Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Today was the last day of school. Summer break has officially started. Well it will be once I grab my bag from my locker.

"Diana!" My best friend Maria shouts running up to me

"Hey Mar" I smile at her

"Hey, summer has officially started, you know what that means!" Maria squeals

"It's finally time for our annual first day of summer movie marathon" I say making eye contact with my best friend.

"I still don't understand how your dad will let us do that but won't let you do anything else" Maria says

"Beats me. But you know he let's us hang out during the summer" I shrug

"Yea I know but this summer I'll be spending time with my boyfriend" Maria says and I look over with wide eyes

"Boyfriend?" I ask shocked. I had no idea she even had one.

"Yea, he's waiting outside, do you want to meet him?" She asks with a smile

"Of course I do!" I smile. Of course I have to meet her mystery boyfriend.

"Okay let's go then!" She squeals as she links arms with mine.

I'm genuinely proud of my best friend. She's found someone to make her happy and keep her company.

"Hey Allen!" Maria shouts to a boy with light hair

"Mar" The boy smiles as the makes contact with us. My smile immediately drops as I recognize him.

"Oh this is Diana" Maria smiles as she makes eye contact with me. I give a small smile.

"Hi Yea-Yea.." I say giving him a slight smile

"You two know eachother?" Maria asks confused

"He's one of the boys I told you my dad forced me to stop being friends with" I whisper in her ear. To him it might look like I'm talking bad about him but I don't want them to know the reason I abandoned them.

"Oh okay" Maria says, her smile returning to her face. Just then I notice Benjamin and Kenny make their way towards us.

"Hey Yeah-Yeah, Maria" Kenny smiles leaning his arm on Yeah-Yeah's shoulder his smile dropping when he notices me.

"Oh hey Diana what are you doing here?" Kenny asks his eyes in me

"I'm just here for my best friend" I reply pointing to Maria

"Oh I don't think you're a good friend for Maria.." Benny buds in making all eyes go on him

"Excuse me?" I ask one eyebrow raised

"I'm just saying Maria shouldn't be friends with someone who uses people then drops them" Benny shrugs and I grow angry

"Just because I dropped you guys doesn't make me a bad friend Benjamin. Maybe I just didn't want to be friends with you anymore" I snap at him.

Of course I wanted to be friends with him but I couldn't because of my father but that doesn't make me a bad friend because of it. Does it?

"I mean you dropped us for no reason so yea it does" He says and I can tell I'm about to blow up at him so I just smile and turn to my best friend

"I'm going to head home and prepare for our movie marathon, I'll see you tonight" I say giving her a hug

"I'll be there later" she smiles hugging me back

"Bye" I smile and wave at her then glaring at Benny before waking away.

If he knew why he would understand right? It doesn't make me a bad friend for my father forcing me not to see them anymore right?

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I know this chapter is short but it's technically just a filler chapter to understand the story a bit better :)

Chapter Text

I make my way back home after buying items from the grocery store for mine and Maria's movie night. I'm still upset that Benny would say that I'm a bad friend. We haven't even talked in over a year and a half.

"Hey Diana!" My next neighbor Scotty shouts from his front porch. Scotty moved here not long ago.

"Oh hey Scotty" I smile at him "how was your last day?" I ask

"It was great!" He smiles

"That's good" I smile back

"What's with all the bags, you having a party?" He asks looking down at the bags in my hands

"Oh no, My best friend and I have this thing where every first day of summer we have a movie marathon" I reply

"Oh that sounds fun" Scotty says

"Yea, I have to go though before my dad calls the cops for being home later than I should be from the store" I smile

"Oh okay well have fun!" He smiles

"You too, I assume you're heading to the Sandlot" I say

"Yes, I haven't thanked you for telling me about it. So thank you" He smiles before making his way towards the street

"Of course" I smile at him. Even though I can't be friends with the Sandlot boys anymore doesn't mean Scotty doesn't have to.

"Dad I'm home" I shout taking my shoes off at the door.

