Authors Note: Okay, hi... sorry I didn't make an update by the time my winter break was over. But I did manage to make one before I have my midterms. Which start this week. So you can obviously tell where my priorities lay. ... not on school. By anyways, I don't know when I will be able to update again, because after midterms, I have until April to study for my SAT's and I have to do well on those. because, your girl over here needs good test scores, to get the hell out of a small town. But anyways, I hope you guys like this update, I know its a lot of sad stuff, but hey, not every chapter can be happy am I right?

~1962~
~Harper~

I trudged down the streets in town, with my arms crossed over my chest, looking down at the concrete with hot tears flowing down my puffy face. All I wanted was to go home and lock myself into my bedroom, with nobody to see me; to ask me if I was okay, and no distractions. Never to come out, just wallow in my sorrows. I wasn't just upset about the whole Squint's ordeal because believe me, I was beyond pissed off that he would pull something like that, and the boys would just egg him on, laugh and joke. Praise him.

I was also torn apart with Benny; how he ogled at the lifeguard, like the was the greatest gifts that God could have given him. I thought, I hoped that he liked me. That he felt the same way that I did for him. I mean he called me pretty, he cared about my wellbeing, he seemed so shy around me. I thought he had flirted with me. I guess he actually didn't like me like that. And that hurt, so, so much. He likes Wendy. I mean who wouldn't? She's gorgeous. And I wont ever be like her, I don't have the curves like her, or the long legs. I had mistaken a boy being nice, and his shyness for something more. But in reality? He doesn't think of me like I hoped and I was disappointed, and broken up about it. I'm not enough, for him. I'm not good enough.

More tears poured out of my eyes, and I forced myself not to sob out in public.

"Hey are you okay?" I jumped, and looked up, and saw Andrew, all clad in his baseball uniform.

I stood there shocked for a moment, then blinked a couple times; trying to get rid of my tears but it didn't work all that good.

"No." Was all I managed to say.

"Well what's wrong? Who made you cry Harper?" He asked, his eyes showing concern.

"A lot of things are wrong." I mumbled, turning left down a street.

Andrew didn't speak for a minute, probably thinking about how to answer. He had led me into a an empty park and sat me down on a wooden bench that had been near us.

"Who made you cry?" He asked again.

I sighed, wiping a stray tear, which didn't do any justice like I hoped it would have. It had just made more appear.

"My friends...and a boy I liked." My croaky voice sputtered out.

"Well if they made you cry, then they aren't really good friends." Andrew said, placing an arm over my shoulder comforting me.

"And besides, if a boy you liked made you cry then you wouldn't wanna be with em anyways." Andrew said, trying to comfort me.

I looked up at him, and from what I could from my blurry eyes, he looked down at me with concern and I could have sworn he looked a bit sad. But I shook that feeling away, apparently I was known to be wrong about somebodies feelings

"Yeah, well he didn't wanna be with me, he wants another girl." I said, before breaking out into a sob.

My face tightened up and I made staggering noises as I tried to get in a few breaths of air while tears rapidly fell. All of a sudden, I was pulled into his chest, and he rubbed my back in comforting circles.

"Ya know, you shouldn't be crying over some boy, pretty girl. We're not worth your tears. None of us are." Andrew whispered.

"You'll get over him eventually, and it may hurt now, but trust me, soon you'll look at him, think of him, and won't feel a thing. That girl he likes, isn't compared to you." He said.

"I-it's Wendy Peff-pefferorn." I stuttered.

I felt his chest vibrate, and his chuckles rang in my ears,

"Please, Wendy is a tart, you're much prettier than her, you're worth more than her." Andrew whispered.

I didn't answer him. How could I? I didn't believe any of it. All I did was cry, soaking up his uniform.

"Shh, it's okay, this boy; whoever he is, isn't good enough for you, if he wants a tart like Wendy then he doesn't ever deserve a dime like you." He whispered, still running his fingers on my back.

