It was the perfect day.

Most people seemed to think that if the day is "sunny" or "good weather" it was automatically "perfect", but this was different, I could just feel it. The weather was nice, but the whole general feeling of the day made me excited and roaring with energy so badly that I couldn't contain myself.

I rushed onto the vast baseball diamond, itching for a win. The green grass crunched under my cleets, tasting the fresh air on the tip of my tounge. I adjusted my hat where I stood at second base, and punched the pit of my glove, ready to catch anything that would come flying my way.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

It was the bottom of the sixth inning; about halfway through the game when my life changed forever. I stepped up to the plate, taking a few easy practice swings trying not to feel the pressure. The baseball field wasn't overly huge, and most of the people in the crowds were family members or friends, not actual fans. I dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player someday, and knowing that if I dedicated myself to the sport, I could maybe live that dream.

The pitcher looked tough, but that meant almost nothing. What mattered was how well he could throw the ball.

I smirked at him, getting ready to swing. He got ready, extended his arm and threw the ball. Before I had time to think, I heard the umpire yell, "Strike one!"

"Damn it." I muttered. We were both tied at 2 runs each but we needed to take a lead at some point if we wanted a chance.

I took another practice swing and tightened my grip on the bat. Underneath my helmet my hair was blowing in my eyes as I concentrated. Some people in the audience were cheering for me and I heard the boys on the bench were doing the same. It was now or never.

He threw it once more and I swung, making sure my timing was a hundred percent perfect. I felt a jolt of the bat in my hands as the ball went flying above the grass. It looked good, and I ran watching it fly farther and farther, until I knew I had gotten a home run.

The people cheered louder and I ran aroud the bases, not able to contain my smile. We were in the lead. I went over to my teammates and gave them all high fives as they congratulated me.

Suddenly one of my teammates came up to me. "Hey Hinata, did you see where that ball went?"

"What do you mean?"

He let out a laugh. "It went in that open window behind the fence. Damn that was a long one!"

I followed his gaze and saw one of the houses behind the fance of the feild with it's window pryed wide open. I silently thanked God, knowing that if I broke another window I would be out of cash getting it replaced. I figured that house must have had a lot of baseballs thrown into it.

"Nice hit though."

I turned to him. "Yeah.. Thanks man."

For some reason I couldn't explain, I felt uneasy. Like I needed to find that ball. Like I needed to say sorry or something, which was strange because there was really no point in getting that ball back. I watched the window, my heart racing. I decided I would go to the house after the game and simply ask for it back, and that would be that. Easy.

-.-.-.-.-.-

The game finially ended with a win thanks to my home run, which made me sort of embarassed and proud of myself at the same time. My teammates pounded me on the back and congratulated me again, but I only half heard what they were saying.

My coach high fived me, his huge hands nearly crushing mine. "Nice save Hinata. We can expect more from you next game," he said in his gruff voice. I nodded, glancing behind him at the house.

"Something wrong?"

I blinked. "Wha- oh, no sir. Thank you, I won't let you down," I said, bowing my head. He studied me for a moment, then walked away without another word.

Everyone seemed to be settling down and leaving the game in the sunset of night, so I knew it was my chance. I made sure no one was watching, and snuck behind the trees until I reached the paved road. I ran past the field, the cold wind rushing against my face and my breath getting heavy. The feeling in my chest was growing stronger and stronger.

I needed to get inside that house. Everything in my mind and body told me I did. The sky contined to darken and I feared that it would get too late at night to find my way back home.

After a few minutes of running I finially came to the house. It was small on the outside with a very simple flower garden in the front. Nothing special, but it felt welcoming.

"This is stupid," I mumbled to myself. "What the hell am I doing here?"

It was freezing outside, and I didn't know why I needed this baseball so badly. It felt like a invisable string was pulling me into this house, and there was no turning back now.

I walked up the path and came to the wooden door, taking a breath before knocking a few times.

I heard rustling and footsteps on the other side. A young looking woman answered, smiling kindly at me. "Hello young man. You're here for your baseball back aren't you?"

I stood quiet for a minute. "Uh, yeah. How did you know?"

She let out a small laugh. "We get baseballs sent through our windows all the time. Plus I can tell by your uniform."

She was short and had big, dark brown eyes. Her black hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and she didn't look old in the slightest but you could tell she was at least fourty, her grin giving the illusion of youth. Her voice was smooth and calming like flowing water.

I smiled. "Oh yeah, I guess you could."

She motioned for me to enter. "Follow me."

I stepped inside and took off my shoes. The interior was just like the outside; simple and nothing fancy with a feeling of warmth. It smelled like baked bread as she led me past the kitchen and down a small hallway with two doors ajoined to it. All the walls were plain exept a few photographs hanging here and there. I felt a sense of fimilarity in the home, although I was positive I had never set foot in there before.

"It should be in this room if you hit it through the back window," she said. "My daughter gets so many baseballs hit into her room that she keeps her window open nearly everyday so the glass doesn't break."

I nodded. "Thanks. I'll just grab it and go."

"Alright ju-"

Suddenly the home phone rang from another room. "Oh, excuse me please. I've been expecting this call," and she ran off to answer.

I watched her go before turning to the door. The feeling in the pit of my chest was stronger than it had ever been before and I knew I was close, even though I didn't exactly know what I was close to. It was a feeling that was impossible to explain through words. Hesitating at first, I slowly twisted the knob letting it click and then swung it open.

I stopped dead in my tracks. The room was small and bright, but I couldn't describe the details to anyone because my mind didn't see anything exept her.

The girl who lay in the bed.

Hi guys, thanks so much for reading. Chapter 2 should be posted right away and chapter 3 hopefully soon. Please take a few seconds to review to let me know what you think/want me to work on! :)