I was shopping with my mom. She's making me wear a dress for our 4th of July party. Phillips and his family are coming over, but she promised to let play our traditional night game.

We walked into a the third store! Benny had tried to get me to explain myself, but I shut him out. I still really like him. Ugh.

I looked on the racks. I saw a dress I liked. It was a black top with red flannel skirt.

"Mom, what about this one?" I asked.

"Um... I'm not sure." She said.

"Pleeeeaaasssseee." I begged.

"Fine. But your wearing these with it." She said grabbing black high heeled boots.

"Okay." I said and grabbed the dress.

We walked out of the store and it was 12:00. I wasn't gonna go to The Sandlot, but I had to go the night game. It's tradition.

I walked into my room and went over to my book shelf.

'Something wicked this way comes' I pulled it off the shelf. This book was my favorite. It was scary, but I loved it.

After I finished that book I looked at the clock. 1:00. I went back to the shelf.

'One flew over the cuckoos nest' I read that again. I decided to go downstairs since I wasn't in the mood to read anymore.

"Hey mom." I said.

"Sweetie." She said cooking the chicken.

"What are we eating?" I asked.

"Chicken, mashed potatoes and vegetables." She said.

"Oh. Well, I'm gonna go walk around for a while." I said putting on my shoes.

"Alright, be back by three though." She said.

" 'Kay." I said then walked out the door. Truth is I'm thinking about Benny. I think he likes Laurel. It concerns me. I've seen him with other girlfriends. He forgets about us and even baseball.

I hate when he does that. Plus, Laurel? I mean, come on. She's like the president of pink and dresses.

I was yanked out of my thoughts when I ran into someone and fell over.

"Ow." I said. I looked up and saw Benny.

"Oh. Hey Benny." I said awkwardly.

"Look, I'm sorry about yesterday." He said.

"I'm sorry too." I said hugging him.

"I love you Lans." He said. I knew he meant like a friend.

"I love you too Benny." I said. I walked back home with Benny.

"I'll see ya at the Night game Rodriguez." I said. I grabbed the hat off his head and put it on mine.

He smiled. "Bye Lans." He said then walked away. I sighed and walked into my house.

"Hi ma." I said.

"Hi Alana. Go put your dress on The Phillips will be here in an hour." She said.

I walked upstairs and put on the dress. Then I put in the boots, sadly I was a short person so I'd still be shorter than Phillips. I heard someone ring the door bell. I walked downstairs.

"Hey." I said when they came in.

"Hey." Phillips said.

We went and sat down at the table. My mom served the food and we ate. The parents made small talk, but the kids, everything was silent.

Finally after a dreaded dinner I said, "I'm gonna go change!" I said running upstairs. I changed into shorts and a jersy with my name on the back. For the finishing touch, Benny's hat.

I walked outside with Phillips, and we sat in the driveway.

"So..." I started.

"So..." He said, then saw his friends.

"Go hang out with 'em." I said nudging him.

"Ya sure?" He asked.

"Yeah. I was gonna go hang with Benny and the guys anyway." I said.

"Okay." He said. Then went over to his friends.

⚾

We were at The Sandlot playing. Then, fireworks. I stared at them. We all did, even Benny.

"You've got my hat." Benny smiled.

"Yup. I think it looks good on me." I said.

"Uh huh." He said. Then Laurel dragged him away from me to talk to her.

I rolled my eyes. I'm trying to be civil,but I don't think imma do it. I don't need her anyway. Why should I care? Oh, yeah. Because Benny cares. Stupid ass.

After the fireworks I walked home with Yeah Yeah and Squints.

"So, the game was fun." I said.

"Yeah, but Benny kept staring at Laurel. She's a distraction to his game." Squints said.

"Yeah, yeah he's not even hittin' over the fence." Yeah Yeah said.

"So, what should we do about her?" I asked.

"I know." Squints said.

"What?" I asked.

"Get rid of her." Squints said.