Chapter One

The Awakening

"BOOM!" Goes the sound of a flyball. It looks beautiful under the bright lights illuminating the sky. It has the height but not quite the distance. It is caught right before the fence.

I jog back to the dugout disappointed. I've played much better than this. As I'm jogging back, my teammates are telling me good job and get 'em next time. Some say I'm the best player on the team, because I have suck breakout games. Others don't think I deserve the title due to my lack of consistency. Most of my games that are played at night. Maybe subconsciously I'm still afraid of the dark or something. Tonight's excuse is that I'm anxious, my sixteenth birthday is tomorrow.

"Solvai! Over here!" It's Kyle, he's been my bestfriend since forever. He's the only sixteen year old boy that would come to a softball game in a navy blue suit, white dress shirt, black bowtie with matching shoes, along with his signature crossover bag and laptop that he goes nowhere without. He looks more like he's going to a business meeting rather than a high school softball game.

I walk over to the fence to talk to him. "Hey, you're doing good out! Keep your chin up!" He says cheering me up.

"Thanks! The game is almost over, wanna grab a bite to eat afterwards?"

"Sounds cool! See you soon champ!" Kyle is one of the most positive people I know, that's why I love when he's around.

The games ends and we lose, 5-3. A little disappointing, but we have another game tomorrow, and I'm sure I'll excell.

As everyone is leaving, I see Kyle in his new car pulling up. It's a foreign race car. I couldn't tell you the name brand, but I could tell you it's the latest of it's kind. When I step inside, there's so many buttons and lights. I'm not sure if I'm inside a car or a factory.

His parents are filthy rich. They are both hot shot lawyers, therefore, Kyle gets the best everything: cars, clothes, girls if he actually returned their interest. Girls fall at his feet, sometimes I don't know if it's his looks. From his neatly, groomed and short black hair to his smoky grey eyes to the sweet, yet masculine scent of his cologne. Or, it could all possibly be because of his money and the luxuries that comes with it, such as this, always having the best clothes, never worrying about expensive tabs, you name it. But he's really focused on school. I'm surprised he makes time to be my friend sometimes.

We speed off to the closest burger joint. Kyle eats more on the healthy side, but he loosens up around me as he orders a turkey burger with cheese fries. On the other hand, I order a cheesesteak with the works- lettuce, tomatoes, fried onions, sweet peppers, banana peppers, mayo and chipotle sauce- some boneless buffalo wings with blue cheese, and mozzarella sticks with marinara sauce- a strawberry milkshake. It doesn't matter what I eat, I've always had this lean build, even without working out, so I always pig out.

When we get to the table without food, unlike my friend Kyle, who's wasting time taking off his jacket and unfolding a napkin for his lap, I dive right into my food. My mouth has been watering since we agreed to get food.

"Well, someone's hungry." Kyle jokes as he takes a single bite into his turkey burger.

"We...ah..gi..go..tee." I try to explain to him with my mouth full of food as I'm stuffing it even more.

"Well a girl's gotta eat? You sure do that well." It's almost scary to know that we've spent so much time together, he can decipher what I said so easily. "Good luck keeping your cool once Ricky sees you."

Shit! My eyes open wider than they've ever opened. I'm shocked my eyes didn't roll out my head. Ricky is the varsity QB of our school. He's about 6'3 with a muscular build. He's as smooth with the girls as he plays on the field. I can over hear him and some of his teammates come in the door behind me.

"Hi Kyle. Hi Solvai!" Says Ricky as he briefly stops the conversation with his teammates.

"Hello Rick!" Goes formal Kyle.

"Hmm...Hey Bucky!" Please, if there is a god, strike me now. I was gonna call him buddy, but we're not buddies at all, so then i decided to go with Ricky instead and "Bucky" was the result.

"Bucky?!" Ricky laughs. "Is that some kind of nickname you gave me?" Good, he wasn't offended.

"Sure... I mean yeah, if you like it. Because I mean if not, I could just go into the kitchen and whip up another one." Smooth move, I think as I smile ear to ear.

"That sounds like a plan, hot pepper!" He kids as he and his teammates walk off giggling.

I wait until they're a safe distance away to discuss it with kyle.

"Did you see that?!" I scream as low as I can. "We totally exchanged nicknames. So you think he likes his?"

"The better question is do you like yours?"

"Why wouldn't I? Hot pepper is so cool."

"Because of the reason you got the name."

"Clearly it's because he comes to my games and sees how hot I can be (get)."

"Orrr....because of the hot pepper stuck in your teeth. One or the other."

I just died a little on the inside. My face goes blank, and I debate plopping it into my food.

"Kyle, I'm ready to go." I say in a low, monotone voice.

"Are you sure? You haven't even finished up your food. This isn't like you, hot pepper," he chuckles. "One moment Salvai, we'll be on our way." He grabs to go baskets, packs our food, and we leave.

Once I'm home, I go straight to my room and dive face-first into my pillow. Well, 15 went out with a bang. Hopefully, 16 starts A LOT better.