Sandlot Love

10- Benny's POV

"Dammit where's the ball?!" I thundered looking around at the guys.
"Umm well, Hercules chewed it up"
"Seriously guys!? You know better than to let him keep a ball for too long. Now we can't play no more!"
"We'll get another ball"
"How? Anyone got enough money to buy one?" They all shook their heads.
"How are we gonna play now?"
"I can get a ball"
"Smalls I swear to god not this again"
"No it's okay I'll ask permission"
"Not another ball from your stepdad"
"No, from Ash"
"Ash! No! No no no no no! Keep her out of Sandlot business when she's not here"
"You want to play or not?" I grumbled, everyone knows I'd do anything to keep playing.
"Then let's go over there and ask"

I followed Smalls to Ash's house and stood waiting impatiently while he tried to get her to open the window. I didn't want to talk to her at all, I barely tolerated her on the Sandlot and borrowing a ball from her would make it seem like I relied on her, like her being around is useful, like I owe her. The whole thing just put me in a bad mood. When the window finally opened she started complaining about the fact it was barely past dawn and I knew we'd be here all day if I didn't do something so I shoved her aside and claimed through the window, pulling Smalls up behind me. I turned to look at her and- wow.

She was stunning. Her long hair was cascading down her back in loose waves. She wore a nightie that hugged the curves of her chest and revealed her long tan legs. Hey I was a teenage guy you can't blame me for appreciating such a fine view.

I didn't even realise I was staring until she caught me looking, she blushed a deep red and pulled on a robe from the floor. I could still see her in my minds eye.
"You want a ball?" She snapped "take one and get out" and suddenly a ball was flying towards me, I caught it on instinct, shaking my head from side to side to dislodge the memory of the sight of her.
"You too" she said, throwing a ball at Smalls "shoo" she herded us back out the open window, shutting it behind us. I heard the lock engage with a snick.

"Benny!"
"What? Oh right, I'm gonna sit this one out" I said, seating myself on the old worn out bench in the dugout. I flinched when Smalls say down heavily beside me.
"Hey Benny, you ok man?"
"What?" I asked, dazed. I could still see Ash in my head, she was totally gorgeous. A thousand times hotter than Wendy Peffercorn, and that was saying something. I wonder what she'd look like in swimmers. I shuddered at the thought, god why was it so hard to keep my mind on baseball?

"Thinking about her huh?"
"I'm not thinkin 'bout nobody" I said defensively
"Yeah you were. You were day dreaming about Ash your cru-mmph" I slammed my hand across Small's mouth.
"Try not to tell the whole world big mouth!"
"Mmrphm" Smalls tried speaking with my hand still across his mouth. His eyes were wide and full of fake innocence.
"If I take my hand off you promise not to shout it out for the whole Sandlot to hear?" Smalls nodded and I removed my hand. He instantly shot to his feet and took off running.
"Benny has a crush!" He yelled, running flat out away from me "Benny likes- Ahhh" he squealed as I tackled him to the ground.
"Knock it off Smalls" I threatened "I mean it"

"Oooh" Squints chorused, and I looked up to see that the boys had called off their game and come over to see what all the fuss was about.
"Who's the unlucky girl?" Ham asked
"Amrpjh" Smalls said, voice contorted by my hand over his mouth and his face being pressed into the grass.
"Nah that can't be true, Smalls is just messin with us" DeNunez says "Benny has no other love than baseball"
The guys looked at each other and nodded.
"As if some girl could distract The Jet from playin ball" Ham says, laughing "The idea's ridiculous" everyone chorused their agreement and walked off to resume playing but I stood their, dumbstruck.

A girl had distracted me from baseball. It was true. Me, Benny The Jet Rodriguez, thought something was equally important to me as baseball. And that thing was a girl, and not just any girl, Ash. The very person who crushed me so many years ago and made ball my life, my outlet, my everything.

I knew that despite how much I had tried to forget about my stupid feelings for her they weren't going to leave anytime soon. And I cared about her too much to see her get used by that player Phillips. But was I ready to get my heart broken again? Was I willing to risk it? Was I ready to forgive Ash for everything she did to me and give friendship another chance?

I don't know, but I had a feeling I'd have to make up my mind very soon.