Let Me Be The One // Benny Rodriguez // COMPLETED

Chapter #8 // Mine

Opal's POV

It was getting super close to the end my 8th grade year. Don't get me wrong, School is okay, but HALLELUJAH.

It was actually quite sad, though, because me, Benny, Rebel, Jolie, Jonah, Bertram, and Kenny are the only ones in the same grade. The other boys are younger. Especially Tommy. Little bitty Tommy, still innocent and pure... that poor kid won't know what hit him when he reaches middle school.

The awards are tomorrow, and since today is a half day, Benny and I just decided to skip. Nobody would care anyway.

"What adventure shall we go on today?" He asks.

"I thinkkkkkk." I have no clue what to think.

"How abouttttt I surprise you." He smiles at me.

"Okay." I smile back.

He wraps a bandana around my eyes so I can't see and gently ties it behind my ponytail.

As we're walking, my feet start sinking. Like we're at a marsh, or getting near a river or something.

"Benny, why is it so wet?" I ask. Although he knows what I mean, I still hear a small laugh escape his lips.

"Just wait." He says. I don't have to see it but I can tell he's smiling.

When he stops me, I almost sink into what feels like mud, or at least really wet sand.

"Benny, where are-" he took the bandana off my eyes to reveal a little beach—in the distance. We were on a small cliff, maybe about 2 feet above the water. And it didnt even look deep.

I look up at my boyfriend and smile, and his hazel eyes meet mine, full of stars.

"It's beautiful," I smile.

"Not as beautiful as you," he smiles down at me.

We sit on the little cliff, the tips of our feet dangling in the water.

"Be right back," Benny says, getting up. With that, he leaves, and I'm left alone.

About 30 seconds pass and he hasn't come back.

I'm about to get up when I hear what sounds like Benny yelling, but it wasn't of anger, annoyance, or any of that. He was swinging on a tire swing towards the water, and within reach, he let go, diving into the water.

All I can do is smile as I watch him be undeniably cute.

He doesn't come up for about 45 seconds.

"...Benny?" I slowly look down into the water.

Did he hit his head...?

Just as I lean down onto my knees to get a closer look, he comes up, grabs my shoulders, and pulls me in the water with him.

Benjamin Franklin Rodriguez!

I come up, and he's already smiling down at me.

"You're an idiot, Benny Rodriguez." I smile.

"I'm your idiot, Opal Major." He smiled back at me.

Those words... hearing them felt... right. It felt good.

I'm your idiot...

Obviously, idiot doesn't apply always. But he said he was mine.

I felt a hand in my back pocket, and looked up to see Benny smirking down at me. I smile up at him.

"You gotta pretty nice butt." He smirks, putting his other hand in my other pocket.

I wrap my arms around his neck and smile, kisses his forehead.

"Why thank you." I smile.

Benny's POV

I plant a kiss on her cheek.

"Follow me under the water." I smirk. Before she can reply, I pull her under with me.

I press my body against hers, and I know, for a fact, because it's been said to me before, that she'll feel every muscle I have under my soaking wet clothes.

And sure enough, I saw the blush creep onto her cheeks, even under the water.

She's so beautiful... I love her so much. More than words can NEAR express.

I don't know how I could ever tell her I love her, and get the entire truth out. I love her that much. I probably loved her before I knew who she was. She's perfect, gentle, kind, caring, generous... she's everything. She's a part of me I'd be lost without...

Noticing she was having trouble holding her breath, I brought us up, and kissed her when I did. Her arms... the feeling of them around my neck or my waist... it felt right. It felt perfect. Like they didn't need to be anywhere but there.

I swam over to the little area, probably the only area around within reach, and got out, helping her afterwards.

Her clothes clung to her body as tight as my heart clung to loving her.

I don't care if that made sense or not.

Every time I look at her, she takes my breath away. She goes on and on about how she's ugly and makeup can't even fix it... I wish she saw herself from my point of view.

We spent the entire day with each other. Either cuddling, kissing, both, or just being goofballs.

Rebel was right, not all relationships last forever. It breaks my heart to think that Opal and I would ever break up. But, deep down... I expect us to, at least once.

Something always goes wrong in my life when I've finally found happiness.

We ended up at the sandlot. The place that was my second home. The place I grew up with all of my friends by my side.

As we stood in the dugout, looking over the sandlot, all I could think was...

I want our kids to have the same experience that I did growing up... on the sandlot.

I pulled Opal close to me, a tight hug. She hugged me back—but tighter. I didn't think it'd been possible.

I've been happy, I've been sad, I've been so mad, and I've cried in the situations of all three.

As I held Opal close to me, looking out onto the sandlot... I cried... for the first time since Dad was taken away.