The Summer of Love ♡ Benny Rodriguez

17. Decisions

Today I was definitely going to the sandlot. Yesterday Jonah and I talked for a while on the phone until we both had to eat for dinner, so we got off and planned on talking later. I went to my closet and decided to wear my teal Raglan and light blue jeans. As always, I put on my black converse and I just let my crazy, natural hair loose.
I head downstairs and noticed that it was awfully quiet this morning. It scared me because I expected Luna to maybe be talking on the phone with Cole. I sat at the table and my mom came in with a bowl of cereal.
"Morning Natalia." She says and sets the bowl in front of me.
"Morning ma." I say and she sat at the end of the table. "You know where Luna is?"
"She went to work." My mom said. I nod and start eating my cereal.
"Wait but doesn't she go to work at 9? It's 8." I say. My mom raised an eyebrow and looked at me like if I had two heads.
"It's 9:35..." I gasp and my mom just laughs at me. "Natalia, talking about work, I think it's better for you to also find a job." She suggests.
I nearly choke on my cereal. "A job? Why me? Luna already has a job and you also have to work a lot."
"You can't just always be playing out in the sun. You have to get a job just like your sister." She says. I roll my eyes and continue eating my cereal. I can feel my mom's eyes burn right through me.
"Ma, don't you think it's already good enough that I get to go out and get some exercise?" I ask. She sighs and looks down at her hands.
"Yeah but you can learn a few things by getting a real job." She replied. "You can earn some money and it will help us too."
"Aren't I already helping by not being alone in the house reading books. I'm doing us a favor by going out, it's summer for crying out loud." I protest.
"It would be more helpful if you earn yourself some money for yourself." She replied.
I scoff. "Can't your boyfriend do that. The man is rich. He's no help at all."
"Don't you dare give me attitude Natalia." She screams at me. I cross my arms and she just puts her hand on her forehead.
"Not my fault okay. I'll think about it but right now I'm just going to enjoy my summer." I get up with my bowl and head to the kitchen.
I go to the sink and grab a sponge. I wash my bowl so my mom doesn't have to. I'm still kinda mad that I'm going to have to get a job. I only have a month and a half left of summer vacation and we got here a month ago. It's only the middle of June and I don't know if I can get a job right now. At the same time why can't her boyfriend just give us money whenever we need it. Isn't that why he's here for? The man has so much money that he doesn't know what to do with it. I don't need a father figure, that's what my mom is for.
I lived 10 years without a dad and my mom had to fill in that spot. I look up to her so much, even though sometimes we can get into stupid arguments. My father was good for nothing he just disappeared from our lives. He is an awful man that abused my mother. I have seen everything and so did Luna. I was glad he left because I couldn't stand hearing what I heard. I'm so afraid of him and I don't know what I'd do without my mom.
"Natalia." I hear my mom say. I wipe away the tears that were dying to come out.
"Uh yeah?" I reply. She comes to me and I just continue washing the rest of the dishes. "I just wanted to wash the dishes so you didn't have to. It's your day off so I might as well, you know wash 'em before I go out."
I finished washing the last plate and I dry it with a cloth.
"Thank you mija. I don't know what I did to deserve such great daughters." She says. That just made me happy to hear that my mom really appreciates us.
"I guess I've been taught by the best madre in the world." I respond. A smile grew on her face and she opened her arms wide enough so I can give her a huge hug.
We both were just standing in the middle of the kitchen. I love her with all my heart no matter what happens.
"Mama I love you." I tell her.
"Yo te amo mas. I'll always be here for you. Even when you're older and you move out." She says. I laugh because she always says this to me.
"Yeah I know." I reply.
"Even when you have kids and you're married. I'll always be here for you and your future babies." She gives me a kiss on my head.
I blush and shake my head. "Ma! No stop it." I giggle.
"What? Not saying that you'll have them anytime soon. But when you do I know they'll be beautiful, just like you." She says. I can't control how warm my face is getting from this conversation.
"Okay enough ma! I have to go." I let go from the hug.
"Love you baby take care!" She yells.
"Love you more ma! Bye be back in time for dinner."
I leave the house and let out a huge sigh.
"Got out of that one."
I start walking to Benny's house so we can go to the sandlot together. 
•
"Can we take a break please!" Yells Squints.
We were in the middle of a game when Squints yelled out. I have to admit it is pretty hot out. Just not as hot as when we went to the pool a week ago.
"Yeah yeah we've been playing for 5 hours!" Yeah Yeah adds.
Everyone starts to agree and they start talking all at once. I can barely understand what they are all saying. I go to Benny and he just shakes his head.
"They aren't wrong Benny boy we need a break. Then we can start playing again." I say. A smirk appears on his very flawless, tanned, face.
"So now you are going against me and teaming up with them? That hurts me señorita." He puts his hand over his chest.
I try not to blush but I guess I can just blame it on the heat.
"I am not but if it means taking a break at the dugout then yes." I say.
"Ouch that hurt me" He chuckles. I then noticed that it was quiet.
"Are you guys done flirting? I really need a pop right now." Ham says and he goes to the dugout with the rest if the boys.
"You're welcome?! I was the one who convinced him on taking a break!" I reply.
"We'll take a 15 minute break and then we can finish playing." Says Benny. 
I sit on a bench and wipe the sweat from my forehead. It sure was hot but it's nothing that I'm not used to.
"So what did you do yesterday Natalia?" Asked smalls. I look at him and then at Benny. My eyes go back to smalls.
"Uhm, Claire invited me to go somewhere with her." I said.
"How did it go?" Ham questioned.
"Not bad actually." I responded. Benny sits next to me and hands me a water bottle.
I take it and our hands touched for a split second. I immediately take the bottle and a small smile forms on my face.
"Thanks." I say and he just gives me the most beautiful smile ever. "I thought she would like maybe dig a hole and push me in it and leave me there."
Everyone started laughing and I just couldn't help myself but laugh too.
"I don't think she would ever do that. She looks too nice." Says smalls. I roll my eyes and drink the water.
"Yeah I don't think so. A rich girl like Claire wouldn't be nice. Especially to me, she might think that my mom is trying to replace her mom or whatever bullshit she believes." I say.
"But it's not your fault." Says Benny. I couldn't help but to smile a little. I then look at the rest of the boys and they all shake their head.
"Whatever, who cares about Claire. Let's just relax a little and then play some more." I remark. I hit Benny's legs and he jumped a little. He understood what I meant by that and he playfully rolled his eyes. He scooted over closer to me and he patted his legs. I lay down on his lap and just like that I fell asleep.
•
We all decided that we were done for the day and it was time to go or else our parents would get really mad at us and knowing how my mom is with curfews I don't want to get on her bad side at all.
The guys were talking about some random stuff that I didn't bother to listen. My mind was on something else and that something has been bothering me all day. We just keep walking and that's when I heard a little door bell ring. I quickly turned around to see what made the noise.
It was a diner. So I stopped and looked into the huge window. This has to be the diner Cole brought Luna and I not too long ago. I look next to the window and there was a sign that read:
"Now hiring"
With a small little picture of a smiley face. Just by looking at that sign I smiled to myself.
"I guess I have now found myself a job. Got that problem solved." I smiled to myself.
"

