Riley Smalls

Riley took a deep breath as Benny called out to her brother, "Hey, Smalls, throw it to second." Scotty looked over to Riley who nodded with a reassuring smile in hopes to calm him down. "Come on, Benny. He's never gonna catch it!" Tommy shouted. "He's not gonna catch it, Benny," Timmy called after. Riley rolled her eyes as Benny hit the ball to Scotty who failed in catching the ball. "Come on, Benny. Why'd you do that?" DeNunez asked as he quickly glanced at Riley. "A square, Benny!" Squints started, "The kid's a square." Riley huffed and turned to the boys, "And what? You think you were naturally good at the game? You think The Babe was naturally good? We all start somewhere!"

Riley closed her eyes as the boys went quiet, Benny smiled over at Riley before looking to the boys. Instead of throwing the ball in, Scotty ran up to Kenny and handed him the ball with an apology before walking over to left center. Riley turned to Benny, "Maybe we should go, I'll teach him a bit then we'll come back." Before Benny could respond, Riley jogged over to her brother. Benny didn't want either of them to leave, especially Riley. Benny jogged over to the two and turned to Scotty, "You can throw it, you know." Riley stayed quiet as Scotty explained he didn't know how to.

Scotty sighed as he looked down slightly, "Thanks for bringing us here, but I think we'd better go." Riley smiled sympathetically at her brother before looking up at Benny. "Hey, hey..." Benny was quick to stop them. "You think too much. I bet you get straight A's and shit, huh?" Benny asked making Riley smirk at her younger brother. "No, I got a B once," Scotty retorted making Riley giggle, Benny glanced to her before looking back at Scotty. "Actually, it was an A-minus, but it should've been a B," Scotty added.

Benny sighed, "Man, this is baseball. You gotta stop thinking. You just have fun." Benny looked over to Riley as she turned to him, both of them blushed lightly before focusing back on the younger boy. "I mean, if you were having fun, you would've caught that ball," Benny continued. He thought for a moment before speaking, "You ever have a paper route?" Scotty perked up and nodded his head, "I helped a guy once. Riley too!" Riley smiled at her brother's excited tone as Benny smiled over at her.

Turning back to Scotty, Benny nodded. "Okay. Well, chuck it like you would throw a paper. When your arm gets here, just let go," Benny explained as he demonstrated it. "Just let go. It's that easy," Riley added with a small smile before her and Benny turned away. "H-How do I catch it?" Scotty asked, stopping the two from walking further away. "Just stand there and stick your glove in the air. I'll take care of it," Benny told him before he and Riley walked back to the batter's base.

Riley looked down at her shoes before clearing her throat, "Thank you." Benny looked over at her as she looked up at him. "For what?" Benny asked as he scratched the back of his neck. "For helping him. For being kind. For being you," Riley answered with her usual sweet smile. Benny blushed for a moment, "No thanks needed." Riley nodded as they continued walking.

"About time, Benny. My clothes are going out of style!" Squints called out. "They already are, Squints," Bertram called back. "Smalls, throw it to second," Benny said once he had taken his position. Benny ignored the others as he spit on the ball before throwing it up and hitting it straight towards Scotty. Scotty's arm was up in the air as he turned his head away with his eyes closed, he closed his mitt and everyone was quiet as they looked towards him.

Scotty opened his eyes and looked into the glove before a wide grin appeared on his face. "YEAH!" The boys cheered. "Go Scotty!" Riley called out with a smile. He then pulled his arm back before throwing the ball to second. The boys praised Scotty making the boy smile happily. "I told you so, man," Kenny said under his breath. "Yeah, Let's play some ball," Yeah-Yeah called out. "I knew it... all the time," Ham spoke next. Benny smiled over at Scotty as he sent him a thumbs up.

── ⚾️ ──

Benny Rodriguez

Benny knew from the start that Scotty had real potential once he stopped thinking so much. But when he saw the pure sweet smile he got from Riley, he wanted nothing more than to see it every day. He turned his head to her and smiled as she cheered for her younger brother, the kind glint in her eyes made the boy swoon. "Hey Riley, wanna bat?" Benny offered holding out the bat to her, she turned to him with a small smile before nodding eagerly.

