This Time

Ch. 4

"Made any new friends?"

Was the first thing Aunt Ambi asked once I got home. I slapped the form on the kitchen counter.

"No, why would I?"

I grunted and left upstairs to my room.

"You have to lighten up! It's highschool!"

Aunt Ambi called after me.

"I can survive high school by myself. Without any friends."

I muttered under my breath. Then, a memory hit me. A memory I did not like to remember. But it so often came back every time I told myself that I wouldn't have any friends.

"Nobody is gonna be your friend. All you do is that sport with the stupid black and white ball. Plus, you're always bragging about it. You're not a girl. You don't even know the trend these days."

My only friend spit at me at lunch. It was just in 6th grade, when everyone started growing up. As for me, I helplessly kept concentrating on soccer while all of my friends started going to the mall and going to the beach. I had no spot in the conversation when they talked about cute or hot guys. Soon, I was only left with one friend. Her name was Alia. We had known each other ever since pre-k, and we shared the same interest; soccer. I had expected her to not go to the girly side, but she quit soccer and complained that I was too lame to hang out with.

"I'm going down to the beach this week. Don't try to call me or text me again."

Was all Alia said before she completely ditched me. She started to care about her looks, and had a boyfriend. I threw out my phone after that, and never had a phone afterwards. I gave up talking to people. I sat crying in the corner for days, upset that my one and only bestfriend would leave me like that. And soon, the cold Jen appeared. I played a few short scrimmages with guys and talked to some of my teammates in soccer, but nothing else. No friends. I didn't need them. I wasn't gonna get hurt again. They would end up leaving me anyway, was what I thought. No one liked me. Just like Alia said. And I completely believed her.

I realized I was tearing up at that memory. I quickly dried them away and started to study some extra assignments I had gotten from teachers.

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The week flew by, and it finally came to Sunday, the day right before my first soccer practice with the Civic Tigers.

"I'm going grocery shopping. Wanna tag along?"

Aunt Ambi asked. I shook my head. I just didn't feel like going out today.

"Fine. Call me if you want anything."

She told me and left the house. Finally, I was left alone. I kept thinking about practice. I wouldn't have any problem going in. I mean, I even had to admit, I was really good at soccer. Plus, I've been playing with guys my whole life. I would have no problem with this. Just because there were no girls on the team didn't mean I would suck, or fail the team. I would probably do better than them. I reassured myself. Just then, the home phone rang. Groaning, I forced myself off my bed and downstairs to grab it.

"Hello?"

I spoke into the phone.

"Hey, is it Jen?"

A familiar voice said.

"Yeah, it is. Who is this?"

"It's Danny."

I stood there by the dining table, shocked.

"How'd you get this number?"

"Well, I met your aunt at the market while choosing some apples, so we said hi and everything. And I got the home phone number."