The Goldfish Behind Home Plate

Maya adjusted her snapback, tugging the brim lower like a shield. The varsity baseball game was in full swing, but she was stuck in the dugout on water duty—again. Being a freshman manager meant being basically invisible to the players, especially to Kai, the junior shortstop who somehow made looking sweaty look like a cologne commercial.

She sat beneath the palm tree near the bullpen, nursing her third iced tea, pretending to check her phone while actually lowkey stalking Kai's Instagram. A plastic bag containing her sister's carnival prize—literally a goldfish named Chad—swished against her leg. What kind of 14-year-old won a goldfish anyway? The thing had survived two weeks, which was honestly a flex.

"Nice hat."

Maya jumped, nearly dropping Chad. Kai stood there, leaning against the palm tree, jersey unbuttoned at the top. His grin was annoyingly perfect.

"Thanks," she squeaked, then cleared her throat. "I mean, yeah. Vintage."

"You always hang out back here with the fish?" He nodded at the bag.

"Only on Tuesdays. It's our thing."

Kai laughed—actually laughed, not fake polite laughter. He sat beside her, shoulder brushing hers, sending her heart into glitch mode. "You know, you're like the goldfish."

"Excuse me?"

"No, I mean—everyone thinks you're quiet, but then you say something totally savage. You're lowkey a fox." He gestured at her hat. "Under the radar, but paying attention to everything."

Maya's brain short-circuited. Kai Anderson—THE Kai Anderson—thought she was interesting. Not just the equipment manager with the fish.

"I mean," he continued, "that's why I always look for you in the dugout. Between innings. Just to see what you're thinking."

The baseball game faded into background noise. Maya adjusted her hat, sat up straighter, and finally felt seen.

"Well," she said, finding her voice. "You should probably know I'm naming him Bubbles now. Chad was a terrible name."

Kai's grin widened. "Bubbles it is. Hey, after the game—you want to get food? My treat. We can discuss fish psychology."

"Only if you're buying."

"Deal."

Maya walked back to the dugout with Bubbles swishing beside her, heart doing cartwheels. Being a fox? She could work with that.