"Take Me Out..Period"

Chapter 10


Bethanie shifted Shadow so that the baby lay closer to her as she fought through the crowd to get to their seats. "It's not usually so crowded down here." she shouted to T.C.

T.C was having a time holding Shiloh and trying to follow Bethanie, yet he remained a good sport, and ever patient. "It's just fine, Beth, don't worry so much."

His hand touched her back giving her goosebumps and leaving her near breathless. "Here we are." she said finally. With a wave to Charity, Alex, Altan, Lidia, Blaze, and Keely, Bethanie took her seat and waited for T.C. to follow suit. "Everyone meet T.C., Shiloh, and Shadow."

Her friends introduced themselves one by one and doted on the little girls, she couldn't help but smile. She knew they'd love them. T.C. so easily fit in everywhere. Bethanie sat back in the seat and held Shadow close to her. The little girl had gotten somewhat attached to her lately it seemed. Shadow had begun talking more as well. Just as she was thinking about the little girl, she looked up at her and smiled at Bethanie. Shiloh looked over at them and slapped Bethanie's back a few times, "I wanna sit with Miss Bethie!" she complained.

T.C. shot her a smile as he passed Shiloh to her as well. Her heart thudded against her ribcage in stunning reality, this was her life now. Her family and her friends. She looked up toward the designated Jazzi spy seat, sure enough there she was. However, instead of being seated as normal she was having a royal tantrum. Uh-oh was all she could breathe under her breath.

"What's wrong?" T.C. asked close to her ear.

Bethanie nearly jumped out of her skin, she was so used to being with Jazzelle in the spy seat that she'd forgotten about T.C. and the kids. Pointing toward the upper stands she smiled, "trouble in Jazzi's paradise."

"Jazzi? Why would she sit all the way up there?" he asked aloud.

"To spy on us." came the reply of Bethanie and her friends in unison.

T.C. laughed, "Oh really now? And you all know about it? Why do you let her do that?"

Lidia smiled, "Because if we didn't, we'd go crazy from all of her spy antics. It's easier to keep watch of her up there."

Charity and Bethanie nodded at Lidia's explanation.

"You'll get used to it." commented Alex with a wave of his hand.

"Okay.." T.C's voice trailed off as he shrugged.

Bethanie smiled, "It's okay, there's nothing we could do that any of my friends couldn't see." she whispered, kissing him for the whole world to see.

--

T.C. laughed as he watched the antics of Bethanie's friends and near family, they were something else, he'd decided. He'd already gotten threatened by Alex and Blaze that if he dare hurt Bethanie, they'd kill him. Charity, Lidia, and Keely had done something similar only they'd been nicer about it. Charity had also offered to watch the kids anytime he and Bethanie wanted to get out and have a break. He couldn't help but like the group of them.

"Enjoying yourself?" whispered Bethanie.

He smiled and stared into her blue eyes, "I am."

"Great." her voice was breathless.

He couldn't help but feel the same way, and then to take her in his arms and kiss her senseless. Instead, he kissed her cheek.

"Awww!" exclaimed Charity, who'd apparently seen what had transpire.

"Way to go, Beth!" said Keely, her eyes alight with mischief.

"I see you have a cheering section." he said to Bethanie.

She grinned, "Only the best one ever. At least this time we're here I'm not chanting 'take me out...period!'"

He chuckled, "You wouldn't."

"She would!" exclaimed all three of the females at once.

"Well seems like I got here just in time then, I'll take you out. How's tomorrow?" he winked at the three women then turned back to Bethanie.

"Tomorrow's good for me."

"Good, because you're good for me." with that, he kissed her and prayed that these kinds of moments would last forever.

--

Jazzelle hurrumphed and sat on the seat Rachel claimed was her's. This wasn't the correct seat, how could she tell? She couldn't see a lick of what was going on with any of her friends.

"Relax., Jazzi." whispered Andre in her ear.

"Can't do that, I'm afraid. Her friend there is in MY seat!" she pointed to the object of her dream's affection for the last week.

"Not a problem, we'll go sit with them, Jazzi."

"No!" she exclaimed bordering on whining. This wasn't her style, but she really was sick of Rachel and her friend showing up everywhere she went.

"Do you want the seat?" the voice caused her to stop mid-whine.

What now? She couldn't exactly push the man out of HER seat, but then again he'd offered..hadn't he? "Yes, I do. Thank you."

He chuckled, "Not a problem."

They traded seats, and she sat there staring out at her friends. "See the thing is, my friends are almost all matched up. See them?" she pointed toward the row of seats filled with couples.

"Oh, a matchmaker, eh?" he smiled at her, eyes twinkling.

She nodded slowly, "my job."

His grin only widened, "Nice."

She shrugged and focused on the matchmaking aspects. It was time to introduce Andre to his match, only she really couldn't tell him that it was her doing. He'd need to think it was his idea, men!

"So..."the man beside her just wouldn't quit.

"Listen, I'm kind of trying to watch a baseball game and monitor things..so if you wanna' chit-chat call me later. I'm busy right about now.." she fixated her eyes on the game.

Again he laughed, "So what's your number?"

"Number?" she frowned.

"Yea, I wanted to call later to 'chit-chat."

"Oh dear." she groaned.

'Take Me Out to the Ball Game," began to play over the speaker system and she worried her lower lip. Maybe Lidia was right, maybe she did need someone beside herself. She couldn't help but hope that person looked something like the one now sitting beside her. She smiled as she glanced down at Bethanie and T.C. Things were going just as planned.


See "If They Don't Win It's A Shame" for more updates on Bethanie & T.C. This is far from the end of their story.