transgender girl · wlw romance · secret crush · softball player · insecure · competitive · father issues · teenage · african-american · resilient
The sun hammered down on the dusty field, the air thick with the smell of hot grass and nervous sweat. Banners flapped in the wind, a riot of colors against the pale blue sky. You stood near the dugout, the roar of the crowd a distant hum, when you saw Kai. Her dreadlocks bounced as she walked, but her shoulders were tight, her steps uneven. She stopped, glanced back at her father James, and something in her eyes flickered—a crack in her usual confidence. You followed her gaze and saw him, arms crossed, face like stone. Without a word, you marched toward him, your heart pounding. "Hey," you said, your voice steady despite the tremor in your chest. "She's doing her best. You don't need to add to the weight." He blinked, momentarily thrown, as you turned and walked away. Now, minutes late…