sandlot imagines.

ham.

my first day in town was just like you'd expect.
the very cliche way any new girl would experience in a new small town.
at first,
it began with the whispers and points,
then slowly faded into everyone rushing to befriend me.
to claim me as their own while they still could.
and though i couldn't quite explain why,
i found myself following slowly behind the group of boys one day during the summer. 
and as soon as the decision was made,
i began to wish i could turn around and return home.
i was already embarrassed.
i had only ever played softball,
and that was rarely.
i was getting myself into something completely different.
a group of boys.
boys who knew how to play baseball nonetheless.
they played almost professionally.
"you wanna bat?"
the tall boy asked me,
handing over his bat.
"i-uh-i mean i can."
i shrugged,
my body trembling with fear.
"come on, benny! she's a girl!"
the small boy with glasses yelled.
benny turned around,
mumbling something incoherent to spare my feelings.
"just breathe. you're thinking too much. it's baseball. just have fun."
he advised,
handing me the bat.
my hands began to perspire as i held it up.
my heart began to race abnormally the longer i remained in their vision.
as benny took his position,
a small voice rang throughout,
"bout time benny, my clothes are going out of style."
benny rolled his eyes then lifted his leg up,
throwing the ball towards me.
the speed of it left me frozen in place,
where i then missed my first hit.
"strike one."
the boy behind me spoke.
i sighed,
shaking off all the fear.
"strike two."
he spoke again.
i knew i had one more throw to go.
one more shot to prove myself.
i watched the speeding ball fly towards me,
and i swung the bat with all my might.
a loud pop pierced the air,
and soon i was running through the bases.
"holy shit!"
they all yelled in disbelief.
and as i touched home,
benny threw his fist in the air in celebration for us both.
"she hit a homer."
"a homer."
"yeah, yeah, a home run!"
the boys mouths remained open in shock as benny and i jumped around in celebration. 
but their surprise soon washed off,
and they were left with their reality now.
they no longer had a ball,
or ninety-eight cent to buy a new one.
"oh, i'm really sorry guys. i didn't mean to."
i mumbled,
walking over to the fence where they all stood.
"are you kidding?! you did great!"
benny cheered,
high-fiving me.
i smiled and looked back up at the fence,
figuring it'd be with a shot.
"i'll just get it."
i announced,
lifting myself off the ground and onto the chain linked fence.
"no!"
they all yelled at once,
charging after me.
"you can't go over there!"
ham yelled in alarm while lifting me off the fence.
"woah!"
i yelled as i finally felt my feet on the ground again.
"the beast will devour you, homer!"
i began to brush the dirt off my shirt,
tilting my head in confusion,
"the beast? homer? like the poet?"
"no, idiot. the beast is an evil, human eating dog. you're homer, for the home run! duh!"
i laughed sheepishly and apologized before they began to explain the story.
"we can't have a pretty girl like you disappearing, now can we?"
han smiled,
elbowing me playfully.
i laughed softly with the shake my head,
"you just called me an idiot."
"...tough love?"
"mm,"
i giggled before asking,
"so how're we gonna play?"
"i don't know, homer. you got an extra ninety-seven cent laying around?"
squints asked.
"yeah, i do actually."
i pulled out the wallet i kept in my back pocket and handed him a dollar.
"damn, homer."
we all rushed to the nearest convenience store to find a ball,
and on the way,
ham leaned in to wrap an arm around me,
"what are you doing tonight?"
"nothing, i suppose. why? what's up?"
"great. so i'll see you at the treehouse."
"t-treehouse?"
"don't worry. i'll pick you up and we'll arrive together."
i nodded and tried to fight the blush deep in my cheeks,
but it was no use.
***
ham did as promised and arrived to take me to the treehouse.
i adjusted the bag on my arm and began walking with him in silence.
"can i carry that for you?"
he asked,
pointing to my bag.
"it's alright. i've got it."
"let me carry it."
"okay."
i snickered and handed it to him where he held it securely.
"so, homer, where'd you learn to bat like that?"
"i used to play softball, like, way back. guess it never left."
"of course not! baseball, and i mean baseball, is like learning to ride a bicycle. you never forget."
"what do you have against baseball, hm?"
i teased and playfully shoved him.
he shrugged,
"it's for-for sissy's."
"oh, yeah? this sissy just hit a home run. when's the last time you hit one, huh ham?"
he rolled his eyes and let the blush hover against his cheeks.
"okay, okay! you've got some fire in you, y/n. i like that."
i laughed to myself and continued walking,
where we finally reached the treehouse.
the rest of our night was spent eating s'mores until our teeth hurt and laughing as loud as possible.
and as i laid to sleep in the comfort of my own sleeping bag,
provided by ham,
he soon turned to face me.
"hey, homer, you up?"
he whispered.
"yeah."
"mark my words. i'm gonna make you mine one day."