I lay awake unable to sleep the night before, I never usually sleep but last night was different. Like I was worried about something but I wasn't that's the thing. I roll out of bed and look in my vanity styled mirror and see my Black natural curls all messy and there's sleep gunk in my bright blue eyes and I stare at the freckles dotting my face. If I was being honest I hated my freckles but everyone else seemed to love them. I mean I guess I was pretty everyone said I was but I still failed to believe them. I step to my closet and pulled out a pair of blue mom jeans that were to loose for my waist so I put a black belt. I grabbed a white collared shirt and a rosy pink crew neck and threw it on. I brushed out my hair and put hair gel so it wouldn't frizz up in the California heat. If I'm being honest I would much rather wear a pair of old jeans and a baseball jersey with my hair tied up but my friends would never let me do that. I walk downstairs to see my mom sitting at the counter eating cereal and watching the television.

Mom: good morning Lilly

You: good morning mom

Mom: how'd you sleep

You: terrible I can never get a good nights rest

Mom: maybe we should take you to the doctors

You: I'm sure I'll figure it out

I hear a beeping coming from outside and see theres a moving truck backing into the house beside mine.

You: mom did you know we have new neighbours

Mom: ya there boy is pretty cute

You: mommmmmm I don't want a boyfriend

Mom: what about that boy across the street who's always playing baseball

You: he's cute but I don't want a boyfriend

Mom: you should play baseball with him I bet you would kick his ass

You: MOM!

Mom: oops

I laugh before seeing the boy across the street exit his house so I immediately closed the door behind me hoping he didn't see me. I mean ya I always had guys surrounding me talking to me but they all made me feel uncomfortable like they'd just date me for the popularity bonus. So I've stayed single never having a boyfriend.

Mom: well Lilly you have to get going so have fun at school love you

I open the door as I grab my backpack

You: bye love you too

I shut the door and see Benjamin Rodriguez standing near the middle of the caul-de-sac.

You; hey Benjamin right?

Benny: huh- oh- um- y-ya

You: you alright you seem nervous?

Benny: oh umm it's nothing

You: waiting for someone?

Benny: umm ya my gang

You: the ones from the sandlot down the road

Benny: ya how'd you know?

You: umm no reason

Then I hear a bunch of obnoxious boys coming over to Benny.

You: well I best be on my way see you around

Benny: oh umm people call me Benny

You: ok well see you around Benny

I say it with a slight laugh and make my way to school somehow in a happier mood once I get there I see my cheerleading friends waiting at the door for my so I run up to them and we all walk inside.

Lilly leaves and the boys come running over to me all exited and I laugh at them.

Ham: you were not just talking to the babe herself

Bertram: I hope she likes baseball boys

Me: hey not a chance

Squints: why Jealous?

Yeah-yeah: yeah, yeah he's totally jealous!

Me: was not

Ham: you weren't the least bit ecstatic that THE Lilly Anderson was talking to you

Kenny: we all saw you drooling over her as she walked off

Me: knock it of blockheads

They all mess up my hair as we walk towards the school. And then I see her talking to all her cheerleader friends but she was the only one I would look at she gave me a slight wave and smiled so I smiled back.

Bertram: I think she's got the hots for our boy Benny

Me: as if

Timmy: but Benny does

Tommy: Benny does

Me: you guys all get on my nerves

We all walked into school and Tommy separated into his seventh grade class since our school was a Kindergarten to grade 12 school because we lived in a pretty small town. The rest of the boys but me Bertram and Kenny separated into there freshman classes. And the 3 of us were all in the same class for first period so we all walked to our class.

We had finished all of our finals last week so the stress of that was over and thank god all they handed out was worksheets that I managed to finish some could play baseball before the sandlot boys got there.

My last period of the day was chemistry and of course Phillips has to sit by me I swear he was obsessed with me. I've had enough of it and I go sit beside Benny which happened to be the only seat available. I sat down and he looked at me with a sort of awe but confused face.

You: I hate Phillips with a passion

Benny: a lot of people do

I giggle a little bit at his slight joke

You: oh sorry for sitting here all unexpectedly I just needed to get away from that blockhead.

