Dave didn't sound at all surprised when I called in to say I'd be late for work the next morning. "I wondered if I'd hear from you at all. I hear it was quite a party." I was too tired to even try to explain, and he must have realized that. "Don't worry about today. Sleep, rest up and write me a couple of great articles about the business and the grand opening and all is forgiven. I'll see you Friday morning."

I mumbled something and hung up the phone before burying my head back in the pillows. It seemed like only a few seconds later when I felt my bed shake as the weight of an extra person landed on the corner.

"Get UP, sleepy head! It's past noon, we have a lot to talk about." I groaned and mumbled that we had talked last night, and tried to throw one of my pillows at Roz, who was sitting on the end of my bed, but she blocked the throw.

"What, what do you want from me?"

"I want to know what you and Brian talked about for so long yesterday. HUH??? Spill it." I sighed, realizing she wasn't going away, and started talking, conveniently leaving out the details about the baseball game.

By the time we had each told our stories about the previous night, it was well into the afternoon, and I still had two major articles to write. Roz finally let me get to work, and this time I had no trouble writing either of the articles. I was finished writing both articles within two hours and was just saving the final draft when the phone rang. Roz answered and looked puzzled when she yelled over to say it was for me.

"Hey Lisa," I wasn't sure if the voice on the other end of the phone was who I thought it was or not. "I hope you don't mind. Kev gave me your number, because I was thinking what's the point of you driving to the studio when I could just pick you up." It took me a second longer to process the information than it should have.

"Oh, yeah ok. Sure, do you want the address?"

"Nope, it's ok. It's on your card. See ya around 5."

"Yup, see ya then." Roz, her curiosity killing her had to ask.

"Who was that?" She tried to look as if it didn't really matter, but it obviously did. I wondered if she had recognized the voice when she answered the phone. I decided to be very casual about it.

"Oh, that? That was just Brian." Her interest had just peaked.

"What for? I mean, you don't have to tell me, but . . ." I could tell she really wanted to know.

"Just wanted to know if he could pick us up tomorrow instead of meeting him." I waited for the reaction that I knew was coming.

"What? Pick us up? Pick US up? For what? Where are we going? With Brian?" I had to laugh as I waited for her questions to stop. As I explained, I watched all her facial expressions, and had to stop sometimes just because she was so funny. "So, we're going to see my first baseball game with B? Oh my gosh. How strange."

"Calm down a little bit, it's only a baseball game, and it's not until tomorrow. You need to save your energy until then."

"I know I know. But you have to work tomorrow, so you won't be around to teach me anything about baseball before tomorrow. Teach me now!"

The rest of Thursday sped by and Friday afternoon seemed to arrive only minutes later. Dave and I has discussed the articles and I made a few changes before I was able to leave at around 4. I rushed home to get ready for the game and deal with Roz's excitement.

"Rozzie! You ready to go?" I glanced into her room as I walked toward mine. "What are you doing?" Not one clean spot showed on her floor. There were clothes everywhere. I could barely tell that she was even in there, until I saw her feet move at the side of the bed.

"What? OH! I didn't here you come in." She sat up on the floor and looked at me. "What are you wearing? I don't think I have anything." She sighed. "Help me!" I laughed.

"This is SO not like you. What happened to just changing your shirt every three seconds? I like that idea of you freaking out better. It's neater." I paused, to look around the room. "You're not worried about dressing for the game are you? SO strange for you. Gee, I wonder, could you maybe be worried about looking good for Brian." I picked up a shirt and aimed it at her head. "Wear that. You'll match the majority of people there." I ducked out of her doorway and felt a stray piece of clothing fly out the door near my head.

I hurried into my own room to change my clothes and stuff a few things into my backpack for the game. I grabbed my Dr. Marten's from under the bed and pulled my Jays cap off the hook by the door as I heard the doorbell ring.

"Roz!"

"I can't, I'm not dressed!" I groaned and rushed to the door.

