"American Girl Breaking Traditions Everywhere"

Chapter Three

Zhi sighed as he stood in front of his car leaning on the door. It was twelve fifteen and there was no sign of this friend. The day was hot and he could do many other things then stand out in the sun. Suddenly a car pulled into the lot. The driver wore sun glasses and a large smile while the passenger bit on her nails. The driver smiled and waved at him and stopped short of his car. The passenger’s side door opened and a dark hair woman stepped out. She closed the door and the car drove away and out of the lot.

Just then a small amount of wind blew and her hair was brushed back from her face. The sun highlighting all her features from the amazing blue eyes she had to the cute freckles. The outfit she wore wasn’t exactly seductive but it was sexy. She wore jean Capri’s with a pink tank top that fit her curves. She looked relaxed but ready for real batting. She walked to him a smile yet to appear on her face. He extended his hand to her and said “Hi, I’m Zhi…”

She shook his hand for a minute and stared at him. Zhi would normally be worried about such a late response but at this moment he was fine with holding her hand. Suddenly she blinked a couple times and seemed to zap back to reality. “Christine. You can call me Chrissy if you want.” She let go of his hand and he smiled. She smiled back and he was blown away. The sparkle in her beautiful blue green eyes stunned him.

“You can call me Z if you want.” He told her.

“Hmm…” she said. “If I call you Z I think you should call me C.”

Zhi smiled and said “C & Z invite you to their wedding. I can see it now.” He said winking at her.

Chrissy looked shocked as the words slipped out of his mouth. “Lydia told you I would be the one didn’t she!”

He laughed a bit and said “No she didn’t but if she had at this point I would be hoping she was right.” Signs of blush shown in her cheeks and he grabbed her hand. “Lets go.” He said.

They entered the building and he paid for their batting cage experience. He paid twenty for each and got them each twenty coins. He was sure he wouldn’t be using twenty coins because each coin was about forty pitches but it was good to have coins left and just come get forty pitches and get out. He chose his bat and she chose hers.

He led her to the 20 mph softball and baseball pitch gate and said “ladies first?”

“No way.” She said to him. “I want to see this famous hit that got me into this. The one that his Lydia’s car a foot ball field away as she said.”

“Well, that might have been a once in a lifetime thing. You know? If it was a once in a lifetime thing I’m sure glad it happened when it did. Look who I’m on a date with.” He smiled and stepped into the cage. He put on his helmet and positioned himself.

The ball came and he focused. He swung with power and hit the ball. The ball made a clank sound and flew. The next pitch came and he repeated the process. About what seemed a year later he was finally done with his forty pitches.

He stepped out the cage and said “your turn”

“Are you sure?” she said.

“Yes… why? Scared or something?”

“Or something. I kind of like the view I get of your boat when you’re batting up.” Chrissy said to him casually.

“My what?”

Chrissy leaned into his ear and whispered “Your boat”

Still confused he gave her a look. She smiled at him and said “you’ll see”. She walked into the gate put her helmet on and positioned herself. A pitch came and she hit it. She returned to her position and he played close attention to the view of her. It wasn’t until about five hits he realized what she meant and a burst of laughter bubbled up in his chest. He smiled at her with a bit of a chuckle and nodded his head. He understood.


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Chrissy watched as the six foot hunk of Chinese man batted up. They had each gone through five coins and Christine was sweating bullets and possibly guns also. The heat was unbearable and for a split second she wanted to use her bullets and guns to kill the sun. Of course she could do none of this because in actuality her guns and bullets came in water form. Wiping at her forehead she sighed.

She couldn’t blame the sun for the total heat. Lydia had not lied when she said that she would be dating a hot Asian today. His shoulders were broad and she knew he was muscled. His arms looked strong from his swing and his stance said that his legs were heavy duty strong. His boat she noticed was tight and round. His facial features were just as good as his muscular status. His hair ended just under his ears but she noticed he choose to manually brush it back. His hair was jet black and his eyes were a chocolate brown. He was unlike any other Asian she’d ever seen. He was perfect. He even beat the July Asian she had fallen in love with during her younger years.

Chrissy wiped her forehead again and checked the time. They had been here for about an hour and a half. “Hey C!” she looked up the voice calling her.

“Yeah Z?” she said in response loving the whole letters approach.

“How about we get lunch?” He offered.

“YES!” she said. She threw the remaining coins into her purse and threw her sunglasses on. Z took off his helmet and threw his bat into the bat holder along with hers. He grabbed her hand and together they walked to his car.

He hit the unlock button on his keys and opened the door for her. She jumped in and closed it while he walked around the car and jumped into the driver’s seat. He turned n the car and opened the windows. He buckled himself in and pulled out of the lot. They drove for twenty silent minutes until he pulled into yet another lot. This one belonging to an all you can eat restaurant.

“I thought you would be really hungry. I know I am.” He said flashing her yet another smile and making her heart flutter. Boy would she hate admitting to Lydia that he was a good guy and she really wanted to see him again.

Quickly they both exited the car and walked into the all you can eat restaurant. Z paid for them both and they were each handed a plate. Choosing a seat she set down her purse and walked with him to the buffet. They choose their food and settled in.

Chrissy ate at her food randomly. Z focused on her and she couldn’t help but squirm under his glare. She looked up at him and finally asked “what?”

“Nothing, your beauty just fascinated me.” Chrissy blushed and smiled.

Two hours later she was being dropped off in front of her apartment building. She said her goodbyes and Z promised he’d call. She entered the building and sighed in complete and utter satisfaction. The date was amazing. She ran herself up the steps eager to tell Lydia about her date.

