A Second Chance//Timber Fanfic (The Sandlot 3)

12: Batter Up

Timber's P.O.V:

During practice I couldn't stop thinking about last night. How Valerie and me danced around my room, read comics and talked about our life stories. It was fun, something that all friends should do.

But, I've noticed how close we've become lately. We talk more, we visit more and we think of each other more. Maybe I'm just thinking it all up.

"Timber get your head in the game!'' Tommy yelled from the batting area. "Sorry" I said, scratching the back of my head out of embarrassment. I threw the ball and was happy to see it collide with the bat. "Alright break time" Tommy said. All of us nodded and started for the shack but I was stopped by Tommy. "Hey, I need a favor" he said putting a hand on my shoulder. "Yeah, sure what is it?" I asked still holding my mitt.

"I need you to get my sister to bat" I felt myself furrow my eyebrows in confusion. "Please, she'll listen to you" I sighed and nodded. "Valerie" Tommy called out and motioned for her to go onto the field. "Yeah" she said. "You gotta bat for us" Tommy said. Her eyes immediately widened and she shook her head. "Tommy, you know I can't- I c-can't" Tommy wasn't doing anything to calm his sister down so I guess it was my turn. "Valerie, no one is going to judge you ok?" I said calming her down. "We just wanna see what you can do" I added.

Valerie sighed, nodding us off and grabbed a bat. "Come on Val!" I heard the team cheer. She looked nervously at her brother who was pitching. First swing, she missed. I couldn't help but feel bad since she looked super stressed. It must've been a while since she's last hit a ball because she didn't hold the bat correctly. Tommy was going to throw another pitch. "Wait" I stopped him before he would throw the pitch and walked up to Valerie. "What are you doing?" She asked. "You helped me when I couldn't pitch so I'm going to help you" I said. She looked a bit more calm and nodded.

"Ok elbows out, just like that!" I said. I had my arms around her and it was like the world around us was non existent. Snap out of it! But I couldn't. It was strange, like my arms were made for her. As cliche as that sounds. "Ok so swing back like this and swing to hit like this!" I said. "Ok, I think I'm ready" she giggled. I nodded letting go for her making me miss holding her. I shrugged it off and sat in the shack to watch what will happen next.

Tommy pitched another ball and almost as if my luck had worked, Valerie whacked the ball more than halfway across the field making it go over the fence and hit the window in the old house. The whole team gasped and we all clapped for her. "Again!" She giggled. Tommy threw her another ball and she hit it just as hard as she did it earlier. I couldn't help but grin at how good at batting she was.

"Where did you learn to bat like that?" Wok asked as she sat in the shack. "Timber taught me" she giggled and shot me a smile. I couldn't help but feel myself grin and grow red with happiness. Everyone nodded and went back to practice.

Valerie sat down at her usual spot and sketched on her book. I couldn't help but feel something for her. Butterflies erupted in my stomach every time she would glance up and throw me a smile. Why was it that I denied my feelings for her and yet now something sparks in me whenever i see her smile or hear her giggle. Could I actually have a crush on her? No. I couldn't. It would interfere with our friendship, and what if she doesn't like me back? It would be horrible if I spent all this time liking everything she does and adoring her and yet she wouldn't like me back.

I snapped out of my thoughts and continued to practice. Why couldn't I get my mind off this? "Alright we gotta get home, meet us here at 6 for the cotillion" Tommy informed before gathering his things and starting for his bike. "Bye" Valerie said quickly making her way to her bike. "Bye"