"What took you so long?" My father asked from the couch

"Sorry I was talking our neighbor" I reply walking towards the kitchen

"Ok as long as it wasn't that Benny kid from across the street." He replies with a strict tone.

"Don't worry dad I don't talk to them anymore." I say unloading the groceries. It's half true. I don't really talk to them, well except for today.

"Good. I'm just looking out for you baby" He replies making his towards me

"I know you are dad" I smile. I hate that I can't be friends with them anymore but at the same time I know he's trying to protect me.

"Your mom sent another letter by the way" he says as he hands me a letter

"Just put it with the pile" I reply.

My mother left me for a new family when I was 8. I'm now 14. She sends me letters often but I never read them. I don't want to know how my mother is doing with the family she replaced me with. I probably have a pile of 60 letter from her sitting in a box in the garage.

"You know, your mother loves you" He tells me.

"Yea and that's why she left right?" I ask instantly regretting it. Not because I miss my mother but because I'm scared of my father sometimes.

"Don't give me that attitude young lady." Dad says, his tone serious.

"Sorry Dad." I say

"Dont do it again or they'll be consequences." He says as he walked away.

I continued to get ready for mine and Maria's movie night. That's when the door bell rings. I immediately make my way over thinking it's Maria.

"You don't have to knock Mar" I smile but it immediately goes away when I see the figure in front of me.

"Benny.."

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I would write more for this chapter but I want to be mean and leave you on a cliffhanger 3

Chapter Text

“Benny..” I say looking up at the boy infront of me.

“Hey.. I just want to say sorry for how I acted earlier..” He says rubbing his hand against his neck.

“Okay, you have to go now” I say

“What? I just apologized and all you say is okay?” He asks confused

“What else do you want me to say Benny. That it’s okay that you called me a bad friend?” I ask

“Diana who’s at the door?” My dad shouts and immediate panic runs through me. He can’t know Benny is here.

“It’s just our next door neighbor asking a question dad!” I shout back

“Okay well don’t take to long. You’ll let the hot air in!” He shouts

“Okay Dad just a minute!” I respond before looking back at Benny. “Benny I’m sorry but you really have to go.” I look at him.

“Why don’t you just talk to me Dia. You can’t keep pushing me away, I’m your friend.” He says.

Friend? We haven’t been friends in over a year.

“We’re not friends and you have to go because Maria will be here anytime now” I say

“Why is it always about you and Maria. She didn’t even exist until a year ago Diana!” Benny shouts

“Why do you even care Benny?! Last time I checked you preferred Ophelia over me! My own best friend!” I shout back

“Because I care about you Diana!” He replies

“Words. Those are just words Benny.” I reply

“This can’t be the end Dia.” He says

“It ended a while ago Benny..” I reply forcing back tears . I miss him I really do but I don’t know what my dad would do if he found out I was still hanging out with him.

“Dia please. Just talk to me..” Benny says his voice raspy.

“I’m sorry Benny.. I can’t..” I whisper “please leave..”

“Alright fine.” He says turning around but stops “but just letting you know. I didn’t choose Ophelia over you. Ophelia was the one who chose someone else over her best friend.” He says

I watch as he walks away. Now I can’t help it, tears are pouring down my face. Ophelia chose a boy over her best friend. That’s something Maria would never do.

I don’t even notice that Maria had already made her way to my front door until she ran towards me.

“Diana what’s wrong? Are you hurt?” Maria asks checking all over for any signs of wounds or bruises. Something Ophelia never did.

“Mar.. I haven’t told you everything.” I say

“Okay, let’s go inside and you can tell me then..” Maria says calmly. A calm type that can make me go from sad to happy in a matter of seconds.

After a long time of explaining the whole Ophelia drama and today’s recent events Maria finally breaks eye contact. It instantly worries me because what is she thinks I’m a horrible person or I’m not the type of person to be around?

“Ok so your own best friend before my chose a boy, Benny over you and you think it’s your fault?” Maria asks

“Well if you put it that way..” I smirk

“You were never the problem, Ophelia was. She was wrong to choose a boy over someone as amazing and caring as you are” She says and I instantly smile at that.

