Swing for the Fences

The vitamin D supplements sat in my backpack like a promise I kept breaking. My mom said they'd help with energy, but what I really needed was courage. Jake was at bat, his cleats digging into the dusty home plate, and I was stuck in the bleachers watching like always.

"You gonna talk to him after the game?" Maya asked, nudging my shoulder.

"I'm building up to it," I muttered.

Lightning crackled across the sky—dramatic timing, really. The umpire glanced upward as thunder rumbled like a stomach after bad cafeteria pizza. Everyone scattered to the dugout, and I found myself squeezed next to Jake under the overhang.

"Hey," he said, wiping sweat from his forehead. "You're in my English class, right? We had that group project last month?"

My brain short-circuited. He remembered?

"Yeah! That was... fun."

"My grandma still talks about your presentation," he laughed. "She's obsessed with that vitamin deficiency fact you shared."

Wait, WHAT?

"Your grandma?" I blinked.

"Yeah, she started taking D supplements because of you. Said you changed her life." He gestured toward the field. "I'm actually glad we got stuck here. I wanted to ask if you're coming to the team dinner on Friday?"

The storm outside had nothing on the one in my chest.

"I—um, yeah?"

"Cool." His smile did something weird to my pulse. "Maybe we could sit together? If you want."

Another lightning strike lit up the field, white and electric. Perfect timing, universe. Really subtle.

"I'd like that," I said, and for once, my voice didn't shake.

Game got called, but I walked home with Jake's number in my phone and mom's vitamins still sitting in my backpack. Turns out I didn't need energy supplements. I just needed a little rain and a baseball game to finally step up to the plate.