Sparkplug

     The clock ticked endlessly as I waited for the last day of my junior year to draw to a close. To my left the baseball fields lingered, itching for someone to play on them. To my right, a guy I'm kind of interested in. Not in a 'like' kind of way, but seeming curious. His name is Addison Wells. He has dark brown hair and he looked like he was waiting endlessly too.

     I tried to listen to Mr. Myzak rave about how the early citizens of America caused an uprising for what they believed in, but I had already heard of it numerous times.

     "I'll give an example for all those sports fans out there..." he said in frustration and rattled a bunch of names I've never heard of from soccer and lacrosse. But, one name stuck with me.

     "Jackie Robinson everyone," he said, a little bit calmer, "Was the first African American to join Major League Baseball," his face grew a little softer, and he talked a bit quieter.

     "He was one of the greatest people to play the sport. He had the other managers of the team mad, but when you change something that needs to be changed there is always a little controversy, you know? Always a little bit of anger, frustration, but you have to grow tougher skin and do what you know your grandchildren would want to do."

      We all sat in silence, some trying to figure out the real meaning of what he said and baseball itself. But, I knew what it meant.

     "So, he said loudly again, breaking the small silence and talking loudly again, "This summer, if something is unfair or unjustified change it! You come from people who fought for their independence, the American peop-"

     The bell suddenly rang feverishly, and kids threw papers in every which way and stampeded out of the classroom.

     I smiled at the sight of pure joy; we were finally seniors! Finally, being at the hands of the seniors as freshmen, we were getting our chance to be at the top of the high school food chain.

     I walked out alone, excited for the last baseball game for the Stillwater High Stallions. As I walked out, I saw my friend from softball, Mackenzie Stazer. She smiled and walked next to me.

     "Ready for the town-ball championships?" she asked anxiously.

     I took a sharp breath in and smiled, "I hope so."

     She smiled happily and hit me lightly on the shoulder, "Mel, you'll be just fine! You've lead us too far pitching-wise to let us down!"

     "Thanks Speedo," I said with a laugh, "You'll do great too. You're fast and you know what you're doing."

     Long story on why she got her name.

     "Anytime, see you tomorrow!" Mackenzie said before going to her locker.

     I grabbed my book bag and shoved all of my stuff quickly into it. Down the hall, I saw Addison Wells and felt heat rise to my cheeks for a second.

     'Great,' I murmured, frustrated with me being such a girl. Yeah, you heard me right.

     "Hey," he said to me, and I looked up at him for a second. I thought about my outfit; gym shoes, a White Sox jersey, and shorts and sighed. Then I wondered why the all star catcher, the popular boy, was talking to me. I sighed and concluded that things were about to get bad.

     "Your jersey's awesome, don't know many Sox fans out here in Stillwater," he said, leaning nonchalantly against a nearly locker. Gosh, I'm falling head over heels for someone I barely know. I'm being such a girl...