Fast Pitch

by Graysen Morgen

  "Are you allowed to be in here?"

  "Yes, it's part of being a senior. I have a select time that I need to be in here working for my lab credit, but I can pretty much come in any other time as well, working on my research for my thesis. When you're doing a research study, time of day is another variable you have to work with," Graham said.

  They walked further into the lab where long tables formed multiple rows across the large room. Two large glass cages with rats in them were on one table in each row with plastic tubes and towers for the rats to run through on the table next to the cages. The other end of the tables had scales, blood testing equipment, and microscopes.

  "This is my section," Graham said walking to the first row. "This cage is all male rats and this one next to it is all female."

  "How do you tell them apart?" Bailey asked looking at the black and white rodents.

  "We write a number on each one with a permanent marker when they arrive. The males are even and the females are odd."

  "That makes sense."

  "I have twin females so it definitely helps keep everyone separate."

  "So, what exactly do you do here?" Bailey asked.

  "Well, with the study I am working on now I inject different types and levels of alcohol in each rat and take their blood to check the progress of the alcohol and watch them run through the play center. I take hand notes and voice recorded notes on everything and then sit down and put my notes together before leaving for the day. Each day I'm in here I change the variables around," Graham said excitedly.

  "It actually sounds like fun," Bailey said walking closer to the empty table next to Graham. "So you do you work right here?"

  "Yeah, this is my work table for writing notes and so on since this is my row," Graham said.

  Bailey ran her hand down Graham's chest leaning in for a long kiss. Graham pulled away.

  "There are cameras all over this room," Graham whispered in her ear.

  "That's my luck." Bailey laughed. "I'm really glad you brought me here, Graham. Thank you for showing me this."

  "You're the first person I've ever shared any of this with. Most people look at me like I'm speaking nerd."

  "I'm glad you chose me," Bailey grinned. "Is it odd that your nerd speak is turning me on?"

  "Everything turns you on," Graham laughed. "Let's get out of here before you spontaneously combust."

  Chapter 15

  A month later the Pioneers were riding the high of the best season they had ever had. So far the only game they lost was the one they were cheated out of in Washington. They were closing in fast on the middle of their season with hopes of making it to the College Softball World Series.

  Graham arrived early for the Saturday afternoon game since she was already on campus checking on her rats and working on her thesis. Bailey walked into the locker room a few minutes later.

  "What are you doing here so early?" Graham asked wrapping her arms around the smaller woman kissing her softly.

  "I had a meeting with one of my professors. He's such a dickhead. I have an 'A' in his class and he seems to think I'm not participating enough. It probably doesn't help that I've fallen asleep at least three times," Bailey huffed. She leaned back in Graham's arms pressing their hips together as she looked into her blue eyes.

  Graham bent her head and kissed her hard as she backed her up against the large lockers. Both women were panting when they parted. Neither woman noticed the audience behind them until someone cleared their throat.

  Graham turned around and Bailey looked up at the multiple pairs of eyes staring at them.

  "Shit," Graham said under her breath.

  "Lucy, you got some 'splainin' to do," Whitney said in her best Ricky Ricardo impersonation.

  Bailey laughed and Graham looked like the cat that ate the canary.

  "I guess the cat's out of the bag," Bailey said.

  "You think?" Vanessa and Katie said at the same time.

  "How long has this been going on?" Helena asked from the back of the room.

  "A couple of months," Dashtin said from the doorway.

  "You knew about this?" Whitney said.

  Dashtin shrugged.

  "Coach Walker and Coach Parker will need to be informed immediately to take whatever action is necessary," Helena said storming out of the room.

  The rest of the team trickled in followed by both coaches.

  "I personally don't like it. It's bad for the team," one of the girls said.

  "I don't think it's anyone's business," Graham growled.

  "Well it is when you bring it into this locker room," another girl said.

  "Alright, everyone calm down. Bailey and Graham, my office now," Coach Walker said.

