The Bull's Padel Court

My mom handed me the daily **vitamin** pack like it was some kind of holy communion tablet. "You're growing, Marcus. Your body needs fuel."

"Mom, I'm fifteen. I think I'm done growing."

She ignored me, of course, because moms always do. I grabbed my phone and ducked out the door before she could start in on my posture again.

The problem wasn't vitamins. The problem was that in two weeks, everyone I knew would be at Jessica's **pool** party, and I'd be the only one who didn't look like I'd been Photoshopped. My friend Sam had hit the gym every day since summer started. Even quiet Lily from math class had somehow developed abs.

And then there was me. Still looking like a middle schooler who'd gotten lost in the high school.

"You coming?" Sam called from the driveway. He was holding a **padel** racquet. Some kids from school were playing at the rec center, and somehow I'd gotten dragged along.

Padel. The sport that rich kids played when tennis wasn't exclusive enough. Great.

The court was sweltering. Trevor, who everyone called "**Bull**" because he was built like a tank and charged through life like he owned it, was already warming up. He was the kind of guy who'd been popular since kindergarten and never looked back.

"New kid," Bull said, grinning. "Hope you brought your A game."

I brought nothing. I missed every ball. I tripped over my own feet. I was sweating through my shirt in the first five minutes.

But then something weird happened. We were tied at game point, and I stopped overthinking. My body just moved. I returned a shot that should've been impossible, diving across the court like my life depended on it. We won.

"Yo, Marcus!" Bull actually high-fived me. "Where'd you get those moves?"

"Pure panic," I said, and he laughed.

We ended up **running** three more games. I was exhausted, my legs were jelly, and I'd never felt more alive.

"You coming to Jessica's party?" Bull asked as we packed up.

"Yeah," I said. "Yeah, I think I am."

For the first time, I wasn't worried about how I looked. I was just excited to jump in that pool and cannonball into the deep end.

Maybe those vitamins were working after all.