I shove my headphones into my backpack, grab my team T-shirt and pull it on over my tank top. It’s fifty degrees outside, but I don’t regret forgoing a sweatshirt. I’ve always been hot-blooded. Dad swears it’s because I never sit still.

“Thank god you’re finally here,” Maddy’s exasperated voice calls out across the field. “You’re late.”

I greet the grumpy co-ed with a bright smile. “Nice to see you too, Maddy. Class ran longer than expected.” I check the time. Five twenty-three. Less than half an hour late is early for me.

Maddy gives me a soft smile. “Sorry, it’s just half the guys who said they’d come haven’t shown up and we were going to have to forfeit if you didn’t make it.”

I look over at our withering bench, full of bored and anxious faces. I take a breath and step up the pep. Time to get this derailed party train back on track. I grab Maddy’s shoulders and give her a shake. “It’s college kickball. Not the Olympics. Lighten up.” I add a little hip check. “Shall we get this show on the road?”

I strut to the dugout, toss a fist into the air and cheer. “Who’s ready to get their kickball on?” I’m greeted with muted enthusiasm. I do some exaggerated kicking motion stretches with my long legs while making old-man-grunting noises. “You all need to bring your A-game. Can’t have you embarrassing me in front of the scouts.”

“Scouts?” Terrance snickers.

I brush the imaginary chip off my shoulder. “Yeah. I’m lookin’ to go pro. You didn’t know? I’m huge in Japan,” I deadpan. That does it. The whole team cracks up and we’re chugging along to Fun Town.

Seven innings, a victory and a quick shower later, I’m texting Trevor that I’m on my way and speed-walking to the library. A few people from my Econ class are hunkered down at a table in the very back for our regular study group.

I stroll up, throw my arms out wide and declare, “I have arrived. Let the learning begin.” I get a couple of chuckles and a few sighs. Worth it.

We’re packing it in an hour later and my phone buzzes with a call from Hannah, my sorority’s president.

“What’s up, Hannah Banana?”

“Hey, Jessie! So, you know we’ve got that charity event this weekend?”

I wave to Trevor and make my way to the library exit. “Yeah, at the Children’s Hospital. I’ll be there.”

“That’s great. I was talking to Sam and we were thinking it’d be great to bring cookies with us.”

“Cookies?” I step out into the cold night and stroll back to my house. It’s late now and the campus is quiet, only a few students scurrying to their dorms.

“Yeah, something home cooked. Hospital food is awful, and who doesn’t like cookies?”

I chuckle, knowing where this is going. “I’m sure the kids would love that.”

“Awesome. So, you think you could make your famous chocolate chunk cookies? I think a few dozen would be enough.”