Slugger (Sequel to 'The Jet') Benny Rodriguez

Chapter 7

(DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY BROKEN HEARTS CAUSED BY THIS CHAPTER, BUT I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE BECAUSE IT'S REAL SAD.)

The weekend was wonderful, you and Benny took Eva to get her first glove and bat. Sure the bat was only plastic and covered in foam, but she had to learn somehow. The glove itself wasn't real leather.... but rather a rubbery type material. Even though it wasn't exactly the real deal, she loved it more than anything. You and Benny spent all day Saturday and Sunday teaching her how to hit and catch.

Monday morning was kind of slow, as you had a combination of your three least favorite classes. Man, you'd be so happy to graduate and get all this out of the way. Benny felt the same way, although he would probably miss it due to his team. He'd grown rather fond of them all.

Benny got home before you did, and began getting ready for practice when the mail came. Since you both were monthly subscribers to the local newspaper, the mailman delivered it everyday.

He'd gotten Eva dressed and ready for Daycare, but he stopped when a certain headline caught his eye.

-

You came home a little bit after Benny did, and hung your keys on the rack when you walked in. You walked passed the kitchen and into the living room when you saw him.

He had a newspaper clutched tightly in his hands as he sat there, his head hanging in his other hand as tears came slowly down his face.

"Benny? What's wrong are you okay?" You sat down next to him, trying to place a hand at his shoulder. He just shrugged it off and shook his head.

You were really concerned. Never was there a time that Benny was sad and he didn't tell you the reason why.

"Angel, please... what's the matter?"

"Mack.... I don't understand. I've tried so hard to give you everything I can. I know I haven't been home as much, but I've tried my best to be here for you and Eva."  He stuttered. You could hear the brokenness in his words.

"Benny what are you talking about?" You were very obviously confused, by that was over when he held up the newspaper he'd been holding onto with a deathly grip.

On the front page, there was a rather large picture of you and Johnny Trambroni, where he was holding you tightly as he kissed you. The way the picture was taken, it looked very bad. Bad as in it looked like you were gripping him for dear life. Your eyes widened and you couldn't help yourself.

"Shit." You murmered.

"Yeah... shit." Benny said. He hadn't stopped crying and couldn't even look you in the eye.

"Benny listen..."

"No, Mack... I don't wanna listen. I know you didn't want me to find out but I did. I did and I don't even know what to do right now." He burried his face in his hands, trying to hide himself. He didn't want you to see the hurt you'd caused him.

"Ben you can't be serious, there's no way I'm with him." You tried to tell him, but he shook his head, still avoiding eye contact.

"Don't lie to me please. I can't take anymore." His voice was just above a whisper and the shakyness of it make your heart tremble. "Mack it took me a while but I finally put the pieces together. You leave forty five minutes early every day and you come home about thirty minutes late. You can't wait to get there every day even though you don't like most of the people there. You went to a gala with this guy even though I couldn't even get you to go to a college dance with me. I just don't know what else to think... there's no other way any of this would make sense."