The Girl That Made Baseball

10

The next few days leading up to the 4th of July were basic.

Jess got up, avoided her father, went to the sandlot, and played until the sun went down.

Jess was mad at her father. She was mad that after everything Jess had done to try and make him proud, it just didn't work for him. Even if Jess was a cheerleader, Paul would have said he wanted her to play ball. Even if Jess did get straight As, Paul would have wanted her to try harder at ball. Nothing could make his happy.

Sure, Jess was a little angry with her mother for not asking her about the matter, but Jess and her mother didn't interact much anyway.

"Earth to Jess" Benny waved his bat to the girl

"Huh?" Jess asked

"Your up" Ham yelled

"Okay, okay!" Jess put her hands in the air and grabbed her bat, walking up to home plate.

Suddenly, all of Jess' anger bunched up in her hands and she was ready to hit that ball.

Denunez pitched, Jess hit the ball so hard it went past The Beasts yard and farther.

"Woah!" Squints wipes his glasses.

Jess frowned and looked down, walking from base to base.

Everyone was still amazed, looking at each other and whispering and then looking to where the ball went.

"Now we cant play no more" Jess frowned and shrugged when she got to home plate.

"What's the matter?" Ham asked, confused

"It's been a rough few days" Jess shared a look with Smalls and then grabbed her bat

"Well uh... now we cant play no more" Benny shrugged

"Oh yeah, sorry about that. I think Im gonna go home" Jess said, readjusting her hat

"I'll walk you" Benny said, looking back at the boys and shrugging

The first part of the walk was silent.

"What's up with you, Jess? Any other day, had you hit a ball that far, you'd have been ecstatic." Benny said

Jess looked up at him and he seemed genuinely worried.

"At the end of summer" Jess sighed "I'm going to a boarding school" Jess said

"Wait, for real? Why?" Benny asked

"Yes. Because my parents think I should focus on something more that baseball." Jess said

"Well, shouldn't you be making this summer the best? Instead of sulking around, wasting it?" Benny asked

"Maybe-"

"We're going to make this summer the best one! Something for you to remember us by!" Benny said

"Thanks, Benny" Jess smiled

"Tomorrow, 8:00, we're going to meet at Vincent's, okay?" Benny asked

"Okay," Jess smiled

"8:00, don't be late!" Benny said while running away.

Jess just smiled and shook her head. That boys going to be the death of me, she thought.

Jess finished her short walk to her house and walked inside to an empty living room.

"Hello?" Jess called

She knew no one would be home, her mother at work and her father coaching a little league team every week. Alex would be in his classes and Reagan would be with Lily. Jess had the entire house to herself.

a/n
short chapter. probably gonna rewrite later🤷🏽‍♀️ love yous