  Graham ran a hand through her hair and followed Bailey out of the locker room.

  Coach Walker sat behind her desk with Coach Parker leaning against the wall. Bailey and Graham both stood in front of the desk.

  "What the hell is going on?" Coach Walker asked.

  Bailey went to speak, but Graham took the lead. "Bailey and I have been dating for a month and a half. We know it's not exactly ideal, but it just happened. We tried to keep it away from the team."

  "As the captain of the team do you think this it was a wise decision to get involved with a teammate?"

  "No," Graham said. "But, it's a little late for that now."

  "I have half a mind to suspend you both," Coach Walker growled shaking her head. "But, there is nothing in the rule book about fraternizing or dating between teammates. I don't want it in my locker room or on my field. Let's get something straight right now. I don't want it anywhere around my team. What you two do in your own time is your own thing."

  "Yes ma'am," Bailey and Graham said together before walking out of the room.

  Coach Parker flopped down in the seat across from Coach Walker's desk.

  "You have to admit they figured out a way to work together," she laughed.

  Coach Walker smiled shaking her head. "Yeah by sleeping together. Did you see this coming?"

  "No. I mean I knew they had gotten closer, but I didn't think it was that close," Coach Parker shrugged. "I guess I'm partly to blame. I pushed them together off the field. Hell, I even made them share hotel rooms. I thought if Bailey spent more time with Graham she would be able to control her nerves and the damn ball on the field. I thought they hated each other."

  "I thought Graham and Dashtin were together for the longest time, but no one ever said anything to me so I assumed the team was okay with it. Maybe Bailey came between them," Coach Walker said.

  "No," Coach Parker said. "I've heard stories around the locker room. They were definitely not together."

  "I'm so confused and we have a ball game in thirty minutes," Coach Walker laughed. "What a mess."

  ~

  Bailey and Graham went to the bullpen to warm up while the rest of the team tossed balls back and forth on the field.

  "What a cluster fuck," Graham said when they finished.

  "There's nothing we can do about it now." Bailey grinned. They walked back to the dugout for the start of the game.

  "I don't want any of that nonsense from the locker room to carry over to this field. We are a team, we play as a team. Now, go kick some ass," Coach Walker said.

  The Pioneers took the field for the top of the first inning. Bailey started off pitching nervously, and a few balls were dropped allowing the other team to score a run. They were able to get out of the inning, but left two of their own players on base.

  The next two innings weren't much better, but they held the other team back from scoring. In the bottom of the fourth Whitney scored off a double Katie hit tying the game. Dashtin, Graham, and Vanessa were all hitless so far.

  The fifth inning came up and the first batter on the opposing team hit a home run off a screwball pitch that Bailey threw. Graham flipped her mask back and ran out onto the mound.

  "Damn it," Bailey said.

  "You can't let this shit get to
you. It'll be muddy for a while, but we'll get through it. You need to let the nerves go and pitch your game. The hell with them if they want to hold a grudge against us for being attracted to each other," Graham said.

  Bailey nodded and Graham ran back to the plate.

  She struck out the next two batters and the third one hit a pop-up that was caught. Dashtin was up to bat first at the bottom of the fifth and finally hit a ground ball passed second to get on base. Vanessa batted behind her and hit a pop-up for an out, but Dashtin was able to get to second base. Graham shook off the nerves as she stepped up to the plate. She felt like the entire team was angry with her for something she had no control over and something that wasn't their business to begin with. This fueled the fire deep inside of her.

  She swung the bat as hard as she could with all of that frustration leading the way. The bat struck the ball hard enough to sting her hands as the ball sailed over the outfield fence. Graham was so shocked she stood at the plate for a half second staring at the bat in her hand before realizing she hit a two-run home run. Graham jogged the bases and was tackled at the plate by her teammates.

