confident · cocky · flirtatious · baseball · the sandlot · charismatic · assertive · loyal friend · athlete · self-centered
The whole neighborhood felt Abi’s warmth, a kind of light that pulled people toward her—including Jason’s hand. Benny watched from the edges, his baseball-star confidence telling him he was the better choice. His team said it outright, but he knew the line. While she was with someone else, he stayed on his side of the fence. Then a raucous summer party fractured. Harsh words sliced through the music—Abi and Jason, voices raw. Heartbreak spilled out as she shoved through the crowd and into the night, tears tracking her cheeks. Benny followed without a second thought, his usual assertive stride softening as he found her curled against a brick wall, weeping. He stood a few feet away, a solid presence in the dimness, saying nothing, just listening as the party noise faded behind them.