Earth 40
Y/n's View

"How's Liv?" Madison asks sitting next to me.

"She's okay. She's happy about me making it home for Thanksgiving." I say.

"I wish I had a relationship as stable as yours." Madison says.

"This is my cousin, Y/n. She plays professional softball. Y/n this is Olivia." Iris says.

"Hey, gorgeous." I say.

You said, "Let me try you on"

Olivia laughs nervously and I smile.

"Time to go." Iris says walking away.

"Not quite that stable." I say.

"What do you mean? You're literally engaged. Not to mention, to the Olivia Rodrigo." Madison says.

So I let you try me on

"Yeah, so what? Anyone can get engaged." I say.

"You dropped an entire season last year so you could have time off to be with her. Sounds pretty stable to me." Madison says.

That's the moment that we fell in deep

"Things can change in a year. Now we're in a global pandemic and I have to get tested 3 times a week." I say.

"Your relationship is a lot better than any of ours. Most people I date want money because I'm a big spender. Olivia doesn't even give a shit what you do with your time as long as you don't cheat." She says.

"She said she never wanted to date me in the first place. But she just couldn't say no once she got to know me." I say.

Oh, baby
I said, "Just a little bit"
Then I got a taste of it
Now you got me fallin' at your feet

"Let's change the subject. I'm getting bored." Madison says.

"You're like the symbol of gay softball players. My manager told me to act straight." Madison says.

"Do you know how many fights I get into with Olivia because fans are too touchy? I'd much rather act straight than gay. Then security would actually protect me." I say.

"It's like you don't care about my feelings. My fiancée can be across the country and I'm supposed to believe her when she says she's faithful. Even though thousands of people are all over her." Olivia says crying.

And now we're cryin'

"Is that how you feel? You don't care?" Olivia asks.

"No, of course not." I say.

"I'll talk to Garrett and Coach Roberts tomorrow. We'll figure something out. I promise I will." I say.

Olivia nods and I hug her.

and lovin'

"Trust me, the entire team has heard it." Madison says.

"I don't know what you want me to do! I'm fucking trying! Nothing is good enough for you!" I say.

And now we're fightin'

"And everyone knows what happened after that. You made up and wouldn't shut up." Madison says.

and lovin'

"Everything has been well lately so Thanksgiving should be smooth sailing." I say.

"You're not going home." Coach Roberts says coming in the room.

"What?" I ask.

"Sanders has a cough and she hasn't been tested yet. You're our best pitcher, Sanders was just a replacement." Coach Roberts says.

"Clumsy bitch." Madison mumbles.

"Okay..." I say quietly.

Coach Roberts leaves the room and Madison pats me on the back.

"Call her. Leave a voicemail or something." Madison says.

I nod and take my phone out of my pocket.

Time Skip; Olivia's View

I unlock my phone and see a voicemail from Y/n. I open the notification and play the voicemail.

"Hey, Liv." Y/n says in the voicemail.

"Hi, Liv!" Madison says in the background.

"I know I said I'd be home for Thanksgiving. There's been a change of plans. Sanders is sick and can't play — I have to take her spot." Y/n says.

She always puts Softball before me.

Feels like I'm makin' love to the enemy

"I won't be able to come home until she's discharged from the hospital. I'm so sorry. I'll make it up to you. I promise. I love you, bye." Y/n says.

I can only take you in small doses (Doses)

The voicemail ends and I sigh.

Y/n can never keep promises.

Small doses

I open Twitter and see Y/n's name trending. I open the article and smile.

I get a text from Y/n and I open it.

Y/n calls me and I answer it.

"Hey, babe. What'd you want to talk about?" I say.

"Y/n, you know I love you, right?" I ask.

"Yeah." Y/n says.

"I just think it is too much." I say.

Lovin' you, it's explosive

"What?" Y/n asks.

"I never get to see you and you know how hard that is for me." I say.

You know this

"You're like a drug — I can only have a little so I won't overdose." I say.

I can only take you in small doses (Doses)

"Small doses." Y/n mumbles.

Small doses

"Does that make sense?" I ask.