“Thank you Mar” I hug her

“Of course” she says into our hug

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How do y’all feel about this chapter. I brought in some of Diana’s past to let you get to know her more. Also how do you feel about Maria and Diana’s friendship??

Chapter Text

After telling Maria about everything that's been happening lately which she understood perfectly well we decided to just eat snacks and watch the Parent Trap.

"Hey Dia?" Maria asks taking a bite out of her potato chip

"Yea?" I ask back

"I know you're probably going to say no to this but will you go the the Sandlot with me tomorrow?" She asks and I immediately turn my gaze to her

"Mar.." I start but she interrupts me

"I know you don't want to go but I want you to be there. It's not going to be fun without you" she says locking eyes with mine.

"I don't want to cause problems. The boys probably hate me" I say

"Yeah-Yeah doesn't hate you. He told me himself and I doubt the other boys do to." She says

"You don't know them Mar" I say. I'm not sure why I said that cuz obviously she knows them if she's dating Yeah-Yeah

"You're right. I don't know them like you do but if I can tell you one thing is that they don't hate you. After you left Benny felt horrible about how he acted. They miss you Diana." She says

"Ok but what do I even say?" I respond

"You don't have to say anything you don't want to. All you need to do is be there for me" she says giving her the signature eyes she does when she's trying to get her way.

"Okay fine. I'll go" I give in

"Okay yay!" She claps her hands in excitement.

I don't know what I did to be able to deserve Maria but I am grateful to have her as my best friend.

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I decided to make this a very short chapter. Next chapter will be longer <3

Chapter Text

"Dia wake up, it's time to get ready" Maria says as she shakes me

"It's 6am Mar" I groan as I look at the time.

"Yea and the boys play at Seven so get up" She says shoving me out of the bed making a loud thud on the floor

"Great way to wake me up." I say sarcastically picking myself up

"Yea yea, now get ready" Maria says throwing a pair of clothes at me

"Gosh okay mom" I joke as I make my way to the bathroom

I hate to admit this but I'm nervous about going to the sandlot. I haven't been there in over a year nor have I talked to any of the boys. But here I am, getting ready in my bathroom to go cheer on my best friends boyfriend with her.
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SANDLOT POV

"Your girlfriend coming to cheer you on today Yeah-Yeah?" Kenny asks

"Yeah-Yeah she is" Yeah-Yeah smiles

"Looks like our boy here is in love" Benny teases

"Yeah-yeah okay" yeah-yeah rolls his eyes

"Are we going to play baseball or what?" Squints shouts

"Yea we are" Benny says

"Hey guys!" Maria shouts to the group of boys, Diana following behind

"Hey Mar!" Yeah-Yeah shouts to his girlfriend not realizing the girl behind her

"Oh hey Diana" he says when he finally realizes

"Hey. Just so you all know I'm here for Maria" she says pointing at her best friend.

"Yea we know. You haven't seen or talked to us in over a year and the only time you do is when Maria is around." Kenny says which makes Diana guilty

"Hey, do you know what Diana's dealing with?" Maria asks and Kenny goes silent. "Exactly, I didn't think so" Maria says as Diana smiles slightly

"Thanks Mar" Diana says

"Hey Diana! Glad to see you're here" Smalls smiles at the girl

"Hey smalls, these dumbos treating you right?" Diana jokes tilting her head

"Who you calling dumbos?" Benny asks

"You. Who else would I be referring to?" She responds

"Oh please, you're the dumbo" Benny jokes back

"No I think it's you" Maria smiles before walking over to the benches with Maria
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This character is short cuz I got lazy and ran out of ideas chapter 6 will be longer <3

Chapter Text

                                     Diana

"Okay what was that?" Maria nudges me

"What was what?" I ask

"You were totally flirting with Benny!" She shrieks

"No I wasn't. I was being nice." I say. I don't know what she means by flirting because I definitely wasn't flirting with Benjamin 'the jet' Rodriguez.

