He Ruined My Life (#Wattys2015)

Chapter V

"Hey! Alysse, can I please talk to you after practice?" Coach shouts at me after I missed my third serve in volleyball that day. I nodded, feeling a little guilty. All my friends looked at me with concern. I used to be the star player on our team. They must be wondering what happened to me. I tried my best to serve again, and this time it was such an easy ball over the net that the other side met it, almost looking bored. Coach shot me a frown but didn't open her mouth.

"Alysse, I don't know what is it with you these days. You were the number one on the team before." Coach said to me, stressing the first "the". "Everyone knew it. It was obvious. You knew it. But now, why, you can't even get a good hard pass over the net. I don't know what it is with you. I really want to keep you on the team. You are my favorite girl. It's true. Everyone can see that too. You are a great person. Very talented and strategic in volleyball too. All I really want is to keep you on the team forever." She paused. I noticed she stressed "forever" too. "But now, you are playing lousy. We can't lose to the other schools and lose our reputation as the best at volleyball. So," she took a deep breath, like it pained her to say what came out next. "So if you go on like this, I will have no choice but to kick you out of the team and let Arabella be team captain in your place. I'm sorry Alysse. I don't have a choice. If you keep up your stamina, you stay. But if you go on like this, you have to go. Understand?" I nodded guiltily. The team was like my second group of best friends. And coach, she was practically second family. I didn't want to leave her.

"Alysse," she asks more quietly. "Alysse, what is actually up? I don't mean to pry. You don't want to tell me, you don't have to. But really. I'm just curious."

"It's alright, coach. I owe you an explanation. I have a few boy problems. I, well, I have a crush on this boy, but I met him online. So I don't know what I am supposed to do." Only in her would I confide this.

"Oh. I'm sorry Alysse. It's tough. I know. I don't know how you can solve that. Trust me, if I were your age and I am having the same experience, I would have been kicked out of the team already by an angry coach. Even if that coach and I were practically family. But don't worry, I won't tell anyone. The secret's safe with me." She winked. I smiled back and hugged her. "Thank you, coach." I whisper.
"You're always welcome."

That night, I saw that Chase had sent me a long message.

"Hey Alysse, my volleyball coach just chastised me for being a clumsy and absentminded *other word for donkey* and told me if I went on like that, he would have me out of the team. I got really mad and we got into a fight. He asked me why I was like this and I told him it was because there were many great people in this world to think about apart from him. I meant you, of course. But I earned a nice firm slap across the cheek for that. So I'm just ranting since I'm still really ticked off. How are you?"

Huh. Very similar circumstances. I quickly typed a reply:

"Hey Chase, it's funny since the same thing happened to me today, but my coach was really nice about it instead of being an *the other word for donkey*. But she's always really great so, yeah. I'm sorry you had to endure that. Are you alright? Did you get hurt? Isn't this kind of abuse towards students illegal now? Please answer! I'm really worried about you!"

I got a reply a minute later.

"Hey Alysse! I'm so happy to hear from you! I'm alright. Apart from one red cheek and a small bruise on my arm, I'm fine. And yes, that kind of abuse is illegal, but I kind of provoked the fight. Turning him in would be like starting a hate relationship with someone who doesn't deserve it then crying to their parents or the principal after they said something slightly offensive to you. Even though my coach was being a stupid *other word for donkey*, I couldn't do that to him. So let's pray that we stay on our teams. :-)"

"Wow! Chase! You seem to be on Facebook all the time!"

"I kind of am. I don't like to keep my friends waiting. Good night. It's already ten."

"Good night."

I had just realized that my closet was worthless.

It's the weekends, and I was just digging through my closet when I realized it was completely worthless.

I think it's time for some DIY.

I searched the web for ways to spice up old baggy T shirts and I wasn't disappointed. I had too many different options to chose from. They all looked so great. I copied down the links for my favorite ones and set to work.

I was halfway through with transforming my white T shirt into a nice tank top with strands of fabric hanging down the hem and shoulders when I got a Facebook message from Chase. Abandoning my project, I ran to my computer. I saw a long message.

"Hey Alysse, I just want to tell you something. This is really embarrassing, but I'm still going to tell you. I think you are great and a really nice person. I also personally think you are the most beautiful girl I know. And, well, I've been holding a crush on you ever since our first long chat. So, um, okay, this is mortifying. But I know you're still young, and I know you might not be ready for this, but...will you date me? It's totally okay if you say no. I'll understand if you block me or just ignore it. But please just consider, okay? I'm patient. Sorry for ending your childhood."

Oh my gosh. I read it over and over again. Is this real? I pinched myself. Ow. I slapped my cheek. Aah... Okay, this is real. Chase Sunner just freaking asked me to be his girlfriend. How can I say no? After all, I am in love with him. But I just couldn't believe that he likes me back.

I sent him a quick message, telling him yes. I decided not to tell anyone I was dating some guy online. Cameron, Nick and Erik would give me the "you are too young to date" lecture. And as far as I know, Erik is the harshest lecturer in the universe. Leah would be gushing over it. My parents would take away Facebook. And Kent would be really angry and upset that I had ignored his warning and broke his promise.

Wait. The last thought made me reconsider. Was I doing the right thing? I weighed the odds against the evens. Well, I did like Chase. But on the other hand, it might be dangerous if he asks for a rendezvous. But then, I could just decline it. And plus, I was just trying it out. Maybe I'll be surprised. But then, I'm way too young for this. But who cares? Amanda Baker, the prettiest girl in the school, had a date in fifth grade!

The positive won the negative. A part of my brain was doing a happy dance resembling Snoopy's and yelling, "HAHA!! SUCK IT, SCAREDY-CAT!!!" The other part, where the taunts were directed, was genuinely extremely afraid of the prospect. To take my mind off things, I blasted music and worked on DIYing my clothes again.