Phillips' Sister (Benny Rodriguez)

Chapter Five

Finally after a long day of playing baseball, Benny decided to walk me home, "Thanks for walking me home Benny, next time just don't bother-"

"I stopped listening after you said thanks." Benny smirked. I couldn't stop myself from growing a smile on my face.

We were standing right outside my house. Benny began to rub the back of his neck, "Well I better get going, you coming to the sandlot tomorrow Phillips?"

"Yeah, sure." I nodded, "Do you guys seriously just play everyday?"

"Yup, from 8:00 to 6:00 usually, sometimes later." He answered.

"Okay I'm sorry." I laughed a bit, "Bye Benny." I turned around awkwardly and walked back into my house. I couldn't help it, but I looked back and oddly enough Benny did at the same time. I immediately turned my head back around in embarrassment.

I opened my front door with my head down, sadly my dad was right in my way, "Where the hell have you been all day?"

"Out with Charlotte and Jacky." I answered quickly. I knew if my dad called their house and asked, they'd cover for me.

"Is that so?" My dad folded his arms, "Then why are they sitting in our living room waiting for you to come home?"

I looked past my dad to glance at the living room, I saw Charlotte mouth the words, "Sorry."

Shit.

I looked back at my dad, I knew I was in deep shit and there was no getting out of this.

"Dad it's fine." Jordan walked over to us, "She was just picking up my glove from Johnny's house."

Johnny is Jordan's best friend.

Dad turned to Jordan, "She was doing that all day?"

"Well she was at the mall with her friends." He stated, "But then they were going to meet here after she got my glove for me. I mean that is what Charlotte told me." Jordan walked over to me and took my glove from my hands.

"Alright." My dad turned around and went into the kitchen.

I looked at Jordan, why the hell did he stick up for me? I just continued to go up to Charlotte and Jacky, I motioned for them to follow me up to my bedroom.

I plopped down on my bed as Charlotte & Jacky entered my room, closing the door behind them.

"We're so sorry Rowan!" Charlotte began heading over to my bed, "We had no idea that you were going to be at the sandlot for so long. Next time we'll stop by there to make sure."

"It's fine, at least Jordan had my back." I shrugged.

Jacky sat down next to me, "Yeah, that was really weird."

"It was." I agreed with a little chuckle.

"Anyways." Charlotte sat criss cross on my bed, "How was the sandlot with Rodriguez?" She poked my leg teasingly.

I immediately blushed, "It was good honestly, most of the guys are dicks though just because I'm a girl. At least Benny always stands up for me."

"I think he likes you."

I laughed, "I doubt it." I looked at Jacky and for some reason she looked upset, "Jacky, what's wrong?"

She snapped out of her gaze, "Oh, nothing."

*    *    *    *

I knocked on Jordan's bedroom door, he never gave me my glove back after yesterday. This motherfucker is a heavy sleeper, so I gave up. I wasn't going to barge into his room.

I was just going to the sandlot to tell Benny I can't play. I can't just stand him up. Afterward I'm going to hang with Charlotte & Jacky.

I finally arrived to the sandlot, the boys were getting ready to base up. I saw Squints groan once he lied his eyes on me.

Benny's face lit up and he ran toward me, "Where's your glove?"

"Yeah about that, my brother has it and he never gave it back." I explained, "So I'm really sorry, I can't play today."

"Yeah you can, I always bring an extra glove. It's in the dugout right now." Benny began walking toward the dugout so I ran to catch up with him.

He grabbed a glove that was sitting on the bench, he handed it to me. It was a nice leather that had "Rodriguez" signed on the thumb in cursive.

"Thank you." I put the glove on my hand.

"Does it fit?" He asked.

I nodded, "Yeah."

"Okay great." He left the dugout and I watched him leave, what the hell was I doing? I ran out to 3rd base, which is where they had me play most of the time.

Bertram was up to bat, Kenny pitched the ball and Bertram hit it. It went flying my way quickly so I put my glove out, but the ball went too fast and it hit me in the eye. Which caused me to fall backward. I held onto my eyeball wincing in pain. God this was so fucking embarrassing.

The whole team was surrounding me at this point.

"You okay Phillips?" Asked Bertram.

"Yeah-yeah, looks pretty bad."

Benny pushed through the group right as I attempted to stand up. He quickly grabbed my hand, "Shit. C'mon let's get ya' some ice." He led me to the dugout still holding onto my hand, he sat me next to the cooler.

Benny ripped the lower part of his flannel's sleeve, "Benny wh-"

"It's fine Rowan." He cut me off as he lifted the cooler's lid, "I got many flannels."

I felt awful. He rummaged through the cooler to grab some ice and he wrapped it up in the piece of cloth he ripped off his flannel.

He handed it to me and I put it up to my eye right as he sat down next to me, "Are you sure you're okay Rowan?" He looked at me.

"Yes Benny, thank you." I chose to avoid eye contact, I was completely full of embarrassment and guilt, "You can play without me, I'll be fine."

"Nah, I'ma stay here with you."

"Can we continue playing?" I heard Squints say, I looked up and saw all the boys leaned up against the fence.

"Yeah." Benny rolled his eyes in annoyance. The boys turned around and based up.

I sighed. Benny put his hand on top of mine, which was resting on my knee. I felt butterflies in my stomach.

Word Count: 1060