"Dios mio, she looks like mierda," Susie said. Bree's hair was greasy like she hadn't washed it in a few days, and there were dark circles under her eyes as if she hadn't slept, either.

"Yeah," Marlee agreed. "She looks, like, wild or something."

Their conversation was cut off when Coach Gellar called them together to read the starting lineup. She gave them a pep talk about staying focused on the win. "Southbridge lost to us last Tuesday," Coach Gellar said. "That's their only loss." She looked each player in the eye as if telepathically transmitting how important the game was.

Coach Gellar's laser beam eyes stopped on Susie. "Torres, keep your head out of the stars tonight."

Susie knew her face betrayed the shock she felt. Would Coach Gellar ever give her a break?

When Coach Gellar dismissed the team, Susie wanted to punch the cinder block wall, but didn't. She couldn't. She refused to let her coach know how irritated she was.

Marlee patted her on the back. "C'mon, let's go stretch."

"Okay." Susie followed Marlee out of the dugout, but then had an idea. If Coach Gellar was going to single her out all the time, then she would work to get her entire team's support behind her.

"Hey, Nor'easters," Susie called to her teammates. "Bring it in here." They gathered around her in right field. "Let's stretch as a team." Christy had always been the one to call the team together to stretch during the school season, but Christy wasn't there anymore. Looking like a unified team might scare the Southbridge team, too, so that was a double bonus.

"Good idea," Sam said and helped organize the Nor'easter players into a tight circle.

Susie led the stretching and then suggested they run their laps together as a unit. As she finished her first lap around the field, she noticed Coach Gellar watching her. Susie couldn't tell if her coach was scowling or not. Probably. Coach Gellar hated when anybody else took control or did something that wasn't her idea. Good, Susie thought, at least now you can hate me for a real reason.

The Nor'easters got up to bat in the top of the first inning, and Susie was surprised that Bree wasn't pitching. Instead, Bree sat alone at the end of their team bench chewing on the ends of her hair.

Susie always thought Bree was Southbridge's best pitcher, but their new pitcher had a wicked rise ball that caught them all off-balance. Susie managed to foul off a few pitches, but ended up striking out in the end. She wanted to slam her bat down and curse, but decided she wouldn't give Coach Gellar something else to fuss about. She hustled back to the dugout and put her bat and helmet away as calmly as she could. She grabbed her glove and sprinted to left field.

"C'mon, Marlee," Susie called once she got set in left field. "Pick me up."

Susie was relieved that Marlee had also brought her A-game, and the first three Southbridge batters went down quickly.

Susie hustled back into the dugout and cheered when Lisa stepped into the batter's box. Unfortunately, the cheering was short-lived because Lisa sat back down in three quick pitches, having become another victim of the rise ball.

"C'mon, Nor'easters," Susie encouraged. "We can do this." Despite Susie's encouragement, Marlee also struck out, and they weren't able to get a single runner on base that inning. The Nor'easters trudged back onto the field.

Bree stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the second inning. Apparently she was the designated hitter for their pitcher. It looked like Marlee was trying to pitch around her, and Bree ended up walking. Luckily, Marlee fought hard with the next three batters, and Bree never got past first base.

Over the next four innings, a few isolated batters on both teams got on base, including Susie and Lisa, but neither team was able to convert their base runners into runs. The game remained scoreless at the end of six full innings, when the Nor'easters came up to bat in the top of the seventh. If neither team scored, they would head into extra innings. That was the last thing Susie wanted, because she was dying to be alone with Marlee.

Sam put her batting gloves and helmet on and then dug in at home plate. Susie warmed up in the on-deck circle. "C'mon, Sam. Get on base. I'll get you over." If Sam could score, they would have the go ahead run.

The umpire signaled for the Southbridge pitcher to start the inning. Sam slapped at the first pitch and sent it past the pitcher. The second baseman fielded the ball on the run, but Sam was too fast and beat out the throw.

Susie headed toward the plate and looked for the signs. Coach Gellar wanted her to bunt on the first pitch no matter where it was because Sam was going to take off for second base. Any other time, Susie would have been mad that Coach Gellar didn't want her to hit away but put her ego aside. Susie hid a smile as she saw the left fielder back up a few yards. That was respect for her bat. At least other people knew she could hit.

The Southbridge pitcher put her hands together and took the signal from the catcher. Susie waited until the last second to pull her bat down for the bunt. She couldn't spare a look at Sam, but hoped she'd gotten a good jump toward second. The ball glanced off the bottom of her bat and hit the ground in front of home plate. Susie threw her bat down and hustled toward first base. The catcher fielded the ball and threw Susie out.

"Yeah," Susie yelled and clapped her hands. Even though she had made the first out of the inning, Sam was standing safely on second base, and Lisa was up to bat with Marlee on deck.

"Nice sacrifice," Marlee said as Susie walked by.

"Thanks. Now it's up to you guys to hit Sam in." Susie opened the dugout gate and, instead of sitting down, pulled each one of her teammates off the bench to stand at the dugout fence. "C'mon, you guys. It's do or die right here. Cheer as loud as you can."

