Curveball A Benny Love Story

The Tiger's Challenge

I woke up the next day feeling better than ever. I brushed my teeth, my hair, decided to put it into little pigtails & showered. I put on some jeans with a black blouse & my new PF flyers. I raced downstairs & I saw a note on the fridge.

"Dear Y/n, I'm going to work today. There's some food in the fridge. I love you so much, I'll see you after work. We can talk to each other then. I didn't want to wake you, I hope you had fun with Wendy yesterday. Love, Dad."

I crumpled the letter & just grabbed some toast & some water. I ran outside after eating my toast & went straight to the sandlot. "Hey, gang!" "Hey, Y/n!" "Alright, now that's Y/n's here. How about some ball?" Benny asked while hugging me by my waist. I kissed his cheek, & said, "That sounds perfect." I ran out of his grip laughing but he grabbed my waist once again.

"You missed a spot." Benny said pouting. "I did? I don't recall." I said teasing him. "You know what I'm talking about. You know what you missed." Benny said smirking. I rolled my eyes playfully & kissed his warm lips. "How'd you sleep last night?" Benny asked me. "I slept fine thanks to the bear you gave me. It had your scent which soothed me." I said taking his hat & putting it on my hat.

"Hey, give me my hat please." Benny said making a pouty face. 'Damn, why does he have to be cute!' I thought. I gave him his hat back & Benny walked to home base while I went to the dugout. Benny hit the pitch that Kenny had thrown him & he ran past first, then second base. Squints got the ball after landing a few feet away from him & threw it to Ham.

"PICKLE!!!" Ham yelled out. Benny ran to Yeah-Yeah then ran back to Ham as both boys threw the ball to each other trying to get Benny out. Benny waited for the most opportune moment to run past & that was when Ham threw the ball to Yeah-Yeah & he ran back to home base. "Damn it!" Squints said while the other boys were complaining. "It's not his fault that he's fast, guys." I said while walking.

"OH NO!!" Squints yelled out. We all looked behind us & there was a group of boys on bikes. "Remember I told you about Phillips?" Benny said. I nodded at his question. "Well, that's his team, The Tigers." 'I want to disappear forever at this damn point.' I thought. But, Benny said I can't run away from my problems. We all walked towards them & Benny grabbed his bat. 'That's so hot!' I thought to myself.

We all stopped in front of their bikes. Phillips had noticed me & smirked, I just rolled my eyes at him & held Benny's hand. "Well, it's easy when you play with a bunch of rejects, a little girl, & a fat kid Rodriguez." Phillips said. "SHUT YOUR MOUTH, PHILLIPS!" Benny threatened him while holding the bat up. "What'd you say crapface?!" Ham said. "Shit, It's about to go down." I said. "I said, you shouldn't be allowed to touch a baseball. Except for Rodriguez, you're all an insult to the game. Except for you too, Y/n." Phillips said.

Benny nearly lunged at him but I stopped him before the confrontation grew bigger. "Come on! We'll take you on right here, right now. Come on!" We all supported Ham after what he said. "We play on a real diamond Porter! You ain't good enough to lick the dirt off our cleats." "Watch it, Jerk." Ham said. "Shut up, Idiot." Phillips retorted back. "MORON!" "SCAB EATER!" "BUTT SNIFFER!" PUS LICKER!" "FART SMELLER!" Ham finished while Bertram sniffed the air making me laugh. 

"You eat dog crap for breakfast, geek!" Phillips said. "You mix your Wheaties with your mama's toe jam!" Ham said. We all had to back Ham up for that insult, that was a good one. "You bob for apples in the toilet & you like it." Phillips said smiling. But nothing would have prepared me for what Ham said next. "YOU PLAY BALL LIKE A GIRL!!" Ham said. Everyone's eyes widen & looking towards me to see my input. I shrugged my shoulders even though it kinda hit a little hard. "What did you say?" Phillips asked. "You heard me." Ham said coolly.

"Tomorrow. Noon. At our field. Be there, Buffalo Butt Breath." Phillips said, his voice cracking when he said noon. "Count on it, Pee-Drinking Crap Face!" Ham said finishing the fight. "Oh, & bring the girl too. So she can see real winners." "Real winners wouldn't have let their voice crack like you just did. This girl has a name, so learn how to use it. Okay?" I said pointing at Phillips chest. He nodded & he & his friends all rode away on their bikes.

"Jerks." Ham said. All the boys complimented Ham on what he said. But I just couldn't get it out of my head. I mean, I was great at a lot. I just couldn't go up to bat until Benny taught me. "Hey, you alright babe?" Benny asked. "Yeah, just spaced out a little." Benny gave me a solemn look but I just shut him down. We continued to play ball & it was getting dark. Benny walked me home, but I just stopped. "What's wrong?" "I want to sleep with you tonight. I want to be at your house tonight." Benny just shook his head at my request.

"Are you that worried about my dad? He rather lose you in my life than me in his. I can tell in his eyes. Please, Benny?" I pleaded him. He nodded & smiled while taking my hand. We went to his house then went into his bedroom. He gave me a t-shirt to sleep in & we just slept in each other's arms cuddling & thinking about what the hell is going to happen tomorrow at the game.