"Y/n… Y/n!"

My eyes fluttered halfway open, seeing a very shirtless Benny on top of me. He smiled and rolled off of the bed.

"Come on get ready. We gotta go to the sandlot"

I sat up and rubbed my eyes. I kicked my legs off of Benny's bed and stood up to stretch, forcing a small moan to come out of me.

"Why? What's going on?"

He threw on a shirt and jacket with a jersey number on it

"I had a dream. Babe Ruth had came and told me something. Let's go!"

He dashed out the room with a box in his hands. He glanced back at me and then continued to rush.

"Benny! I can't wear the same clothes as yesterday!"

"Pick something out!"

I heard his front door close so I sighed and looked through his drawers. Eventually I found jeans and his green and white shirt that he wore around the first time we met. I smiled and put everything on. I rolled the sleeves up and ran out of his house as well.

I saw him coming back from Scott's house and he ran the way we would always go to get to the sandlot

"Come Y/n!"

"Slow down sheesh. I'm coming!"

-

I stared at the blue fence with the others as Benny took a knee. As he put on the shoes that were in the box I thought about my dream. I can't let him do this. Should I really get the ball though? I mean Scott is my responsibility so I should get it. Right?

I looked away from the fence and focused on Benny tying his PF flyers. He walked towards the fence but Scott quickly walked after him.

"Benny wait. It's okay. It was my fault…"

Should I?

"You don't have to do this"

"Yeah Bennyman you don't have to do it. Forget about it, it's basically like sucide Benny, don't it"

"... Yeah I do smalls… I have to do this"

Fine. Better to go out fighting then sit here and watch your boyfriend probably die. Benny climbed up onto the busted car that was next to the fence and looked over at me. I balled my hand into a fist and climbed up onto the car too.

"Benny I'll do it"

"What? No Y/n, I won't let you"

"Then what am I supposed to feel about you then? You think I want you to do this? I'd rather it me then you"

I threw my leg over the fence but Benny grabbed my arm

"No Y/n seriously! I won't let you get hurt!"

"I feel the same way!"

Just as I was about to fall over onto the other side Benny grabbed the back of his shirt and it threw me off balance. We both fell into the junkyard and Benny pulled himself off of me. He offered his hand and I took it.

"I guess there's no going back now"

"No kidding"

I stared into the dark dog house and it got eerily silent. Until the chain rustled. Then there was a loud bark.

And out it came

"Benny…"

"Listen Y/n. When I grab that ball I'm going to throw it to you. Jump over the fence as quick as you can, okay?"

I nodded and we stared at the beast as it emerged from it's house. It then spit out Bill's ball and I cringed at the slobber that hung from its mouth. Benny stared it down like it was some western showdown as he cracked his knuckles.

Then he burst into a run. Everything seemed like it was in slow motion as he grabbed the ball and back towards me.

"Y/n!"

He threw the ball and I caught it. Just as quickly as Benny, I turned on my heel and launched myself over the fence with Benny right next to me.

We landed and the boys grabbed us and pulled us up. They cheered but I had a sinking feeling in my stomach. And then it hit me as hard as bricks. I heard the chain snap.

"Oh shit!"

"Holy shit!"

The beast jumped over the fence. As soon as I saw the paws land I broke into a sprint like no other. Benny and I ran out of the sandlot without a second thought. As we sprinted down the sidewalk, a cycler got in our way while a car was right behind it. Benny jumped and rolled over the car while I quickly stepped to the side and hopped over the bike.

The beast's barks got louder and Benny started to throw trash cans from the sides of the street, down into its way to try and slow it down. That did no good as it bulldozed through them, basically throwing them out of its way.

We came close to a wall and I used the broken wood as leverage to jump over it. I saw a building and we both ran towards it. Benny quickly opened the door and we rushed inside. I heard glass shatter behind us and knew that we weren't safe yet.

Benny slid under some curtains and I followed him and we continued to run. I noticed that this place was a gym that had people watching a movie but I pushed open the doors that were in front of us and we were outside again.

We ran into a founders day picnic place. I immediately jumped on to a table and continued running. We stepped on people's food and drinks as we ran from the beast but I had no time to worry about that. The table came to an end and I saw in the near distance that there was a large cake being carried.