She walked up to the plate, Benny handed her the bat and stepped back. She tested the grip in her hand before swinging it lightly, "Oh, I am ready!" DeNuze smirked at her as he readied his pitch. She hit both her feet with the bat before holding it in place ready to swing the bat. DeNuze pitched the ball and Riley swung the bat hitting the ball with perfect velocity. The boys all watched as the ball soared through the air hitting the large fence before dropping to the ground, they all stood stunned as Riley ran around the sandlot bases.

That hit was incredible. I've never seen a girl have so much strength within a hit. Was she made to match me or what?! Benny thought to himself with a proud smile as the guys all turned to her with wide eyes. Scotty smirked at the boys, "She told you guys that she could play." Riley laughed once she had caught her breath. Benny watched the girl as she adjusted the cap on her head with a wide smile on her face, the boys all began clapping for her. Riley looked over at Benny and winked with a playful smile before they all got ready to continue on with the game.

Benny, Scotty, Riley and Ham were all walking together as they lived close by one another. Ham and Scotty were walking ahead of Benny and Riley. "I'll show you some more tomorrow, okay?" Ham offered Scotty. "Yeah!" Scotty answered him. "You did good," Ham complimented Scotty who smiled widely. "Same to you, Riley. I'm impressed," Ham looked back at Riley who bowed her head slightly with her signature smirk. "See you later, Ham," Benny waved him by as they passed his house.

The final three continued walking down the path until they reached the Smalls household. "Eight tomorrow," Benny said to the two siblings. "Eight, Benny?" Scotty asked as reassurance. "Yeah, See you later, Smalls," Benny said. "I'll meet you inside, Scotty," Riley said to her brother who nodded. Riley turned to Benny as Scotty walked towards the house. "Oh Benny!" Scotty said turning back to him, "Your glove." Benny shrugged, "Keep it, man." Scotty smiled widely, "Thanks!" As Scotty went to turn around, Benny stopped him. "Hey, Smalls. Um, bring a T-shirt and jeans tomorrow, okay?" Scotty nodded.

Then Benny smiled slightly, "Um, you got a fireplace?" Scotty furrowed his brows, "Yeah, why?" Benny laughed slightly, "Throw that hat in there, man." He lightly tapped the beak of the usually long hat making Scotty chuckle slightly. "Oh, yeah. You know, it was the only one I had," Scotty explained to him. "Not anymore. Wear my old hat," Benny offered as he pulled his old hat from his waistband before handing it over to Scotty. After clarifying eight o'clock in the morning again, Scotty rushed off into the house ready to tell his mom everything about the day.

Meanwhile, Benny walked back to Riley who had watched the encounter between him and her brother with a smile on her face. "So, What's up?" Benny asked. "It's just... you've been so nice to me and my brother. With helping him learn to play and being the reason we made any friends," Riley explained before taking a breath. "Thank you, I know I've thanked you before but this all means a lot to me," Riley finished with a smile. Benny smiled back at her, "It's not a problem. Your brother is cool and you're a skilled player."

Riley took a deep breath before she stepped forward, pushing up on her toes slightly, she leaned forward and kissed Benny's cheek. Benny blushed immediately at the gesture while Riley hid her face with her cap. "I'll see you tomorrow, Benny," Riley said before she made her way inside her house. Benny stood stunned for a moment as he looked up to the house before he turned and walked towards his own house. Benny said hello to his mother before he made his way into his room, falling back onto his bed.

A smile slowly appeared on his face, he was excited to see Riley tomorrow. He knew this summer would be different for him now. And he was truly beginning to believe that baseball wasn't the only important thing in his life anymore. Riley Smalls had come into his life just in time to remind him that everything happens for a reason. Riley was a chance at something new, something potentially amazing but most of all, something he once believed wasn't important. But boy, that was gonna change.

── ⚾️ ──

Author Note
Have a new chapter!
I am currently watching Stranger Things for the first time. It's almost 5am and I've almost binged the whole first season already. If you've seen it, who is your favourite character? I love Dustin, Jonothan and Will.

-Rose <3
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