  The last two innings went scoreless for both teams and the Pioneers won the game. No one was happier to see that game over than Bailey and Graham. They walked to the locker room together behind the rest of the team.

  "What a day," Bailey said.

  "Yeah, no kidding," Graham said holding the door for her.

  Coach Walker walked into the room behind them.

  "That game was a nail-biter, but we pulled through when we learned how to work together out there. I know some of you disagree with some of the recent changes to the team, but I assure you it has been addressed and will not become a thorn in the side of the team as a whole. No rules have been broken, therefore it's really only a matter of morality. Whether you agree or disagree doesn't matter. Let's take this win as a positive ending to the situation and move forward," she said before leaving the room.

  "Easier said than done," one girl muttered when the coach was gone.

  Graham pulled a chair into the middle of the room and stood up on it.

  "As the captain of this team, and as far as I know I am still the captain, what is going on in any of our personal lives is just that, it's personal. It just so happens that two people on the team happen to share the same personal life. Get over it and move on. We're here to play softball for the Pioneers as a team, not roll around in each other's business airing dirty laundry.

  "In case you didn't notice, Bailey pitched a hell of a game despite being nervous and frustrated by the comments from her teammates and I hit a game winning home run. So, the two people most of you are so mad at won the damn game for you today," she growled. "We're all adults here. Grow up and act like you belong in college. This isn't high school, ladies." Graham jumped down and slammed her locker closed.

  Bailey followed Graham out of the locker room.

  "I think you got their attention," Bailey said smiling as she climbed into the Jeep.

  Graham laughed. "I was so pissed I thought I might knock one of them out."

  "They'll get over it. I can't believe it hasn't happened before."

  "I'm sure it has, just not with this group," Graham said driving out of the parking lot. "Am I taking you to the dorm?"

  "Yeah, I wanted to celebrate the win, but honestly I'm tired," Bailey said.

  "I'm tired too. I'll probably go to the lab anyway," Graham said as her phone vibrated. She pulled up to the stop sign still on campus and read the text. "Dashtin's going over to Whitney's to play cards. Do you want to come home with me?"

  "I'm dirty and sweaty and not the good kind," Bailey said.

  Graham laughed. "I didn't say you couldn't use my shower," she said turning her signal on and driving in the opposite direction of the dorm buildings.

  Chapter 16

  Graham showered quickly and sat on the couch in the living room while Bailey showered. She had just about dosed off watching a movie when Bailey climbed into her lap straddling her.

  "Who said you could sleep?" Bailey teased biting Graham's lower lip before kissing her.

  Graham ran her hands under the shorts she'd lent to Bailey using their larger size to her advantage as she squeezed Bailey's ass. Bailey lifted up slightly allowing Graham to move her fingers lower to the wetness surrounding her opening. She moved her hips slowly over the fingers touching her.

  Graham ran one hand up and down Bailey's back under her loose shirt. She moved her other hand around to the front of Bailey sliding them through the wetness burying her fingers deep inside in one swift motion. Bailey moved down on her hand pushing her deeper before rising up and pushing back down. Graham kissed her slowly matching the rhythm as Bailey rode her fingers.

  "You feel so good," Bailey moaned into her ear.

  Graham moved to the side laying Bailey on her back careful not to remove her fingers as she lay on top of her. Bailey wrapped her legs around Graham moving her hips up to meet every thrust of her fingers. Graham hated having clothes between them, but Bailey was close. She didn't want to stop her to remove their clothes. Instead, she slowed her fingers and kissed her matching the strokes of her tongue with the deep penetration of her fingers.

  Bailey arched her back under Graham digging her heels into the couch cushion. "Harder, baby," she said breathlessly as her body began to tighten around Graham.

  Graham pushed her fingers faster and harder until Bailey let out a guttural moan and collapsed under her panting. Graham removed he fingers and wiped the sweat from Bailey's brow with her other hand.

  "I like you like this," Graham said smiling.

  "Like what?" Bailey whispered still breathing heavily.