"Watch out!"

"Move out the way!"

I jumped over them and we kept running. I started to recognize where we were as we got closer to the pool. We busted into it and sprinted through the crowd of people. We made it out the gate and we saw the guys.

"Sandlot, sandlot, sandlot!"

"Hurry!"

We ran towards the sandlot again but we went around the long way. The bad thing was all of this running was starting to catch up to me but my adrenaline and will not to get eaten was what kept me running.

Eventually we made it and we ran through the entrance. I could tell running was taking a toll on Benny too. The beast was dangerously close to Benny and it took a bite out of his jacket. We kept running until we got to the fence. We threw ourselves over it as the beast crashed through the wood planks that the fence had in it. We stopped at its dog house as it stopped too. Then I saw the blue fence start to tip over.

"Look out!"

I covered my eyes as a big dust cloud was made from the sand. Silence fell upon us and I looked around. As the dust settled I saw the beast under the fence. And after everything that we had just gone through I finally realized that the beast…

Was just a dog… A dog…I'm going to beat the fuck out of squints.

Until then

"Oh no"

I walked slowly towards the dog while Scott tried to lift the fence

"Come on guys help me! Please! Y/n, Benny! Please! It's hurt!"

I sighed and helped to pick up the fence with Benny not far behind me, throwing the ball to Ham. All three of us picked up the fence and the dog jumped up and walked out from under it. When we dropped the thanks, Scotty turned around and there sat the supposed beast. Benny jumped up and backed away from it. He stared at it longer and then suddenly the dog started licking Scotty's face. I cringed but smiled at the same time. When the dog walked away I giggled and stood up.

"Wow Scott. Your first kiss"

He rolled his eyes and followed the dog

"Come on"

The rest of us followed him to find the dog and it sat there with a pile of baseballs in front of it

"Wow"

"Now we can play forever"

-

Me, Benny, and Scott ended up bringing the dog to the house behind the fence. Scotty knocked and we waited. Suddenly a door came open and a man walked out.

"Hello?"

"We um- we brought your dog back"

"Hercules? How'd he get out?"

"Well-well we um- we-"

Benny cut off Scott while he gripped my side softly

"Well what happened was we hit a baseball into your yard and we tried to get it back"

"So your the ones that've been making all that racket"

"Yes sir"

"Yeah we were"

"Did ya' get it?"

He held out his hand and Scott gave him the ball. He felt around it and smiled.

"First time anyone's got the best of ol' Hercules. Why didn't you just knock on the door, I would have got it for you"

I looked over at Squints but the guys were already hitting him. But I'll have my turn very soon.

The man suddenly laughed and shifted

"Thanks for bringing him home. Come on in"

Scott let go of Hercules' collar and he went in the house

"We'll have a talk about this ball"

He walked farther inside the house and we followed after him. Well technically Benny pushed me into the house because I wasn't moving but we just met this man and he's invited us into his house? I know he has no bad intentions but you can't blame me for being cautious.

Then Benny closed the door behind us. I turned right back around but he kept his arm wrapped around my shoulders and he walked me with them. I sighed, giving up and softly wrapped my arms around Benny's waist.

When we got into a room Benny closed this door too

Mr. Mertle turned and looked to where we were standing

"You in trouble, aren't ya' son?"

"Yeah, well that was my step dad's ball. I took it without asking. It was signed by Babe Ruth"

"George signed this?"

"George Herman Ruth. Yeah"

"I take it back, you're not in trouble. Your dead where you stand"

"Mmhm-"

Benny gave my shoulder a squeeze. I looked at him and he gave me a look. But Mr. Mertle is right! I was just saying what we were all thinking.

"Hold on"

He walked over to a display cabinet and opened the door to it. He grabbed something and walked back to us, sitting in a chair he had pulled out.

"Here. I'll trade ya'"

He held out a baseball and we all looked at it

"That's really nice of you but that ball really is signed by Babe Ruth"

"Yeah but thank you anyway"

"So is this one. Along with the other 1927 Yankees"

Benny took the ball from Mr. Mertle's hand and looked over it

"Oh man! Murderer's row! Lou Gehrig!"

