Title: Instamatics 6/16/00 1/1, #36
Guest Author: kimberlite
Archive: Sure.
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Todd Haynes, Miramax, etc.
Feedback: Please, to kimberlite@cox.net
Notes: Many thanks to Alex for all her encouragement and for letting me frolic in her playground.

"Come on Brian, you said you would go out with me." Curt paced back and forth, bursting with pent up energy.

Brian didn't move from the couch. "It's too hot, Curt."

"You're just making excuses. I won the bet fair and square. You said you'd do anything with me. Anything." Curt bounced over to the couch.

"But I didn't expect you to want to do something so horrible," Brian pouted.

"It's not horrible, it's fun. Trust me, once you relax and get the hang of it, you'll love it." Curt took Brian's hand and pulled him up.

Dragged away from the protection of the couch, Brian tried one last, desperate gamble. "I can't go out with you looking like that."

"What's wrong with the way I look? This is my all-time favorite shirt." Curt challenged.

Curt wore scuffed sneakers, gray cut-off sweat shorts, and a white sleeveless shirt with "Detroit Tigers 1968 World Champions" emblazoned across it. His hair was tied back in a ponytail and his dark blue baseball cap was on backwards. Looking at him, Brian really couldn't think of anything to criticize. He looked scrumptious.

Regrouping quickly, Brian said, "It's just so...unprofessional. What if somebody recognizes us?" Brian didn't think Curt was buying it.

"Who the fuck cares? All I want to do is go to the park and throw a baseball. You promised." Curt shook his glove at Brian for emphasis.

"Curt, I have no clue how to play baseball. And to be completely honest, I never even liked British sports and couldn't play them." Brian glared at Curt, hating to admit his lack of ability.

"Okay, we'll warm up here." Curt handed Brian the ball and the other glove and went to stand at the other side of the room.

Brian stood looking uncomfortable. "What exactly am I supposed to do?"

Curt looked exasperated. "Just throw the ball to me. I'll catch it and throw it back to you."

"Well, okay." Brian concentrated and tossed the ball at Curt. It went wide and high. Brian was amazed to see Curt dive after the ball, rolling over the couch but coming up off the floor with the ball.

"Got it!" Curt crowed with excitement. Returning to his position, Curt made sure Brian was watching him. "Now you catch it."

Curt threw the ball accurately and gently, giving Brian every chance to catch it. "Oh, shit!" Brian hadn't caught it, but he had managed to knock the ball down in front of him.

"Good stop. If you can keep the ball in front of you, you still have a chance to make the play." Curt tried to be encouraging.

Brian looked slightly dazed. "You seem to know a lot about this game."

Curt looked embarrassed suddenly. "I played Little League when I was a kid. Rooted for the Tigers. No big deal."

Not really understanding, but catching the drift of Curt's comments, Brian wondered just how many happy memories Curt had of his childhood. If baseball was one of them, the least he could do was try.

Brian threw the ball back to Curt, this time aiming carefully. The ball hit the floor several feet in front of Curt and bounced. Curt fielded the groundball effortlessly. "The trick with grounders is to always put your glove down to the ground so the ball can't get beneath it and into the outfield." Brian nodded his agreement. "And always use two hands to catch the ball, no matter how easy a play looks."

Brian used two hands and actually managed to catch the ball when Curt threw it. Curt's whoop of triumph sent a jolt of pleasure rushing through Brian. "Hey, I caught it!" Curt's excitement was catching.

They threw the ball back and forth a few more times, mostly successfully. Brian was just releasing the ball when the door opened and Trevor stuck his head inside. Distracted, Brian's throw went wild and even Curt couldn't salvage it. The crash of the breaking mirror was abnormally loud in the suddenly quiet room.

Trevor tried not to laugh, but finally broke down, forgetting whatever had brought him to their room in the first place. "You guys never learned not to play ball indoors? It's dangerous, especially if you throw like a girl." Trevor grinned widely, exiting quickly.

Curt grinned, but Brian didn't. "Did he just imply...?"

"Aw, don't get all upset. He just distracted you. You were doing great." Curt came over to Brian and kissed his flushed face. "I'd play ball with you any day." Brian laughed as Curt wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"Even if I throw like a girl?" Brian asked, pouting.

Curt sucked Brian's luscious lower lip between his own, running his tongue over it. Pulling back, Curt smiled, looking deep into Brian's eyes. "Even if, love."

Additional notes: The AZ Diamondbacks traded my favorite player last week and I'm still in a funk. Alex tried to console me with images of Curt in a sleeveless shirt sliding into home...