I took a deep breath, and then another; trying to control my sobs before I spoke.

"His name is Benny Rodrigues." I surprisingly said without a stutter or a whimper in between

I felt him tense up a bit. Wondering why, I looked up at his blue eyes curious. I knew he and the guys had a rivalry, but I never knew why, nor did I ask. Never thought it was important enough I guess.

"What?" I asked.

He looked conflicted.

"You're the girl that's been hanging out at the sandlot aren't you?" He asked.

I nodded, not trusting my voice. With the rivalry going on between his friends and the guys, I expected to be thrown off him, and onto the dirt, to be called names, and to go back to them. But he didn't do any of that.

"You're probably the only cool person that was on that team, and they just lost you. They're complete dunderheads." Was all he said.

I was shocked, and then more tears came pouring out of me, bringing me back to the memories of what happened between us. Though I was grateful for the minute of me forgetting why i was crying in the first place; even though it was of me worrying. Still It got my mind off of him. Off of them. Andrew's looked at me alarmed, and then guilty, for bringing them up again.

He pulled my head to his chest once more, and tried to comfort me once more.

If he was so sweet, why in the world would the guys hate him. What all of them said; him being a snot nosed dunderhead, and other stupid names Ham had come up with, I don't think he was.

All a sudden, i heard something. And it wasn't just my sobs, or Andrew's words of comfort. No, it sounded like yells, and heavy footsteps, of numerous kids.

"Where could she be!?" I heard a voice, an all too well voice I knew actually.

"I don't know Benny man, she could be anywhere in town." Another voice yelled.

I closed my eyes tight, and then grabbed ahold of Andrew's uniform, clenching it in my fist, forcing myself not to sob and make it known that I was near.

I felt him put his other arm around me, shielding me from their vision I'm guessing.

"Ooh how about we ask that couple over there!" Another voice said.

"Yeah-yeah, they could have seen her!"

"Nah, they uh they look to busy I don't think they would have seen her. She probably went home. Guys I'm tellin ya, I don't think she wants to talk to any of us right now. She was awfully upset."

I smiled a bit. At least Scotty knew when I needed space.

With that, the voices went further and further away, and I was thankful for that.

After a few minutes, I unclenched my fist, and let go of Andrew's shirt, and opened my sore eyes. I pulled my head off his chest and looked into his concerned filled eyes.

"Thank you." I croaked out.

"No problem, I knew you didn't wanna see them anyways." He said, with a small smile.

I nodded silently.

"Come on, I'll walk you home, I'm sure that's where you were headed anyways. And if they come near I'll make sure you won't be seen." Andrew spoke softly.

I smiled a little, then wiped it away, as I got up from the bench, as did he.

And with that, the both of us had walked out of the empty park, and went down the street.

Soon, enough the two of us were at the front porch of the bubble gum pink walk back home was fairly quiet. You could only hear the sound of our breathing. What was there to say? Not much. It wasn't an awkward silence though, more relaxed.

I sat down on my front porch, and motioned for Andrew to do the same, and he did.

"Thank you." Was the first thing I said to him, since the moments at the park.

"No problem, I didn't want you walking alone all upset and stuff." He said.

I smiled briefly for a second, then wiped it away. I glanced up at him and looked into his blue eyes.

"That's not what I meant." I said.

He looked back at me, confused.

"What'd you mean then?" Andrew asked me.

I looked away from him, stared at the yard in front of me, then made my eyes back to his.

"For comforting me, saying the things you said. You let me cry on you, while you whispered soothing things at me, even after you found out I hung out with guys you can't stand. So thank you." I explained.

Andrew leaned forward, and bit his lip.

He didn't say anything for about a minute. I started to wonder if what I said, wasn't something I should have. Maybe I should have kept those thoughts to myself.

But those thoughts all went away when he began to speak.

