Chapter 8

I didn't get it; I didn't get why Benny always had to be so perfect. He had to be so stupid, freaking, and idiotically perfect! He had to keep me company when Emily and Smalls left, and he just had to have that perfectly dark skin and deep dark eyes and be so freakishly tall. Gah, it's his entire fault!

When this thought hit me the next morning, I nearly shrieked furiously. I was right…. It was his fault. I just knew it. And yet, that anger didn't last. And, of course, I went to the Sandlot. I couldn't play on account to my stupid broken hand, which, by the way, was wrapped up in a cast and hurt like crazy, but I promised the guys I'd be there. So, I was there.

Emily was first to greet me, asking me about my hand and making sure I felt alright. I smiled at her and answered her questions. Benny then came up and asked me about my hand. This happened multiple times, each time a little different, from each boy.

I sat down in the Dug-out with Emily, as the boys started to play. "I hate not playing," I grumbled, staring at my cast. Emily gave me a sympathetic look, and mumbled an I'm sorry. We sat there for a while, watching the guys play, and chatting lightly.

"Hey, I know something we can do," Emily said, standing up, and started rummaging through the Dug-out. I watched with curiosity as she found what she needed. It was a black and red sharpie. She uncapped the black Sharpie, and began to draw a circle. When that was done, she started to draw stitching…. It was a baseball. Then, she scribbled 'The Sandlot Team' curving with the baseball. She wrote down my name below it, as I couldn't do it, and said, "You can have the rest of the guys sign it." I grinned. It was actually kinda' cool.

"Hey, you sign it," I offered, watching a confused expression cross her face.

"But I'm not part of the team…"

"Yeah, you are." She smiled at me, before writing her name in red.

When I got home that day, I stared at my cast. It had everyone's names on it. I traced them with my good hand. When I got to the last ones, Benny's, I stopped. With a sigh, I leaned against my bed, wishing things weren't so complicated. With a sigh, I just shrugged. Nothing I could do about it.

I fell asleep that night with nothing on my mind.

I was awaken the next morning by Emily jumping on the end of my bed, and Smalls, Benny, and Pork standing next to my bed, staring down at me. "Annabellllllle!" Emily shouted at me. I groaned.

"You're awake, finally," Pork said, rolling his eyes and stuffing his mouth with food. Emily jumped off the end of my bed and smirked at me.

After stifling a yawn, I asked, "How long have you been trying to wake me up?" Benny checked his watch.

"Twenty," he replied. With a sigh, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood up. Then, grabbing a tank top and some shorts, I walked into the hallway and to the bathroom. After changing and throwing my hair up into a pony-tail, I grabbed a bottle of water out of the kitchen, and lead the others out of the house.

"Bye, Mom!" I called behind me. I heard a muffled reply, and the five of us chatted lightly as we walked to the Sandlot. Gosh, it was hot out. I was already sweating just by the time we reached the end of the block. Gross.

Emily and I sat in the Dug-Out together again, chatting lightly. The day went by quickly, watching the guys play some ball. Emily ended up painting her nails a bright pink, doodling in a notebook, and put a clear coat on her nails. I realized that she must get really bored sometimes. She seemed thankful to have company.

That night, I invited the team over for dinner. They all agreed and promised to meet me at the house in ten minutes. Benny, Emily, and Smalls coming directly over to my house followed me through the door and into the living room, where we found a scene that shocked us. My mom was being yelled at by the Devil in human form; Ryan. And, not only was he yelling at her, he was hitting her. As he lunged at my mom, I tried to step in his way. This plan worked, and he ended up stumbling backwards.

"Mom! Are you okay?" I asked, turning towards her. She had tears streaming down her face.

"You think you can get a divorce from me?" he asked, walking forward. "Then you are sadly mistaken." He reached forward and pushed me aside, making my head hit the wall with a lot of force.

"Ow," I muttered rubbing my head. My eyes were blurry but I could still see him hitting my mother. My arm hurt like heck, but I couldn't let him hit my mom. "Get away from here!" He turned and smiled at me.

"What are you going to do if I don't?" he asked. I stood up and got into a fighting stance. "You are going to fight me? A little girl, half my size?"

"Then you should have no problem fighting me if I'm half your size," I snarled. Benny shouted no at me and told Emily and Smalls to go call the police. He stepped in front of me, pushing me lightly out of the way. Then, Ryan stepped forward, throwing a punch at Benny's chin. He managed to dodge the hit, but when Ryan kicked Benny in the ribs, I heard a crack.

Tears filled my eyes and I ran over to where mom was standing. She said to me, "Call the police! And get outside, Belle! You too, Benny!" That's when we heard sirens wailing. Benny was now on the ground as Ryan kicked him. I shrieked, terrified of the scene. The police came in quickly, pointing guns at Ryan. They directed Mom and I out of the room, getting an officer to help Benny out. Emily and Smalls were standing on the lawn, looking horrifically scared.

"Are you okay?" Emily rushed up to mom and I. I nodded, before we were taken to an ambulance truck to be checked out. Benny was sitting next to me on a gurney, grimacing in pain. Emily and Smalls rushed home after making sure we were all okay.

"Benny," I muttered, tears streaming silently down my face. "You shouldn't have done that." He shook his head at me.

"Belle, I'm glad I did," he gave me a small smile. Great, now I feel guilty.

"You shouldn't have," I said again, "but I'm glad you did. Thank you. If it weren't for you, I don't know what Ryan would have done to my mom." Benny gave me another smile.

"You were more worried about your mom then you?"

"Yes," I said, and he shook his head at me. The ambulance informed him that he would have to be taken to the hospital, and his parents rushed out of the door after getting a call. His mom was crying about her baby and his dad had a worried look on their face. When they saw Benny, they told him they would meet him at the hospital.

Right before they were going to close the doors of the ambulance, I asked them, "Can I ride with him?" The Medic nodded, letting me get in before closing the doors. There was two Medics in the truck. After sitting down, I bit my lip hesitantly before taking Benny' hand. He gave me a smile and I started crying again.

He mumbled to me, "Don't cry." I nodded, but continued to cry anyways. Mom was told she was okay and left at the house, I was informed after asking a Medic. I felt bad about leaving her there, but apparently the Police would be there for a while.

What a wonderful day, wasn't it?