The Age of Innocence &; 01

With a beer in his hand, Alex stepped up to home. He tapped his baseball bat on both feet before taking one last swig of his brew and handing it off to Rian. He got into his batter stance, watching as Jack prepared himself to throw the white ball at him. Alex watched as the ball came in his direction, leaving him swinging the bat with all his might, hitting the ball and sending it off. The feild was moving around, trying to catch the ball before he reached first bass. He ran as fast as he possibly could, completely disregarding the the people trying to trip him. Ryan Hunter stuck his foot out, but Alex leaped over it, laughing out loud and giving Ryan the finger. He reached first base, sighing to himself and sitting on the white, padded square.

His eyes trailed back to the home plate, watching completely mezmorized as she glided, a black bat in her hands. She spit on each of her hands, rubbing them together and getting in batter stance. By this point, Alex should have been up and ready to run, but he sat there, his bottom jaw hanging.

The game was back in action as she hit the ball with force, running to the first base. Everyone screamed Alex's name, telling him to get into the game. He couldn't hear them though, and only started running when she was ten feet away from reaching the base. Luckily, he reached the second base before the ball was caught and thrown in his direction. Also lucky, people didn't think he stayed there because he was mezmorized by the girl, but because he was showing off.

"Always showing off, aren't you Gaskarth?" Caleb chuckled.

Alex grinned sheepishly and shrugged his shoulders before turning back to the game. His eyes darted between the girl and the batter. When the ball was hit into the feild, he ran without hesitation. He ran until he reached home, surprised when the blonde was right behind him. People chanted their names, giving them both high-fives as they walked to the back of the line. The game went on for an hour or so more before the barbeque started. Everyone ate and socialized, attempting to make friends and a good impression before the drinks were brought out. Alex watched as the table full of food was replaced with finger foods and different bottles, cans and coolers. This was his heaven. He was determined to have a real conversation with the beautiful leadsinger, or at least learn her name. He needed a little alcohol in his system to do so. To give him him the confidence he was lacking, when around her. He walked to the table, grabbing a can of beer. He drank it quickly, crumpling the can and reaching for something a little stronger. He grabbed a bottle of Captain Morgan's rum, pouring it into a cup and drinking it straight. That was as much as alcohol as he needed to talk to her. He scanned the barriers of the place the party was being held, his eyes landing on her. She sat alone on the empty counter, her iPod in her hand and a single ear bud in her ears. With a little jump in his step, he walked in her direction, sitting right beside her.

"Hey." He smiled lightly.

"Your breath smells like my alcoholic uncle." She muttered.

Alex chuckled lightly. "You really have great people skills."

"Same to you." She said sarcastically. "Let's look back at earlier when you just stared at me like I was crazy and walked away as I was talking to you."

Alex let out a small sigh. "Yeah, I'm kind of an idiot." He chuckled lightly. "If you give me the chance, maybe you could get to know me, and I could get to know you."

Cleo was silent for a moment. "I guess." She smiled lightly. "It's your choice really."

Alex smiled. "Yes, and I would like to get to know you. So, what's your name?"

"I'm Cleo." She told him.

"Cleo? Is that short for something?" He asked. "Or is it just Cleo."

Cleo laughed loudly. "Well, my mom said she wanted her daughter to be her princess or queen, and so she named me after one. Cleopatra's my full name. I just like Cleo, though."

Alex laughed. "Are you serious?" He asked. "She named you Cleopatra?"

She nodded her head. "Yes, she named me Cleopatra. So, what's your name?"

"Alexander Gaskarth." He smiled lightly.

She shook his hand. "It's nice to meet you, Alexander."

There was a silent between the two, Alex scooting closer.

"You're pretty." Alex said.

Cleo nodded her head. "I know."

"You're pretty sure of yourself, aren't you?" Alex noted.

She shrugged her shoulders. "Yeah, pretty much. I have an ego the size of the state of Texas."

"Me too!" Alex grinned.

She chuckled, and Alex eyed her carefully for a moment.

"You look like someone I know..." He said slowly.

"I'm a Burns, if that helps." She shrugged her shoulders.

"Like, Kyle Burns?" He asked.

"Yeah, that's my older brother." She chuckled. "Didn't you guys tour together in the spring?"

"Yeah, AP tour." Alex nodded. "Those were some good times."

Cleo nodded. "It was FTSK's first real tour. I was so proud of them."

Alex nodded his head, smiling lightly. "I should have known you were a Burns. You have the same hair colour. Is hair that light even natural?"

Cleo laughed. "No, we died our hair together."

"Awwwh, how cute." Alex gushed.

"Shutup." Cleo muttered, shoving Alex's shoulder.

"No." He grinned, standing up and taking her hand. "Come drink with me."

"I don't drink." Cleo said as she was being dragged to the table.

"Not ever?" Alex asked with wide eyes.

"Not ever." Cleo assured.

"Wow, you're so unlike any girls I've met before." Alex laughed.

"You don't even know the half of it."