3 Strikes~Calum Hood A.U.

Chapter 22

Julie POV

This weekend had been quite eventful. After the terrible run in with Benny and Calum, Luke took me over to his place and we watched movies for a little while. It was a terrible day to say the least.

Its just that, the two of them insulting me makes me feel so vulnerable. Before this year the boys had only seen my cry enough to count on one hand. But now, that number just keeps going up. Its like Im not the same person anymore.

No longer do I feel like the same old Julie. The girl who stuck up for herself at all times. The girl who wasn't afraid of anything anybody said to me. The girl who no one ever saw cry. Now with my best friend against me though, it feels like everythings come crashing down. And I could hardly take it.

The stares that I received this morning in the hallway were unbearable. Theres no telling what kind of rumor was being spread about me now, only that it must be pretty bad. Bad enough to send me into the girls bathroom until first period started. The five minute bell rang, waking me from my trance and I sulked my way out of the bathroom into the hallway.

Luckily for me when I opened up the door to the girls room the hallways were desolate. Accept for Luke, who had been standing outside the bathroom with a worried look on his face.

"Oh thank God you came out J, I was scared that I was going to have to come in there and get you."  Luke said looking relieved.

"Yea whatever, lets just get to class."

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And the beginning of the day was simple. The stars had stopped, and I felt like my self again. But everything changed when I entered the lunch room. I had walked in by myself,and as I walked into the room, everything was silent. All eyes were on me, and I couldn't bear the feeling of it. And I was for sure about to burst into tears.

I didn't know why I was going to cry, but I knew that if anybody spoke to me or looked at me too closely the tears would fly out of my eyes and the sobs would fly out of my throat and I'd cry for a week.

So I turned around and left. Its something that I do quite often, isn't it? I decide that if I feel uncomfortable in a situation, Ill just walk away. Why face what's happening when I can go and leave reality for a little bit?

I went out to the small courtyard outside the school in attempt to get some air. I always loved coming out and eating lunch here, because it was always so quiet. Not many people enjoyed eating outside. Today though, there was no one here. I sat down on the grass and grabbed my lunch from my backpack, the typical peanut butter and jelly.

I ate, and looked up into the sky to cloud watch. It was a great thing to do. It was such an easy task, just looking up at the clouds, not much to worry about. Like, the one to my left looked like a bunny, and the one to my right a flower. I could just sit here and watch clouds all day.

But, as I kept my head in the clouds I felt a presence next to me. I thought nothing of it , because it was probably Luke, checking to see if I was okay, and I h=guess I was. But boy was I wrong.

"Hey are you okay?" The voice said, calling my attention so I turned to face him. This wasn't the voice I expected at all, no something wasn't right. I turned my head, only to be met with brown eyes, instead of blue ones. It was Calum Hood.

"What do you think you're doing here Hood?" I said, quite startled by his presence.

"Well you know, I just, I wanted to make sure you were okay?  Like you looked pretty upset back there in the cafeteria." He said, trying to look me in the eyes, but I just turned my head the other way.

"Seriously, what do you think you're doing. You probably made them all stare at me for some goddamn reason that I don't even know about." I fumed, trying to get some of my anger out. "Now really what do you want, to make fun of me some more?"

"No, no not that Julie, far from that. I just... I have a little proposition for you."

"No CAlum I'm not going out with you just because you want to have-" I started, being cut off.

"Not that either Julie." He said, the expression on his face looking very concerned. "I need your help"

"What?" I asked, very confused with the deep turn our conversation had taken.

"I need you to teach me how to play baseball."

"No." I said blankly. No emotion added. My answer was almost like a reflex, because I knew that doing something like that was a death wish. Why would I ever agree to do something so stupid. It was probably some way for him to ruin my life even more.

"What do you mean no! You're not even going to consider doing it?"He said, extremely frustrated with me. "Just hear me out Julie. I really need your help."

"Why would you, Mr. Calum Hood, the one sport, one trick pony want to play baseball? It just doesn't add up?" I questioned.

" Well J, if I can call you J. Im trying to get into the college of my dreams. And the scouts came out to see me play soccer, and they absolutely loved me. They said that they'd love to have me at their college, but theres a catch. They wasn't athletes who can play two varsity sports, not just one. Thats where baseball comes along. I need to get onto the varsity baseball team, of I have any chance of getting into college." He huffed while pulling at his hair.

"So what does any of this have to do with me?" I questioned not understanding what he was getting at.

"Well, I figured that if I want to be the best, I need to train with the best. Which is you Julie."

"Oh hell no Hood. You've got your new buddy Benny to go and help you. Seems like you've both grown very fond of one another." I snapped.

"You mean the jerk who all he wants is to get back at you for some unknown reason?" He asked while lifting up an eyebrow. "Lets just say I didn't enjoy his company too much. But really Julie, I need your help."

"I'll think about it Calum." I said while getting up from my spot.

"What do you mean you'll think About it?!"

"I'll think about it Hood."