First Crush (Sandlot)

Part 11

 Maya

After the carnival the group kept coming up with so many stupid ways to get more balls from across the fence. They ran out and felt enough was enough.

Benny was more like the supervisor while the younger ones would try and perform the task of moving their contraptions over and under the fence to retrieve at least one ball to play with. They would do anything other than come in contact with the so called 'beast'.

Maya was still skeptical of the so called beast but she wasn't really thinking about it. She was thinking about how good her relationship with Benny was getting. For the past couple of weeks they were playing baseball everyday and drinking soda and getting to know the others really well but she was closest with Benny.

After the countless contraptions failed the boys gave up and Benny had to beg his folks for yet another early allowance to buy a ball. Maya honestly felt bad that nothing had worked and she did think about another solution for a while.

"Whose ready for the big game tonight?" Benny said with the biggest grin on his face. All of the other boys knew this was his favorite time of the year.

"Game? It's a holiday." Maya chuckled at his crazy idea. They have been playing baseball everyday, she thought they might be able to take a break.

"Fill her in." Squints face palmed his forehead.

"It's perfect. A night game. We will feel like pros. The big leaguers will have nothing on us tonight when the fireworks light up the sky and we can actually see at night. It's amazing. For me at least. It's as close as we will get to actually being under the lights" Benny said in a dream-like state.

"And it works? The fireworks?" Maya questioned.

"Better than magic." Benny smiled at her.

"Make sure you come." He added.

Maya nodded yes and grabbed a bat at home plate and they resumed the game they were currently playing.

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Later that night

Maya kept her normal clothes on and after eating dinner which consisted of hot dogs and French fries, she went down to the lot and the boys were having their own mini fourth of July party.

"Hey you are actually early." Benny said and she realized it was only those two who happened to be there at the time.

"I guess I am." She said confidently.

"Well can I ask you something?" Benny said.

"Shoot."

"Well we are good friends. I know that, but there is something else I want. I was wondering if you'd like to be my girlfriend?" Benny said nervously. He relaxed a bit as Maya hugged him tightly.

"Yes, I would like that. Sure, yea." She smiled. It was like she was floating on air. She might have been so ecstatic to cry, she didn't know what to do. She has never felt these feelings before. Being able to melt the second he smiles at her or holds her hand was something unreal. But the fact he was hers made her so happy.

"I really like your eyes. And your laugh. Your personality makes me insane." Benny said. Maya blushed but chuckled since he said that stuff to her all of the time.

"I also am really glad you kept playing. I am really glad you are here." He said more seriously and placed the baseball in her hands as he stared deeply into her eyes.

"It's never over." She said softly.

"But you can still win. That reminds me, we both win." He smiled and took a deep breath as he took off his blue LA cap and placed it on Maya's head.

"Maya are you happy?" He said genuinely.

"Yes." She said shocked that he gave her his hat. She remembered the bet they had made and he filled his end of the deal.

"The only thing I want you to do for me is be happy." He said and kissed Maya's cheek softly.

"Can we start the game before it gets pitch dark?" Ham said lifting his catchers mask off of his face and I realized the rest of the crew had showed up already.

Benny blushed and took Maya's hand as they headed over to the diamond and began playing the best game they had played all year and the fireworks made it ten times better.

Maya went home that night and didn't want to fall asleep. That is what happens when your life gets better than any dream one's subconscious can muster up.

Benny went home and did the same despite his father yelling at him for blowing all his money on baseballs when they are all just across the fence. Then later his father calling up his mother and arguing about stupid things

Benny didn't care he was just glad his parents raised him well enough to love Maya the right way.

But in the back of his mind he kept thinking on how him and Maya are going to work when they only hangout at the sandlot with the rest of the guys. They will never be alone. He will have to talk to the boys tomorrow since there are no more baseballs to be used so it would be the perfect opportunity.