A/N: At first, I was getting a lot of reviews. I haven't been getting ANY lately. Please review; feedback is always appreciated.

Val checked her watch, slapped her forehead, and skated away without waiting for the others to catch up. She'd promised to be at Vandenack Motor Works by noon. Roderick's family had season tickets for the Dodgers, who were playing a home game against the Atlanta Braves. Roderick's dad had invited her to attend the game.

She kicked at the ground to gather speed. Val felt pressure inside her chest, as happened when her mild asthma reared its head. There was no time to stop for breath. She could see the Vandenack's pickup truck on the horizon.

"Great," she panted. "They haven't left yet."

Val jumped off her skateboard when she reached her destination.

"Hi, 'Lenci," Roderick greeted.

"Hi," she replied, walking in the direction of the garage's bathroom. "I'll be right out."

Val slipped inside and closed the door. She peeled off her damp T-shirt, then slapped cold water on her face. She gripped onto the sides of the sink as her heart thumped painfully. Val retrieved her inhaler from the pocket of her shorts and took a couple of puffs. She hastily donned her Braves jersey with #23 on the back as well as the name Estrada and her Atlanta cap.

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"You kids are in for a treat," said Mike Vandeack, Roderick's dad. "We're going to be in the front row."

"Sweet," said Val, punching a fist into her Louisville Slugger outfielder mitt.

"Let's get some hot dogs," Roderick suggested excitedly.

"We can't have a ball game without hot dogs," Mike agreed.

He joined the long line leading to the concession stand while Val and Roderick examined the souvenirs for sale. Roderick got a Dodgers pennant to hang on his bedroom wall; Val chose a Braves tomahawk.

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As anticipated, the game was a very exciting one. There were three Dodger homeruns in the first inning alone. Things looked bad for the Braves until Chipper Jones hit a double RBI. The game continued in this vein. The Braves came out on top, however.

Val screamed and cheered as the Braves trooped to the locker room. Her eyes locked with Johnny Estrada's for a moment. He drew his arm back, preparing to throw a ball into the stands. Val ran several paces backwards, her mitt raised. She tripped on one of the steps, falling hard onto her backside. She felt the sting of something smacking into her mitt.

"Wow, thanks!" she called, unsure if he could hear her.

Val got to her feet with the prized ball clutched carefully in her free hand. Roderick patted her on the back.

"That was some catch," he said.

A one-sided grin tugged at her lips. There was scribble of black ink on the ball. Only the letter "j" and "e" were legible. "He autographed it." she and Rod said together.

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Back at home, she could hardly wait to tell the Rocket gang about her prize. Val stopped dead in her tracks when she realized that no one was smiling.

"Thanks for totally ditching us!" Reggie said angrily.

"Yeah, because of you, I spent all my money on a pay phone call to ask Lars to come get us," said Twister. "Then he got lost on the way home."

"You could have called my cell phone," said Val.

"We tried that. You never answered," said Otto.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to," Val stammered. "I-I put it on 'vibrate' so I could hear them broadcasting the game. I didn't feel it ring."

"Let me guess, you were with Chuy," said Twister.

Val shook her head.

Twister took a breath. "I'd still bet you were out with some other guy. Well, I've had enough of you whacking my heart like a pinata! As far as I'm concerned, it's over between us! And give me my tooth!"

Val dropped the necklace at his feet; Twister stormed into the house.