Hey Natalia, you coming or not?" Asked Benny. My eyes tear away from the sign and go straight to Benny's.
"U-uh yeah I'm coming, don't rush me Rodriguez." I stuttered a little. He smirks and just shakes his head.
My stomach had this weird gut feeling again. My hands have now become sweaty and it wasn't even that hot, since the sun is now setting. My face also felt very hot for some reason. Maybe could be by how much we had played out in the sun or I could be coming down with some illness.
I sigh to myself and look down, "great, there goes another problem I have to fix..." And like that I run to the guys to catch up so I can go home and eat some tamales because boy was I hungry.
♡
A/n
Oh shit nuggets I am so sorry about that. It's horrible, short and messy but like can you blame me? I've been very busy lately, I joined Band a week ago and I play the Tuba and Concert season has started. I have work I still have to do because my grades are looking kinda wacky if I do say so myself. Also haha BoY pRoBlEmS have creeped around, me having a crush on a guy who is also in band AnD he has a girlfriend which I found out a month ago. Best part he started talking to me... Worst part he also invited his girlfriend to join band on Tuesday, that just bothered me a lot honestly. Also the guy that I think is a junior and teaches me how to play the tuba is trying to hit on me but I don't see him that way, which is weird because I'M NOT CUTE, I LOOK LIKE A ROACH! So yeah a lot of shit is going down. Okay I'll stop ranting now, Peace Out and Stay Gold ✌🍒❤
Here is the drawing too because I have drawn it months ago and yeah... I suck at this haha