She reached her door and opened it. She walked in called Lydia’s name out and closed the door. “Lyd! Lyd! I had a great day!”

She walked to the living room where Lydia lying on the couch by herself and under the covers. “Lyd?” she called to her now concerned.

“I’m alive” Lydia replied yet not moving.

“Could have fooled me.” She said walking around the couch. “What’s wrong?”

Lydia finally sat up and Chrissy came to sit beside her. What was wrong with her friend? Lydia looked at her and her eyes were red and watery. Lydia bit down on her lip and blinked causing her tears to flow. “Aw, Lyd.” Chrissy said and embraced her friend in a hug.

“Mom called Chrissy and dad’s condition has worsened and I want to go to the hospital but I can’t Chrissy” Lydia said her words breaking up as more tears formed in her eyes.

“Lyd-e your dad needs you. You should go to the hospital.” Chrissy said to her.

“Could you come with me? I didn’t want to go by myself.” Lydia said to her.

“Sure I will. Why didn’t you call me or Jo?” Chrissy asked.

“I didn’t want to interrupt your date and you know how Jo’s completely emotionally unstable. She’s 8 months pregnant Chrissy. I can’t call on her.” Lydia told Chrissy.

“And ahmet?” It killed Chrissy that Lydia had been here for possibly hours with no one to turn to.

“He’s not the kind of guy you turn to when you’re having a melt down if you know what I mean.”

“Sounds like the kind of guy you can’t rely on. Why are you with him Lydia?” Chrissy asked angry at him.

“I know, I know Chrissy. Please don’t start with it.” Her friend said her tone pleading.

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Jolene sat in front of the computer typing away. She looked at the screen and reread what she had typed. Sighing she hit the delete button and grunted. It seemed knowing she was going to give birth in a month just had her mind completely unfocused. This sort of set her back because her agent and editor were waiting on progress. She’d set up an early deadline for the book thinking that because she would be on maternity leave she’d have more time on her hands to write. Yet, what was more time going to help if she couldn’t focus herself?

The phone rang and Jolene jumped. Looking around she spotted the phone on her near by couch. She looked down at her swollen belly and grunted some more. She really didn’t want to get up. The phone rang some more and Jolene let the answering machine pick up.

“Jo? It’s Chrissy.” Her sister’s voice said. “Jo its papa Rosario. Lyd-e is really depressed. She told me not to call you, you know due to the pregnancy and what ever. But Jo she needs us. Not just me but both of us.”

Jolene’s heart sank. What was wrong with papa Rosario? She looked down the parts of her swollen feet she could see and commanded them to work. She used all her force and was finally up.

“Jo? Are you there?” Chrissy called into the machine.


“I’m here C don’t hang up!” Jolene called as she walked to her couch. She finally reached the couch and hit the answer button. “Chrissy!” she yelled into her phone.

“Jo! Boy it’s good to hear your voice. Lyd and I went to the hospital. Papa Rosario isn’t looking to good. Lyd is in her room right now. Probably laying there feeling horrible. We really have to help her.”

“I’m coming over!” Jolene demanded.

“No! Don’t it is late already and if you haven’t noticed you’re far too bloated to walk up those steps.”

“Rub it in Chrissy. You and your petite frame.” Jolene said her eyes burning. Sucking in some air she fought to control her emotions.

“HEY! Focus here please. I think we should all get together. I think she just needs a day together. So she knows she has us here. It also would help to distract her you know?” Chrissy suggested.

“How about you guys come over tomorrow? I’ll have Danny set up the grill! It will be my first barbeque in this house!”Jolene suggested excited now.

“Sounds good… one thing. Do I invite Ahmet?” Chrissy asked her voice fighting at the repulsive feelings she got as she said his name.

“Yeah, I know we don’t like him but… It’s her boyfriend C. Anything to make her feel better right? Oh and invite your boyfriend too.”

“I don’t have a boyfriend.” Chrissy said.

“Lyd told me all about him. Invite him for sure!” Jolene said to her sister. Chrissy surrendered and agreed. They said their goodbyes and Jolene hung up the phone.

Sighing she put the phone down and sat at her couch. It annoyed her that her sister and close friend treated her like some disabled child. She hated that Lydia refused to turn to her because she was pregnant. Sure she had trouble controlling her food craves and sure she sometimes was over reactive in the emotions department but was she not still Jolene?

Shrugging it all off and urged herself to get up and return to the computer. As luck had it that moment the door opened and she watched her husband enter the house. Jolene smiled at him and he smiled back. He closed the door and walked over to her. He laid a soft kiss on her lips and asked her how she was doing.

“I’m ok.” She said to him not making eye contact with the eyes she knew read her too well. She couldn’t lie to him about her feelings no matter how hard she tried.

“Doesn’t sound like it to me. What’s wrong sunshine? It’s not the baby right Jo?” He said now concerned his hand automatically reaching for her round belly.

“No, no, it’s not the baby. It’s Lydia. Her father isn’t doing to good. Chrissy and I agreed we’d barbeque tomorrow. Well, you would be doing the barbequing. We really want to cheer Lyd-e up babylove.” She said looking down at the dark hand that still lay protectively on her stomach.

“I’m down for it. What ever it takes to make peaches feel better.” He smiled at her and her heart melted. This was the man she would soon be married to for a year now. Their anniversary would be in two months. She raised a hand to his face and stroked it with compassion. She dearly loved this man and couldn’t wait to give birth to his child.

Suddenly the baby kicked under Danny’s touch and they both shared a giggle. Oh how sweet was life to her.