[Hunter] Batter Up

[Riley Scott Collins]

“ Yeah at least I’m here” Riley repeated unenthusiastically. It kind of sucked feeling like the weakest link in your group of friends and having to have them remind you. Of everything. He felt like a burden a majority of the time and he hated that he had put them through this. He turned his attention to Hunter as he explained what he was doing in New York and what had led him there.He had no idea that he and his brother were that close, but everyone needed that type of bond in their life. Hell, he was one damn lucky guy that he had that relationship with more than one person,with a handful. Maybe someday Hunter would find that bond with more and more people in his life. Though they would never be as great as the people in Riley’s life. But he was biased. “ Well, kind of but not really. Our parents owned a couple of properties and New York was one of them. Mandi spent more time here than I did. She came during the summers for her beauty pageants.” he said, tilting his head to Mandi.

“ But I think we both consider ourselves from California. At least I do, but uh.. yeah there’s a group of like.. ten of us, haha.. more, I’ve never really counted, and we had a lot going on so we just decided to all pack up and come out to New York. Get a fresh start,”. He knew that the connections they all had were rare. Not everyone just packed up and moved without question because the rest of their friends were. It hadn’t even been a decision really for any of them, it seemed like it’s just what they were supposed to do and there was no question to it. “ Maybe we’ll stay. I don’t know,” he said with a quiet laugh beneath his breath. “ We should grab something to eat after the game,” he said realizing how hungry he was even though he’d eaten a hot dog.

[Mandi Lynn Collins]

Mandi ran her hand through her bangs and shook it out through her hair before she finally turned in her seat towards Riley and Hunter. She smiled on cue sarcastically as Riley mentioned her pageant days and lifted her hand into the ‘pageant wave’. Their mother had wanted her to do it, and seeing as how she felt a disappointment in her parents eyes at everything else she figured she might as well bite the bullet and strap on a ball gown, bikini, and find herself a talent in order to make her mom happy. She nodded in agreement with Riley about being from California. That was definitely home, and she knew that she had more of the laid back go with the flow California personality, than the busy hustle and bustle New York personality. Riley would fit in a lot better in New York than she would, he’d cruise into the business of it pretty easily. She’d have to work to adjust; but there wasn’t a chance in hell she was leaving Riley or Lily.

Mandi looked up as Riley mentioned going out to eat. Lily probably did need actual food,but they didn’t need to take Hunter hostage. “ Oh!” she said before she looked at Hunter.” Don’t take me out to dinner the first time we go out…” she said, shaking her head slightly. ’ Or the movies.. or the bar…’ She knew she was a strange girl, for one Riley was just talking about how she had been a pageant girl, and now she was telling Hunter what she wanted to do the first time they went out, and they were definitely not plans most “pageant girls” would want to do. ” Take me like… paintballing. Or rockwall climbing. Dirtbiking. Something that can give me a bruise,” she said as she smiled and looked back over his features. He was ridiculously handsome. Plus if she was getting bruised up, that probably meant they were in a situation where he was getting sweaty. So much better than having dinner.

[Hunter Anthony Riggins]

Hunter laughed at Mandi's pageant wave. He didn't get eh impression she really liked pageants all that much. Though he was sure she was a shoe in for winning. Riley had explained that they were really from California and moved out here with a big group of friends that really sounded more like a big family. Hunter thought it must be nice to have to many supportive people around. "That's cool, must be one big party all the time," he laughed. But Hunter understood what he meant about staying. Hunter himself wasn't sure how long he was really staying either. Right now he was kind of at a fork in the road, but as soon as he decided what he was going to do, he wasn't so positive he'd be doing it in New York City. Didn't mean he wouldn't it just depended on wherever med school was. Or whatever team drafted him. "Yeah, I get what you mean, I really don't know how long I'm going to be here either." Hunter took a drink or his beer, holding onto this glass so he didn't lose her number. He nodded, agreeing that they should all get food afterward, and laughed when Mandi told him what kind of date she wanted to go on. "Well if you're so picky on our date activities, you could plan it and take me out," he teased jokingly. He shook his head, "I got some stuff up my sleeve, don't worry about it," he grinned over at her. He'd come up with something good. He was from Texas, she was talking to a guy who ate and breathed things that make you sweaty.

AFTER THE GAME...

Hunter stayed sitting, waiting until people from their row filed out of their seats so they could get out, and he figured Riley had to gather up all of Lily's stuff too so he didn't mind waiting. He was in no rush. He was looking forward to eating however because he was starving and he had the appetite of a pack of wolves. He was always hungry. His mom made jokes that she was cooking for an army when it was just Hunter and Carter. He was looking forward to hanging out with them more though, having talked with the pair of them, mostly Riley though, through out the game. The Yankees won, people streaming out of the stadium in good moods, it was kind of infectious. He didn't want to go home yet.

[Riley Scott Collins]

Riley stood up as the game finished and started getting all of Lily’s things together. It was sort of strange that they had basically picked up a new friend at the game and were leaving with him, but that’s sort of the way things worked in this group. You were just thrust into it. It was better that you didn’t have time to get a look at how crazy they all were before dipping your toes into the water and taking a drink of the kool-aid. ‘ Uh.. The four of us can squeeze into the back of a cab, I think” he said before he headed up the stairs so they could head out of the stadium. It was amazing how rude people could be when they were filtering out. When he hailed down a cab he looked at the back and scrunched his nose. “ Here you guys take this one. I’ll meet you at the restaurant,’ He waved at them before he carried Lily down a ways and hailed another cab that way they wouldn’t all be squished.

Riley walked into the restaurant, sort of surprised that he had gotten there first but whatever. He grabbed a table for four with a chair for Lily as well and sat back to wait on the rest of them. When the waitress stopped by he ordered everyone a water to start off with and asked for the appetizer sampler, and an order of mashed potatoes so Lily didn’t have to wait. He smiled as he fed her, thinking it was absolutely adorable how much she just seemed to enjoy food. There were definitely parts of her that came straight from him. Riley looked down at his watch before he looked back at the door to see if anyone was coming in yet.

[Mandi Lynn Collins]

Mandi smiled as Hunter teased her about taking him out. But now that he said that he had something up his sleeve she was intrigued and caught herself watching him for a few moments before she turned her attention back to the game. The rest of it went by quickly and thankfully the Yankees won so now Mandi was in an even better mood. When they got outside and Riley abandoned her with Hunter she stood still, staring at the cab before she climbed into the backseat. “ I don’t usually climb into a backseat with guys that I just met,” she said sarcastically before she gave the address of the restaurant to the cab driver. She could tell by the way that he looked in the rear view mirror that he recognized who Hunter was.

Sitting in the backseat with him was difficult, which was surprising since she just met the guy. Did he realize how gorgeous he was in person? She’d seen him on tv but that hadn’t really prepared her for being up close to him. It was like God placed a gift in her life for all of the bullshit she’d been through lately. Sorry about your family falling apart, but here’s this beautiful guy to look at , who happens to be a great kisser and seems really sweet. Did lips like his even come naturally? Cause the rest of his body had to have been sculpted by the hands of God.. so it made sense if his lips were too. She looked away from him,not wanting to seem eager as she looked out the window. When the cab stopped she hopped out quickly and headed inside. Riley was already waiting and it looked like he had ordered some waters and an appetizer. She waved at him tiredly before she sat down, leaving the seat by him empty for Mack.