"Hey, come in a minute. Apparently we're not ready to go yet." I noticed the slight smirk on Brian's face. "What?!"

"Nothing, just seems kind of typical, that's all. Women are always late." I rolled my eyes and motioned for him to sit.

"Don't start! I'll be right back." I headed back to Roz's room. "Are you ready yet?" I noticed a few more articles of clothing had moved around the room.

"He's here already isn't he? He's out there? AUGH!" She picked up a shirt and then put it back down. "Help!"

"Okay, just a second." I figured if I could hand her a shirt out of my closet, maybe she'd be happier. I grabbed the one I had in mind and went back to her room. "Here." I threw the shirt to her. "It's my Tommy Hilfiger. Be good to it, and feel special. You're privileged." She grinned. "Now hurry up." She saluted and I headed back to the living room.

"Sorry �bout that, but take note it's not my fault. I am not a late person." I heard Roz come into the room behind me so I turned. "Are you ready now?" I heard Brian laugh at my tone and then even harder at her sarcastic response.

"Yes, mommy. Let's go." I couldn't help but roll my eyes as I picked up my backpack, tucked my keys in the side pocket and we all walked out the door. I threw my arm across Roz's shoulder.

"So, you looking forward to your first game, Rozzie girl? You get to see my boys with me."

"It's about time I see them. I've been hearing about the for... how many years now?" She grinned at me, and I knew she was teasing.

"So sue. I'm a baseball fan. Besides the guys you heard about when I first met you aren't the same guys as now anyway. Not most of them anyway." I sighed remembering the team I still thought of as "my boys." The Blue Jays of 1996, 97 and 98. After that they all seemed to slip away. I guess the expression on my face changed because Roz spoke up.

"Okay, so your baby, Alex went somewhere else right?" She emphasized the word baby, to make it sound silly. "But only last year. And Shawn and Carlos," she paused because she knew what was coming after she said Carlos.

"Oooooooo Carlos." I giggled and then Roz continued.

"They're still with the Jays, aren't they?" I nodded.

"Yeah, they're still there. And you'll get to see why Carlos is so �oooo' today. Although you might not notice. I know you don't pay attention to stuff like that. But he oozes personality. He's got charisma." Talking about Carlos made me feel better and I almost giggled again. I knew I'd be hyper by the time the game started. I realized Brian had been listening to the entire conversation, so I turned to walk backwards.

"I have never heard a girl get so excited about baseball. It's very ... interesting." I shrugged. I'd heard it before. Most guys were stunned by my passion for the game. And the players.

"I was brought up on baseball. By my mom, yet. You just have to learn to watch it right and it's a very interesting sport."

"Yeah, sure. You probably just watch for the cute guys." I blushed a little, but by then we were getting into the car, and Roz laughed.

"Hey, Lex. Speaking of watching right, did you bring the pom-poms?" I blushed a little more, because I knew I'd have to explain this one. From the look I was getting, I was right.

"No, the pom-poms were retired when my team fell apart." I turned to Brian. "No jokes from you. My friend, the reporter who'll be at the park, and I used to cheer a lot and we had pom-poms so that we'd be noticed. The Jays always complained that the fans at SkyDome were too quiet, so when we went we tried to make as much noise as we could to prove them wrong. The pom-poms just made it so they always knew it was us. Besides we had fun, and that's the whole point." I paused a minute and then decided to go on. "I tend to cheer a lot and I'm kind of loud. I'm warning you now." Brian just kind of looked at me.

"Okay. Thanks for the warning." He looked in the mirror at Roz. "Remind me not to sit beside her. I plan on being able to hear." I felt like playfully hitting him on the arm, but I decided against it. "Oh, by the way, a friend of mine is going to join us at the game. I didn't think you'd mind." Both Roz and I nodded. It really didn't matter to us. I caught her eye and knew that she was thinking exactly what I was thinking. But I just shrugged. We wouldn't know until we saw him.

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