Out of my League

Chapter One

"Hurry up batter. It's gotta be a short game, then I gotta get home for lunch"
                                            -Hamilton

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We had finally left, it's not the fact we had left or the fact we had to leave, but it's the fact we have to be here. Out of all places Mom could've found a job she chose The Valley.

It was a small town filled with kids and adults who all lived the same life, 9-5 jobs and abusive husbands who all had a small drinking problem.

Though, no one talked about it. The kids thought it was normal, so I guess this would be my new normal.

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I finally saw the sign, "Welcome to The Valley" my mom she made a great deal out of it, pointing and saying things like, "This is a great opportunity," and ,"Look at all the friends you could make."

I'm glad she's positive about this, I just wish I was as happy as she was... we drive through the town, lots of small owned businesses, and housing that all looked the same.

We pulled into our new drive way, the house was a bit run down, looking like the grass hadn't been mowed all summer and the flowers in the small patch by the front door were all dead. 

"Looks promising," I sat up in the car seat and took a deep breath.

"Now that's the attitude!" She patted me on the shoulder and gave me a reassuring look. Mom turned of the car and opened the door, I followed the same as she unlocked the trunk.

"I'll unlock the door and we'll see what we're messing with," agreeing with a nod I grabbed my back pack from the trunk and headed to the front door.

Inside was humid, the AC had probably not been turned on since the previous owners had lived here. There was at least good hardwood and carpeting and the kitchen was spacious? That's a good term, spacious.

Upstairs was the same just hotter and dustier, my room was on the right across from a smaller bathroom and the guest room. My walls were a dusty pink with white base boards.

"We can definitely paint it, that shouldn't be an issue," Mom walked into my room and added ,"It's just the fact the movers wont be here till'  Friday."

***
4:00 PM I read from the wall clock, "Mom? Do you think I can walk around town a little bit?"

"Be back by six, got it?" she was unloading some of the boxes from the car and placing them in the living room.

"Got it," I walked out the front door and followed out of our neighborhood. They're were plenty of stores, mostly small grocery markets and liquor stores with the occasional small candy shop ran by an old guy.

A few blocks down there was a park, a small dirt baseball field and some play ground equipment. A few kids were on the slides and swing sets but a few kids my age were playing base ball. Not that I was familiar with it, but my dad had always loved it before he left... or at least that's what Grandma and Grandpa told me.

I walked down following a small path with a bench right by the field. I had sat down and eyes the batter, he was Hispanic or at least what I had thought, definitely tanner then the rest of the guys their. He had dark hair, and was wearing a flannel with a tank top underneath and was drenched in sweat. Hair was sticking to his forehead and he stared directly into the pitcher's eyes almost with a hostile look.

He got a small glimpse of me, breaking eye contact and making it with me. He grinned and stared directly back at the pitcher.

"Benny... this ones comin' for ya!"

"Oh I bet" He got ready positioning his feet correctly and bending his knees keeping his eyes on the ball.

The ball was swiftly thrown from the pitchers hand heading straight for the batter. 

WHACK 

He hit the ball as hard as he good running to first, then second...

"Get it Timmy!" one of the boys shouted the ball hit the ground and Benny kept running he made it back to home, throwing his baseball cap on the ground and smiling.

We made eye contact once more as he gave a stink eye to one the boys on the opposing team.

I got up from the bench and continued walking further from the field.

"Hey, girl with the pretty hair!" Who the? I turn around and Benny is staring at me, out of breath, " Hey i- uh saw you watching me over there"

"You did, huh?" I giggled, " That was a pretty good hit you made that kid run pretty far,"

"Oh, that was Tommy, one of my buds we usually play here every day," He kept trying to catch his breath," Say what's your name? I haven't seen you around her before"

"I'm Amber me and my mom moved in earlier today, I just wanted to get to know the town a little bit better"

"Ok I see that, say do you need any help with finding your way? It's a small town but there's a lot of turns..."

"Is there?" I laughed.

"Definitely, like off main you turn left a few times and your back to where you started its complete bull if I'd say so"

"Well then, I may need your help"

"Yeah, maybe" He grinned ," Say I gotta get back, the next innings about to start; but I'll see you around?"

"Yeah, you will," I grinned and he turned around to jog off. He went back to the field and they started a new inning.

I walked around town seeing everything, he wasn't wrong about the turns...