Susie took a spot against the fence in the middle of her teammates. She noticed Coach Gellar glaring at her again. Sorry, Coach, Susie thought sarcastically, you're not here to tell these lost sheep what to do, so I'm doing it.

Susie knew she'd probably get reamed out after the game, but she didn't care. There was no way she wanted Bree's team to win. It seemed symbolic somehow.

Lisa apparently had the green light to hit away and sent a long fly ball to right field. Although the right fielder caught it easily, Sam tagged up on second base and sprinted toward third. The right fielder had a great arm and threw the ball to the base on one hop. Sam slid, but a cloud of dust covered the play, so Susie couldn't tell if Sam was safe or out.

"Safe!" The umpire threw her arms out to the side.

"Yeah!" Susie yelled while she and her teammates rattled the dugout fence.

Lisa made her way back to the dugout and before she could get her helmet off, Susie pounded it. "Way to go, Lisa."

Lisa yanked her helmet off and looked dizzy. "Thanks. I think."

Lisa joined Susie at the fence. "I hope she scores." Lisa sighed. "I can't handle extra innings tonight."

"Me neither." Susie rolled her eyes. She turned back toward the game. Marlee had stepped up to bat. "C'mon, mi--" Susie clamped her mouth shut. She had been about to yell, "mi vida." She cleared her throat and tried again. "C'mon, Marlee. Get her in."

Marlee dug her heels into the batter's box. She took the first pitch for ball one. The second pitch came in at her knees for the first strike. Marlee stepped out of the box and looked to Coach Gellar for the signs.

"It's got to be hit-away, eh?" Lisa said. "What else could she do?

There's two outs."

Susie nodded in agreement. Marlee had no choice but to try to hit the ball.

The next pitch was a rise ball, and Marlee swung, but missed for the second strike.

"Dios mio, she's gonna strike out on that stupid rise ball."

"Yeah, but Marlee's a pitcher and knows she'll throw the rise again." Lisa's voice sounded hopeful.

"I hope you're right."

The Southbridge pitcher put her hands together and went into her wind up. Marlee, looking determined, swung her bat and connected with the predicted rise ball.

"Yeah," Susie yelled and watched the soft line drive land in the outfield just over the shortstop's head.

Sam scored the first run of the game, and Marlee was safe at first. Unfortunately for the Nor'easters, the next batter popped up to the first baseman, and Sam's run was the only one they got.

The Nor'easters seemed energized, though, and every player, including Marlee and Lisa, ran out to their positions on the field. Marlee struck out the first batter. Bree was the second batter of the inning and stepped into the box never taking her eyes off Marlee.

Marlee turned to look at Susie as if trying to find the courage to pitch to the girl that creeped her out. Susie pumped a fist in the air for encouragement. Marlee nodded and got ready for the pitch. Lisa squatted down and gave Marlee the sign. Marlee must have put the pitch in the fat part of the plate, because Bree sent a sizzling line drive right back up the middle. Susie's heart leaped to her throat, but Marlee looked okay. The ball bounced its way to Rachel in center field. Bree stood on first base, a smug grin plastered on her face. Susie shook her head. Somehow she'd find a way to wipe that smile off Bree's mug.

As the next Southbridge batter stepped into the batter's box, the entire Southbridge team pounded on the dugout fence and cheered. Susie had never heard their team get so loud.

"C'mon, Nor'easters," Susie yelled to her teammates, "we can do this." She pounded her glove and crouched in her ready position. There was no way a ball was going to get past her. Especially not with Coach Gellar watching her every move.

Marlee threw the pitch. The batter swung hard and hit a sharp ground ball to Abby at shortstop. Susie ran in to back up the play, but Abby fielded the ball cleanly and tossed it to Sam covering second base. Bree slid in hard, but Sam managed to throw the ball to first base in time to snag the double play ending the game.

Susie leaped in the air and sprinted toward Marlee. They had just beaten the Southbridge Bombers by a score of 1-0, but more importantly, they had beaten Bree.

Susie stopped dead in her tracks when she heard the scuffle at second base. Bree had knocked Sam over with her slide, and they were still scrambling to get untangled.

"Who do you think you are, Payton?" Bree sat up first. "Rich fucking bitch." She pulled back a fist and then punched Sam square in the face. Sam howled in pain and fell backward.

"Oh, hell no." Susie ran toward them.

Bree hit Sam again, but this time Sam had her arms up in front of her face. Marlee started to follow Susie, but Susie yelled, "No! Go to the dugout." She was relieved when Marlee didn't argue and headed the other direction.

Susie reached down and pulled Bree off her friend. She dragged Bree several feet away and positioned herself between them.

Lisa barreled her way toward Sam, but Susie didn't try to stop her.

Bree got to her feet slowly with both fists clenched. She looked like she wasn't done hitting things. "C'mon, Rican. You want a piece of me?"

