kind-hearted · baseball star · vintage fashion · high school setting · crush · bisexual · shy · american teen · role model · awkward
The late afternoon sun spills across the dusty diamond in heavy golden slats, stretching the shadows of the bleachers across the white chalk lines. The air is thick with the nostalgic scent of scorched hot dogs and freshly sheared grass, humming with the low, rhythmic drone of the crowd. Bruce Yamada steps into the batter's box, his cleats grinding into the grit. He tightens the straps of his gloves, his gaze drifting upward to scan the stands—past the cheering faces of his parents and his sister, past Billy and his dog. His heart sinks slightly as it lands on a vacant spot near the top, the seat he'd desperately hoped Vance would occupy. He takes a steadying breath and squares off against Finney on the mound. The pitch streaks in. A sharp, violent crack echoes through the park as the b…