Sandlot Love

3

I slept badly that night. Plagued by dreams of my childhood. Benji and I playing ball together, laughing and racing each other around the bases all summer. When school started back up again Benji introduced my to his best mate Phillips and his friend Maddi. Me developing a massive crush on Phillips. The rivalry that sprung up between the two boys that stayed as friendly competition until Benji discovered the old Sandlot. Neither him or Phillips wanted to share it and in the end they had played for it. Benji winning and taking possession of the old place. Both boys assuming I would stay with them. In the end Maddi convinced me to stay with Phillips. The broken look of Benji's face. The hunch to his shoulders that betrayed how crushed he was. The way he lost himself in the game. Baseball wasn't just his favourite pastime anymore, it was his life, his saviour, the one thing that stopped him going insane. It had torn me up inside watching my best friend suffer like this and it was all my fault. I had just made up my mind to try fix things between us, despite Phillip's disapproval, when I got the news my dad had received a promotion and we had to up and move across the country.

When I got up in the morning I had smudgy circles under my eyes that I covered with a bit of foundation. I didn't usually wear makeup, simply because it was too easy for it to smudge or run or somehow get messed up, but I didn't want to look like I'd been sleeping badly, especially because I'd be seeing Phillips and Maddi for the first time in years today. I tied my hair back in a simple high ponytail and choose a pair of black tights and a silver-grey singlet. The only piece of jewellery I wore was a silver baseball shaped pendant strung on a silver chain that Phillips had given me just before I'd left.

I caught the bus to school, being completely ignored by Benji and his friends, not that I minded I was so excited to meet up with Phillips when I got to school.

When I finally arrived I got my timetable and my locker number and combination. When I got to my locker I locked eyes on Phillips, he was casually leaving against the locker next to mine chatting to some friends.

"Phillips?"
"Ash? Ash is that you?" He asked, turning to face me
"Yeah man it's me"
"Ash" he repeated, stepping forward and grasping me around the waist he lifted me into the air and spun me around. Finally setting me back on the ground he wrapped his arms around me and hugged me tightly to him.
"God it's been years"
"I know"
"Come on Ash there are some people I'd like you to meet"
He took me over and introduced me to his friends. We chatted a bit and they seem like pretty nice guys but I was impatient to get reacquainted with Maddi.
"Hey Phillips where's Maddi?" I asked and the guys guffawed.
"Oh yeah old Philly boy'll know where she is all right"
"Always keeping track of his chicks Phillips is"
"Shut up guys" Phillips shouted, turning to me he said in a gentler tone "she'll be here Ash, you'll see her at recess. We don't have classes with her today" of course I'd shown Phillips my schedule, he had every class with me today.

The bell rang and we headed off to class, which passed in by a daze. Soon it was recess and Phillips led me to the spot under the tree where we always used to sit. Maddi was there waiting for me.
"Maddi" I squealed, rushing forwards. She rushed to meet me and we hugged.
"Ash! I haven't seen you in years!"
We spent all recess getting reacquainted and for the first time since I'd left I was perfectly content.

The rest of the day passed too fast and then it was time to leave. I missed them but we were going to see each other the next day so it wasn't too bad.

As I lay in bed that night I thought over the day, trying to sort out my feelings. I had thought my crush on Phillips was long gone, but I had been wrong.

It really was turning out to be a repeat of history.