Hidden Talent

Chapter One

"Everybody listen up!" Coach yelled as everyone was changing into their lacrosse gear. "This year we're introducing a new sport for you to be on. Baseball." He announced.

Stiles put his hand on his chest, heart skipped. Baseball was his favorite thing ever. "You don't all have to sign up for it but if you do tryouts are next friday." he said and taped a paper on the wall. Three guys went over immediately.

Something compelled Stiles to go sign up, but baseball was something he did in his spare time, he wasn't even that good. He was actually embarrassed, he downed himself super bad all the time, so embarrassed absolutely no one knew. Other than the field prepper, he would always leave him one of the stadium lights on from two in the morning to five in the morning. He had been going there every saturday since he was a freshman in high school.

He was an old timer, sixty nine years old, or years young as Stiles calls him. His name was Donald, Don for short, he would watch Stiles play more often than not Stiles was finished for the night he would tell him that he was great. He would rant about how he would love to see Stiles in New York Mets attire all the way to his house where Stiles dropped him off and picked him up, every saturday. Stiles would listen to the old geezer stories about when he played back in high school. He had gotten good at lying about where he would spend his saturday's, but even when he didn't feel like playing he'd still go. Just to sit in the stands or the dugouts and listen to his stories, even if he had heard them a thousand times. It was his favorite part of the week.

After practice he noticed there were nine people signed up for it. His subconscious was pulling him to sign up and tryout. For a second he heard Don's voice in his head telling him that he could go pro, he believed so hard that he was going to get drafted if he ever showed his God given talent. But he quickly drowned it out so he could act like he was okay.

Finally Saturday rolled around. Stiles dug through his closet and pulled out his duffel bag that was filled with about a sixty baseballs and one old wooden bat that he found that was barely hanging on, duct tape was holding it together. But to him it didn't matter.

He threw the bag into the jeep and took off to Don's house. His heart smiled when he saw the old timer on the porch waiting for him. The drive insisted of how their weeks had been, what they did, where they went, and their overall thoughts on whether or not the Mets would make it this year or not.

Once at the field they got out and Stiles grabbed his bag then walked to the field next to Don. He walked into the dug outs and dropped his bag. He loved being here and having time with him, he was like the grandpa he never had but always wanted.

He unzipped his bag and pulled out a jersey Don gave him

Stilinski 

24

Stiles was never happier than he was at this very time. Just him, Don, the field, baseball gear, and a dream.

"Hey kiddo, come here, I've got something for ya." Don said, Stiles followed him further into the dugouts, he watched him reach under the bench and pull out a bag, "I know you're eighteenth is comin' around soon, so I got ya a little something." He said, then handed it too Stiles.

Stiles' jaw dropped when he unzipped it. It was a brand new bat, and a whole new bag of fresh baseballs. Stiles looked up with a smile, "Don, this is awesome! Thank you so much." Stiles smiled and set it down and hugging him. Once he pulled back he just smiled and picked up the bat looking at it. It was perfect, just the one he would have picked out himself if he had the extra cash.

"Well let's see it allstar! Go break her in." Don smiled speaking of the bat. Stiles looked back and smiled then grabbed all the baseballs and took off to homebase.

He ran over and loaded the ball shooter then ran to home. "Ready?" Don asked, Stiles nodded once then Don pressed the button sending the ball towards him, first try he hit it out of the park. Stiles smiled, the second one went out as well, as did the third one, the rest were good, out of fifty tries he got about twenty home runs.

"Now see, you would send that team to the playoffs if you'd just tryout." Don said. "I knew I made a mistake telling you about the baseball team at school." Stiles grinned jokingly. "Maybe, but you know I'm just gunna say it more, now that you have a shot at your own school rather than any other." He said. "I don't know Don . . . I just don't know if I'd do well." He said, he heard Don press the button, sending a ball rushing to him.

He hit it out of the park.

"Yeah son. You are truly terrible." He said sarcastically. Stiles smiled and turned around towards the gate that Don stood behind. "I see my four years of sarcasm has certainly made a mark on you." Stiles grinned. "What can I say? You have a lingering effect." He shrugged.

After a few more hits, Stiles decided to call it a day with the his practice, he went and picked up the balls that were still in field and sat in the dugouts with Don. He saw it was only three thirty, so he asked some questions to get some stories, after a few they fell into comfortable silence, until Don spoke up.

"Son," He said, Stiles looked over at him, "I really think you should tryout for the team." He said.

Something clicked inside Stiles. The way he said that just made him feel something. Like he wasn't just going to be playing for himself, but like he would be playing for Don as well. Stiles looked him in his Frank Sinatra colored eyes.

"Do it for you. I know you want it and I believe you can make it." he said. He looked down, Stiles felt those words sink into his heart.

He knew those words would echo through his mind whether he made it on the team in High School, College, or maybe even the Mets.

He looked back up and grinned. "Fine I'll tryout but only if you make me a deal." Stiles said. Don smiled and waited for Stiles to pitch his deal. "If I make it on the team, you have to come to every game you can." He smiled and stuck his hand out, they shook.

"Deal."