Chapter Text
“She's beautiful," I whisper to myself.
She is Chloe Lee. A Korean girl with light skin, long black hair that falls past her shoulders, green almond shaped eyes she gets from her mom, pointy button nose, dimples and round pink lips.
Easily the prettiest girl to ever attend Medford High.
Star of the ballet team and student council president.
Boys want her and all of the girls want to be her.
When she walks in the hallway or into class most if not all eyes go to her. Her beauty is just unbelievable.
Despite of her undeniable popularity, she's isn't shallow like most Medford High girls.
She isn't just beautiful, she's kind too. She willingly tutors the boys on the football and baseball team. For nothing in return.
She is loved by everyone, teachers, parents, students, kids.
Me? I'm Angel Cortez. I am a starting batter for the baseball team here at Medford High.
Nothing special about me really, I'm considered hot by the cheer/drill team but I'm no looker. My stance in the team as captain gives me the title. As so does for the rest of the team captains.
I'm a tall well built Latino with tan skin, black hair and hazel eyes.
I've had a crush on Chloe ever since I was in middle school when she moved here to Texas from Georgia. Her dad is a prestigious attorney who got transferred to Dallas.
My family owns authentic Mexican restaurants. But before that we would travel around as pickers.
Chloe and I are neighbors actually. And she's also my twin sisters best friend. My mom and dad love Chloe to death. And so do my three younger siblings Andre, Alejandro and Alexia who she babysits when Angelina and I aren't available.
"Mijo you need a girl like that, why don't you talk to her?" My mom asks me at least once a day.
Well mami I'd like to know the same thing. I'm not shy at all. I've never had a problem presenting in class or throwing it down at family parties or any party for that matter.
Embarrassment is for those with shame. And me? I have none. Not an ounce.
Until it comes to Chloe. My palms get sweaty legs shaky and my vision blurry.
"Angel! Stop staring and come join. It's a nice day out." My sister calls out to me from the pool.
Chloe turns and waves from the pool. I panic for a second looking around my room before waving back.
I'm sitting at my desk looking out the open window and into the backyard we're my sister Angelina and Chloe are sitting next to the pool watching the younger ones swim. Her and Mrs. Lee spend most of the summer over at our house.
I can hear both my mom and Mrs. Lee cooking in the kitchen.
"I wasn't staring!" I call out.
Maybe I was staring, just maybe a little bit.
She just looks absolutely stunning today. Her long black hair is up in a clip and she's wearing a pink floral bikini top with a white cover up set. Her legs are dipped in the pool as she laughs at something Alexia is saying.
The fact that my siblings love her just makes me like her even more.
Deciding that it is a nice day out and I haven't spent time with my siblings lately I change into some white trunks and head down to the deck.
I make my way out greeting Mrs. Lee who gives me a hug and asks how school and baseball are going. She's always very nice like Chloe. That's were she gets it from.
I make it outside and walk over to the pool greeting Angelina and give somewhat of a greeting to Chloe.
Angelina laughs at my poor attempt and Chloe smiles at me.
Wow am I melting or is it just this Texas heat. Definitely the Texas heat.
"Hi Angel" she greets with a polite smile.
I try and smile back but I'm sure I just look constipated.
"Angel do a cannonball!" Andre screams from the pool.
My attention turns to him as a genuine smile comes to my face.
Taking a couple steps back I take my shirt off and quickly run and jump into the pool causing a big splash.
The little ones laugh and Angelina and Chloe do too.
The laughter dies down as I play around with my siblings for a while.
"Angelina! I need you to go the store honey," my mom calls out.
She dries her legs and before she leaves she whispers something in Chloe's ear.
To which she blushes and shakes her head slightly.
She turns and gives me a look as she's waking into the house. Nodding in Chloe's direction. I give her the look as she laughs and enters the house.
I contemplate whether I should talk to her or not. Deciding that the worst that could happen is she doesn't respond.
So I hoist myself out of the pool grab my towel putting it around my shoulders and join her at the edge of the pool.
I dry my hair slightly as I decide what I want to say.
"Ready for senior year?" I muster up the courage to ask.
She turns to me with a smile "Yeah, I'm excited for the ballet season." she responds.
"I saw your recital last year, it was beautiful." I try and compliment her.
A small blush appears in her cheeks as she smiles and says "Thank you, I got your flowers from Angelina but I never thanked you personally. So thank you it was very nice of you. Daisies are my favorite flowers."
I knew daises are her favorite, she grows them in her backyard with her mom.
I'm gonna kill her I say mentally. They were supposed to be from her.
"Oh, umm you're welcome." I say.
"Last high school baseball season, are you excited?" She asks
Oh how I love baseball.
"Yes I'm very excited. I can't wait to go D1." I reply.
"When is your first game of the season?" She asks me.
"First week of school on Friday." I reply.
"I'll be there," she says with a smile.
"I'll see you there, then. Maybe I'll hit the first home run of the season" I reply with a chuckle.
"Maybe you will," she laughs.
September 1, 2021
I'm standing on the batters box ready to take my first hit of the season, Chloe in the stands sitting next to my mom and Angelina wearing my jersey.
(Flashback)
"Hi Mrs. Lee, is Chloe home?" I ask.
"Oh, she is honey let me call her down. You know we're the living room is." She says
I thank her making my way over the living room as she goes up the stairs.
I sit in the couch nervously clutching the jersey in my hands.
Tomorrow is Friday and the first game of my senior season.
Chloe and I have gotten very close since the day at the pool. She even came over to watch "Bajo la misma Luna" with me. Too which she cried. And I think I've been making it obvious that I like her.
