Strikeout at Sunset

Leo's vintage orange t-shirt stuck to his back like a second skin, the kind of bold fashion choice that screamed confidence he definitely didn't feel. The baseball field lights buzzed overhead as freshman year's biggest social event unfolded around him—the baseball team's season opener, and somehow, he'd scored an invite through Jordan, the sophomore who'd been inexplicably nice to him in homeroom.

His iPhone 12, held tight in his sweating palm, displayed 12% battery. No charging cable in sight, of course. Because why would he remember something actually useful when he was busy overanalyzing every word Jordan said?

"You coming?" Jordan called from the bleachers, where a cluster of varsity jackets and perfect hair had formed.

Leo's stomach did gymnastics. He grabbed his orange Gatorade from the concession stand—his excuse for not sitting closer—and climbed up.

The crack of a baseball against aluminum echoed through the stadium. Someone hit a home run, and the crowd erupted. Leo found himself squeezed onto the metal bench between Jordan and some junior whose name he kept forgetting.

His palm left sweat marks on his phone case. Great. Now everyone would see how nervous he was. Why had he even come?

"Yo, you good?" Jordan asked, bumping his shoulder. "You look like you're about to puke."

Leo shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Just... not used to this stuff."

"Baseball?" Jordan grinned. "Or people?"

"Both."

Jordan laughed, and something in Leo's chest loosened. Maybe this wasn't so terrifying. Maybe.

Then Jordan's phone died too. "Dude, you got a cable?"

"Left it at home," Leo admitted. "Yours is dead too?"

"Yeah. Guess we're actually stuck talking to each other."

The baseball game continued, background noise to something more important happening on that metal bench. As Leo's own iPhone finally flickered its last breath, he realized he didn't care. The orange sunset painted the sky, and for the first time since stepping onto that field, his palm stopped sweating.

Maybe high school wouldn't be so scary after all.