The Sandlot isn't owned by me oh well.

"So glad all of you could make it!" Teri proclaimed from a podium. "Well the moment we've all been waiting for, well at least I have is the start of the Annual Queen Bee Competition!" Teri exclaimed nearly boiling over in bubbles of false joy. We all applauded anyway. "Yes but," Teri continued dramatically pausing like she had done every year since 3rd grade. "We have to go through the festivities that come along with it. Starting with the uniform of this season!" Teri announced. Again everyone applauded while the tiny model girl waltzed up to the stage turned catwalk. She, as normal was wearing the uniform of the year.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Cat mumbled. We all agreed, this year as usual it was a dress. Well the swimming year there was a bikini but usually it was a dress. This year the dress was extra short, tiny, and terrible for baseball.

"It's a dress!" Alice complained.

"Psh! It's half a dress!" Ruth corrected.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure that doesn't meet the legal standard for dress," Delphi added.

"It's awfully short," Mia whispered.

"You think that's short I have to squat in that thing!" I exclaimed loud enough for my group to hear pointing at that thing they dare call a dress.

"Seriously I don't think they know what the words, modesty or style actually mean," Stephanie sighed.

"I agree that dress is stupid. Is it even legal to play in dress?" Sylvia asked.

"No rule against it," I muttered.

"I wouldn't mind the dress if it was what it said on the package," Gina shrugged.

"Ladies I know you're all just so excited for the season to start but please calm down. We have more to come," Teri explained silencing the uneasy crowd of girls. Basically the rest of the day we already knew what was going to happen. We suffered through lectures about the history of the Queen Bee Competition. Mainly it started in 3rd grade; the cheerleaders got in a playground war with the Softball team each side recruiting new warriors. We eventually settled on a truce that every year we'd compete to see who was better and over the years more cliques were tossed in to it. We all also knew the cost of these games. Blood was going to be shed and it wouldn't be from any wild animal.

"Now for opening ceremony!" Teri proclaimed her voice had lost its previous joy. We all held our breath somewhat. A bowl was set out on the fresh colorless white table cloth the infamous knife blade was taken out. The shiny blade was one that caused pain and peril. All the girls had to cut themselves on the wrist of their dominant hand. This only left a painful scar it usually wouldn't damage people too badly. The blood was gathered into the lime stone bowl some dripped onto the now crimson table cloth. The blade had to be washed in vinegar before and after every cut. The knife pierced my skin and I slid it to the edge of my wrist, leaving behind a gory river of the life bearing scarlet liquid. So far I had 5 of these marks one was the new one.

"I hate that tradition," Cat mumbled we all agreed.

"I seriously question the legal status of this," Delphi said clutching her wrist.

"That's why the law doesn't know about it," Stephanie said through gritted teeth.

"Ladies please, we have to continue the celebrations. The official schedule is posted on the wall over there. The teams and positions of players are on that wall," Teri said pointing at walls on the opposite side of the room.

The lists went something like this. Winners played each other.

-Cheerleaders vs. Drama -Artists vs. singers

-Ballet vs. Tap - Hockey vs. Softball

- Debate vs. Archers we would play the winners of that.

"Well I guess we're lucky," Gina shrugged. We were now walking towards the diamonds to get any extra practice we could. I heard a shouting match, distinctively Ham and Tanner's voices. I broke into a run not knowing what else to do.

Some back story Tanner is a Bear and well he's bad news. That entire team sucked before I started pitching for them, and then we became almost champs when Kellie decided to play. Tanner is a fighter, and can mouth just about anyone off.

"You're an idiot!" Ham shot out.

"Nice to know I'm around my own kind then, fat-a –potamus," Tanner shot back.

"Shut the hell up you two," I screamed/ complained from the outfield. They did because honestly Tanner is afraid of me and Ham was just pure shocked.

"Think that's her?" Ahmad asked Ogilvie.

"I don't know let's find out," Kellie said throwing the ball across the field to me. I swiftly caught it in my bare hand and tossed it back, faster across the entire field.

"Yep it's princess alright," Ogilvie smiled. They called me princess of the diamonds; princess for short, mainly because I was one of the best players those boys had ever seen. They had also only seen the tip of my abilities; they never saw me bat or play any other positions besides pitcher.

"What are you guys doing here? I thought the little league managers wouldn't let you back on their fields." I asked suspicious of the boys I knew to be troublemakers.

"Well princess you know us; always breaking the rules," Kellie said looking intently at me.

"Why are you really here?" I questioned not believing that, that was their only reason.

"The championships are coming up…" Toby started before I cut him off.

"There is no way I'm pitching for you guys or Buttermaker ever again," I stated.

"Por favor!" Jose begged. Jose couldn't speak English well and last year he couldn't speak it at all.

"Pazza ragazzi," I mumbled. I wasn't going to work for these crazy boys any longer. I was and always will be a Bear but I don't need them.