Bree lunged forward and took a swing, but Susie leaped out of the way. She put both hands up defensively and said, "Back off, Bree," as calmly as she could. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that Lisa had Sam on her feet, and they were heading toward the dugout.

Susie's Nor'easter teammates streamed toward them. Susie shot them a quick glance, afraid to take her eyes off the crazy chick in front of her. "Get back, you guys. Help Lisa get Sam to the trainer." When they didn't move fast enough for her she barked, "Now!" in her best Coach Gellar imitation.

The Southbridge players stood behind Bree looking like they really didn't want to be involved, but had to support their crazy teammate. Susie was completely outnumbered, but hoped the kick-boxing class she took the year before would pay off.

Bree's eyes looked wild, which made Susie pray she was doing the right thing. Bree took a step toward her, but Susie stood her ground. C'mon, crazy bitch. Give me one more excuse to beat the crap out of you.

Bree moved to within arms' length. Susie wasn't worried, though. A tall beefy woman was sneaking up behind Bree, hopefully getting ready to grab her. Just as Bree pulled back to throw a punch, the woman's strong arm came up from behind and pulled Bree away.

Bree squealed in frustration. The tall woman looked like a police detective or something. She held Bree's arm behind her. The woman said, "Third strike, Bree. C'mon. You know what happens now."

Bree struggled for a while, but then let herself be strong-armed off the field. Susie headed toward the dugout, but Coach Gellar blocked her path.

"Way to go, Torres."

Susie wasn't sure if Coach Gellar was being her usual sarcastic self or not. "She's crazy." Susie watched Bree get handcuffed by the woman who'd led her off the field. "What's going on?"

"I did a little digging, and it seems that this isn't the first time Bree has developed an unrequited crush on somebody."

"That woman said something about a third strike." Susie watched Bree get put in the backseat of what looked like an unmarked police car.

"Apparently Bree was on probation. She'd been let out of juvenile detention hall for good behavior. Go figure." Coach Gellar shrugged. "Let's just say she won't be around for quite some time."

Susie sighed. The girl really was loony.

"I'm proud of you, you know," Coach Gellar said.

Susie almost fainted on the spot. Coach Gellar never gave out direct praise. Praise, if it ever came, was always in the form of a backhanded compliment.

"Why are you proud of me?"

"Taking charge of this team tonight and sticking up for Sam and the rest of your teammates just now. You were ready to take on that whole Southbridge team by yourself." Coach Gellar chuckled. "I've been waiting a long time to see some leadership from you, Torres. I'd almost given up." A rare smile crept up Coach Gellar's face. "I'm breaking tradition for the spring season and appointing two captains. You and Sam will be co-captains."

"Really?" Susie knew her eyes had grown big. "Thanks, Coach." Susie was chomping at the bit to get back in the dugout to see how Sam was doing. The athletic trainer who was working on her would probably be able to tell if Sam's nose was broken. Susie hoped not. Sam's parents would probably never let her play softball ever again.

"Go on." Coach Gellar pointed toward the dugout, and Susie took off running. She heard her coach mumble, "It's about damn time."

Chapter Twenty-Five.

For Years and Years and Years SATURDAY MORNING'S GAME came and went quickly. Susie took off her cleats and threw on her crocs.

Sam grinned. "We took the bite right out of those Cobras. Didn't we?"

"The three of us did." Susie twirled her finger to include herself, Marlee, and Lisa. "You just sat there riding the pine looking pitiful with a swollen black eye."

Sam stuck her tongue out at Susie.

"And that completes the picture," Susie said with a laugh. "You're just lucky Bree didn't break your nose."

"Yeah, I know." Sam smiled, looking pitiful as she did so. "My mother didn't want me anywhere near the fields today, but Helene convinced her I would be okay as long as I didn't play."

"Helene's cool," Susie said and Lisa nodded in agreement.

Sam groaned. "I wish I could have played. You guys were hitting machines today, and I missed out. You got at least three hits apiece, right?" She opened the gate to the Milford Cobras visitors' dugout, and they headed toward the parking lot.

Marlee gestured to Susie and Lisa. "These two looked like they were in a home run derby or something."

"Geez," Lisa said with a roll of her eyes, "you can't hit three homers without everybody buggin' you about it."

"And Susie hit two," Sam said.

"Yeah, that's why I had to hit my third one," Lisa said with a laugh.

"Show off." Susie gave Lisa a friendly shove. "C'mon, you guys have to administer last rites before Marlee and I head back to my house."

Sam put a hand on her hip and gave Susie the look, which was still quite effective despite the black eye. Susie knew what that look meant, because she'd told Sam about her new outlook on life. She'd slipped up and forgotten that she was trying to stay positive.

"Oh, wait," Susie amended. "What I meant to say was this. Please wish us a good time when Marlee comes over for a lovely dinner with my parents."

Sam grinned. "Better." She turned toward Marlee. "And how are you feeling about all of this?"

Marlee took a deep breath. "Okay, I guess. I mean, I'm nervous and all, but my mom will be there, so it'll be cool."