"Just because I don't like Benny and the rest of those sandlot dorks, doesn't mean I don't like you." A mere smile was put on my face, and this time it wasn't wiped away in an instant.

"Hey, one of those sandlot dorks is my little brother you're talking about." I said with a joking warning tone to my voice.

Andrew put his hands up in surrender.

"I didn't mean anything, don't hurt me now!" He said.

I let out a laugh and my smile grew into a toothy grin.

"See, there's that pretty smile I wanted to see, can't have you crying over some one who isn't worth your time now." Andrew said, with a grin, showing his perfectly white teeth.

Heat rose to my cheeks, and if I didn't know any better, I would have said it was from the blazing sun beating down on me.

"Are you gonna be okay?" Andrew asked me, staring straight into my eyes, looking concerned.

I sniffled, and shrugged.

"Yeah, eventually." I replied.

It was true, because even though I felt borderline okay right now, I'm almost positive that once I get back into my house I'm gonna crawl into my bed and cry my eyes out more.

"Good. Well I should get going before they come around here. Wouldn't ant them to give you any grief." Andrew said and stood up.

I stood up as well, and nodded my head.

"See ya around Harper." Andrew said, and started to make his way down my driveway.

"Harper sounds so formal, don't ya think." I spoke abruptly, making him stop walking and turn around to look at me.

"Well what should I call you?" He asked, raising a brow.

"My friends call me Harps..." I trailed off.

"Alright H." Andrew said, with a grin.

I bit the inside of my cheek, wondering what I should call him. Then an idea popped into my head.

"If I'm H, then you're A to me." I spoke.

Now it wasn't the most creative or significant name, but It was something and Andy, was too well known. Too dull for my standards, and I'm pretty sure all of his friends called him that anyways, besides, I was always the one to be different.

"Alright H."

"Alright A."

With that he waved goodbye and I watched as he walked down my street. before I went into the house, and I felt my stomach flip all topsy turvey, and my face began to tighten up once more. I bit the inside of my cheek hard, and turned around to go inside before the guys came back and saw me, standing outside. I opened the door and felt the cool air from the AC hit me, and it felt good. Good to get out of the heat. Good to be home. Good to be out of sight of anybody who could see me.

I heard my mother washing the dishes in the kitchen, and I trudged my way down the narrow hallway into my bedroom. I felt like I was on auto pilot, Like somebody else was controlling my body. Like I had just been switched back off from the minor interaction with a friend who made feel happy, and calm. I kicked the door shut and walked over to my bed before collapsing down on to it. I squeezed my eyes shut to prevent from any more tears to come. Though that did happen, I shook as I silently sobbed.

I knew it.

Once I was alone again, once nobody was looking at me, trying to make me feel better; I was gonna go back to this. Weeping my eyes out over a boy, who didn't give a damn about me. It's ironic. I was always told by my family members that I was gonna break boys hearts one day; but it's actually the opposite. They're just gonna break mine. And the screwed up part? They don't even know they're doing it.

I was woken up by a slam of a door. I blinked with my sore eyes, trying to remember where I was. I let out a small groan, and turned over to the side and saw my clock.

5:15 PM.

I turned over once more, put a pillow over my head and shut my eyes again, not being able to keep them open for another second, they were raw from the tears, and just sore.

"Please Smalls, just check for me, see if she's in there at least." I heard a voice from outside.

I opened my eyes and felt as my stomach dropped for what seemed to be the umpteenth time today.

I squeezed my eyes shut tightly, why did I have to always leave that damn window open?

"Fine." Scotty said.

I bit my tongue and clenched my fists as I brought my arms under my pillows as well, to lay my head on them.

In about a minute -to short for my liking- my door was opened, and I heard footsteps coming inside my bedroom.

"See she's here, and safe." I heard Scotty say.

Wait, he wouldn't be talking to himself. Oh. Oh god no. Get him out of my room. I don't want to be in the same vicinity of him. I bit the inside of my cheek hard, enough to taste blood. It was only supposed to be Scotty in here. I heard them from outside. Why Is he In here?!

