The Coming Out

Summer

Ivan and Carson were two best friends who loved playing baseball together. They had been on the same team for as long as they could remember, and they were known for their incredible teamwork and unbeatable spirit.

It was the last 2 weeks of summer and they found themselves in the biggest game of their lives. They were down by three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, and it seemed like all hope was lost. The other team's pitcher was throwing strikes left and right, and Ivan and Carson were having trouble making contact with the ball.

As the crowd cheered on the opposing team, Ivan and Carson huddled up on the pitcher's mound. 

"We can do this," Ivan said. 

"We've faced tougher challenges than this before. Let's go out there and give it our all."

Carson nodded in agreement, and the two of them took to the field with renewed determination. Ivan stepped up to the plate and took a deep breath. He swung at the first pitch, but missed. The second pitch came in fast, but Ivan was ready. He hit the ball hard, sending it flying over the center fielder's head.Carson was on base, and he sprinted around the bases as fast as he could. Ivan ran after him, his heart pounding in his chest. They could hear the crowd roaring behind them, urging them on. With one final burst of energy, Carson slid into home plate, just as the ball came flying in.The umpire hesitated for a moment, then made the call.

 "Safe!" he yelled, and the crowd erupted in cheers. Ivan and Carson high-fived each other, their faces beaming with joy.

In that moment, they knew that they had done something special. They had worked together, against all odds, and pulled off an incredible victory. As they walked off the field, hand in hand, they knew that they would always remember this day as one of the best in their lives. They were going to the state championships, and it felt fucking amazing.

They were really the best of best friends.

Or were they just best friends?

-------

Ivan had just been done eating dinner, He washed his plate and went inside his room. As he layed on his bed he couldn't stop thinking about how he was in the state championships. It was like if he was in a dream and he didnt wanna wake up at all from it. He was in a good mood and nothing was gonna stop him from being happy. He was just about to facetime his good friend Carson until Ivan's phone beeped, signaling a new text message.

(From Riley)

 He eagerly picked it up, expecting to see a message from his girlfriend, Riley. But what he saw instead shattered his heart into a million pieces.

"Ivan, I don't think this is working out. I think we should break up," the message read.

Ivan's hands shook as he read the message again and again, trying to make sense of it. How could Riley just break up with him over text message? They had been together for over a year, and he thought they were happy. He knew something was wrong while they were talking before his game but he didn't think much of it.

He typed out a response, begging her to reconsider, but the only reply he received was a cold "I'm sorry" before Riley blocked his number.

Ivan felt lost and alone. He couldn't believe that the girl he loved had just ended things with him so abruptly. He spent the rest of the night in a fog, trying to make sense of what had happened and wondering where things had gone wrong. Cried himself into a deep sleep.

-------

The following morning, Ivan was still heartbroken when his girlfriend, Riley, broke up with him just last night. He had thought that they were happy together, but apparently, Riley had other plans.

As the rest summer went on, Ivan tried his best to keep himself occupied. He went on long runs, read books. He wanted to make sure he didn't feel like shit before his junior year started. But no matter what he did, he couldn't shake the feeling of sadness that lingered within him.

As the first day of school was approaching, Ivan felt more anxious than ever. He knew that he would have to face Riley again, and he wasn't sure if he was ready. He tried to put on a brave face, but inside, he felt like he was falling apart.

When he saw Riley while he was at the mall with Carson, his heart skipped a beat. She looked just as beautiful as he remembered, but seeing her only made the pain of their breakup feel more intense. Despite his best efforts, Ivan couldn't seem to shake his feelings for Riley. He tried to move on, but every time he saw her, it felt like a punch to the gut. He realized that he needed more time to heal, and that moving on would be a slower process than he had anticipated.

Carson noticed that Ivan was acting strange after his breakup with Riley. He tried to bring it up, but Ivan brushed it off, insisting that he was fine. Carson knew that something was off, but he didn't want to push too hard. As the days went on, he watched as Ivan became more withdrawn and distant. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore.

 "Ivan, please," he said. 

"Talk to me. You don't have to go through this alone." 

Ivan looked up at him, tears in his eyes. "I just miss her so much," he whispered. 

Carson put his arm around his friend, and together, they sat in silence, knowing that sometimes, the best thing you can do is just be there for someone. He felt safe with him, he loved his bestfriend very much. 

"I love you."