It's Not Always Good BYE (Toby McDonough) (#Wattys2017)

Chapter 2: I'm So Glad I Have A Soldier

After lunch was fifth, sixth and seventh period. I quickly remembered that I had Lacrosse practice after school so I hurried to the locker room and changed and went to the field to get some passes and throws in before practice even started. Which was pretty easy since I was the captain of the team. We actually have our co-captain back and he ran onto the field and tossed me the ball. It was Toby.

"Hey you!" I said with a chuckle in my throat. "Man, it's good to have you back. I mean, having someone with really bad anger issues as the co-captain is both terrifying and messy. Tyler was kicked off the team because of his anger. Especially towards me!"

He laughed at that comment. "I'm glad to be back and what did I tell you. I always knew he wasn't gonna be on the team long with the anger problems. He didn't hurt you though did he?"

I was scared to reply because he actually had, but I mean I couldn't tell him I just got him back, "Nah, and if he had don't you think I would've dealt with it personally. I am pretty strong." I can't believe I lied to him. That was the first time ever. And I am not a strong person maybe physically, I mean I do play Lacrosse, but not mentally.

"I guess so. Let's pass and shoot for now though, is that OK?"

"That's what we came here to do right?"

"Yea!" He replied sheepishly but also so confident.

I went through the new drill with him. By new drill I mean that we are now sophomores; and we have a new trick up our sleeve every year. When we actually started practice I saw Maddi and her clique or whatever from a distance on the bleachers. She had a sign and a loud voice that said: We Love You Toby!!!!! G-O Go Toby!!!! It made me cringe at the crazy thought that he'd choose her over me. I am his girlfriend anyway. But he told me that he'd fight for me til the end because he is my Soldier. Plus, he doesn't go for the girly girl cheerleaders anyway so I think I'm safe. For now at least.

Toby had the ball running down the field and he tossed it to me, who tossed it back, and in return one more pass to me and goal shot and made! He ran up to me and hugged me and lifted me off the ground and spun me around. When he did that I saw her walk up to him and turn him around and say "Congrats! Your first day back and you know the new routine and you even made a shot. I'm proud of you."

"Kaela made that shot and she taught me the new drill. You do know that right?" Toby said in my defence of what she had said.

"Well, she's nothing to me! It's you that I care about silly. She's a stupid little..."

He stopped her for two reasons 1) I don't like people to cuss around me and 2) he was still defending me. "Well, sorry! She means the world to me and she is neither stupid or little," he wasn't talking about my height because I am short but was talking about my personality. "I'm sorry to say this to you but suck it up buttercup because she's mine not you."

She quickly lost interest in what Toby was saying when she saw that I was blushing like crazy and laughing a little bit. She walked up to me and said, "You're nothing! You're nothing to me or anyone else! You're nothing even to your parents! You have know idea how much you are worthless except for taking notes in class and doing The Other Kids homework!"

"STOP IT! STOP IT! STOP IT!" I yelled in her face. Even though she was right, I didn't want to start crying on Toby's first day back. "Yes you are completely right but at least I'm something to someone. That someone is my Soldier! And he promised to fight for me til the end so I'd back off if I were you. Oh, and if you don't I'll be sure to tell Coldon, your boyfriend remember!"

She finally had nothing to say so she walked off and she snapped at her clique to follow her like lost puppies. Finally I could break down and start crying since she was gone. I fell on my knees and Toby came over and put his arms around me and held me close and picked me back up on my feet and pulled me in towards him.

"It's OK," he whispered in my ear, "I'm here. It's OK I'm here."

I finally said something that was spur of the moment but completely true, "I'm so glad I have a Soldier to fight for me."

~~~

It's my second chapter and I'm so excited about the third one. Hope you enjoyed Chapter 2!!! If it ever takes me a while to update I'm so sincerely sorry. I don't get internet connection out where I live so it may be real quick to update or it may take a while but I will update whenever I have time and/or internet.