I think I could get used to this life.
I think I could get used to this.
It's infinitely ordinary.

Reminder this is a double update! Please make sure you read chapter 26 before reading this one!!!

STERLING'S POV:

"Isn't this completely illegal?" I ask as all of us stand on the empty baseball field. The sky is dark around us, and the grass on the field is dewey and wet. I snuck out. Left my house without my dad knowing, and he'll never know.

"And so what? What's the worst that could happen?" Carson asks, flipping his baseball bat in his hands.

"Well it's a class A misdemeanor if a person unlawfully enters and or remains on private property in the state of Oregon. Facing anything from 6 months to jail, or a fine up to 1,000 US Dollars." Harry spouts off. "But you're right, what's the worst that could happen?" He asks, and shakes his head.

"Oh shut up, we don't need your facts right now. We're going to have fun." He tells us, and I shake my head. Harry puts his backpack down, taking out a baseball, running to the middle of the field to go pitch it to him.

"Why did you want to come here anyway? You woke me up for this." I sit down on the grass near him, and he shakes his head, preparing himself before Harry pitches. He gets in place, and Harry does too, taking position and pitching straight to Carson. His pitch was good, amazing even. Carson hits it at the perfect time, and he watches as it flies, a loud crack sounding from the bat as it connects with the ball. I cheer out, and clap my hands, already knowing that Carson was good. He plays baseball... but Harry I never knew he was good at sports.

"Harry, what the hell?" I laugh out, clapping my hands. "I had no idea you could... sport." I wave my hands, and he shrugs.

"That was a backspin pitch. The magnus force up causes the ball to fall slower than other pitches which makes it look like it's rising when in reality it's not." He tells me.

"Great so science makes you good at sports... I suck, now throw another one to me megamind." Carson urges, his attitude comes out.

"Dude.. What crawled up your ass and died, why are you upset?" I ask, and hear another crack.

"Because I am." He tells me. I sigh out, shaking my head, and Harry looks at me shrugging his shoulders.

"I know you've got a lot of other friends, but you're our only friend. So.. It's not like we're going to tell anyone else anything." Harry tries to comfort him, but Carson just preps for another pitch. Harry reaches down, grabbing another ball, and gives in, pitching to him, and watching as Carson hits once more.

"Where are you guys going to school after we graduate?" Carson asks quietly, letting the end of the bat hit the ground, his eyes following so he looks at his feet.

"I don't know... Stanford maybe.." Harry shrugs, and I stay quiet, looking between both of them. They both look at me right away, waiting for my answer.

"Well?" Carson asks me, and I shrug.

"Yale.. Maybe." I shrug again, and Harry looks at Carson.

"Why are you asking.. Wait did you just say Yale?" Harry starts talking to Carson, but turns back to me as soon as it clicks in his mind what I had said. I shrug again, and nod.

"I don't know.. Maybe.. Is that a bad thing?" I ask, and Harry drops the ball in his hand walking towards me.

"No.. No baby of course that's not a bad thing, I had no idea you.. I didn't know you were interested in Yale, I had no idea you were... I just didn't know." He crouches down in front of me, and takes my hands.

"They've been sending me letters since last year." I admit, and Harry shakes his head with a smile on his lips.

"Really?" He asks, his voice breathy. He's proud.. You can tell by the way he's looking at me right now.

"Of course. Sterling has been at the top of our class since freshman year. What are you Valedictorian?" Carson asks me, and I shake my head.

"Not anymore since I went online.. I don't know what my ranking will be when I go back in September but either way." I shrug.

"You're going to Yale.." Harry's eyes travel down, and look at the ground next to where I sit. I watch and Carson walks forward, throwing himself down so he's laying down fully on his back.

"Yale.. Stanford.. UCLA.." Carson looks up at the sky, and Harry sits down fully.

"Who's going to UCLA?" He asks.

"Hallie." Carson sighs out. "And I'll end up stuck here." He waves his hands around him.

"Why do you say that?" Harry asks, and I sigh.

"Carson's GPA has suffered because of Baseball." I tell Harry. "You can still get a baseball scholarship.. Aren't there scouts that have been watching you?" I ask.

