1 Chapter 1: Undertow

My little league coach once told me "The baseball field is kinda like the undertow of an ocean when you look at it, it seems calm and peaceful but as soon as you step too close it sucks you in." At the time i didn't know what he meant but now... now i understand it all too clearly. It's a beautiful sport at first glance but once you dive deeper to see every single coordinated move, you get sucked in. To me baseball isn't a dream of mine, i don't have a goal in mind. I just go out there and play every inning as it was my last because i truly am in love with baseball. Do you wanna know what the funny thing is though about baseball? No matter how much you love it, it'll never love you back.

I just transferred to 100 Oaks High, It's a nice high school and was once known country wide for it's baseball program but over the past few years they haven't broken the top 20 in national rankings. I was offered a full scholarship to this school, and many alike it. I even got offered by top schools in the nation, but ultimately in the end i knew it had to 100 Oaks, wanna know why? Its because out of every school i visited, this was the only school where everyone had a smile on their face. They were having fun playing baseball. i could tell with every pitch all the players on the field had the same thought "let the ball come my way." Of course winning means a lot to me, but whats the point in winning if you're not having fun?

While making my to the baseball dorms for the first time its late maybe around 10:00 PM, i stop when i reach the dorm. It's incredible. The building has a red exterior with black to accent it, its the school colors. It reminds me more of a nice hotel, it's only two stories but to access the dorm rooms you have to go through a lobby inside. I walk in the twin glass doors and see a lady sitting at the reception desk.

"Students aren't permitted to be out this late." She says in a monotone voice

"Oh sorry i actually just transferred here, I'm just getting in now, could you tell me which room is mine?" She looks up from the desk and a noticeable blush comes across her face, she's a cute girl with long brown hair and a beautiful pair of blue eyes, its like staring at a husky. Her skin is pale and it suits her well shes pretty slender too. She looks a little older than me maybe 18 or 19. She has glasses on but i can tell they're just for show.

"looks like 100 Oaks has recruited quite the cutie." She's saying that with a grin on her face.

I let out a soft chuckle "Thank you." The atmosphere shifted a little but it wasn't awkward.

"can i get a name?" She catches me by surprise as I'm still stroking my ego from the previous comment.

"It's CB, CB Williams."

"Alright CB, Looks like you're in room 108" She hands me a key to the room. "Can't wait to be seeing more of you."

"Yeah, erm you too." I flash her a wave as i make my way down the corridor. The interior walls in the hallway are dim lit with a super ugly floral wall paper pattern. I walk my to the dorm and put my key in the lock. With a light amount of force i swing the door open to my room fully expecting to find a roommate waiting for me or an upper class-man trying to size me up but what i find is an empty room with a single bed. The walls are white and plain. There's a window on the exterior wall and below that is a dresser with a T.V. on it. In the corner there is a desk with a desk lamp and beside that is a bookshelf with nothing on it. I scan the room and find it in the opposite corner of the desk i throw my bag down on the floor and fall face first on the bed.

I wake up to a warm room filled with sun rays. The clock on the desk says its 7:02, classes start at 8:00, so i have around an hour to get ready. I grab a change of clothes, a towel, my shower supplies, and i walk to my bathroom. I'm kinda relieved that there's a private bathroom in the dorms, I would've been fine with a communal bathroom but this is just such more convenient. I don't know anything about the practice schedule and i haven't met anyone from the team yet. I gotta make sure I ask around during school today. The hot water of the shower is hitting my chest as i find the strength to leave this warm watery oasis. After I hop out of the shower I look at myself in the mirror for a second. "Damn you look good." I say to myself with a smile thinking about of much of a dork i am. I exit the bathroom and grab my school bag, "Lets do this."