"What the fuck does that even mean?" Y/n asks.

"You have too much going on right now. I can't handle it." I say.

Lovin' you, it's explosive

"OH. Okay, I'm good with that." Y/n says.

You know this

"Can I still get a plate though?" Y/n asks.

I laugh and smile.

"I'll tell my mom to save you something." I say.

"Tell your mom I said hi." She says.

"I will." I say.

Y/n hangs up and I sigh.

I can only take you in small doses

Time Skip

I hear the front door open and I see Y/n walk in.

"What are you doing here? I thought you weren't coming home for Thanksgiving." I say.

"Kylie was feeling better and tested negative. Coach let me come home early." Y/n says.

"A moment please." I say grabbing Y/n's arm.

I take Y/n upstairs to my old room and shut the door.

"Why are you here?" I ask.

"I'm just here to get a plate. Your mom said you wouldn't even be here." Y/n says.

"You really did make it home." I say.

"A promise is a promise." She says.

I smile and kiss her.

I didn't mean to fall in love
Took one hit, and I was gone

"What happened to those small doses?" Y/n asks.

"No, but forget all about that phone call." I say.

Gotta get my fix or I can't sleep

"I will try my hardest to make your wishes come true. I don't want to put anything before you again." Y/n says.

Oh, baby

"I doubt the fact that Y/n will actually have time for you." Mom says.

"Yeah, I agree. Whenever she's not playing games, she doing something else's. Probably spending 2 hours in the team gym, sleeping, or doing interviews." Iris says.

"Why is she always doing interviews?" I ask.

"Y/n has broken several records and is gay. She's one of the few softball players who actually talk about their sexuality." Iris says.

"All we're saying is it won't be easy. Yes, she's hot, talented, smart, and hits the gym 14 hours a week. You get get all of that but it won't be easy." Iris says.

You're the one they warned about

"What?" Y/n asks.

"Nothing. I just don't know what to say." I say.

"Just smile and nod." Y/n says.

I smile and kiss her.

Now I just can't do without
Baby, it's my appetite you feed

Time Skip

I hear crying and I peek around the corner. I see Y/n crying on the couch and she puts her phone up to her ear.

And now we're cryin'

"What the fuck does that even mean, Micheal?" Y/n asks.

"No! Why would you ask me that? I'm not—" Y/n says.

Y/n sighs and hangs up. Y/n goes upstairs and I wait a few seconds before following her.

"You don't know how happy I am to see you." Y/n says hugging me.

and lovin'

"Everything okay?" I ask.

"No." Y/n says unzipping her duffel bag.

"Ryan is a grown woman who can't control her anger. So I have to catch a flight to New York to take her spot in the next game because she got benched." Y/n says putting clothes in her bag.

"Oh." I say.

"Why are you saying that?" Y/n asks.

"It's just the fact that you said you wouldn't put softball before me again." I say.

"Here we go again." Y/n mumbles.

And now we're fightin'

"What the fuck do you want me to do? This is how I get paid. This is how I pay the bills. This is how we get food on the table. I took a season off for you last year." She says.

"Why are you getting so mad at me? Maybe just don't make promises that you can't keep." I say.

Feels like I'm makin' love to the enemy

"I'm sorry." Y/n says sitting down.

"You can't keep getting mad at me like this." I say sitting next to her.

"I know." Y/n says.

"I should be apologizing. I—" I say.

"No, you shouldn't." She says.

"Go to New York and we'll talk about this when you come back." I say.

I can only take you in small doses (Doses)

"You sure?" She asks.

"Yeah. I'll be fine." I say.

Small doses

She smiles and hugs me.

Lovin' you, it's explosive

"I love you." She says.

You know this

"I love you too." I say.

I can only take you in small doses (Doses)

I'm gonna miss Y/n but we can't we keep fighting over this.

Small doses

She kisses me and I smile.

Lovin' you, it's explosive

"Don't forget your medicine." I say as she gets up.

"What would I do without you?" She asks going in the bathroom.

You know this

I can't but think that Y/n and I aren't gonna make it. I want us to but I don't that we will.