  "Sweaty, out of breath, and freshly satisfied," Graham said kissing her. "It's a very sexy look for you."

  "Oh, really?" Bailey smiled.

  "Yes, in fact that's how you look when I fantasize about you," Graham wiggled her eyebrows.

  "Is that so? We may need to recreate those fantasies then," Bailey moved her hips against Graham.

  "We should probably move to my bed before Dashtin comes home. I'd never hear the end of it she found us like this," Graham said sitting up and moving off of Bailey.

  Bailey shrugged. "I honestly don't care what she thinks," she said taking the hand Graham offered to her.

  Graham pulled Bailey into her room and shut the door. She casually turned the lock just in case and walked over to Bailey who was sitting on her bed. The sun was going down casting a low light across the room. Graham climbed up onto the bed lying on her side behind Bailey.

  Bailey stood up, pulled the t-shirt over her head and pushed the shorts to the floor before climbing on the bed. Graham sat up allowing Bailey to remove her shirt before pulling her shorts off. Bailey pushed Graham back down. Spreading her legs she licked her wet folds softly before sliding her body along Graham's, kissing her way to her mouth. Graham kissed her hard pressing her hips up into the smaller woman. Bailey reached down between them running her fingers in lazy circles around Graham's throbbing wet center teasing her entrance with every pass of her fingers.

  Graham's breath hitched. She was already climbing the walls from touching Bailey. It wouldn't take much to send her over the edge and Bailey knew it. She slowed her movements dipping the tip of her fingers inside pushing them in deeper and back out with every circle of her clit.

  "Are you going to make me beg for it," Graham gasped.

  Bailey kissed her slowly running her tongue over her lips and sucking her bottom lip into her mouth biting gently before releasing it as she slid her fingers deep inside of Graham.

  Graham moaned running her hands through the wavy hair cascading over Bailey's back and pushing her hips up into her. They rocked together back and forth with Bailey pushing her fingers in and out matching the thrust of Graham's hips against her as Graham's body tightened. She tried to pull her fingers out but Graham grabbed her.

  "Stay inside," She said kissing Bailey and hold
ing her until the spasms in her body stopped. She relaxed allowing Bailey fingers to slip free.

  Bailey moved to the side and kissed her cheek. They both froze when they heard the front door.

  "Graham?" Dashtin called walking down the hallway.

  "She doesn't know you're here," Graham whispered getting out of the bed. She tossed the clothes Bailey was borrowing to her and put her own clothes back on. She waited for Bailey to dress before opening the door.

  "Hey, I was..." Dashtin stopped mid sentence when she saw Bailey standing behind Graham in the doorway. "What's she doing here?"

  "Do I question your house guests?" Graham said.

  "Whatever, I guess she should know too. When you guys left Helena said she was going to the President of the University about the two of you. Graham, she said as a senior and the captain of the team it is morally and ethically wrong and you should be kicked off the team."

  "She's just jealous because she wants to hook-up with me," Graham spat.

  "What a bitch!" Bailey said.

  "Oh well, Coach Walker already told us it's not against the NCAA rules," Graham said.

  "It might not be, but if the school rules have a policy in place you could both be kicked off the team. She said it may go before a board of your peers to decide."

  "Dash, she's full of shit and grasping at straws because she's mad. I'll talk to Coach Walker tomorrow before the game," Graham said.

  "Look, I'm not thrilled you two got together, but you're my best friend Graham and I don't want to see you get hurt in all of this. Whitney and Vanessa have both of your backs and so does Katie and Sarah. Helena's comments have them nervous. They were calling the rest of the team when I left. A lot of the players aren't happy about you two hooking-up, but no one wants to see either of you kicked off the team."

  "It will blow over in a week or two if we just play our games like the team we are and move on with our lives," Graham said.

  "I hope you're right," Dashtin said. "I'm going to order Chinese if you're hungry."