Saving Marley

Chapter One

Marley

Sarah races down the hallway with her curly brown hair bouncing on her shoulders.

"Hey bitch, why didn't you answer the phone last night? I had an amazing night with Josh and I wanted to tell you about it." She playfully glares.

"Well." I hold up my hand. "Firstly, you called at two in the morning, and secondly, why would I want to endure listening to you ramble on about how amazing Josh is a second time?"

"Ramble?" She gasps.

"Josh has the softest lips, and his moan, oh my goodness. He makes the cutest moans when I kiss his neck. Have I told you about his body? His muscles make me swoon, I could pass out." I laugh.

"Shut up, I don't sound like that." She glares.

"Oh, you do."

"Josh said he loves me."

"What?" I practically screech. "Now that's a new development."

"But since you don't want to hear me ramble on about how amazing Josh is, I guess you don't want to hear about it."

"Wait, I'm sorry." I frown. "Tell me all about it."

"Are you sure? I wouldn't want to bore you with my rambling."

"You talk and I'll eat."

We enter the lunchroom and take a seat beside the window that overlooks the school field. I grab my lunch from my bag and dig into it.

"Josh picked me up and I was wearing this cute red dress that . . ." I wonder what sauce Mum put in this sandwich because it's really nice. "His brown eyes were sparkling and my heart was racing."

"Aww." I fake gush. "Josh is adorable."

Sarah frowns and my heart races.

"What's wrong?"

"The hockey team is on the field which is odd because there's no game today."

"There's always a game, doesn't matter if it's official. It's like they don't know how to do anything but play hockey." I sigh.

"Come with me?"

"Please don't make me sit out there." I pout.

"Oh, please." She begs.

"No, because you always ditch me to be with Josh."

"Marley, that was a once-"

"You do it all the time."

"But-"

"No buts."

"Please?"

Watching a group of people chase after a ball does not tickle my fancy.

"I really hate the oval," I protest.

Sarah takes my hand and tries to tug me, but I still don't budge. I am heavier than her small frame and taller by at least a good inch when she isn't wearing a pair of ridiculous heels to match Josh's tall skyscraper height.

"What if I buy you a mango tango from Boost?"

"Only if it's large."

"Yes, now come on before we miss too much of the game." We grab our bags and hurry outside.

There's a mob of people chasing a ball and that's as about exciting as watching sports get.

"Which team is Josh on this year?"

I don't understand everyone's obsession, but to compensate for the large group of students that wanted to play, the school established two teams.

There's a competitive team which travels to other schools and states, and there's a school team which is a mix of students trying to be in the competitive team and just love a good game of hockey.

"Competitive time." She smirks.

You're cool to be on the school team, but you might as well be royalty if you're on the competitive team. They've won so many awards, they installed a new trophy cabinet in the hallway.

We find the 'perfect' spot beside the field. My version of perfect would be under a shady tree.

"Can't we sit under the trees or on the benches?"

"I can't see if we're that far away."

"If I get smacked by a ball, you owe me another drink."

"Don't be dramatic, and besides, there are no basketballs for you to face plant." She chuckles.

With a glare, I toss my bag on the ground and take a seat. Sarah sits beside me and dreamily sighs over how attractive Josh is.

The school team is pushing the puck down this end of the field, but the elite team has a better defense of keeping it near the goals. They are playing a game of cat-and-mouse which is irritating the other players.

Just as the school team pushes it towards the goals, Josh swoops in and stops them. Sarah widely cheers, which pierces my ear.

I assume they're tired of playing, because the elite team bring the ball to our end.

"I need help with our next day," Sarah says.

"What kind of help?"

I wiggle to the side and tug on a smile. The only relationship and dating advice I have is from all the heartbreak Sarah has gone through. Don't know how I'm supposed to help.

"Should we go to the movies or something intimate like dinner?"

"Can't you do both?"

"You're a genius."

"Not really, but thank you."

A searing pain explodes through my head as my vision goes black.

I knew there was a reason for hating sport.

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