indentations - benny rodriguez

ch. 10

~ indentations ~

After a full minute of just staring at the other, the two couples met outside the ice cream parlor.

Parker was eyeing Benny down, he might be supportive of Kenny being gay, but him dating Phillips? Different story.

Phillips and Kenny came out of the ice cream parlor, standing a good two feet apart. Phillips kept his gaze on the concrete, while Kenny was staring directly at Benny.

"I'm sorry Kenny." Parker attempted. "I tried."

Kenny shrugged. "It's o-"

"What the hell man?!" Benny interrupted. "You're dating him?"

"No Benny, we just like to kiss sometimes. No shit sherlock." Kenny stepped forward.

Before Benny could do the same, Parker put a hand on his elbow.

"Him? The guy that tortured us for years?"

"It wasn't like that man-"

"-Stop making excuses for him-"

"HE'S MY BOYFRIEND WHAT DO YOU EXPECT ME TO DO?!" Kenny yelled, loud enough for people in the shop neighboring to hear, but no one said anything.

Benny stood in silence, a look of contemplation on his face. Parker glanced between Benny, Kenny, and Phillips. She knew the ice had broken, and it wasn't surprising considering the load.

"C'mon," Benny nodded his head to the park down the street. "Let's talk."

Kenny nodded, following Benny in the direction of the park.

Parker didn't follow, she knew he'd want the conversation to be between the two. But she did stay close by, knowing she might have to wrangle either party.

"Didn't think Benny'd be so mad." Phillips spoke, catching Parkers attention.

"Yeah, he can be an emotional prick sometimes." Parker chuckled. "One time he showed up at my doorstep, only to yell at me and tell me that when we kissed meant nothing."

"Now that's a low." Phillips crossed his hands over his chest, still staring at the ground. "So, are you ok? With me and Ken?"

"You call him Ken? That's adorable. And yes, totally." Parker flashed the boy a smile. "Does Grace know?"

Phillips nodded. "Told her the day I asked him out."

"How'd she take it? Grace."

"She said she had a feeling. That she knew." Phillips chuckled. "I guess I wasn't that subtle."

After about ten minutes of talking, Kenny and Benny returned.

Kenny looked relieved, Benny had a small smile on his face. Benny walked up to Phillips and began talking to him. Phillips looked slightly terrified, and Parker couldn't blame him.

Parker approached Kenny.

"So?"

Kenny grinned. "We're good."

"I'm so glad," Parker wrapped Kenny up in a quick hug. "I would kill him if it was anything else."

~*~

The next day everyone was back at the Sandlot.

Squints, Yeah-Yeah, the Timmons, Ham, Weeks, Smalls, Kenny, Benny, Parker, everyone.

"Strike one!" Ham, who was playing umpire, yelled.

Benny, who had missed, didn't even hear Ham. His eyes were trained on the pretty left fielder, with red hair and who was wearing his t-shirt.