》Remember the kid who was staring at your ass? Yeah, that's him.《

June 3rd, 1994

THE SUMMER OF '94 was a summer that three girls would never forget.

Three Latinas found themselves waiting with anticipation on what to do next that afternoon. They each sat in the bedroom of "Yo-yo" Diablo, a short Puerto Rican whose hair was up in a stiff bun as she moved items from a large box into her room. The girl who sat on her neatly made bed was Jazlynette Moner. Her hair was of a brown color and cut above her shoulders. The third girl had also recently moved along with her cousin. Her name was Marylin Vasquez. She, on the other hand, had dark brown waves of hair that went to her hips.

"Jaja que funny," Yo-yo said as she glared at her friend while hanging clothes in her closet.

"Just saying, I'm almost positive that guy was staring at your ass when y'all got here," Jazlynette said as she smirked.

"Well then he's a pervert."

"Hate to break it to you, but most guys are," Marylin said as she twisted a piece of her long hair. Her mind drifted to the boys back home, then to the boys she hoped to meet here.

"Nope, the guy for me is gonna be absolutely perfect. If any pervert tries to touch me, he's got another thing coming," the other two just laughed as Yo-yo put her hands on her hips, declaring this statement.

"There is no such thing as the perfect guy. Trust me," Jazlynette then stared off, as if thinking of a separate experience of her own. Yo-yo rolled her eyes at her best friend while placing a few objects on the small desk in her room. Marylin was also lost in her own thought while sitting down on the bed.

Yo-yo took her hair out of her bun and quickly brushed through it. The wavy, light brown strands reached past her shoulders as she continued to brush through the many knots. At the moment, she wore a white shirt with a pair of jeans. She looked over at Marylin who had on a pink tank top with white shorts and a pair of thin, round glasses that were placed on her nose. Jazlynette had on a graphic-tee with black shorts.

Each girl was different, making them perfect for each other. Jazlynette was probably the most frank of the three. She wasn't afraid to speak her mind when someone said something, and she was never afraid of what they would think. She was her own person. She was fun too. Being able to make people think is one thing, but being able to make people laugh is another. At times, she was closed off. She didn't think that she needed to be the center of attention all the time- but she knew if she wanted to, she could be. She had her own demons of course, but those were her secrets; buried beneath old records and sad songs. She was driven by her anger, something she incorporated into hitting a ball with a bat. Her anger was her storm, only calmed when released.

Yo-yo was still trying to figure out who she was. She tried to be a live-in-the-moment type of person, but her mind kept pressing towards the future. There was a sensibility within her though. She was almost equally driven by her mind and her heart. She knew how to use logic, but also steady it out with her emotions. Falling in love was the easy part, it was whether they were the right one-that was always the hardest part. She was passionate in everything she did and said. Compared to Lin, she was definitely the most reliable-always knowing how to help a person and gain their trust. She was the balance, the scales, that brought them all together.

Marylin didn't want people to know anything, but at the same time she wanted them to know everything. She wasn't very practical, being fully driven by her emotions rather then what her mind told her. Being in bad relationships would seem to be a constant theme with her. She cared for people, always wanting what was best for them rather then herself. She didn't want to get hurt, but she put herself in situations where she was hurt. Somehow, she managed to stay happy. She definitely knew how to get someone's attention, and loving the attention they'd give her. It was like she was never ending smiles and tears, the sort of thing she would only understand.

"You know what, I should give you guys a tour," Jazlynette said as she looked out the window of the bedroom. She hated being cooped up.

"That sounds fun!" Piped Marylin with a gleaming smile, "maybe we can meet some boys."

"Doubt it," Yo-yo chuckled as she ran her fingers through her hair.

"Oh honey, you'd be surprised how many cute guys live here," Jazlynette smiled as she stood up from her spot on the bed.

"Ok, Marylin, call Tía Mia from the phone and tell her you're going out with me and Jaz. I'll ask my mom once we get downstairs," the three then rushed down the stairs and after a long phone call and parental approval, they had walked out the door.

