YOUTH ~ Benny Rodriguez

The Industrial Revolution, Really?

I Miss You, I'm Sorry - Gracie Abrams

Nothin' happened in the way I wanted
Every corner of this house is haunted
And I know you said that we're not talkin'
But I miss you, I'm sorry

The sun cast a warm glow over the school grounds, signaling the start of another sweltering August day.

Adelaide walked through the hallways of Ridgewood High, her mind wandering back to the breakup with Phillips. It had already been a few weeks since that day, but the sting of it still lingered.

As she reached her classroom, she glanced out the window and saw the school's baseball field, bustling with activity. Benny Rodriguez, the star player of the school's baseball team, was out there practicing his swings. His dedication was admirable, even in the heat. Adelaide couldn't help but watch him for a moment, his figure cutting through the morning light with every powerful swing.

Benny had always been a bit of a mystery to her, especially after their falling out a year ago. They used to be friends, sharing laughs and secrets, but something had driven a wedge between them. In the past year, they shared a few classes, but their paths rarely crossed anymore. Today, though, something about the way he moved, so confident and focused, caught her attention. Maybe it was the way he seemed unfazed by the heat, or perhaps it was just the distraction she needed from her own thoughts.

Suddenly, the minute bell rang, pulling her back to reality. Benny snapped out of his focus, quickly gathering his gear and dashing towards the school. Adelaide shook her head, snapping out of it too, and turned back around towards the front of the room.

The first day of school buzzed with excitement and nerves. As the final bell rang, the classroom fell silent as Benny entered, sweaty and breathless. The teacher looked up from her desk, eyebrows raised. "You're late, Mr. Rodriguez," she said, her tone firm. "Take the only seat left, next to.." she pointed down on the seating chart, looking up at Adelaide. ".. Adelaide Desmond."

Benny scanned the room quickly, his eyes landing on Adelaide. He frowned. He still assumed she was dating Phillips and he recalled the faint memory of her distancing herself from the Sandlot crew over the past year. Reluctantly, he made his way to the seat next to her, shooting her a displeased look. Adelaide, sensing his unease, tried to focus on the lesson, puzzled by his cold reception.

The classroom buzzed with the low hum of students whispering and scribbling notes. Mrs. Thompson stood at the front, clearing her throat to get everyone's attention.

"Alright, class, listen up. This class is all about projects. It's your freshman year, so this is only the beginning of the projects you're going to be assigned to this year. So, for your first project of the year, you'll be partnered with the person sitting next to you. I thought that'd be a nice and easy way to start this, since most of you picked your seats."

Adelaide's heart skipped a beat as she glanced sideways at Benny. His expression was unreadable, his focus seemingly elsewhere.

Mrs. Thompson continued. "This project will require you to work closely together, so make sure you communicate effectively.

Benny finally turned to Adelaide, his voice distant and cool.

"I guess we're partners then," he said, not meeting her eyes. "Let's just get through this."

Adelaide nodded, feeling a mix of apprehension and determination. "Yeah, let's do our best," she replied, hoping this project might bridge the gap between them, even if just a little.

Mrs. Thompson smiled as she hushed the bustling students. "Your project is to create a detailed presentation on a historical event of your choice. You'll need to include primary—-"

Adelaide scribbled down the details, her mind racing with ideas. Although Benny seemed less enthusiastic about the project, he was twirling his pencil, barely writing anything down.

Adelaide turned towards him, trying to gauge his reaction. "Any ideas on what event we should choose?" she asked, attempting to break the ice.

Benny shrugged, still distant. "I don't know. Maybe something straightforward like the Industrial Revolution."

Adelaide was surprised. He really was angry with her. What kind of year long grudge was this?

"Oh. Okay. Sounds good," Adelaide replied, trying to stay positive. "Let's start brainstorming tomorrow."

Benny nodded, his focus already drifting away. "Sure, whatever."

The silence hung between them. It was painfully awkward.

"The Industrial Revolution. Really?" Adelaide sighed, re-thinking her agreement to the plan. She tried to hide her surprise. She had thought Benny, being such a baseball fanatic, would suggest an event from baseball history.

Benny looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Yeah, unless you have any better ideas?"

Adelaide bit her lip, thinking quickly. "How about something from baseball history? Like the integration of Major League Baseball by Jackie Robinson? It's significant and has a lot of social impact."

Benny's eyes lit up slightly. "Yeah, that's actually a pretty good idea. I could get into that."

Adelaide smiled, feeling a bit more hopeful. "Great! Let's meet after school tomorrow to start planning."

Benny nodded, a hint of enthusiasm in his voice. "Sounds good. See you then."

Adelaide felt a small victory— this project might work out after all.