Dead on My Feet

I felt like a straight-up zombie walking into third period AP Bio. Two weeks of baseball tryouts at the crack of dawn will do that to you. Coach Davis had us running wind sprints until our lungs burned, my arms basically jelly from throwing, and still I showed up every morning at 6 AM with my game face on.

'You look dead,' Maya whispered, sliding into the seat next to me. She smelled like chlorine and vanilla — the swim team star with the effortless waves I'd been crushing on since freshman orientation.

'Rough morning,' I mumbled, my stomach growling loud enough to echo through the lab station. Mom had started this new health kick, force-feeding me spinach smoothies that tasted like literal grass. Said it would help with stamina. Meanwhile, I was struggling to stay awake through lunch.

'Baseball again?' She grinned, all perfect teeth and genuine curiosity. 'You know, I've never actually seen you play.'

My heart did this embarrassing stutter thing. 'Yeah, well. First game's Friday. If I make the cut.' I couldn't tell if she was just being nice or if she actually wanted to be there. The overthinking spiral was real.

Later that day, I found myself at the community pool, supposedly to cool off after practice but mostly hoping to catch Maya swimming laps. She sliced through the water like she was part mermaid, effortless and fast. When she pulled herself out, dripping wet and adjusting her goggles, I forgot how to speak entirely.

'You coming to the meet tomorrow?' she asked, shaking out her hair. Water droplets scattered everywhere.

'Wouldn't miss it,' I said, and meant it.

The baseball cuts went up after school. My hands were literally shaking when I checked the list. There it was: CHRIS TORRES — VARSITY. I'd done it. All those mornings feeling like a zombie, all those gross spinach smoothies, all the running until I thought I'd puke — it had actually paid off.

Friday's game was a disaster. I struck out swinging, and we lost 8-3. But in the stands, wearing my jersey number painted on her cheek, Maya was cheering louder than anyone.

'You'll get 'em next time,' she said afterward, handing me a water bottle. 'Oh, and I'm trying out this new smoothie place. They put spinach in everything.' She winked. 'Wanna come?'