Insecure

An unexpected Ally

                                                                          ~

I made it to my gym locker early, changing as fast as I could before everyone piled in. I head to the gym to play soccer.

I signed up for it because I thought it would be a good stress reliever. I used to play on a team when I was younger. That was back when my grandparents still lived with me and my mother. They were at all my games and I was actually pretty decent. But one day they got fed up with my mother and left town. Now I only see them on holidays and my birthday. When they left, my mother didn't even bother to keep me in soccer. She just fell apart and ruined everything around her. The only time I feel at peace is when I play soccer, I sign up for it every year but this year I wasn't the only one who signed up. Rosa did and so did two of her minions; Diana and Beth.  

So far they have left me alone, but I can't let my guard down. Rosa isn't the type of person to do something for no reason. So when I saw them entering the room my legs began to shake. Rosa ' s eyes immediately locked with mine as she made her way across the wood floor. The sound of her footsteps getting closer filled my ears.

"We were wondering where you ran off too." Rosa said. She smirks. Something is different about her today. " I'm so excited. You'll be goalie today right?" I'm frozen in place as I shrink before her icy gaze. "You're the best goalie we have. Right girls."

        Diana and Beth both shake their heads in unison. My throat is dry and I can feel my chest tightening. I have to say no. If I'm goalie, I know they'll try to do something, but before I can refuse Rosa turns to the class and utters the most terrifying words.

" Isabelle, volunteered to be goalie!" She says with a sickly sweet voice and a toothy smile, broadcasting her pearly whites. I can practically feel my intestines twisting into unbearable knots. She pats me on the shoulder before walking over to a group of girls. Her minions' follow her over and join in on their secretive conversation. All I can think to do is walk over to a corner and sit down while I wait for my death sentence.

The teacher walks in five minutes later telling us to get into our teams. It looks like I'm on the opposing team of Rosa and her gang of girls. I wipe the palms of my hands on my shorts and mess around with the collar of my sweater nervously.

        When the whistle blows the ball is immediately stolen by Diana, who plows down the floor towards me. I notice that some of Rosa's friends that didn't make it on to their team are idly standing on the side lines not even trying to play defence. When she is two feet away from me, I plant my feet on the floor and try to catch the ball when it is released, but it is kicked with so much force that it slides right through my fingers and straight into my face. The numbing feeling comes first before my nose begins to burn. I hold my face in my hands and try to stop my eyes from watering but the pain is too much.

         I feel a hand touch my shoulder. It's Diana. " OMG! I didn't mean to do that. You're okay right?" She ask. Her grip on my shoulder tightens as her finger nails pierce my skin. I silently hiss. I nod my head in agreement out of fear of what she might do.

" Great lets get back to the game everyone." I try my best not to look intiminated as I square my feet and get ready for the next attack. The ball ends up in Beths' grasp as she dribbles it towards me. Yet again my team is doing nothing to stop the obvious abuse. I even spot some girls in the corner chatting about some boy they like. I bring my attention back to Beth, who is in kicking range as she brings her foot back then repells it forward at full force. I barely see it wiz through the air before it makes contact with my stomach. This kick has twice as much power as Diana's, Knocking the air out of me. Not only is the ball inflicting pain on my stomach, but the bruise my mother left add to it.

         I don't have the strength to stand, collapsing on the floor and clutching my stomach. My breath is shallow and I can't stop the tears from pouring out of my eyes. When the teacher notices she comes to my side, crouching down next  to me.

" What happened?" She ask. Beth walks over with tears in her eyes. " I didn't mean to kick her. She just jumped in front of the ball to catch it and it got her stomach."

I glance up at her in shock at her side of the story. That's not how I remember it. The gym teacher looks from Beth's tear filled face back to me wheezing on floor.

" It's okay. Can you take her to the nurses office?" Beth nods her head and assist my teacher in picking me off the floor. " Make sure she gets there safely." Beth dries her face. " I will." 

               Once we leave the gym Beth removes herself, with her no longer supporting my weight, I have to lean against the wall to keep from falling. Beth stops mid step and turns to face me. " Oh come on, It's not that bad." She whines. I look up at her scrutinizing eyes. For a second I see a small flicker of sympathy in her eyes but they are immediately replaced with a cold look.

" If you don't hurry up, I'm going back." She says while folding her arms. Slowly, I ease my way down the hallway with Beth following close behind. I guess she figured that she can duck out before I notice she's gone. By the time I get to the nurses office it doesn't surprise me that Beth had disappeared.

         As soon as the nurse sees my pathetic state, she ushers me over to a bed. I feel her press an ice pack to my stomach, which i've been holding onto for dear life for the past ten minutes. " Are you sure you don't mind getting your clothes wet sweetie?" She ask. I force myself to sit up. "No, I'm fine."

I'm getting sick of lying all the time, but I can't risk her seeing the bruises. She'll know immediately that it's not just from getting hit with a soccer ball. " I'll be fine once I lay down for a little bit." She hestitantly nods her head, taking in my beaten form.

" Are you sure you don't want to call your parents to come pick you up?" My eyes turn into giant saucers. I shake my head vigoruosly. " No, it's nothing to worry about." I start to get out of bed in a hurry, but wince at the throbbing pain in my side. " See, I could go back to class right now." The nurse rushes over to me and makes me sit back on the bed. " No, you don't have to do that."

She looks me in the eyes one more time before letting out a heavy sigh. " How about this. I let you stay here for your next period and you don't try to show off how strong you are?" I shake my head in agreement. When she leaves, I relax back into a comfortable position. Something tells me that Rosa and the others aren't behind this. I rub my eyes, suddenly feeling exhausted.