"Scouts don't matter unless I kickass with my grades this year..." He tells me.

"Then i'll help you.. I'm smart enough." I tell him, and push his shoulder.

"We'll help you.." Harry interjects himself, and I look over to him and smile.

"I wanna get into Oregon State. Their baseball team is one of the best in the country..." He tells us. His voice is wishful, and I watch as Harry shakes his shoulders.

"And you will. Stop being such a downer, and have a little faith. I'm the smartest person I know, remember? But I won't help you cheat.. You've actually got to study, and work for it, and we'll do it together, all of us." Harry looks at me, and I nod my head.

"If I fail senior year, I'm so blaming you two." Carson points to both of us, and we all laugh as we sit down. I look around, letting the laughter die out, and Carson stands back up. Harry starts to stand too, but Carson holds his hand out. "I've got it." He tells us so we sit together, waiting to see. Carson gets his own ball, and tosses it high up in the air, waiting for it to come back down so he can hit it straight away. The crack of the bat hits, and my attention is taken by Harry as he brings his pointer finger to my chin, turning my face towards him.

"So when were you gonna tell me about Yale?" He asks softly, and I shrug my shoulder.

"I was in the same boat as you... I thought.. Well I thought I couldn't go because I couldn't leave my dad here but he made some pretty fair points... It's not everyday an ivy league school wants you.. I haven't made my mind up yet, and no matter what school I choose, I'll do good at. I know I will. I just.. I know I have more potential than I want to believe, and I don't want to waste that.." I tell him truthfully.

"Do you really think you'll be wasting your potential by going anywhere else?" He asks, and I shrug.

"Don't you? You're a genius.. And you've turned down two of the best schools..." I tell him.

"Because I don't want to be treated differently.. I don't want people to be treating me differently because of how smart I am." He tells me.

"Fuck college!" Carson yells. He's in his own world as he throws another ball in the air.

"Yeah! Fuck college!" I yell out in agreeance as he hits the ball. I turn back to Harry, and sigh. "Did you ever think maybe surrounding yourself with average people is the reason they treat you differently? Instead of blending in and pretending to be someone you're not why don't you surround yourself with people just like you... That way you feel normal.. They can't take advantage of you if they're just as smart as you.. I mean honestly Harry, when was the last time you felt challenged? I mean truly challenged..." I ask, and he has to think about it. He turns away, a crease forming between both of his eyebrows as he ponders my question.

"Ueehhmmm.." He questions. "By school, not in a long time.. Hardly ever actually." He admits, and I watch as he does his usual, flicking the tip of his nose with his pointer finger before bringing his hands down, rubbing them on his jeans.

"I'm not saying anything.. You're amazing no matter what school you go to.. But there's no point in letting yourself swim with small fish in a small pond when you're a big fish.. Big fish don't blend in.. They deserve a bigger pond, and bigger fish.." I tell him.

"Don't compare me to a fish." He laughs out loud, and I do too.

"Just think about it for me." I nod my head, and he does too.

"Whatever you say Sterling Silver." He laughs, but I can see the thoughts circling his head as he looks forward, watching Carson.

*Play Infinitely Ordinary by The Wrecks*

"Hey! You think you can use those hands and pitch me one?" I ask Carson, and he drops the bat right away.

"Oh hell yes, Sterling's up to bat." He walks to the pitcher's mound, and Harry hops up.

"Wait wait wait, I prepared for this." He tells us, and we pause, watching as he runs forward, reaching into the backpack. I pick up the bat, and see Harry walking right back up to us. He stands right in front of me, and places a helmet on my head, one that is far too big for me. It bobbles, covering my eyes, and I look up to him as it does. He adjusts it, crouching down a bit to be at my eye level, and I laugh, seeing him smile.

"Is this really necessary?" I ask.

"Of course it is.. 9 in every 100,000 baseball players get concussions." He tells me.

"Well I'm not a baseball player." I tell him, looking up with the large helmet sitting on my head.

"More reason for you to wear it. Batter up, hit a home run for me." He pats the top of the heavy helmet, and steps to the side.

"Hey, you didn't make me wear that." Carson argues as Harry stands to the side, ready to watch.

