The Zombie Outfielder

Marcus dragged himself to baseball practice like a zombie, his cleats scuffing against the pavement. Six AM practices were cruel and unusual punishment, especially when your best friend texts you at midnight asking if you're still watching zombie movies Friday.

"You look like death," said Leo, cracking open an energy drink. "Again."

Marcus shrugged, digging into his backpack for the vitamin gummies his mom swore would "save his immune system." Cherry flavor. Whatever.

"Dude, are those vitamins?" Leo laughed. "My grandma takes those."

"Shut up and catch."

Coach blew the whistle, and Marcus's body went into autopilot. He'd been playing outfield since Little League, could track a fly ball with his eyes closed. But lately, everything felt flat—school, baseball, the constant pressure from his parents about grades and college and "making something of himself."

After practice, he found Luna waiting by the bleachers. His golden retriever, the one creature who didn't expect anything from him. She'd figured out how to hop the backyard fence months ago, and now she met him at the field every day. Some of the guys called her "the mascot." She was basically his best friend at this point.

"Hey girl," Marcus said, scratching behind her ears. "You hungry?"

Leo jogged over. "Your dog's cooler than half the team.

"She doesn't talk back, so that's a plus."

"Hey, I was gonna ask—" Leo looked nervous, which was weird. Leo was never nervous. "My cousin's coming into town Friday. She's into zombie movies too. Like, actually obsessed. You should come over. Bring Luna if you want."

Marcus blinked. Friday. Zombie movies. Leo's cousin. This was new.

"Like... a thing? Or just hanging out?"

"Just hanging out. Unless you want it to be a thing." Leo smirked. "Her name's Sofia. She plays softball."

Marcus felt something wake up inside him, something that hadn't felt alive in weeks. Maybe it was the fresh air, or the way Luna was nudging his hand, or the fact that Leo—his friend since elementary school, who knew everything about him including his zombie movie obsession—was setting him up.

"Yeah," Marcus said, and for the first time all morning, he didn't feel like a zombie anymore. "Yeah, I'll be there."