I never realized how easy it was to talk to her. And we have a lot in common.
There's a tradition in the baseball team and that is to let someone important to you wear your last season jersey. Normally it's significant others and so on.
For me I had always given it to Angelina. She's my twin sister so it was a no brainer. But this year I want to give to Chloe. And Angelina pestered me to do it too so here I am.
"Math again?" She asks coming into the living room with a teasing smile. I had been coming over for help in math the past couple days.
I chuckle shaking my head extending my hand towards her.
"No Chlo, it's not math. I want you to have this." I say nodding at the jersey in my hands.
She takes it from my hands and extends it in front of her. Surprise in her eyes as she realizes what it is.
(End of flashback)
Oh what a dream this is.
I take my place in the batters box, firmly holding my bat getting in position.
The pitcher ready to throw three strikes. He has a smug smile on his as if telling me I've got no chance against him.
The umpire screams play and it's go time.
He pitches the ball to me in what seems to be 100 mph, I have less then seconds to decide whether to swing or blink.
I swing as hard as I can hitting the ball sending it into the air spinning and headed towards fair territory.
I throw the bat and run towards first base. The outfielders backing towards the fence more and more trying to catch the ball before it goes into fair territory.
I see the signal from the umpire calling a home run. A smile paints itself onto my face only growing wider as I run past each base and hear the crowd cheering.
I make it to fourth base and I'm swarmed by my teammates.
I look over to the bleachers, Chloe and my family cheering and clapping. Waving at me from the stands.
It's going to be a great year.
September 1 later that night.
Santis house is packed with Medford High's student body. Loud music booms through out the house bodies pressed together dancing to the rhythm of them music.
I stands in a corner looking at the door, hoping and praying that Chloe walks through it any minute now.
I know parties aren't her thing, Angelina and her are homebodies. And so am I but I like celebrating with my team from time to time.
Wow she just looked absolutely perfect earlier today. Although my jersey is way too big for her she still looked beautiful in it.
"Angel! Come dance with me," Veronica tells me.
Veronica Herrera. Volleyball captain and infamous school queen bee. Like the Regina George of Medford. Except no one's pushed her in front of a bus yet.
"I'm ok Veronica thank you for asking," I say nicely.
Lots of the baseball guys tell me she likes me but I only have eyes for Chloe. And I don't think my mom would let her in the house either way.
She insists and just when I'm about to agree to get her to leave me alone Angelina and Chloe walk through the door.
I completely forget Vero is standing in front of me and make over to them.
She looks beautiful. Like always.
I somewhat greet Angelina and immediately say hi to Chloe. I know I say this a lot but she's stunning.
She's wearing a light blue shoulder tie dress. Her hair is in a half up half down and she has light make up on.
"Wow you look beautiful," I compliment her automatically.
She shyly smiles as she thanks me.
"I'm gonna go find Fernando, you two have fun. Chloe, Angel doesn't drink he'll give you a ride home whenever you want." She says before heading up the stairs.
I turn my eyes back to Chloe,
"Do you want a drink?" I ask her.
She nods, "An orange Fanta please."
That's also her favorite, I get her one during lunch everyday. But of course there from Angelina as far as she knows. Although she probably knows, Angelina is a chismosa at heart.
I grab her hand and lead her over to the kitchen, I've been here so many times I already know we're it's at.
The kitchen is less crowded with only a few mostly football guys hanging around.
I grab the can and pop it open handing it to her. She thanks me and takes a sip.
"Chloe? What are you doing here? I thought parties weren't your thing." Josh asks from the other side of the counter.
"Angelina invited me, I couldn't say no." She replies.
"Cool, when are you free I'll take you to the movies." He asks trying to play it cool.
"I'm already seeing someone Josh. I don't think he'd appreciate me going out with someone else." She replies politely.
"Oh umm, I'll see you around then." He says before leaving the kitchen.
Seeing someone? She's seeing someone? I didn't know she was seeing someone. Who is this person? Do I know him? Is he better than me?
We're in the kitchen for a little more, I can tell she's not enjoying it. She really isn't a party person huh?
"Do you want to get out of here? The drive in is showing "The Breakfast club" in 30 minutes." I say looking down at my watch.
"Oh, we don't have to leave if you don't want too." She replies.
"I'd much rather watch "The Breakfast Club" and the drive in popcorn is really good" I reply.
"Yeah me too," she gives in.
I chuckle grabbing her hand leading back to the front door, "let's get out of here,"
December 19th - First Date
I asked Chloe out on a date last week. Time finally felt right so I did it. She agreed and its been on my mind ever since.
It's already the morning of so, were could I possibly take her for a first date?
I know she's not a fancy dinner type of girl and we already watch movies together all the time. It wouldn't feel like a date. There is also a ballet theater in town but would she enjoy that? I'm like 1000% sure she's already seen it. Multiple times.
So what is the perfect first date?
The amusement park of course. It's the perfect place. I know she loves amusement parks.
Deciding it's my best shot I reply to her text asking what she should wear. By some miracle the days are getting colder so I tell her to dress warmly.
I pace around the whole day trying to think of what to wear and whether she's going to like the amusement park or not.
Soon enough 5 o'clock rolls around. I've showered, changed and done my hair. I grab my wallet and car keys and exit the house ignoring the hoots and comments coming from Angelina and my mom.
"Took you long enough!"
I walk over to her house nervously. It's actually happening I'm going on a date with Chloe.
I knock on her door and she opens it looking stunning as ever.
And for the up coming years even after I proposed, our wedding, 4 kids and many grandchildren I still regret what I said when she opened that door.
"Hey, neighbor!"