"Well yeah, you're already a lost cause. We've got to protect that pretty smart head of hers." He tells Carson, and I shake my head, turning myself to bat.

"You're an asshole... Okay Ster, are you ready?" He asks me.

Ready!" I yell out. I watch as Carson preps, and pitches to me. I watch the ball, and swing, hearing the satisfying crack. It's not anywhere near as good as what Carson just hit, but I don't care, I take it all the way, dropping the bat, and running straight away to first base, and then second. As I run Harry cheers loud from the side.

"Going! Going! Going! And-" I run from third base back to home, and he marks it for me, slicing his hands. "Gone! Home run!" He calls out, and Carson cheers too, but right away we see the lights, headlights shining right into the baseball field. We all squint, and then the red and blue lights start shining.

"Shit.. Shit, shit shit, Go!" I yell, and take the helmet, dropping it. I start running, and turn back to see Harry grab the backpack, and Carson grab the baseball bat, holding it to his chest like a baby. He runs, and flails his arm, signaling for me to run faster.

"Go! I can't get sent back to England yet!" Harry yells, and my legs burn as I run, but I can't help myself from laughing, feeling the pure bliss of freedom right now. Adrenaline rushes through me as we jump back over the fence, and run straight towards the parking lot.

"Stop! You can't be here!" The police officer yells, and we keep running.

"Sorry!" I yell back, and we all laugh now, not just me. I feel pressure in my chest as I try to breathe, letting my legs carry me as fast as they can, and I turn back to Harry. "Keys! Keys babe!" I hold my hands up, and he reaches into the back, tossing me the keys. I catch them, and unlock the car. I turn back, and see the police officer hunched over, holding his chest, trying to catch his breath. We each hit the car, and climb in on all sides. I turn it on, and start to put the car in reverse, but Harry freaks out.

"Seat belt you heathen!" He yells.

"Not the time Harry!" I yell back, and Carson groans.

"Drive!!!!!" He shouts.

"It's always the time for safety!" Harry yells back, and I click my seatbelt quickly, driving away with the screech of my tires as we pull out of the parking lot of the fields.

"Dude... fuck the police." Carson breathes out from the back seat.

"What he said." I throw my hand back towards him as I turn onto the main road, turning on another back road to go towards Carson's house.

"Agreed." Harry sighs out, all of us still catching our breath. "I want ice cream." He huffs.

"Once again.. Not really the time." I laugh, and Carson leans forward.

"Wait.. I kind of feel like eating my feelings right now.. What's that called megamind? Using food as a... a.."

"Coping mechanism." Harry finishes for him, and I take another turn.

"Fine.. We'll go to Dairy queen." I drive, and we get there, going through the drive through. We park in the parking lot, all of us with blizzards in our hands, having finally caught our breath.

"I hate having feelings." Carson angrily eats his ice cream, and I set mine down, looking straight at him with my hands clasped in front of me, resting on the center console.

"Okay, i'm going to need you to talk to me, and truly spill what's going on." I push, and he sighs. "Is this about Hal? What's going on?" I ask.

"I just feel like we shouldn't be together you know? I'm going to be some loser that doesn't go to college, and she's going to end up breaking up with me for that reason, and then i'll be heartbroken because i'll probably be in love with her by then, and-"

"Let's get one thing straight... you love her." Harry tells him, and I nod my head.

"No, I'm falling in love with her, remember what I-"

"I remember. But.. You're thinking about a future with her. You're thinking about her in all the decisions you make, you care what she thinks, how she feels, it's obvious you think about her all the time. You're not falling in love with her, you're in love with her, that's just it." Harry tells him, and it sounds like this conversation has happened between the two of them before.

"Okay well shit.. Maybe I am, but I can't be because she's going to leave me to go date hot college guys that look like you." He waves his hand to Harry, and I laugh as Harry holds a hand to his chest smiling.

"You think i'm hot?" He questions, and Carson clenches his jaw, getting tense.

"Do not push it with me, you prince charming son of a bitch." He tenses, balling up his fist.