"Yea okay sure you weren't." Maria smirks

"I really wasn't now can you cut it out. We came here for your boyfriend not me." I say

"Ok fine." She says putting her hands up defensively
——-
"Your boyfriend doesn't seem to like smalls." I say to my best friend

"I mean he does kind of suck.." Maria says and I look at her

"Okay. That's rude. He's trying." I say defending smalls

"I don't know why you're getting upset about it Dia. The boys clueless." Maria responded.

"I'm not getting upset, you guys just aren't giving him a chance. Atleast Benny is." I say pointing over at Benny

"Okay fine. I won't make fun of him anymore." She says

"Thank you." I say

Maria and I just sit in silence for a while until Smalls suddenly catches the ball and everyone cheers.

"Wooo! Good jobs smalls!" I yell to him
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After a while we all decide it's time to go home so Maria and I get our stuff ready to go.

"Dia wait!" Benny shouts from behind me

"Oh hey Benny" I say turning around to face the boy

"I will leave you two be.." Maria said walking over to her boyfriend.

"Will you come back to watch us tomorrow?" He asks

"Oh well.. I'm not sure.." I say giving him a small smile

"Okay well then can you please answer this question?" He asks

"What question?" I ask him

"Why'd you leave Dia? Why'd you leave us. Leave me?" Benny asks looking at the girl in front of him.

"I can't tell you that" I respond.

I wish I could tell you Benny. I really do. But I just can't. If my dad found out I would be in a grave.

"Why? What are you hiding?" He asks

"Nothing. I just can't tell you." I say looking at the ground

"Why can't you tell me Dia. You're my best friend. Were my best friend. What happened to us?" He asks

"I'm sorry. We just can't be friends anymore." I whisper

"Why not?" He asks again

"I just can't be friends with you Benny. Now please stop asking." I say as I turn around and begin walking to the exit.

I really am sorry that I can't be friends with you Benjamin Rodriguez but I have no choice.
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Okay so here's chapter six. It's still short but it's longer than the last two were. Sorry for the wait! <3

Chapter Text

*note this chapter will be in third person as I'm trying to figure out the format I like for all my books.

When Diana arrived home she instantly felt bad, she hated to admit but she was scared of her father and what he would do if he found out she was hanging around those boys again. Of course her father was at work until midnight to ask if she'd been around those boys like he always did but she was still terrified of what would happen. And that's when there's a knock at the door.

"Hold your horses, I'm coming!" Diana responded making her way to the door to stop the constant knocking on the door. "Ye- oh Benny.." Diana said as she saw the person standing at her door. "I know you don't want to be friends with me or hang out with us anymore, but please come down to the sandlot again tomorrow. If not for me, do it for Maria." Benny begged the girl. "Benny.. I do want to be friends with you, I really do, I care about you a lot, I just can't be friends with you." Diana replied, her voice low. "Why not? You were able to be  friends with me a year ago, what changed?" Benny asked. The boy was genuinely confused on why Diana couldn't be friends with him or the other boys anymore, what he didn't understand was that she wouldn't tell him why.
"It's a long story Benny.." Diana said softly, her eyes slightly fogging. "What is it me? Did I do something to mess up our friendship?"  Benny asked still confused. "No, you didn't do anything Benny." Diana said "I'm really sorry Benny, I really am" Diana continued "I think you should go." She said quietly to the boy in front of her. "Come to the sandlot tomorrow again please Dia. I'm sure Maria would appreciate it and we would like you there" Benny said. "Bye Dia" He said waving before turning around and crossing the street. "Bye Benny" Diana waved back to the boy before closing the door.

Diana sighed as she plopped herself down on the couch. She didn't know what to do, should she listen to her dad and be miserable or should she ignore him and hang out with the sandlot boys. What feared her most was "what would he do if he found out?" That question will forever haunt her.

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END OF CHAPTER SEVEN-

This chapter is technically short but it's technically still longer than other chapters. Question for you all: What should Diana do? Ignore her dad and hang out with the sandlot boys or listen to him and be miserable?

