Three Strikes Until Sunrise

Maya dragged herself into third period feeling like a straight-up zombie, courtesy of four straight nights of Apocalypse Trials. Her best friend Jenna shot her that look—the one that said she was judging Maya's life choices but would still Facetime until 2 AM anyway.

"You look dead," Jenna whispered, sliding a note across the desk. 'Baseball tryouts today. Don't flake.'

"I would never," Maya lied. She absolutely would. Her baseball skills were basically a conspiracy theory—they didn't exist.

The universe apparently had other plans. By seventh period, the sky turned that weird yellow-green color that meant serious weather incoming. Maya's phone buzzed—Jenna, reminding her about tryouts. Because apparently they were BOTH trying out this year, bonding over their mutual lack of athletic ability and how much they hated their coach, who'd definitely failed health class twice.

Maya's backpack felt like it contained actual bricks as she trekked to the field. The stray calico cat she'd been feeding behind the gym for weeks sat near the dugout, watching with judgment.

"At least someone believes in me," Maya muttered, offering the cat a treat she'd stolen from the cafeteria.

Then the sky basically exploded.

Lightning struck somewhere close enough that Maya's hair literally stood on end. Coach Miller yelled something about taking shelter, but Maya just stood there, bat in hand, staring at the storm like it was giving her answers she didn't know she needed.

"You gonna swing or what?" Jenna called, laughing as rain poured down like someone had overturned a giant bucket.

Maya swung. Missed. Swing and a miss, like always.

But this time, she started laughing. Like, actually laughing until her stomach hurt, while Jenna joined in, both of them soaked and terrible at baseball and completely okay with that.

"We're the worst team ever," Jenna said.

"The absolute worst," Maya agreed.

The cat disappeared under the bleachers. The storm passed. And somehow, they both made JV anyway—probably because Coach Miller was desperate and they were literally the only ones who showed up.

Some friendships survive zombie sleep schedules, failed athletic attempts, and near-lightning strikes. This one definitely would.