Strikeout Season

I hadn't touched a baseball since seventh grade, but somehow I found myself standing on the varsity diamond, cleats sinking into clay. Tryouts. Because clearly, my sophomore year needed more public humiliation.

Coach Martinez blew his whistle—three sharp blasts.

"Alright, ladies! Let's see what you got!"

I adjusted my cap, hyper-aware that Mia would be here watching her boyfriend pitch. Her boyfriend, Tyler, who already had a full ride to State. Tyler, who I'd been lowkey obsessed with since English Lit.

The pitch came—fast. I swung, missed spectacularly, almost spinning myself into the ground. The team erupted. My face burned.

Second pitch. Strike two.

Third pitch. Contact—barely. The ball dribbled toward third base. I took off running, lungs already screaming. I rounded first, kept going—why stop at embarrassment when you could commit fully?

"GO! GO! GO!" someone yelled.

I rounded second, breath jagged, and saw it: a flash of lightning cleaving the sky beyond left field. Thunder cracked like the universe was laughing.

"Everybody inside! NOW!"

The team scattered. I stood there, bent over, gasping.

"You coming?" It was Tyler. He'd waited.

"Yeah," I wheezed. "Just... need a minute."

He fell into step beside me. "Not bad for someone who hasn't played in three years."

"How'd you—"

"Mia mentioned." He grinned. "She said you were nervous."

Oh. OH.

We reached the dugout as the sky opened up. Rain sheeted down. Someone's dog—a golden retriever puppy—came bounding onto the field, chasing raindrops, completely unhinged. The team watched through the fence, laughing.

"That's Buster," Tyler said, smiling soft. "My sister's. He always escapes during storms."

Lightning flashed again, electric white. For a second, everything felt possible.

"Hey," Tyler said. "Come back tomorrow. For real this time."

"Why?"

"You've got heart." He shrugged. "Also, Mia's gonna be here again. Just saying."

Later, when my mom picked me up, she asked how it went.

"Fine," I said, rain blurring the world. "Can we get food? I'm starving."

"What do you want?"

I thought about it. "A burger. With extra spinach."

My mom shot me a look. "Since when?"

"Since today," I said, and something in my chest loosened. "Since I'm trying out for the team."