"Babe Ruth! But why would you trade? That one's all chewed up"

"Oh I got a lot of good stuff. Look at that stuff! Besides, you need it more than I do"

Scott walked over to Mr. Mertle's display cabinet. He looked at the black and white picture while Mr. Mertle drunk his tea.

"You knew Babe Ruth?"

"George? Sure did, and he knew me. He was almost as good a hitter as I was. I would have broken his record too but…"

"You went blind"

"Yep. I used to crowd the plate. So the strike zone almost disappeared"

He laughed and grinned widely

"Pitchers hate that. That's the way I played. 100 percent every time. Baseball was life and I was real good at it. Real good. And then, one day, a high fast one and pow! Lights went out"

Aw man. That sucks. He could have been one of the greatest players out there.

"Mr Mertle…"

"I don't think we can take this ball"

"I'll tell you what. You guys come here once a week and talk baseball with me, we'll call it an even trade"

We all looked at each other but we already knew the answer. Scott grabbed Mr. Mertle's hand and shook it.

"Deal!"

-

From then on things got better and better. Well except for the part where me and Scott got grounded but hey. Who said I couldn't sneak out to see Benny?

Scott had gotten so much better at throwing now. Of course not better than me but he can still throw. Bill and Scott's relationship grew as well and I could never go a day without seeing those two talking about anything baseball like.

Me and Benny have never separated so far. Wherever I am he is. It doesn't matter what we would be doing. I sleep at his house more than I sleep at Scotty's and I'm absolutely fine with that. Also let's just say we have been getting more serious with our relationship. Not a lot of things, just bit by bit. We may be young but I can feel that he's the one I want to spend my life with. I can say with confidence that I love him with my whole heart and for him it's no different. Probably even more but who knows?

The guys have always stuck together but unfortunately they started moving away one by one. We never refilled their spots on the team though. We just kept playing as if they were still here. But soon it all came down to Scott moving away. I debated on whether I should go with him but Benny didn't have to give too much effort to make me stay. I watched them drive away as Benny held me tightly.

I got word from the guys eventually though. I wanted to keep connected with them so I communicated with them as much as I possibly could.

I found out that Yeah-yeah's parents shipped him off to military school. But after he served for the army he got involved with the development of bungee jumping. I'm sure we all know why.

Then we have Bertrum. Last I heard he got really into the 60's and he went dark after that. I hope he's okay.

Timmy and Tommy became architects and contractors. They were really successful with building small playground equipment. But soon after they became pretty rich making mini malls. And thanks to them Benny can continue to spoil me.

Oh and Squints and Wendy eventually got together. Yeah I know. But I kind of saw it coming. They ended up having nine children. Nine! Like I'm nervous to ask what they do in their free time. By the way they bought Vincent's drug store and they still own it so great for them.

Then we have old hammy boy. He became a professional wrestler which sort of surprised me. He calls himself the great Hambino. I should get some credit for dishing out the name to him though.

My big babies Hercules and Scott. He lived to be 199 years old in dog years which is pretty long. He even had a few babies but you know… we don't talk about that. Scott became an official for the actual professional baseball league. I was super proud of him when I heard.

And finally it's all down to me and Benny. Well after me and Benny 'defeated' the beast, we both got a reputation boost. People started to call him Benny 'the jet' Rodriguez. They gave me a nickname too but trust me when I say I managed to put an end to it quickly. He made it big with his batting skills and went to the professional league as well. I would have gone as well but someone's gotta take care of the kids right? And Benny doesn't trust any babysitters with his 'two angels'. We had two daughters and they were one of the best things that has happened to me. Well other than Benny proposing, the wedding, the anniversary, honeymoon, my birthday. You know and just like every other day. No matter what he has stuck by my side. And I have always stuck by his.

That's never gonna change

Omg wait. I kind of feel like crying. Is this real? Like it's actually over. Wow. Thank you guys for the support, understanding, and patience that came with the making of this book. I feel like this is the first time I ended a book properly. Now I can focus on my other two books. Just a tip for those of you that want to start a book, don't publish until your done. Unless you have one book under control. You'll start to spiral if you don't heed my warning. Okay well again thank you guys for everything you have brought this book. I love you all💕💕 goodbye