✓ | 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 ♡ Benny Rodriguez

𝙽𝚎𝚠 𝙵𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚙𝚜

Riley Smalls

Riley took a deep breath as Benny called out to her brother, "Hey, Smalls, throw it to second." Scotty looked over to Riley who nodded with a reassuring smile in hopes to calm him down. "Come on, Benny. He's never gonna catch it!" Tommy shouted. "He's not gonna catch it, Benny," Timmy called after. Riley rolled her eyes as Benny hit the ball to Scotty who failed in catching the ball. "Come on, Benny. Why'd you do that?" DeNunez asked as he quickly glanced at Riley. "A square, Benny!" Squints started, "The kid's a square." Riley huffed and turned to the boys, "And what? You think you were naturally good at the game? You think The Babe was naturally good? We all start somewhere!"

Riley closed her eyes as the boys went quiet, Benny smiled over at Riley before looking to the boys. Instead of throwing the ball in, Scotty ran up to Kenny and handed him the ball with an apology before walking over to left center. Riley turned to Benny, "Maybe we should go, I'll teach him a bit then we'll come back." Before Benny could respond, Riley jogged over to her brother. Benny didn't want either of them to leave, especially Riley. Benny jogged over to the two and turned to Scotty, "You can throw it, you know." Riley stayed quiet as Scotty explained he didn't know how to.

Scotty sighed as he looked down slightly, "Thanks for bringing us here, but I think we'd better go." Riley smiled sympathetically at her brother before looking up at Benny. "Hey, hey..." Benny was quick to stop them. "You think too much. I bet you get straight A's and shit, huh?" Benny asked making Riley smirk at her younger brother. "No, I got a B once," Scotty retorted making Riley giggle, Benny glanced to her before looking back at Scotty. "Actually, it was an A-minus, but it should've been a B," Scotty added.

Benny sighed, "Man, this is baseball. You gotta stop thinking. You just have fun." Benny looked over to Riley as she turned to him, both of them blushed lightly before focusing back on the younger boy. "I mean, if you were having fun, you would've caught that ball," Benny continued. He thought for a moment before speaking, "You ever have a paper route?" Scotty perked up and nodded his head, "I helped a guy once. Riley too!" Riley smiled at her brother's excited tone as Benny smiled over at her.

Turning back to Scotty, Benny nodded. "Okay. Well, chuck it like you would throw a paper. When your arm gets here, just let go," Benny explained as he demonstrated it. "Just let go. It's that easy," Riley added with a small smile before her and Benny turned away. "H-How do I catch it?" Scotty asked, stopping the two from walking further away. "Just stand there and stick your glove in the air. I'll take care of it," Benny told him before he and Riley walked back to the batter's base.

Riley looked down at her shoes before clearing her throat, "Thank you." Benny looked over at her as she looked up at him. "For what?" Benny asked as he scratched the back of his neck. "For helping him. For being kind. For being you," Riley answered with her usual sweet smile. Benny blushed for a moment, "No thanks needed." Riley nodded as they continued walking.

"About time, Benny. My clothes are going out of style!" Squints called out. "They already are, Squints," Bertram called back. "Smalls, throw it to second," Benny said once he had taken his position. Benny ignored the others as he spit on the ball before throwing it up and hitting it straight towards Scotty. Scotty's arm was up in the air as he turned his head away with his eyes closed, he closed his mitt and everyone was quiet as they looked towards him.

Scotty opened his eyes and looked into the glove before a wide grin appeared on his face. "YEAH!" The boys cheered. "Go Scotty!" Riley called out with a smile. He then pulled his arm back before throwing the ball to second. The boys praised Scotty making the boy smile happily. "I told you so, man," Kenny said under his breath. "Yeah, Let's play some ball," Yeah-Yeah called out. "I knew it... all the time," Ham spoke next. Benny smiled over at Scotty as he sent him a thumbs up.