Strike One

Chapter 22

Today is the spring formal! Right now, we're in boring old classes that make no sense and serve no purposes for us in the future. I mean, they don't teach me how to vote, write a check, or use a bank, but at least I know how much Tim has to pay for 57 watermelons and nobody has to ask why he has that many.

The only thing that's been on my mind lately is softball. I've been going to Alexis's games and I feel so left out. I wish I could play but the doctor says I can't do crazy things because of the treatments. It's stupid because they tell us kids to get exercise but when you get cancer, if you get cancer, you can't do anything too active, whatever that means. I can't wait until I beat this. People at school ask me how I know I'll beat it and I honestly don't know if I will, but I know I'm not going down without a fight.

I was on my way to my next class and I ran into Bella and her jerk-tourage. I wish they'd leave me alone.

"Hey Elizabeth. We miss you on the softball field. Too bad your sick and can't play." She gave me a fake sad face. Ugh I really hate her. Actually hates a weak word. I despise her.

"Aww you miss me? Probably because you have no one to teach you how it's done." I shot back.

"Whatever brat. At least I'm healthy enough to actually play. Your just a cheerleader now, even though you can't even do any stunts."

"Hey! You do not talk about her health. If you do I swear I will hurt you and you won't be able to play either!" Alexis yelled. I was surprised she had an outburst. Lately she's been pretty calm.

"Lex, calm down. Let's just go." I whispered to her but I guess I didn't whisper quiet enough because apparently Bella heard.

"Yeah Lex. Listen to sickie and leave." Bella said. Her friends looked mad but they weren't leaving her side. Jerks, I thought, probably call me sickie behind my back too!

"What did you call me?" I said a bit too calm.

"I called you sickie. I also call you cancer girl, baldie, loser, sucker, jerk, moron, idiot, etc.. Would you like me to continue?" I've had enough of her attitude, so I punched her.

"Sorry. But hey! Now you know what it feels like to get hit with a softball in the face!" I told her. Then, I strutted away.

We finally got to class before we were late, surprisingly. Once we sat down Tyler and Alexis just stared at me in shock.

"What the heck Elizabeth!" Alexis whisper-yelled.

"What?" I asked innocently.

"Don't give me that crap, you know what!" Alexis replied.

"No I don't."

"YOU FREAKING PUNCHED BELLA IN THE FACE!" She whisper-yelled again.

"So? She was calling me names. If I'm not gonna stick up for myself, who will?"

"Me? Tyler? Eliot? Those names are your friends and family. The definition of them is being there when everyone else isn't. We would have stuck up for you in a heartbeat." Wow. I never thought of it that way.

"You would?" I playfully ask.

"No. Not really. I just didn't have anything else to say." She playfully said back. I pushed her jokingly and we laughed quietly because we're still in class.

At lunch, Eliot somehow found out that I punched Bella in the face.

"You punched Bella in the face?!" I'm not even sure how that topic came up.

"Yes." I thought it'd be better to tell the truth then to lie. That would get me nowhere but in more trouble.

"Why would you do that?"

"Because she was calling me names. She's also been bullying me for years. I finally just snapped and stood up for myself!"

"She's been bullying you for years? You never told me that before. I thought it was just this year because she was doing it to both of us. I'm sorry I wasn't there." Alexis said while hugging me.

"It's not your fault. I never told anyone because it wasn't physical. Let's just forget about this. TODAY IS THE FORMAL!!" I yelled excited. Everyone started cheering, even the other people in the cafeteria.

School was finally over and Alexis was coming over to my house to get ready in ten minutes. She just had to go home to get her stuff. I can't wait to see the boys' reaction.