Strike One

Chapter 11

I finally broke the silence between us because it was getting annoying.

"Why do you care what's wrong with me? I'm just a disappointment."

"Who said your a disappointment?" He said dumbfounded.

"Don't play dumb. You said so yourself. I only made freshman so I'm a disappointment to the family. Well I'm sorry to disappoint you but I'm only on the freshman team, whether you like it or not."

"I never said you were a disappointment. Your not a disappointment. Your a very good softball player. Who said I said you were a disappointment?"

"Who do you think?! Take a wild guess!" I was now about to cry.

"I don't know. Alexis?"

"BINGO!" I said with way too much enthusiasm.

"Why would Alexis do that to you? I thought you guys were like unbiological sisters."

"Well your wrong. Ever since we found out what teams we were on she's been mean to me. You haven't even noticed me at all until I didn't buy you lunch or when I was being bullied. You don't even act like you care about me!" I was now crying. Very hard.

"Wait... your being bullied?" I'm an idiot.

"crap!" I muttered to myself.

"ANSWER MY QUESTION!" He now sounded angry which made me jump and cry harder. I looked out my window then back into his eyes then did something I didn't think I would ever do if someone found out about me being bullied. I ran out my door and to the backyard.

I would have gone out the front door but it's kinda late at night and you don't know what kind of sick people are out this late. I climbed up one of the trees in our backyard and stayed there silently crying so no one will hear.

I was out here for about two minutes when I heard the back door open. I covered my mouth with one hand and held my stomach with the other so no one would hear me. Sadly, someone found me. And it was the last person I wanted to see at the moment. Eliot climbed the tree and sat next to me. He tried to get me to talk so I climbed back down the tree leaving him in the tree by himself. That didn't last long though.

I got about five steps in before he grabbed my wrist and turned me to face him. I couldn't look him in the eyes though. He grabbed my chin gently and turned me to look at him so I had no choice.

"Hey, it's ok. How long has the bullying been going on?" He was so concerned. Since when is he concerned about me? I looked away again. A few minutes later I got enough courage to answer him.

"Three months." I muttered hoping he didn't hear. Boy, was I wrong.

"THREE MONTHS?!?!" He screamed. I cried harder
And fell to my knees because of how weak I was from crying. To answer his question I only slightly nodded my head. He sat on the ground with me and hugged me tight.

"I'm sorry I was such a jerk and didn't pay any attention to your problems, but why didn't you tell me?" He sounded hurt. I was a jerk for making him hurt. I should have never iced him out so he wouldn't have found out so he wouldn't be hurt.

"So this wouldn't happen."

"What? What do you mean?"

"I didn't want you to feel bad. This is my fault for sucking at softball. I'm sorry. Please forgive me." I pleaded.

"I don't forgive you. I don't need to forgive you for anything. You didn't do anything wrong. Your an amazing softball player. Now answer my question please. Tell me the real reason you didn't tell me."

"I was upset. Upset with myself for being a bad softball player. Upset with Alexis for being a jerk. Upset with life for being this way to me. Although I probably deserve it."

"I'm so sorry. Your the best softball player I know and an even better sister."

"I'm guessing you don't know very many softball players then. And that would make me a crappy sister."

"No! Your a way better player than Alexis will ever be in a lifetime. You are probably going to make it to the big leagues."

"Thanks." I whispered. Before I knew it he was carrying me to my room bridal style. He laid me on my bed and left my room I stayed up a little after thinking. Not think of anything in particular, just thinking. Next thing I knew my entire world was black. I was asleep.