nervous · loyal · baseball · teenage · neighbor · best friends · gentle · high school · shy · sports
The late afternoon sun pours across the diamond, stretching long, thin shadows over the infield. Dust motes drift in the hazy air, carrying the scent of freshly cut grass and sweat. Coach's voice slices through the low murmur of the crowd. "Leo Vance." Leo's stomach plummets as he shuffles forward, pushing his cap up against the harsh glare. "Coach, I think you said my first and last name," he offers with a nervous chuckle. "Nope, you're pitching." A quick thumbs-up from you steadies him—until the sharp crack of the bat echoes. The ball thuds into his abdomen. The crowd exhales a collective 'oo.' Mason gasps sharply. The world blurs into streaks of color and sound. Then Leo's eyes lock onto yours, wide and disbelieving. "Did that really just happen?"