Disclamier: I don't own anything of the Sandlot. I do own my character Tiffany.
Note: To clear any confusion, this story is after the Sandlot, but I'll be putting in scenes/details from the movie.
Sandlot Summer Adventure
Not an hour passed by before I marched into the sandlot; cocky smile spread itself over my lips as I walked up the home plate, while a game was going on. Everyone nodded my way, or had a sort of a silly smile, all except one. Benny.
"Happy to see me?" I spoke carelessly to him whilst leaning against the fence.
"Oh, I couldn't be happier, doll." He spoke in a sweetly sarcastic way.
I couldn't help but narrow my eyes at the guy, especially since he pushed me back some against the fence with his bat. "What's your deal, Rodriguez?"
"Don't like being touched with a bat, eh?" He smirked as he jabbed me once more. "Know what it feels like."
"Let it go, man!" I exasperatedly responded. A low groan at the back of my throat and kicked dirt on his shoes.
"Here we go." I heard Ham say as he stood from his catcher position. Apparently, I wasn't the only one. "No, let's play." Benny turned towards him.
"Yes, let's play." I mimicked; reaching out for the bat resulting in it being pulled away.
"Let me rephrase that. Let's play, boys." Benny smirked and once again, I kicked dirt on his shoes, wiping the smirk away.
"Ugh. Now here we really go." Ham spoke as he took off his mask and dropped it. His tone so not happy.
"Oh great, more trouble; as if Tiffany wasn't enough." Benny mumbled as he began walking towards the incoming group. He left me there flabbergast. Mumbling under my breath, I crossed my arms over my chest and stood there, just watching the scene.
"Get out of here Phillips. You have no business here." Ham spoke out.
"Whoa, whoa. Calm down Porter. Cause you're not any of important business. Just wanted to see if the Tease really was here." He smirked while the rest of his gang chuckled behind.
"Screw you Phillips!" I shouted out, clearly annoyed by the nickname I was given.
"Possibly, anytime." He chuckled and my face grew hot.
"You heard the lady; now leave." Smalls told them.
"Either leave, or bring it to the field now, scab eater." Ham stated, his narrowed eyes pinning daggers into Phillips figure.
I watched at Ham and Phillips argued back and forth. Hurling insults like no tomorrow. It was really all amusing; laughter erupting from me all the way. All my laughter continued until it seized almost immediately when I heard what seemed to be Ham's final insult. "You play ball like a girl!"
A shocked silence veiled around everyone. I, on the other hand, was not shocked, but insulted! How dare he?! So I pushed my way through the group to go to the front while exclaiming, "Excuse me?!"
I stood in front and I could feel Ham shaking his head while trying to hide the redness of his face.
"Ham, what did you say?" Yeah-yeah whispered behind me. So it seemed everyone was not surprised that he had said that to Phillips, but to have the audacity to say it in my presence.
Phillips laughed and looked back at his people. "What?" He turned back to say.
"The man said you play ball like a girl. I think other wise. I play way better than you ever would." I said while placing my hands on my hips. A serious expression held over my facial features. "To prove it to you; tomorrow, noon, your field."
Phillips smiled cockily at me, while he eyed me not once, not twice, but thrice. "You got yourself a deal, sugar." With that said, Phillips pedaled and turned back towards the entrance of the sandlot, his gang followed right after.
"Jerk." I mumbled as I turned to face the guys. All of them had their eyes on me like if I just committed murder or something. "What?"
"So we have to play those guys tomorrow?" Smalls asked to no one in particular.
"Yeah, so?" I eyed each of them. "Or are you guys too much of a weenie to play them. Afraid they'll beat you or something?" I snorted and walked back to the home plate.
"Guys, I can't make it tomorrow." De Nunez said with a frown. Everyone looked at him with bug eyes. "My folks have this convention they can't miss." He rolled his eyes.
"So that leaves us pitcher less." Ham groaned.
