pitch."

"You're still gonna learn."

"I feel weird, having a party for me. I've been to parties before, but they've never been centered on me. I don't really celebrate my birthday or anything like that. I don't think I like it, to be honest."

I love her humble side, "So you ran away to play with Anna?"

"Yeah."

I get off of the ground, extending my hand out to her, as the little girl has now become distracted with a few of the other players, "How about we get you some cake, then you can learn how to pitch?"

She takes my hand and she gets off of the ground, "Sure."

"And... uh... just a warning, they're gonna start doing karaoke as soon as they're done eating."

Cecelia laughs, "Okay. Should be entertaining."

Cecelia walks over to the mound and I go to get our gloves and a baseball. I teach her the general motions and how to grip the ball, and she stands there practicing it for a bit before I run towards home plate.

She kicks her front leg up and throws the ball, where it sails over my head as I had squatted down like a catcher. I run to collect the ball, soon throwing it back at her, "Aim it down," I tell her.

"Thanks Captain obvious."

She kicks her leg again, and this time it lands on the ground in front of me, rolling right to me. I pick it up and throw it back, "Throw it harder."

When she does, it actually hits my glove, but I'm a lousy catcher so I drop the ball. I'm only backed up to the edge of the grass in front of home plate.

"You dropped it!" She complains as I toss the ball back to her. She's actually very good at catching the ball.

After more repetitions, she's getting the ball to me every time. Soon, I back up behind home plate, and she throws the ball again. It lands in the dirt, but right in front of me.

"Good! Keep doing it!"

The boys start up the karaoke, singing 'I Want It That Way' as Cecelia and I continue practicing. It doesn't take her long for her to get it right, even with the obnoxious singing in the background.

Once she does her last one, which perfectly hits my glove, I get up and go over to her, to which she hugs me tightly.

"You're catching my pitch, right?"

"Absolutely."

————

"It is now time for our first pitch! Remember, this pitch actually counts for a ball or a strike! Doing our first pitch tonight, she is the Olympic silver medalist in the 200 individual medley and the gold medalist and world record holder in the 100 butterfly. Savannah's own, Cecelia Brown!"

I run out behind home plate to catch Cecelia's first pitch as she waves to the cheering, sold-out crowd. Her medals are now hanging from her neck, her gold one over her silver one.

The PA announcer says, "Whenever you're ready! It's your pitch!"

Cecelia executes the pitch perfectly, landing right in my glove, and the umpire calls it a strike. She jumps up and down, feeling so proud of herself, as I get up and go over to her to give her the ball. She ends up picking up her foot speed, throwing her arms around me. I laugh as I hold her, completely forgetting about the fans around us. I let go of her, handing her the baseball. She takes it, smiling up at me.

"Perfect," I tell her, as everyone runs on the field to take a group photo with Cecelia.

"I learned from the best."