"The Ole' Ball Game"chap 1

This is the last story in 'The Ole' Ball Game' Series. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 1

The sun rose high in the ball park, and Jazzelle watched it with a smile on her face. Today was the day that her sister would be married to the man of her dreams. Charity beamed as she stood before the full length mirror in her wedding dress. Tears burned Jazzi's eyes as she watched her little sister twirl around in the dress to catch a glimpse of the back. Something about this wasn't right. Her younger sister was getting married before her, and in Yankee Stadium!

"I can't believe Alex pulled this off!" exclaimed Charity, blue eyes glittering with excitement.

"I knew you'd get the perfect guy for you, Charity. I'm glad he got all of this for you." Jazzi spun once in her own dress of emerald green satin and smiled as she dashed the tears away.

"Oh please, you're going to make me mess my make up here. Let's be happy. Please?" Lidia smoothed her hands over the satin of her own emerald green dress and stood beside Jazzelle and Charity.

Bethanie came out of the changing room and swiped at her eyes, "Y'all are making me teary here too."

Keely walked out of the changing room last and enveloped the rest of them in a group hug, "We look like a girl band gone wrong.." she hissed finally.

"No, you look beautiful." said Charity with a smile as she stepped back from the hug.

"You look beautiful." said Charity and Jazzelle's father from the doorway, "There is a whole stadium full of people waiting to see you. Are you ready?"

Charity swallowed hard and nodded, "Are you all ready?"

They nodded slowly and walked out before her.

Jazzelle walked out into the light of the stadium after all of her friends had gone before. She was the last one to walk just before the bride. Her heart thudded in time with the music and she sighed deeply as she reached the altar. Turning, she took her place beside Lidia and looked out over the crowd. Daemyn smiled and waved discreetly. She felt her eyes widen as she stared at him. He'd come? How had he snuck in here? Her heart raced faster until she was sure it would hop right out of her chest. Pulling her gaze from his, she focused her eyes on her sister and father.

In a flowing white, glittery gown, her sister walked down the aisle toward the make-shift altar. A smile seemed to be permanently fixed on Charity's face for the entire day, even though tears brimmed in her blue eyes. Jazzi couldn't help but let her own tears fall as she witnessed her younger sister take the vows to love, honor, and obey Alex. They'd be happy together forever. She watched the couples walk down the aisle one after the other, Lidia and Altan, Keely and Blaze, Bethanie and T.C., Charity and Alex and Andre ran straight for Aria's seat after the wedding was over.

The reception wasn't much better, as Jazzi sat with her friends and watched them make goo-goo eyes at each other. She could puke, really.

"You've got an admirer." Lidia hissed in her ear.

"Whom?" she couldn't help but let her eyes wander around the room.

Chuckling, Lidia turned Jazzi's head for her. "Right there, and you know it. Go say hi. Ask him to dance already. You know you want to."

Shaking her head vigorously, Jazzelle stared at Daemyn. He did look awfully good in that suit of his. No, no she would not, simply could not involve herself with someone so good looking. He'd most likely leave behind a trail of broken hearts, her's included. "No, I'm perfectly happy by myself Lid."

Lidia rolled her eyes, "Please! If you're happy by yourself I'm a monkey's uncle."

"And a very good looking one at that." quipped Altan with a grin in Lidia's direction.

She swatted him from across the table, "Shut up you. Now, get over there and talk girl."

Shrugging Jazzi left the table simply to get away from the good-natured flirting going on. Instead of heading toward Daemyn's table, she went toward the punch bowl. After a whole day of being on her feet, smiling for the crowd and hugging long lost relatives, she was ready to go home, put her feet up, and binge on chocolate. Aunt Martha's many "aren't you married yet?" speeches took their toll after a while.

Just as she thought she could handle no more, a hand caught her elbow. Turning quickly she was ready with a smart remark on the not married thing when she caught sight of Daemyn's brown eyes.

"Hi." he said quietly.

"Uh..hello." she replied, hoping that maybe she could keep her heart from stomping right out of her chest and flopping onto the floor for him to trample.

"I noticed that you're all alone at the table there..must be lonely for you." he bit his lower lip as he waited for her reaction.

"Oh no, I'm perfectly fine...actually yeah, it is pretty boring." when he smiled at her, she couldn't help but smile back.

"Come with me?" he whispered.

Looking over at the tables full of her friends and family, she cast a glance back at the incredible looking man asking her to follow him. Somehow she couldn't reason past the incredible looking man. He would win out every time. Smiling she bit her lip and nodded, "Sure."

--

Daemyn Francis couldn't believe his luck. Somehow, Charity and Lidia had talked Mike and Rachel into bringing him to the wedding as well. And now, Jazzelle Douglas trailed him out the door to the reception hall and onto the patio. Playing it cool, he took a seat on the porch swing that sat before him and waited while Jazzelle walked toward it.

"Okay, it's killing me. Who invited you?" she asked propping a hand on one hip as she stared at him with eyes that matched her green dress.

He shrugged nonchalantly, "Your sister and Lidia."

"But...why...oh no, oh no no no! Their matchmaking now?" she flopped down onto the swing beside him, a frown marring her features.

He almost begged her to smile again, her smile had been the first thing he'd noticed about her. Second only to her eyes that flashed when she was angry, sparkled when she was happy or fiery. Instead, he turned to face her. "Is that such a bad thing?"

Her frown deepened, "Well..no..not exactly. I..I just..I didn't think you'd be interested is all." voice now suddenly a slight whisper she glanced down at her clasped hands that sat in her lap.

Grinning he wriggled his eyebrows, "Oh I'm interested."

She chuckled, "In me?"

He nodded slowly.

"You two making out yet?" Lidia poked her head out the door and smiled at them.

"LIDIA!" Jazzelle blushed five shades of red.

"Just finished." he winked standing and tugging Jazzi along with him.

"DID NOT!" Jazzelle still seemed mortified.

"Oh shush, Jazzi, you would if you could. It's time for you to make the toast for your sister." Lidia directed her words to Jazzelle as she tip-tapped across the linoleum of the dance floor in matching emerald green pumps.

"Sorry, that's my cue." Jazzi offered an apologetic smile then followed Lidia.

Sighing, Daemyn sat back down at the table assigned to him and watch Jazzelle. She was graceful and beautiful, made him want to stare at her forever. He couldn't though. Instead, he said good-bye to the bride and groom and left before she was finished with her maid of honor duties. His parents were expecting him by six. Besides, if it was meant to be they'd meet again. Daemyn sure hoped it was meant to be.