Benny: it's fine but I don't blame you that kid makes me want to kill him with a simple nod

You: woah woah woah tough guy didn't think you hated him that much

He laughs a little bit and we both continue to do the worksheets provided. I finish nearly moments before Benny and put my pencil down once he does I try to start conversation.

You; did you see the new kid that moved in

Benny: no why?

You: I saw a baseball bat in the back of the moving van and I kind of assumed he'd made his way to the sandlot previous of the move.

Benny: you talk very maturely you know? But no I haven't seen him.

You: I also saw his dad or someone brought in a ball signed by babe Ruth. Imagine.

Benny: you know babe Ruth?

You: who doesn't his signature hand gesture, or how he's the first person to hit 50 home runs in a season.

Benny; you sure know a lot about baseball, do you know how to play?

You: ya

Benny: what!

He puts his hands on the desk

Benny: why haven't you came and played with us

You: I've seen you play of I played with you that would be embarrassing, plus nobody wants to play with a girl.

Benny: the boys would hate it I wouldn't care

You: but your different

Benny: how am I different?

You: because your actually nice and don't care about being popular. Your a really cool kid.

I could tell he was trying his hardest not to blush so I giggled a little bit and returned to my paper looking over my answers. Seeing as they all look right I look at Benny doing the same. So I sit in my chair and wait for him to finish. He put his pencil down after erasing a circle he had drawn and putting it on another answer.

You: the answer you had first was correct

Benny: shit

I giggle at his frustration as he re-circles the previous answer.

You: wanna walk home together

He sits up in a sort of rush which surprised me a little.

Benny: well I'm walking home with the gang but you could definitely walk with us just be prepared half of them drool over you.

I laugh at him again and shook my head slowly . Then finally the bell rings the both of us stand up and walk to the front doors as he waits for the rest of his friends and I see Cat and Meg at the other side of the obnoxiously wide staircase. So I tell them about my day and they squeal knowing I've sort of had a crush on Benny for a little. I see all of Bennys friends outside and he waves me over I say goodbye to my friends and walk over to Benny and his friends with a friendly smile on my face. And they all look at me in complete shock so I get worried that they don't want me there.

Benny: knock it off pea brains Lilly's walking home with us.

You: so I know you three who are the rest of you all?

They still stare at me shocked so I look at Benny with a concerned face.

You: I could walk home alone it's fine

Benny: no no no they don't normally get female interaction don't worry.

He slaps them all on the back of there's ends which seemingly ends there gaze on me and there focus onto Benny.

Benny: ok so Lilly this is Bertram Grover Weeks and Kenny DeNunez you probably know them from class.

They were the too that weren't really staring at me then he points out the rest.

Benny: that's Michael Palledorous we call him squints, that's Alan McClennan we call him yeah-yeah, that's Hamilton Porter we call him Ham, Timmy Timmons, and lastly that's his younger brother Tommy Timmons.

I give them all a warm smile and notice Tommy starring at me wide eyes, he was a lot shorter then the rest of them so I had to bend down a little to see him at eye level

You: what's up little man

Tommy: you really pretty

He said it sort of sheepishly and looked away

You; let me tell you a secret

I lent over to his ear and whispered sort of loudly so everyone could hear I wasn't being creepy

You: your pretty cute

I pull away from his face and his eyes widened and all of the boys laughed being that he was a lot younger then me so they knew I was joking.

But Tommy's cheeks turned bright red. I smiled at him and he slightly turned away.

Bertram: watch out Benny Tommy's gonna st-

He stops Very quickly and I turn around and See Benny putting Bertram in a head lock with his hand over his mouth and I couldn't stop my laughter.

You: we should get home before my mom starts to worry

Bennys let's go of Bertram and we all start walking home as the guys jump on top of each other suddenly throughout the walk. Once we got home all the boys walked to there own houses so it was just me and Benny left. I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek which left his face red as he ran inside his house and I giggle. As soon as I step in I grab my bat, glove and a few baseballs and run over to the sandlot before the boys got there.