I heard footsteps get closer, and I felt the pillow pulled off of me, I quickly unsqueezed my eyes, hoping they would think that I was asleep, and ignorant to those who were in here with me.

"Uh I wouldn't do that- Harper, she's mean when she gets woken up." Scotty spoke.

"I got to, she could suffocate Smalls."

It took all I had not to burst into tears right then and there. But I kept my composure and the two were still oblivious. Thank God.

"She looks like she's been crying." I heard Benny say.

"How can you tell?" Scotty asked, curiously.

"Look, Her under her eyes are all red, and her cheeks are all stained up..." Benny trailed off.

"Oh.." Scott said.

"Well, uh we should probably get going, I don't wanna wake her up." Scotty said.

I listened as the two walked out of my room and the door was shut once more. I opened my eyes and choked out a breath as my body shook, and the tears burst out again.

Why did he come in here? What was he going to accomplish from seeing me? That I was safe so he didn't have to feel so bad about what happened?! He could clear his conscious and sleep well at night? I sobbed and sobbed, letting the tears roll down my face at rapid speed.

A knock came at the door.

"G-go away!" I barely managed to yell out.

"Sweetie, you've been in there all day, what's wrong?"

I didn't answer. I guess mom took that as an invitation, because she opened the door, and waltzed in. One look at me, and her face just dropped, and she just about ran over to my side.

"Baby, what's wrong, why have you been copped up in your room all day?" She asked.

"I-I don't wanna t-talk abou-about it" I said.

I felt her hand on my back. rubbing it.

"I can't help you if I don't know what's wrong. Is it about Benny?" She guessed.

I nodded my head and sobbed.

"Aww, what happened?" She asked in a soft voice.

"H-he doesn't like m-me. He wa-wants Wen-Wendy Peff-Peffercorn." I said, in my muffled voice.

"Now why do you think that?" She asked.

I lifted my face out from the confined face my arms had created, and stared at her, Her eyes flashes to pity, just looking at the sight of me. I sat up and I was engulfed in mom's arms immediately. I heard her whispering in my ear, comforting words like 'It will okay, don't cry, shh, shh,' etc.

So I told her, I told her what happened at the pool with Benny staring at the lifeguard like she was God's gift to the world. I told her all of the things Benny had did, that made me think, a small hopeful chance, that he actually like me like I liked him. Though, I did leave out the whole fiasco with Squints. I didn't want any of them getting into any trouble for what had happened.

Once I was done, telling her everything, mom grabbed my chin, and made me look at her. She used her thumb to wipe at my freshly fallen tears.

She said something, that got me.

she said "Sweetie, you're going to fall in love so many times, before you find the one who you'll be with forever. So think of it this way; you're one more broken heart closer to happily ever after."

~1988~

~Third Person~

Sadie's eyes widened as she heard the same words her own mother had said to her, causing Harper to let out a giggle.

"Those words, stuck with me. Through every heartbreak I had, that's what made me feel better; that me being hurt over some boy, was just temporary, and I was gonna find my prince charming, somebody who I was gonna love for the rest of my life." Harper explained, with a warm smile on her face, and eyes dazed a tad.

Sadie furrowed her brows.

"You got hurt by other guys?" She asked, curiosity dripping.

"Yeah, I did. but I'll go more into that sometime else. Right now we're focusing on one summer." Harper explained.

All Sadie could do was nod. She still looked at her mother in a confused state. She couldn't manage to think that her mother had other boyfriends, and how the two weren't together since they were young. The way her mother talked about a young Benjamin Rodrigues, she thought by the end of the summer they go together and stayed that way and got married. She thought that it was a fairy tale come true. But she was wrong she supposed. Though, it made her smile, that even though the two were separated, they still found each other once again, and now are married, and have one child and another on the way.