Chapter Text

DIANA

I've been thinking a lot after the conversation Benny and I had. Maybe I should go to the sandlot. After all I am 14 and old enough to decide who is good for me and who isn't. After all, I did have Ophelia to thank for that.

I get up to make myself a bowl of ramen as my dad walked through the door. "Hey Dad, how was work?" I ask, trying not to get yelled again at for not asking. "It was alright, lots of angry customers but it was good" my dad replies. "Oh yea, what were they mad about this time?" I ask. My dad works at the diner down the street and always has stories about angry customers. "Oh you know, the usuals." He replies. "What you making?" He asks as I'm putting the bowl in the microwave. "Oh just some ramen" I reply. "Oh alright. The Rodriguez's invited us to dinner tonight so be ready by six" he says. I pause what I'm doing. No way he accepted dinner at the Rodriguez's. I mean, it's Benny's house for god's sake. Excuse my language. "Okay" I smile as I take my bowl out of the microwave.

I quickly eat my ramen and run to my room to call Maria to tell her about dinner. "Daniels' residence" a voice said over the phone. "Hi Mrs. Daniels, this is Diana, is Maria home?" I ask nicely. "Oh yes she is, let me get her for you real quick sweetie." Mrs. Daniels says kindly. "Okay thank you" I reply. "Dia?" Maria's voice says over the phone. "Maria, you'll never believe where my dad agreed to have dinner at tonight!" I shrieked. "Where?" She asked. "Benny's house" I told her. A subtle gasp came through the phone. "Your dad really agreed to have dinner at the Rodriguez's?!" She asked. "Yep" I reply. "Dia, do you know what this means?!" Maria asks excitedly. "What?" I ask. "It means, it's your chance to talk your dad into letting you hang out at the sandlot again!" She shrieks. "And with Bennyyy." She teases. "Maria come on, you know that crush meant nothing" I roll my eyes. I'll admit I did have a crush on Benny back when we were friends but it's long gone now. At least I believe it is. "Okay sure it is." She says. "I'm serious Mar. I'm over it." I reply. "Okay fine, then just make this your chance to convince your dad to start hanging out at the sandlot again." She says. "Okay I will." I reply.

BENNY

"I'm home" I yell, throwing my shoes onto the floor. "Oh Benny, you're home, great" My mother says rushing into the hallway. "I need you to go wash up, the Masons are coming over for dinner tonight" She says. "The Masons are coming over?" I asked shocked. The Masons had not come over for dinner in a long time. "Yea, usually Dan turns down our invitation to dinner but he agreed to have dinner with us tonight" My mother says. "Now please go wash yourself up before they get here" My mother says. "Alright" I nod before making my way up the stairs.

I'm so excited for the Masons to come over for dinner. They haven't been over here in a long time and this might just be my chance to become friends with Diana again.
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A/N-

I was going to make this chapter longer like over 1000 words longer but I discussed it with my friend and decided to take the other half of what would be in this chapter and put in the chapter 9. I promise since I'm splitting this chapter I'll make chapter 9 WAY longer <3

Btw, this is transferred from wp and as I am too lazy to edit, the format might be weird <3

Chapter Text

DIANA

After getting off the phone with Maria, I rush over to my dresser to grab an outfit to wear as I accidentally spilled some of the soup from my ramen on me. I decide to grab a green short sleeved top and a green and white plaid skirt to pair my shirt with.

"Diana, we're leaving in 5 minutes!" My dad yells from the hallway. I don't understand why he rushes me. I mean, the Rodriguez's literally live across the street from us. "Okay dad!" I yell back. I grab my hair brush from my vanity and brush my hair into a half up, half down ponytail before putting my socks on and meeting my dad in the living room.

"You dressed nice" Dad says to me. "Well, we are having dinner at our neighbors and I bet you don't want me showing up in a dirty outfit" I reply. "No, I'm glad you changed" Dad smiles. I smile back as I slip my black Mary Janes on. "You ready?" Dad asks. "Yep, I'm ready" I reply.

The walk to the Rodriguez's didn't take very long as like I said, they literally live across the street from us.

