It's the Dodgers' first game of the season, and like usual, I'm in the dugout, cheering on my boyfriend as he runs to first base while I wait for my turn to bat.

And, like usual, I'm getting shit from the guys.

I've never been as good of a player as James. I know that. I just wish that everyone didn't make such a big deal about pointing it out. It's well known that James Dalton is the team's big name, the one that ends up on the jerseys, while his boyfriend stays in the dugout nearly the entire game, and is always referred to by the media as "Dalton's boyfriend". I'd be lying if I said it didn't hurt. But that's what I get for trying to date another player, really.

One of my teammates goes up to bat, and as he makes his way over, he seems oddly confident. Of course, Derek always has confidence; he's an attractive white man, it comes with the appearance. But this is different. He's got a weird glow in his eyes, like he knows he's going to hit the ball and he's going to make it all the way home.

He walks up to bat, and my suspicions grow further. His stance is far too relaxed. We're in the 9th inning, and while we might be ahead by a point, there's no reason he shouldn't be more tense in his last bat of the game.

Something's wrong.

I watch all of the players in the field, trying to ignore whatever Derek is doing, but that definitely doesn't help me. They're all strangely detached. None of them seem prepared to run, and most of them aren't even looking at Derek.

It's all wrong. What is going on?

The pitcher launches a ball Derek's way, and he misses. It's not anything weird. But the murderous look James is sending Derek certainly is.

Realization strikes through me.

I think I know what's going on, and I am not looking forward to it.

After missing once, Derek seems to straighten up and take it seriously, and when the pitcher sends another ball at him, it makes contact and flies across the field.

As the fielders linger before they run after the ball, my dread increases. Our team is already at 2 outs. One more out and they prevent James and Derek from scoring, one more out and their team gets one more shot before the game is over, but the fielders aren't even trying.

James is going to make it home. I'm afraid I know what's going to happen when he gets there.

As he sprints his way around the bases, he waves toward the camera that trails him, projecting his grand moment onto the jumbotron for the entire stadium to view. When he reaches home base, the camera doesn't change, and James still remains on screen, fully confirming what I thought to be true.

Over the loudspeaker, I hear, "Grant Ledger, we need you at home plate for a special surprise!"

That's me.

I sigh, which my team seems to interpret as a hopeful sigh and not an irritated one, because they cheer after me as I jog towards home plate to greet James.

I stand in front of him, and his significant height over me feels even greater when I catch a glimpse of us standing across from each other on the jumbotron.

When he drops to one knee and confidently reveals a ring box from his pocket, opening it right before my eyes, I truly wish I could say I'm surprised.

He begins his speech, saying all of these supposedly nice things, but they're really all about him, and how he knows that he's the more famous one in the relationship and all, but he needs me by his side to support him throughout his career, I fight the urge to yawn. Years of a relationship, and he can still only talk about me in relation to himself.

When he finishes, leaving me to respond, I choose my words carefully, "James, I love you. I really do. This is such a grand gesture, it really confirms what I always knew. You only love yourself."

His face turns into confusion while mine turns into a smile. I've been waiting for this for a long time.

He asks, "Why?" like it's all my fault, and I tell him, not leaving out any malice, "I told you if I ever got proposed to, I'd want it to be small. Just me and the man I love."

I take a step further towards him, "Now I know you didn't listen, because I knew if it was up to you, the entire world would see you propose, because you needed it to be a spectacle. So no. I won't marry you."

As I walk away towards the dugout, the entire crowd boos after me, and I let it soak in. Let them. I just rejected one of the greatest men in Dodgers history, and he's put it out for the entire world to see.