Electric Summer

Marcus stood at the plate, sweat dripping down his temple as the baseball spun toward him. Third inning, two outs, bases loaded. The entire summer league was watching, including Jasmine from English class who'd been giving him That Look all week.

He swung.

Missed by a mile.

"Strike three! You're out, bro!" the catcher yelled, and Marcus felt his face burn. Everyone expected him to be the star just because his older brother had been legendary on this field three years ago. But Marcus? He'd rather be anywhere else.

Anywhere else turned out to be the community pool an hour later, where his best friend Lena already waited, already in the water, already knowing without him saying anything.

"Tough game?" she called as he jumped in, the cool water washing away the sticky embarrassment.

"Don't start," Marcus said, swimming beneath the surface until his lungs burned. That was the thing about swimming — nobody could see your face underwater. Nobody expected you to be anyone but yourself.

They did laps until twilight, Lena effortlessly graceful while Marcus fought his own limbs, tangled up in thinking too hard. They floated on their backs, watching the sky purple and bruise-stormy.

"You know what's messed up?" Lena said suddenly. "You're so scared of failing at baseball that you won't let yourself actually try."

Marcus opened his mouth to argue —

CRACK.

Lightning split the sky, so close it made the water vibrate. The lifeguard's whistle screamed. Everyone scrambled out, laughing and shaking, adrenaline buzzing.

But Marcus stood there, soaked and shivering, and something shifted. The lightning had illuminated everything: he didn't hate baseball. He hated performing. He hated the weight of everyone else's expectations.

He grabbed his phone from the pool deck.

"Hey," he texted Jasmine. "This is random, but you wanna come watch me actually hit the ball tomorrow? No promises though."

Her reply came instantly: "Finally. ;-)"

Lena smirked. "Lightning finally strike some sense into you?"

Marcus grinned. "Something like that."