"So, where should we go first?" Marylin asked as she placed her hands in her pockets, looking around the neighborhood.

"Do they have a field?" Yo-yo asked Jazlynette, knowing she knew perfectly well what she meant.

"Yeah, last summer a group of boys were there-giving me no chance to practice," she huffed in annoyance as they started walking down the sidewalk.

"You think they'll be there this summer?" Marylin asked, wanting to see the boys.

"Probably," Jaz said as she took the lead as they walked to the field.

"We should see if they'll let us play," Yo-yo said as she walked up to Jaz's side, the wind brushing past her.

"Been there, done that. They are too stubborn to let girls play," Jaz remarked as they took a turn down onto another sidewalk, "gilipollas."

"I still want to see them," Lin exclaimed as the girls laughed.

"Well then let's see these jerk faces," Yo-yo started to speed up a bit, though having no idea where she was going.

"Sandlot's this way, Speedy," Jaz laughed as they then took another turn and were able to see the fence to the sandlot. They quickly rushed up to a spot where they could perfectly see the game that was going on in between the fence. Jaz then pointed over at the boy who was getting ready to pitch.

"That's Kenny DeNunez, one of the best pitchers I've ever seen. I'd say he's just as good as you Lin," Jaz said as she pointed over at a darker skinned boy, "all the kids in school call him DeNunez."

As he pitched, Jaz pointed over at the catcher, "That's Hamilton Porter. All the guys call him Ham. He's a tough dude, not good to mess with-especially if you call him by his first name, you'll definitely have another thing coming to you."

She then pointed over to the boy who caught the ball after it was hit, "That is Timmy Timmons, the kid at first base. His brother is Tommy, or 'Repeat,' who plays third base. The kid at left is one of the newer ones, came a bit after I got here last summer. Names Scotty Smalls. Right field is Michael 'Squints' Palledorous. Everyone calls him that cause of his eyes-he's a perve though."

The boy at the bat hit again and this time the second baseman caught it, "That's Bertram Grover Weeks, friend of mine actually. I must admit, not the best influence, but he can be a good kid when he wants to be."

Bertram passed it back to Kenny and he pitched again, but this time the Shortstop caught it, "That is Alan 'Yeah-Yeah' McClennan. Remember the kid who was staring at your ass? Yeah, that's him. Everyone calls him Yeah-Yeah cause that is what he says in front of almost every sentence. Like seriously, borderline ADHD."

Yo-yo only scoffed as she saw Yeah-Yeah. He passed it over to Bertram who passed it to Repeat this time, who then eventually passed it to DeNunez.

"Who's the kid at bat?" Lin asked as she examined the dark haired boy's features.

"That is Benjamin Franklin Rodriguez. Goes by Benny. He's basically made out with any and every hot girl in our school after Palledorous pulled a stunt last year. On the other hand, he's never been in a committed relationship- to him, baseball is life."

"He's pretty cute," Lin said, wiggling her eyebrows over at the other two. Every girl in the valley had found Benny quite the sight to look at.

"I swear, you are so desperate sometimes Lin," Yo-yo laughed as her friend just stared off at the boy. Jazlynette only remained silent as Benny hit the ball and you could hear a loud crack as he did.

"What time do they usually start their games?" Yo-yo asked as she watched the Shortstop catch it once more.

"They are always here before nine, that I'm sure of," Jaz then smiled as a thought popped into her head, "girls, I think tomorrow-we are gonna play baseball,"

"Yeah! We can show 'em who's on top!" Lin said a bit too loudly, causing a couple of heads from the field to turn towards the fence.

"Did you guys hear something?" Ham asked as the girls turned away, trying to not make eye contact.

"Nah, probably just a bird or somethin',"Benny said as he got ready to hit again.

「first chapter is up!
i am honestly so excited for this book,
you guys literally have no idea
how long i have been planning this.
a lot is going to happen,
hopefully within the span of
three books...but we'll see
if you have any questions
comment or DM me! love y'all!」