Dad forgot something and had to run back to the house so I took it upon myself to knock on the Rodriguez's door.

"Diana! Oh you've gotten so gorgeous!" Mrs. Rodriguez smiled as she pulls me into a hug. "Hi Mrs. Rodriguez" I smile hugging her back. "Where's your father?" Mrs. Rodriguez asks. "Oh, he forgot something at the house, he'll be here soon" I reply. "Oh okay, well come in, don't want that pretty face of yours to be eaten alive by mosquitoes" Mrs. Rodriguez says motioning for me to go inside while she waits outside for my father.

I slip off my Mary Janes and neatly place that on the shoe rack by the door remembering how much of a neat freak Mrs. Rodriguez is.

"Oh Diana, you're here" Mr. Rodriguez says as he enters through the door from. "Hi Mr. Rodriguez" I smile to him. "It's nice to see you again Diana, Benjamin won't stop talking about how much he misses hanging out with you" Mr. Rodriguez says. "It's nice to see you again as well. And hopefully soon Benny and I will hang out again" I reply putting on a fake smile.

I know shouldn't be lying to an elder. Especially those who are close to you. But I know I won't ever get to hang out with Benny again after this.

"Oh Diana" Mrs. Rodriguez says from behind. "Yes Mrs. Rodriguez?" I ask, turning to face her. "Supper won't be ready for a bit so why don't you go on up to Benny's room while you wait"
Mrs. Rodriguez says and I instantly look over to my dad for permission. He nods his head. "Okay" I smile and turn to the staircase.

BENNY

I haven't stopped thinking about what I'm going to say to Diana when she comes over. I mean, we haven't really talked in over a year after she completely ghosted me and the boys. I miss her though, she was always the light of the party. I just wish I knew why she stopped hanging out with us.

A gentle knock hits my door and I look over to see who it is. To my surprise, it's none other than Diana freaking Mayson

"Hey" Diana quietly says. "Hey" I reply. "Uhm, your mom told me to come up here while dinner is being prepared" Diana says shyly. "That's fine" I reply.

"So.." Diana says awkwardly. "So.." I reply back. "How have you been?" Diana asks. Instantly I'm shocked. "Good, you?" I ask back. "I've been good" she replies. "Good. That's good." I say.

After a while of sitting silence between the two of us I finally decided to speak up.

"Dia can I ask you something?" I ask, looking over to her. "Yea sure." Diana responds. "Did I do something wrong to make you not want to be friends me anymore?" I ask in almost a whisper.

Diana looks over to me with a soft expression. For a second I could see the old her in her eyes before she put her head down.

"No you didn't do anything Benny" She says softly. "Then why'd you stopping being friends with me?" I ask softly.

Diana sighs, playing with her fingers. "My dad doesn't want me to hang around you and the others because he's afraid that you'll abandon me like my mother did" Diana says. "I mean, I don't blame him though, my mother leaving to start a new family really hurt me." She continues, her eyes beginning to gloss over.

"Why would your dad ever think that we'd abandon you?" I ask, letting the words just slip out before thinking about it.

"I don't know, he's been very protective of me over the past year" Diana says now looking up at me. "I miss you Benny, I really do. You were my best friend. I'm just scared what will happen if I disobey him" She says.

I can't figure out what to say so we both go into silence until Diana breaks it again.

"Benny, if I told you that my father wasn't the only reason I ditched you, would you be mad?" Diana asks, her voice soft

"Depends on what you're about to tell me" I reply.

It's obviously a lie because I could never be mad at Dia. No matter how bad it is, she could never seem to make me angry.

"Phillips asked me out right before I stop hanging out with you guys" she says, looking down at her hands.

"And?" I ask, confused on why she's telling me.

I really don't know why she would tell me. It's not like she would say yes to him anyway. He's a total jerk. Our rival.

"I told him yes." She says and my face drops completely.

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AHH FINALLY CHAPTER NINE IS DONE. I WAS GONNA MAKE IT LONGER BUT I DECIDED TO BE MEAN AND LEAVE YALL ON A CLIFFHANGER <3