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

21: She Said It

Timber's P.O.V:

It felt a bit strange not having usual baseball practice since the Sandlot is finally ours. But still, the guys insisted that we continue to practice for next year. Riding up to the Sandlot, I wasn't surprised to see the usual crew members. D.P, Wok, Roll, Tommy, Ryan, Wings, Q, Two-Ton and more importantly Valerie.

I smiled to myself as I started off with a pitch, in which Tommy hit a home run. The entire team scattered across the field as we all scrambled to strike Tommy. D.P delightfully tagged Tommy out which all earned laughter from everyone including Valerie. "Valerie why don't you bat?" I giggled calling her out.

"Yeah!"

"Come on Val!"

"Yeah come on!"

I practically rallied the entire team to get her to bat. She rolled her eyes mockingly and walked down the steps of the seats taking her spot at the batter's box. "You ready for this?" I mockingly tried to through her off. "I was born ready!" She joked sounding determined. I couldn't help but get thrown off by her pretty brown eyes. Snap out of it!

I threw a fast pitch and Valerie smacked it into a home run. She started running and all I could was watch as each boy sprinted for the ball. She continued to run as the remaining team players in the player's shack cheered her on. "And that folks is what you call a home run. Thank you" Valerie said with confidence and curtsied teasingly before walking back to her seat. I chuckled and we continued to practice our drills, sliding, pitching blah blah blah.

I kept thinking about the fair. Of course all the guys are planning to tag along which means me and Valerie won't have much time alone. But that's ok. Right? Ugh I don't know. I want to be alone with her. I'm better when I'm around her. But I guess it's still worth it. I still be around her.

Practice was over and everyone raced to grab their bikes. Valerie came to talk to me on the bleachers seemingly that I was alone. "So?" Valerie questioned giving a joking shove to my shoulder. I shrugged not wanting to tell what was actually going through my mind. "Timber, come on. Don't shut me out" she begged. I sighed knowing that I wasn't very good at hiding things. "Fine. I just wanted you and me to go to the fair" I muttered kicking the lost pebbled on the steps. Valerie sighed understanding my dismay. Resting her head on my shoulder we both sat in the silence that thinking. After about 4 minutes of doing this Valerie hopped up. "I have an idea!" She said. "What is it!" I said excitedly.

"The guys can come-but!, you and I can ride 3 rides.........alone" she grinned. "Do we have a deal?" She said patiently waiting for an answer. I thought for a couple seconds before I finally had an answer. "Deal" I sighed. "Groovy" she giggled.

We rode our bikes back to her house in silence. I wasn't mad. Just jealous. I wanted to be with her. I wanted it to be just be and her. No one gets to have her.......except her brother-but that's not the point. Ugh. Why is love so confusing. We pulled up to her driveway still in the same silence we had when riding here. "Timber, are you mad at me?" She questioned. Her face shone a confused but sad expression. She almost looked like on the verge of tears. My heart nearly broke in two.

"What?- no. No, no no no no no no" I said coming to here rescue. I hugged her tightly feeling horrible that I'd ever make her feel this way. Jeez, I need to learn how to talk to girls. "Valerie I'm not mad. I promise you, I'm not mad" I said almost in a begging tone. Begging for her tears not fall. "I just wanted us to be alone that's all. But i-it's ok. I'm not mad" I continued to say. She nodded silently. "I'm not mad either, I just didn't want you upset" she hugged back. I closed my eyes cherishing the moment. "Ok, I'll see you tomorrow" I said giving a quick kiss on the cheek. "See you tomorrow....at 3" she advised.

"Goodnight Valerie" I said getting on my bike. "Goodnight Timber" she said standing on her front step. I started to bike when something caught me off guard. Something I'd thought I'd never hear. "Love you!" Valerie said with hesitation. I slammed the brakes on my bike. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest. I couldn't help but grin. "I love you too" I said feeling every part of my heart contributing to the words escaping my lips. She giggled with a wide grin and walked back inside.

I rode home fast with a huge smile on my face. The feeling was unbearable....in a good way. This would be the n,ew routine for the next few nights I'm hoping. But never mind that. She said it! She said it! And I answered back. Oh my giddy aunt this is actually happening!!!!

I rode up quickly to my house, carelessly dropped my bike on the cement driveway. Heaving in large breaths from the trip here I mustered up the strength to scream for victory. "She said it! She said it!!" I said. Mom had a confused smile on her face as she walked out of the kitchen.

"Honey, what's with all the commotion? Who said what?" She giggled with her hands on her hips. "Valerie, she said!" I grabbed my hands and jumped up and down. "What? What did she say?" My mother giggled but still wanting more information. "She loves me! It was as clear as day!! She loves me!" I said victoriously. "Honey! That's so sweet" my mom pulled me into a tight hug. "I told her I loved her back" I explained. But my voice was muffled by my hug.

"I gotta go, goodnight!" I said running up the stairs. "Goodnight" mom giggled. I cheerily jumped onto my bed. "She said it" I sighed. She said it.