Chapter Thirty Seven

                                    

                                          
And with just that, we no longer spoke a word to each other. The only friends I had now, were Daniel and Phillips. I basically hung out with Daniel every day. My mom didn't exactly like him though, she never likes any of my friends. I don't even think she liked Benny in the slightest. 
                          
None of that stops me from hanging out with Daniel though, he's basically my best friend now.
                          
With Phillips on the other hand, we'd hang out every once in a while. He always invites me to play baseball with him and his team. They sometimes talk shit about the fact a girl has to play, but they're all scared of Phillips, so they shut up when he comes around. 
                          
Things between Phillips and I are still awkward though, mainly on my part. I don't think I'll get over the fact he literally stalked me. My mom hates Phillips though, can't blame her on that one, he's not the greatest person. 
                          
About a month ago, some new kid moved in next door to me. I haven't exactly talked to him at all, except for when his mail got mixed up with ours, so he came to my front door and we made a trade. The boy seems like he's eleven years old, he's really scrawny and shy. 
                          
I noticed that he hangs out with Benny and his friends a lot now, good for him I guess. Even though Benny and I no longer talk, I still miss him terribly. I could only hope for him to feel the same. 
                          
I didn't even realize how lost I was in my own thoughts, til' the doorbell rang. I was sitting at the dining table, staring at the toast in front of me. I wasn't even that hungry, I don't even know why I made food. I stood up from the table and went to the front door, expecting to see Daniel, I actually saw Phillips. 
                          
A smile grew on his lips at the sight of me, he looked at the ground immediately. This unfazed me, I was use to this happening all the time. "You wanna play ball with me and the boys?" He asked me, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his red baseball jersey, as he still avoided making eye contact with me. 
                          
"I'm down." I responded, "Just let me grab my glove." I quickly went back to the dining table, leaving the front door open, and I picked up the plate of toast. I tipped the plate over the trash can, letting the toast slide off. I then gently placed the plate in the sink and ran over to coffee table in the living room, snatching my brown leather baseball glove, that had my brother's name written on it in black marker. "L. Hart" 
                          
I held the glove in my right hand as I went back to the front door, exiting and shutting the door behind me. All of Phillips' team members were lined up on the sidewalk, on their own bikes, waiting for him. Phillips' bike was in the front of the line, resting on it's kickstand. He got on his bike, throwing one leg over the side of it. I got on the back of his bike and wrapped my arms around his waist. 
                          
He then began peddling, not in the usual direction of his team's diamond. Which weirded me out a bit, but I just decided to assume that we were taking a different route, or maybe stopping at someone's house before we go. I preferred not to question Phillips because honestly, he annoys the hell out of me, with how much he talks, rambles, and let alone his voice is just flat out infuriating. 
                          
I knew exactly what was happening once our bikes started rolling on the grass of the unclaimed sandlot. Generally, this sandlot was unclaimed, but Benny and his friends liked to call it theirs. 
                          
I wanted to hop off the bike and start yelling at Phillips for taking me here, but the anxiety I got from just being here caused me to freeze up. Benny's boys all saw us, and they dropped their supplies and began marching toward us. We all lined up in front of each other, our team chilling on bikes, and Benny's standing like they were a bunch of greasers. 
                          
I hopped off the back of Phillips bike, angry with him. Phillips decided to be the first person to say something, "It's easy when you play with a bunch of rejects and uhh a fat kid Rodriguez." 
                          
The chubby red headed kid, who I knew as Ham, was completely offended by Phillips' comment. Benny pointed his bat at the kid with the big mouth, who I hated to call my friend currently, "Shut your mouth Phillips!" 
                          
"What'd you say crab face?!" Ham yelled in defense of himself. 
                          
"I said you shouldn't even be allowed to touch a baseball!" Replied Phillips, shrugging this situation off without a care in the world, "Except for Rodriguez, you're all an insult to the game." 
                          
"C'mon! We'll take you on, right here! Right now! C'mon!" Ham hit the kid with the glasses right next to him in the shoulder, and all the boys started cheering. All except for Benny, who I kept exchanging awkward glances with. 
                          
"We play on a real diamond Porter!" Spat Phillips,
"You ain't good enough to lick the dirt off our cleats!" 
                          
"Watch it jerk!"
                          
"Shut up idiot!"
                          
"Moron!"
                          
"Scab eater!" 
                          
As the two continued to exchange insults, the tension and anger between them rose. 
                          
"Butt sniffer!" Continued Ham, as the rest of the little boys cheered, "Yeah!"
                          
 "Puss licker!"
                          
"Fart smeller!"
                          
 I looked over at Benny, who was as disappointed as I was at these childish insults. 
                          
"You eat dog crap for breakfast geek!"
                          
"You mix your weenies with your mama's toe jam!"
                          
"You bob for apples in the toilet! And you like it!"
                          
"You play ball like a girl!"
                          
Everybody's smile from the entertainment was wiped off their face, silent fell among everyone, acting as if the chubby red headed kid cussed in church. I looked at Phillips with an unamused look, seeing how offended he was, listening to the giggles of the boys on Benny's team began to irritate me a little more. 
                          
I then watched a smirk grow on his face, "If you're saying I play ball like Rowan here." He pointed to me with his hand, "I'd take that as a compliment, she's better than all you rejects combined." I was relieved at Phillips comeback, it boosted my confidence a little bit too in the heat of the moment. "Get on Rowan." Phillips demanded. 
                          
"No." I was still mad at him for bringing me here. 
                          
"Fine then, walk home!" He looked me up and down, not in the flirty way though. I was a bit shocked at his sudden hostility toward me. Phillips turned back to Benny's team, "Our field, tomorrow, at twelve." Him and his team biked away, leaving me here awkwardly. 
                          
I awkwardly smiled at Benny's team and began walking away. God this was embarrassing. 
                          
Word Count: 1190