head over heels | benny rodriguez

| chapter forty five |

"GET OUTTTT!"

"I know, wild, right?" I giggled, covering my blushing cheeks with my hand.

The striking numbers on the gold-trimmed clock drew my attention.

"Shit..." I mumbled, "It's almost 10 D, I gotta dash. Can't miss practice."

"Ugh," Diane groaned, grabbing the sleeve of my navy hoodie with her hands, "But you're leaving in like two weeks, can't you stay longer?"

"Don't remind me, and no. The boys will whoop my ass if I'm late, Benny already pushed back practice cause he was tired from last night,"

"Oh you dirty dog!"

"You shut up." I scoffed as I slipped on my shoes.

"Call me later!"

-

As the days have been slipping through my fingers, my stomach has been building up this awful ache. A sickening, haunting ache, an ache so strong it keeps me up at night.

God, maybe if I would have spent my time more wisely here I wouldn't be feeling like this, but my body hurts more and more every passing minute.

All this time I've wasted and the things I should've done swirl around my tongue as each pedal drags me closer to the lot.

I've got a little over two weeks here, but the things I would do to have just a day extra. Especially after last night.

I sighed as I threw my bike aggressively against the fence, pattering my way to the dugout, just in time.

"ELLE! ELLE!" The boys shouted.

"Hm?" I mumbled, kids flocking to me like moths to a lamp. "Woah, woah! What's with the freakout?"

They were all panting, Benny included, as Squints caught his breath.

The big eyed boy glanced up at me as he heaved, before pushing up his glasses with his middle finger, "We've got a major problemo here missy,"

"Yeah yeah, you'll never believe it!"

I shook my head, "Well cmon then, someone spit it out,"

Benny shushed the crowed as he sighed, "Bertram's missing."

"What?"

"You heard it right. Bertram is nowhere to be found." DeNunez sputtered, wiping the sweat from the excruciating sun.

"Vanished."

"Poof."

"Kablooey!"

Rubbing my eyes, I attempted to de-escalate the situation, "Calm down guys, I'm sure he's fine. I mean, have y'all tried lookin anywhere for him?"

They all stared at each other in pure stupidity, "No...but he's always here."

"He's right," Squints cried, "Gone without notice too. Not a single day has that boy ever missed practice-"

"Unlike some people," Ham coughed under his breath as he side-eyed me.

I nudged his head with my palm, "You shut it Ham, not the time. So you're telling me the reason all of you guys have postponed the game is because Bertram's a little late?"

"Duh." They all spoke in unison.

"Well... okay. Why don't we find him then? A few of us pop by his house, see if he's there, m'kay? It'll be fine, we've just all gotta calm down."

Benny grinned at me, "Great idea Elle,"

"Great idea Elle! Oh my sweet precious Elle how I love you!" Yeah Yeah garbled, grabbing onto Smalls and Ham in agony as they swooned and held their arms behind their backs, as if they were making out with someone.