"Ladies, you're both beautiful. Carson, all I have to say is get over it. Tell Hallie how you feel, and see how all of this goes. Maybe she feels the same, and maybe she doesn't want hot college boys, and if she does then she's dumb..." I shrug, and he shovels ice cream into his mouth.

"This is good ice cream." He speaks with his mouth full.

"Eating your feelings doesn't scientifically work forever... Soon you'll have to face your feelings." Harry tells him.

"Well you know what I have to say to science?" He asks, and then he lifts a middle finger. "Fuck you science, and fuck you feelings." He speaks out, shoveling more ice cream into his mouth.

"And the police, fuck them too." I add, putting my seat belt back on as I start driving again.

"Yeah, fuck them too." Carson adds. I drive as I hear the plastic of the spoon hitting the paper of the cup while Carson eats, and Harry too. The silence isn't unwelcomed.. Tonight was a good night, and I know Harry is truly thinking about what I said.. I don't want him to go to Yale or Harvard because I said so, I want him to go because he wants the best for himself. I want Carson to go somewhere he truly wants too, if anything he's family at this point, and I want what's best for my family, just like I want what's best for me. I pull up to Carson's house, and park. He sighs, and leans forward touching the backs of each of our seats.

"Thank you for tonight, It was needed even if we all almost got arrested." He sighs.

"Call us anytime for a good adrenaline rush, we always provide." I nod my head, and he does too.

"I'll see you tomorrow." Harry tells him, and he nods, the two of them already told me they were hanging out with the group tomorrow. They invited me but as they assumed I said no. Harry and I start to drive back towards our houses, and he reaches over, taking my hand as we do. He runs his thumb over my knuckles, looking forward.

"You think highly of me don't you?" He asks, and I laugh.

"Oh my god." I shake my head.

"No not in that way.. I just mean.. You actually look at me in this light,, You see me like I'm not normal but not in a bad way.. I guess you push me? You hold me to a higher standard." He explains and I nod.

"Because i know that's what you need. You deserve that kind of treatment. You don't deserve to be treated normal, but you don't deserve to be used. You deserve to be appreciated for your smart brain." I joke, and he shrugs.

"I.. I already told Yale, and Harvard no..." He tells me, almost sounding like he regrets that choice.

"Well... Can't you take it back?" I ask, and he shakes his head.

"They seem a bit presumptuous... Not the kind of people to take that kind of thing lightly." He tells me.

"You never know.." I shrug again, and drive. We sit quietly the rest of the way, and as I pull up and into my driveway the front door opens which makes my heart sink. I see my dad step out of the house, and my heart sinks further seeing Anne step out of my house too, both of them in their PJ's, looking tired and unhappy.

"Well shit." Harry breathes out, and I sigh.

"If I pull out of the driveway now it'll be like we were never even here in the first place." I speak softly, and he shakes his head.

"It won't be that bad, come on." He nods his head, getting out. I turn the car off, getting out, and walking quietly towards our parents.

"Hi, nice weather we're having huh?" I ask, and my dad shakes his head.

"No jokes. This isn't funny." He points a finger at me, and I try my hardest not to laugh, knowing he's not the parenting type. Mostly because I never do anything wrong.

"Where the hell have you two been? I saw a police report.. Three teenagers on a baseball field.. ILLEGAL! I went to check to see if Harry was sleeping, and you were gone!" She pokes his chest, and he stumbles back.

"So she came and knocked on my door, and asked where you were. I said in your room until I noticed your car was missing! It's two in the morning are you two out of your mind? And Carson too? How will his parents feel about this?" My dad asks, and I shake my head.

"In our defence we were just being good friends, you see Carson called, and asked us to come get him because he's dealing with some stuff, and I know what that's like so I said of course, and so did Harry because he's such a good person.. Don't tell his parents please." I beg.

"Do I have to start taking your keys at night? Don't answer that, because I'm taking them all hours of the day. You're grounded." He tells me, and my jaw drops,

"What? I've never been grounded. My only friends are Carson and Harry."

"Yeah well, you've never gone behind my back like this, and you don't have any friends right now. Not for the next few days..." He crosses his arms over his chest and I sigh.

"No longer a cool dad." I cross my arms, and Anne glares at Harry.

"You know how important my beauty sleep is.. Well it's