The Legend of Summer "Dash" McClennan.

14

I walked into my first day of high school with Timber, Wings, Two-Ton, Tommy, and Wok. Being the oldest ones, everyone else was still in middle school. As we walked down the busy hallway, I could see girls swooning at Tommy, Wings and Timber and glaring at me. Whispers and gasps went on around us as we passed crowded lockers. I rolled my eyes and peeled away from the guys to my locker.

"You know Tommy Santorelli?" A small voice said to the side of me. I turned and saw a short girl my age. She was a good 5'0 and had blonde hair in a ponytail, like me.

"Yeah, he's like my brother," I grabbed my geometry book and closed my locker.

"You're lucky. I wish I knew him. It must be nice hanging out with boys a lot..." I laughed at the last part. It was nice at some points, but sometimes they're so annoying and weird.

"It's fun when they aren't being a pain in the ass," I nodded towards their group next to Wings's locker. I flashed a grin at her. "I'm Dash by the way."

She looked at me with a confused expression, "Dash?"

"It's my nickname. My real name is Summer, but I haven't been called that since last school year by my teachers."

"Oh, that makes more sense! I'm Carly," She smiled sheepishly. "What classes do you have?"

We swapped papers and ended up having all the same classes, except for biology. I was somewhat relieved that I knew a person in every class because I'm a new kid and all. The bell rang and Carly and I headed to our homeroom. Our first four classes went by quickly since all we did was go over the expectations for the year. I walked with Carly out of Spanish to the cafeteria.

"Geometry is going to be the worst. I can feel it," Carly sighed and readjusted her bag, making books spill out.

"Oh god, Carly," I chuckled and began to pick up books.

"You dropped this?" A familiar voice questioned. I looked up and saw Tommy handing Carly a book.

"Thank you," Carly spoke quietly as she took the book from Tommy's hand. He nodded at her and then turned to smile at me.

"Hey, Dash," he waved, then walked towards the table the boys were sitting at.

"Holy crap," Carly sighed and stuff the book inside of her bag. "I'm so stupid."

"You are not. You were just shocked that he picked up your book out of all the people in the school."

"You're right..." She mumbled and slung her book bag onto her shoulder. I grinned at her as I opened the cafeteria door with my back.

"Well, do you want to have lunch with us?" I nodded towards the boys.

"I don't know, Dash..." She bit down on her lip and looked around me to see Tommy, who just happened to be looking over at us. He smiled, making her hide behind me and blush.

"It'll be fun! Just to warn you, they might be a little weird," I grabbed her wrist and led her over to where the guys were sitting. "Hey!"

"How was your first day so far?" Timber stood up to hug me, making me blush. "I hope it went great so far or I'm going to be mad." He kissed my forehead and chuckled.

"Well, it was good. I met a friend in the morning," I untangled myself from him. "Carly, meet the idiots; Wok, Wings, Two-Ton, Timber, and Tommy. Idiots, meet Carly."

"Hey," Wok said to her then realized I had called him an idiot. He turned to me, "Hey!" I shrugged and gave him an innocent smile.

"Hi!" Wings grinned. He noticed Tommy staring at her and elbowed him. Tommy snapped out of it and realized what he was doing.

"Hey," Tommy blushed in embarrassment.

"Hey, Carly," Timber wrapped his arms around my waist and squeezed my sides, making me jump.

"Don't worry, T. You're my idiot," I kissed him on the cheek and chuckled.

"Get a room!" Two-Ton yelled.

"So, what are your classes, Carly?" Tommy asked, probably wanting to have one of the last two classes with her. I laughed and sat down next to Timber and Carly sat next to Tommy. Wok cracked a joke about Tommy making us all laugh in unison. From that moment on, I knew who I wanted to stay friends with for the rest of my life and I wouldn't change that for the world.

Six months later.

"Why is she here?" A junior boy sneered at me as Timber and I walked towards the dugout.

"Weren't you ever told, 'If you're not going to say something nice, then don't say it at all?'" I scoffed and folded my arms.

"Weren't you ever told that baseball is played by men and not girls?" he said as he towered over me. Being shorter and younger than him wasn't helping my case right about now.

"Quit your yapping, Martinez," A senior rose from his seat on a bucket. "Girl looks like she got game."

I smiled at that. A senior? Standing up for me? I couldn't believe it myself, along with everyone else around.

"Seniors never let me have fun," the junior mumbled and sat down on the bench. The senior strode over to me, making me somewhat nervous. I had seen him around before with a bunch of his friends in varsity jackets surrounded by flawless girls. You could tell he was the captain of the baseball team by the way he held himself.

"I'm Danny White, captain of the varsity baseball team," Danny gave Timber and I a warm smile. "I already know the both of you. You're Dash, who would be an amazing addition to the outfielders, and you're Timber, the lights-out pitcher who throws some pretty good heat."

"Thank you," I blushed at his comment. Would I actually make varsity as a freshman? That would be nuts.

"Guys!" The head coach yelled for our attention.

"No problem. Good luck to you guys," Danny grinned and headed back towards his friends. Wings, Two-Ton, Wok, and Tommy walked up with their jaws open, seeing and hearing everything.

"First off, I'd like to welcome everyone to baseball tryouts for 1976-1977," The head coach started. "I'm Coach Masterson, head coach of Del Rios High School Varsity Baseball team."