After that magical night, waking up felt hard and weird. Every meteor I saw I wished that Benny would wake up and realize that I liked him. Don't expect those wishes to come true though.
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(YANKEES AND WALKMAN)
I went downstairs to see no one. Squints like usual stayed at Yeah-Yeahs so I was alone. My bag sat on the counter as I grabbed some water for myself. The phone rang.
"Hello Palledorous residence, Y/n speaking. If you're looking for Quinn or Karla please call back at another time." "Y/n do you still say that whole speech every time the phone rings?" "Maybe." "Look mom made breakfast, specifically her French toast casserole." Mrs. Rodriguez' food is to die for. I hung up the phone, grabbed my baseball stuff, shoved the stuff into my backpack and ran to the Rodriguez residence.
When I got there, I didn't have to knock, Benny was sat outside waiting. "Go ahead." He looked defeated. I ran into the house and sat down where I usually sit. A plate of the casserole say there just begging to be eaten. "Y/n! How I've missed you." Mrs. Rodriguez exclaimed giving me a hug over the chair. I heard Bennys little sister Willow come toddling down the stairs and right to me. Willow is the only person I'll drop everything for that isn't Squints. I picked up the 2 year old and cradled her in my arms.
"She's been up for 4 hours, so it's almost her nap time." Mrs. Rodriguez explained. I nodded and started swaying with her trying to help her sleep. Willow according to Benny only falls asleep in my arms really unless she's super tired. Slowly I walked to Willows room and put her down for a nap. She tossed and turned as soon as I put her in her bassinet. She pulled up the blanket while I gave her this little stuffed elephant. I started to sing her a special song.
(I love this song way to much. It was either this or Stolas' lullaby from Helluva Boss)
I walked back out to see Benny in the chair next to mine. I sat down and started eating the casserole slice. The best version yet. "How does this keep getting better?" I asked trying to keep my voice down but still express my enjoyment. She smiled, I heard footsteps from the hall coming into the kitchen.
"Ah my darling Y/n how are you?" It was Bennys dad Otto. Otto is usually at work by now but hey I'm not complaining. We chatted for a bit as I ate before I could see Benny getting antsy. "Oh my girl please, I made an extra casserole made just for you." Mrs. Rodriguez or Thea, handed me a big glass pan. "And do visit more often." "Since it's summer you'll be so sick of me." I laughed as I walked out the door.
Benny got the doors for me since I wanted to put the casserole in the fridge before I left. When I finally finished, Benny didn't even let me run. He scooped me up onto his back. "I can walk you know?" I questioned positioning myself into where he was carrying me like a piggyback ride. "Yes, that's why you're called the flame. But you've been taking FOREVER all day." He explained running full speed. "Everyone else is just heading out, we have time." I laughed. He shook his head and when we got to Vincent's he stopped. "Now you may walk." He bowed down then when I got off him. "Just when I was starting to enjoy myself." I joked. Whenever he carried me, it was always fun.
A little bit later everyone showed up. Ham brought the ball, he got to bat first. First he called him self a bunch of names, then decided did this pose, the Babe Ruth pose as I call it. He pointed to center field as did Babe Ruth. Kenny threw the pitch and Ham hit it over the fence. "Ham you idiot now we can't play no more."
Benny got up and I face palmed. Everyone threw their gloves at Ham as I went over to Smalls. "Give me a boost." We walked over to the fence, Smalls put his hands out and I tried stepped onto it pulling myself up to get my footing.
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!" Squints yelled. Everyone yelled after him and tried to get me. Benny grabbed my waist and pulled me over. He grabbed my hand. "Y/n, we've been over this." "Been over what?" Smalls asked.
"She could've been killed!" Squints explained to smalls. "Yeah-yeah, you could've been killed." "Blah, blah, blah, you all say the same thing. Every damn time." "Why would she have been killed?" "The beast." The boys all explained. "She just tried to get the ball." "It's property of the beast now." Squints said. "It's gone man, gone." Bertram explained to smalls. "Games over man, we'll get another ball tomorrow, cause they won't let me hop the fence." I explained. "Cause you'd die." Benny turned towards me. "Would not!" I retaliated.
"Smalls, listen to me very carefully, go over to the little spot in the fence and look through it." Smalls tried to decline but everyone said no. I popped in a tape and started to listen to tainted love by soft cell.
Benny didn't let my hand go, it was unusual. He smiled at me as I listened to the track. I made it seem like I didn't notice but I did. Smalls looked through and freaked out cause the "beast". "Something got the ball. What was that thing?" We all looked at each other for a sec and all said "camp out."
All the way home the boys explained what a camp out was, but Benny still didn't let go of my hand. Every now and then he'd ask what song came on but we mostly walked in silence. When we arrived home, he came inside. "Look I don't wanna hear you two, but use protection." Squints cackled going to his room.
"YOU LITTLE ASSHOLE!" I flipped him off as I slammed my door shut. We kicked off our shoes and sat down. "That's why I'm not motherly towards the little twirp." I explained while laying back on my bed. Benny was sat on the floor. He quickly realized I was laying down, Benny got up and stood over me. "Dude, what are you doing?" I asked setting my Walkman on my bedside table. He climbed onto my bed and wrapped his arms around me while climbing on top of me. "Get off me you idiot." I tried getting him off me.
He rolled off me but still held me close. I don't know what I looked like but I felt like a tomato turning into a cherry. We stayed like that for about 3 hours, by that I mean we fell asleep. I was awoken by the sound of the front door unlocking. Our parents. I looked over to Benny who was sound asleep. Luckily I was able to slither out without waking him up.
My door creaked slowly as it opened. I tipped toed out to see our mom and dad putting their stuff down. "Mother, Father." "Ah Y/n, we just stopped home to say we're going to be away all summer, we have a credit card for you and Micheal to share on the necessities." Mother explained. "When shall you return?" I questioned. "October 13th." Father told me. I nodded and took the credit card. I was shown how to write bills and stuff so I could make sure we don't die. Squints came down to say goodbye. As soon as the door shut I ran back upstairs, locked my door, and walked in seeing Benny waking up.
"Where did you go?" "Parents are gonna be outta town til October 13th." "No more yelling or drunk nights?" "Yup. So what do you want to do?" "I would like to sleep, since that's not happening tonight." I nodded when he said this. I sat on my bed; that didn't last long. He pulled me down to the position we were in before I left. We fell asleep for another 3 hours. Ok, it's official he likes me.
He never did this before but this doesn't just happen for no reason. And it's one thing to be sleeping in the same bed, or accidentally being in a cuddling position in your sleep, but we fell asleep that way. His leg wrapped around mine; his arms around my waist. It felt like a fever dream.
