Strikeout Spark

Marcus's baseball cap kept sliding over his eyes as he leaned against the dugout fence, iPhone clutched in his sweating palm like it held the secrets to the universe. Which, honestly, it kind of did.

"Dude, are you gonna post that or what?" Tyler nudged him, practically vibrating with pre-game energy. The whole team was hyped for the rivalry game against Northwood, but Marcus's brain was stuck on something way more important than sports.

The notification dinged. *She replied.*

His thumb hovered over Maya's message, but before he could type—CRACK. Lightning split the sky like someone had taken a highlighter to the gray clouds. The umpire blew his whistle, and the game got delayed. Everyone groaned, but Marcus felt like he'd been given a sign.

"I gotta go," he mumbled, already backing away toward the parking lot.

"What? Bro, it's just rain!"

Marcus didn't explain. How could he? That his cat Luna had escaped again? That his phone was dying at 12%? That Maya had just asked if he wanted to study for finals TOGETHER, as in actual hanging out, not just academically?

He sprinted home, cutting through neighbors' yards. Luna was sitting on their front porch like she owned the place, orange tail twitching. Marcus collapsed beside her, fumbling with his charger as the sky opened up.

His phone screen lit up. *Maya: I heard your game got canceled. Want to come over? My parents are out.*

Marcus's heart did that thing where it forgot how to rhythm. Luna head-butted his hand, purring like a tiny engine. Another lightning flash illuminated everything—the rain, the trembling moment between being a kid who played baseball and whatever came next.

He typed back, fingers slippery with nervous sweat: *yeah. be there in 10.*

Some strikeouts aren't so bad after all.