Zombies and Strikeouts

Leo felt like a zombie. Not the cool TikTok dance kind—like, actually dead inside. 6 AM baseball practice for two weeks straight would do that to you, especially when you weren't even trying to make varsity. But Dad insisted college scouts watched freshmen now. Whatever.

"You're swinging like your iPhone's surgically attached to your hand," Coach yelled. He wasn't wrong. Leo had been doomscrolling until 2 AM, watching everyone's highlight reels while his own life felt like a series of failed TikTok attempts.

The actual bull on the team—Jason, senior captain who lived to make freshmen question their existence—snickered. "Maybe baseball isn't your thing, bro."

The locker room was water torture. Drip, drip, drip of humiliation. Jason's friends posted memes. Leo's notifications exploded. He stopped checking. His phone stayed in his bag for three whole hours. Personal best.

Then came the pool party at Jessica's house. The social event of the season. Leo wasn't invited, but Maya—the girl he'd been lowkey flirting with in bio—said she'd save him a spot if he showed up. Suspiciously specific.

He arrived in his favorite swim trunks, prepared to sink into the background like he always did. But then Jason and his crew showed up, already loud and taking over the stereo.

"Watch this," Jason said, grabbing a water balloon from someone's hand.

Time slowed. Leo saw it coming—saw Jason aiming for Maya, saw her laughing with friends, saw nobody else noticing. His body moved before his brain could overthink it. He stepped between them. Water exploded everywhere.

Everything stopped.

"Dude," Jason said, actually looking confused.

Leo's heart hammered. Maya stared. He'd never been the hero before. Never been anything but background character energy.

"That's my girl," Leo said, and immediately wanted to die. WHO SAYS THAT.

But Maya smiled. Actually smiled. "Thanks."

Jason backed off, weirdly defeated by someone finally calling his bluff.

Later, Maya found Leo sitting by the pool edge, feet in the water, phone still in his bag.

"You didn't have to do that," she said.

"I know."

"You're not like Jason. You're better."

"I'm a zombie."

"Yeah, but you're a zombie who can hit a fastball. I saw you at practice."

"You were watching?"

"Maybe."

For the first time since forever, Leo didn't feel dead inside. He felt alive. And his phone could wait.