Derbyball

Mazeophobia.

Like the new cover? It's by FunkyTruthTeller! Thanks again lovely!

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Why didn't just listen to Annalyne and Erika? I should have know this was a bad idea, joining this team. It's a rough sport and I should have known the guys would want to be vain. Look at me, making mistakes like the ignorant person I am.

Then again, maybe I'm over exaggerating. Guys are rough, they have masculinity. Most guys want to prove their dominance over other guys.

Is it just me or does that sound like something Charles Darwin would write about while on his journey?

It's been about four hours since I ditched the guys at the park. To be honest, I'm having regrets about living my team like that. We're supposed to stick together, no I in Team.

I feel so selfish and bossy.

I can feel the guilt stealing my soul. Very hesitantly, I push myself from the comfort of the let-out-sofa in our hotel room, throw on a light hoodie, and walk towards where I think the skate park is again.

I walk for ten minutes straight with no avail. There's no sign of the park, only small shops and strangers passing by me on the sidewalk. Another ten minutes pass, and I know for a fact that I'm lost. Nothing around here is even somewhat recognizable.

... Plus, I have mazeophobia. What a coincidence.

I could feel the panic thickening in my chest. It isn't getting dark or anything, I just, I'm afraid of getting lost.

Honestly, I've been this way since I was about four years old. It was when my mom took me to a Super K-Mart or Sam's Club or something, and I was old enough to walk around. My mother had gone to get some steak, I think she said. She had said I didn't like looking at raw meat. "Stay by the cart," is what I remember being told.

Being the stubborn, curious child I was, I obviously left the cart to wander around the store. I remember touring the store and after maybe ten minutes, I couldn't find my mom. Finally, I remember wailing under one of those in-closed round clothes racks waiting until my mom found me.

Now I'm mazeophobic... and it's my fault.

Quickly, I pull out my phone and sit on a nearby curb. The battery is very low, but there's enough to make a short call. I see text messages, but I ignore them and call Erika.

She picks up on the first ring. "Why haven't you replied to our messages?!" Erika screams through the phone. I wince.

"I'mlostIneedhelpIdon'tknowwhattodopleasehelpmeI-"

I can almost hear her roll her eyes through the phone. "Oh shit. Um, how about I call Kurk and ask him to pic you up? What's your street name or bl-"

I hear two beeps and my phone goes off.

This can't be happening.

After trying a million times to turn it back on, I slip it into my pocket and run my hand through my hair. A clump of it stays in my hand and I look at the concrete, heart pounding. What now?

Maybe I can just wait it out. Or maybe I can do something simple and use a payphone. When I dig into my pockets and find no money at all, I squeeze my eyes shut.

"Are you okay?" A feminine voice asks from behind me. I tilt my head back until I see the girl standing there, upside down. Quickly, I tilt my head back forward and turn to look at her.

She gives me the most weirded out smirk ever known to man.

"Yeah, I'm, er, lost. And it's freaking me out... horribly."

She seems to let out a breath of relief. "Oh, okay. I thought you were like some teenage homeless girl, with the clothes and everything..." I can tell that she realized how ignorant she sounded. I watch as she smacks her forehead.

"Nope, that's not me..." I mutter.

"Where do you live?" she asks.

"I'm visiting for the derbyball game, but see I got lost and-" I start, but she cuts me off.

"Wait, wait, wait," she says, her eyes growing the size of bowling balls. "You're the derbyball girl? I've heard so much about you! OMG you have no idea how jealous the girls at school are going to be when I tell them I got to meet the Derbyball girl! Are you here for a game? Where's your team? I've heard you have the most scrumptious guys on your team, especially the guy named Chace or whatever! Can you take me to meet them? I can't even st-"

"Please shut up," I say, rubbing the bridge of my nose. This girl is beyond annoying. First she insulted my clothing and now she's talking about all this other bullshit? It's giving me a freaking headache. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound rude..."

"It's fine, it actually happens a lot," she says almost whispering to herself.

I'm such a horrible person. "No, really, I'm sorry. What's your name? I'm Jess."

"I'm Marie. You said you're lost, I can drop you off somewhere if you'd like..." She says, pointing to her red Cadillac Convertible.

Thank God! "Yes please! Can you drop me off at the skate park that's somewhere around here? I was searching for it and I have a game tonight-"

"Yeah, I'll take you now! You seem like a pretty cool person. We should swap numbers, I've actually really wanted to join my team here, but I'm afraid I won't make it. Like the guys would actually let a girl on the team. Pfsh."

Maybe I was wrong about this girl. Even though she really doesn't look like the type to play Derbyball, she's willing to give it a try. "Yeah, we should keep in touch, even though I've hardly had one conversation with you."

I swear I can hear her squeal, but I completely ignore it. I stand for the curb and follow her to her car.

***

When we pull up, I wave goodbye and get out of the car. After Marie drives off, my eyes survey my surroundings and I mentally confirm that this is the skate park for earlier.

As I make my way down to the bench from earlier, I spot Xander sitting on it while all of the rest of the team play some ball...

With the team they were fighting with earlier. I feel the corner of my lips twitch upwards.

Wow.

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A/N:

I love you guys! I have news! In the last week, Derbyball has gained almost double the reads and votes it had! I'm so happy! Thank you guys so much!

So this chapter was short and actually really unsatisfying, but I had the urge to put a chapter up. I hope you guys are okay with that. Please comment, vote, and tell me what you think! I appreciate it all, I promise. Thanks again and I love you guys!

~Crystal <3