Zombie Mode at the Plate

Maya had been running on fumes for three weeks. Junior year was killing her—APUSH exams, debate team, and now her mom insisting she "put herself out there" by joining the rec baseball league. Because apparently nothing said "well-rounded college application" like striking out in front of half the school.

Her hair was a disaster—half-faded blue streaks from last month's rebellion now mixing with her natural brown in a way that screamed "I gave up somewhere around third period." She'd meant to redo it. She'd meant to do a lot of things.

"You look like you're about to die," said Jordan, sliding onto the bench beside her. Maya's maybe-sort-of crush who'd been sending mixed signals since homecoming.

"Zombie mode activated," Maya muttered, pulling her cap down. "How many more innings?"

Jordan laughed. "You know, you're actually not terrible at batting. You just—" He made a gesture. "Overthink it."

The words hit harder than a fastball. Maya didn't overthink batting. She overthought everything. The way her hair looked when she forgot to straighten it. The way Jordan looked at her sometimes versus how he looked at her other times. The way everyone seemed to have a script she'd never received.

Coach yelled her name. She grabbed the bat, her heart suddenly running a marathon against her ribs. This was it. The bottom of the ninth. Her team was down by one. Two runners on base.

The pitcher wound up. Maya didn't think. Her body remembered what her mind had tried to memorize—the stance, the grip, the timing. The ball came at her like every expectation she'd ever failed to meet.

*Crack.*

She didn't watch the ball sail over the fence. She was already running, dirt flying under her cleats, her stupid half-blue hair streaming behind her, everything that made her weird and awkward and completely herself propelling her forward.

Jordan was waiting at home plate, grinning like he'd never seen anything more amazing.

"Zombie my ass," he said, and Maya thought maybe—just maybe—she'd finally found something she didn't have to overthink.