I can only take you in small doses (Doses)

"Where are you from?" I ask.

"Canada." Y/n says.

"Long distance never goes well." I say.

(Small doses, small doses)

"I moved here 4 years ago. My dad sent me here to live with Iris because I'd have a better chance at going pro in the states. I'm on a Softball scholarship at UCLA right now." Y/n says.

"Oh, so, this would work?" I ask.

"Pretty much, yeah." Y/n says.

I can only take you in small doses (Doses)

"Ooh." I say.

She laughs and I smile.

(Small doses, small doses)

"We already live 2 hours apart. Now you want to drop out of college to play for the Chicago Bandits across the country?" I ask.

"Do you just not care?" I ask as I start to cry.

And now we're cryin'

"Iris told you that, didn't she?" Y/n asks.

"Why does it matter?" I ask.

"We were talking about the California Commotions and the Chicago Bandits. She got them confused. I'm actually moving closer to you. I'll be like 10 minutes away." Y/n says.

I sigh in relief and hug Y/n tightly.

and lovin'

"It'll be fine." I say.

"No, it won't!" Y/n says.

"You did this! You're the reason I'm in the situation! Without you, I would be in Chicago!" Y/n says.

And now we're fightin'

I stare at her for a few seconds and hug her.

and touchin'

"I'm sorry." Y/n says.

"I know." I say.

"I'm really gonna miss you." Y/n says hugging me.

"I'm gonna miss you too." I say.

Y/n smiles and I kiss her.

"I love you." She says.

"I love you too." I say.

Feels like I'm makin' love to the enemy

Y/n's View; 6 weeks later...

"Just sign on the line. Everything is the same as the old contract." Coach Roberts says.

"I want a new deal." I say.

"What?" Coach Roberts says.

"You're making nearly 200 grand a season even when you don't play." Coach Roberts says.

"I'm married now; I want to spend time with my family." I say.

"No more telling me that I'm the star pitcher and that I have to play. Everyone else is a good as me." I say.

"If everyone was as good as you, they would be making half of what you make." Coach Roberts says.

"The Chicago Bandits are willing to give me 350 grand a year, 10 grand signing bonus, and they won't force me to play." I say.

"You're gonna move across the country to play for those idiots?" Coach Roberts says.

"I like wearing that jersey but I don't know if I can keep wearing it." I say.

"Okay. You're only getting 175 grand now." He says.

I smile and hug him.

"I'll print the new contract. Come back tomorrow." He says.

"Thank you." I say.

I leave and call Olivia.

"Hi, Y/n. How'd it go?" Olivia says.

"I lost $25,000 but it was worth it." I say.

"Better than small doses." I say.

I can only take you in small doses (Doses)

"Will you marry me?" I ask.

"No." Olivia says.

Small doses

"Why not?" I ask.

"You're never around. That's just too much." Olivia says.

Lovin' you, it's explosive

"What about between seasons?" I ask.

"You still spend 2 hours at the gym like a psychopath and spend 5 hours hanging out with "the boys." I haven't even met those guys." Olivia says.

You know this

"That's 7 out of the the 24 hours in a day. I don't even see my friends every day either." I say.

"I'll marry you." She says.

I can only take you in small doses (Doses)

"Two more days. I can't wait." Olivia says.

"Neither can I." I say.

"Why did the bank call me asking if I was trying to purchase products for a baby?" I ask.

"I adopted a baby." Olivia blurts.

Olivia quickly covers her mouth and I smile.

"You're not upset?" Olivia asks.

"No, this is what I've waited my entire life for." I say.

She smiles and I hug her tightly.

Small doses

"I just want to say that I really love you." I say.

Lovin' you, it's explosive

"I know." She says.

You know this

"Fuck you." I say.

I can only take you in small doses (Doses)

She laughs and I smile.

(Small doses, small doses)

"I love you too." She says.

I can only take you in small doses (Doses)

"I'm on my way." I say.

(Small doses, small doses)

"Okay, bye." She says.

I can only take you in small doses (Doses)

2245 Words