"No." Everyone turned to look at me. "I can pitch. I can bat. I'm going to play." I told them determined.
----------
"Tiffany, you're batting last." Benny mumbled as he handed the bat to Yeah-Yeah, who was batting first.
"No matter, sir." I grinned and sat down proudly on the bench. "At least I'm batting." I stuck my tongue out at him once he had his back towards me. "Make me proud Yeah- Yeah!" I cheered loudly and saw him turn back and give me a wink.
Boy, it was all exciting. Yeah-Yeah had hit good, giving him a chance to go to second. Boy, oh boy. We managed to score three before out we got three outs. Catching the ball, I popped the fruity pink gum I had in my mouth as I positioned myself on the pitchers mound. The first person to bat made me giggle a little.
"Get ready, Phillips. I'm not going easy on you." I smirked and threw my first pitch; a fast curved ball. He swung and missed.
'This is going to be excellent.' I thought as I caught the ball Ham threw at me.
And so the game continued on. As far as I could say, we won. Thanks to those the batters and, of course, the pitcher. Don't mean to sound cocky. But, come on.
"Whoa, Tiffany." Ham said as he strode up next to me as we started out of the field.
"What?" I asked as I turned to look at him.
"Those pitches… I think I'm going to have a bruised hand in the morning." He commented. "I mean, they were good, but you're still not taking De Nunez place." He laughed and I couldn't help but tag along. It didn't matter; it felt good pitching this time around though.
"I think I'm going to go home." I told them all as I started drifting the other way. Scotty gave me a look and I shook my head with a smile. I eyed everybody else, and for a moment caught Benny looking back at me. There was no resentment in his expression. For a moment it was blank and then, hold your breaths because this was certainly shocking to me; he gave me a small smile. I almost tripped on my own feet before I caught myself and kept walking home like if nothing happened. Yeah, that's right; I didn't see Benny smiled at me.
On my way home, I stopped by Vincent's Drugstore and bought some lemon-lime pop. Quenching my thirst, I almost walked into, literally, Wendy Peffercorn. "Hi, Wendy." I smiled lightly to her.
"Tiffany? Back again I see." She smiled cheerfully at me.
"Yeah, here in the flesh. Still a lifeguard at the pool?" I asked her and she nodded. I whistled slightly, "Must have the boys go crazy. Pissing in their pants and all."
She laughed and shook her head and began walking with me. "Yeah, right. From what I remember, that was you. If you know what I mean." She nudged me a little and I recoiled and shook my head.
"Don't try to remind me." I mumbled pathetically. I bid farewells to her and she managed to pat me on my shoulder briefly before parting. I felt disgusted after her little comment. It brought me down; I didn't have the urge to finish my pop anymore. Well, I finished half of it before pouring it onto a little patch of grass. I must've taken a long time, a very long time, on my way home. I spotted Scotty and Benny talking it up on the porch and they looked up as I approached.
"Hey." I faked a smile.
"Great pitching today Tif." Scotty congratulated me. I couldn't help but smile for real. I opened my mouth to thank him but couldn't say a word as my aunt was calling for him. "See you tomorrow Benny." He told him before walking into the house.
So there it went Benny and me alone. It was getting into an awkward silence before he spoke up. "I gotta admit. That was some nice pitching today." Okay, so the silence was over, but the awkwardness was still there.
"Thanks Benny man." I smiled at him. I sat down next to him, and that's when it hit me. I really don't know why Benny and I can't have the normal relationship we have with the boys. Bitter feud? Kinda. But, still, it's not normal, right? Or is it?
"I think I should get going." He said as he stood.
"Already?" I asked him. He looked down and raised both of his eyebrows and I admit I bit my inner cheek trying to comprehend why I asked. The word didn't even cross my mind. My brains are melting under the valley heat I tell you.
"I'll stay a bit more?" He asked more than said. I nodded and he sat back down next to me.
"I want to talk to you." I told him and smiled too, as I turned my whole attention to him. 'Boy, how is this going to go about?'