The Vitamin Text

Leo's pocket buzzed during third period algebra. Again.

Under his desk, he angled his iPhone just enough to read the notification without Mrs. Huang noticing. Another text from his mom: don't forget your vitamin after lunch!

He groaned internally. His mom had gone full wellness influencer since starting her new IG account. Now Leo was stuck carrying around a neon-orange pill case shaped like a cartoon cat. It was basically social suicide.

At lunch, Maya raised an eyebrow as he fished the cat-shaped container from his backpack. "What is THAT?"

"Don't," Leo muttered, dry-swallowing the vitamin. Maya and Jayden snorted. Leo shoved the cat back into his bag, his face burning. They didn't get it. His mom had been extra obsessed with his health since the baseball incident last month.

Coach still had him on the bench. "Focus, Leo," he'd said. "Your head's not in the game." And it wasn't — not with college apps looming and his dad's speech about "practical careers" echoing in his head. Baseball was supposed to be escape, not pressure.

His iPhone lit up again. Unknown number.

Leo almost ignored it, but something made him swipe. It was a DM from the older kid who sometimes watched their games. saw you practice last week. you've got form. come by the field at 4?

Leo stared. This wasn't Coach or his parents expecting perfection. It was someone seeing him. Really seeing him.

"You good?" Maya asked. "You look like you saw a ghost."

Leo slid the vitamin cat across the table toward her.

"Hold that for me?"

"Uh, what?" But she was laughing.

Leo stood up, adrenaline flooding his chest. Baseball wasn't about making his parents proud or living up to expectations. It was about that perfect moment when the ball connected with the bat — pure, undiluted joy. No apps, no notifications, no performance vitamins.

Just him and the game.

"Where are you going?" Jayden called.

Leo didn't turn around. He just raised his hand in a backward wave, already pulling up the directions on his iPhone.

Somewhere a phone buzzed, probably his mom wondering where he was. Let her wonder.

Leo had somewhere to be.