A/N: So this the first book that I've written and I hope you like it! Don't forget to comment and vote!
TRIGGER WARNING: This story contains content that can be considered offensive, personal, or sensitive.
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"I've got the ball!" Tia screamed, the piercing noise hitting Tori's ears as she winced and awoke from her nap.
She wasn't anticipating on the nap being as long as it was, hoping that she would wake up before her relatives came. Apparently not. There was another monthly get together happening at her house. Her family was serious about soccer, all were former soccer athletes or are too young to be soccer athletes - but her young relatives aspired to be soccer athletes in the future.
Tori headed downstairs and greeted all of her family before deciding to go to the living room to watch a soccer game on TV. As soon as she started watching, she was as intrigued as the rest of her family watching, all yelling as if the people playing could hear them through the TV.
Tori lived and breathed soccer her whole life, she promised to herself that she would never give it up. After the game was over, she took a shower and went to bed, preparing for the school day ahead of her.
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Tori's dad drove her to school the next morning, through the busy and loud streets of New York. Once the bell for school had rung, she headed inside the building, and as she was walking to her locker, she passed many signs promoting activities at her school, the ones that stood out to her the most were the soccer posters stating when tryouts were. I'm going to sign up for soccer this year, Tori decided, and rushed to tell her friends the news.
"I'm going to sign up for soccer this year!" Tori said to her friends excitedly. Her two friends shared similar looks and then turned to a confused Tori.
"Why would you want to do that?" Alex asked. "Sam and I hate soccer, so why would you play soccer?"
Sam nodded in agreement before saying, "Why don't you join the drama club - it will be much better than... soccer." she said in disgust as she exaggerated a word.
Tori felt betrayed, and as if they never cared about her or her love for soccer. "But...I love soccer..." she trailed off.
"Whatever. Do what you want, but would you really choose soccer over us? If you can't accept being in the drama club with us, you don't belong with us. You have a day to figure out what you're choosing, us or soccer."
Tori didn't want to choose. She wanted to have both with no problems at all. Tori felt conflicted because she had to choose between soccer and her friends. Would she go to drama club and have her whole family upset at her, or would she choose to play soccer and lose her friends?
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Later that day, Tori laid on her bed, tossing a soccer ball in her room absentmindedly, wondering if she was going to choose soccer or her friends. Both were difficult decisions. She glanced around the room, before quickly sitting up and grabbing two scrapbooks from one of her shelves. Maybe if I look through the scrapbooks, I'll finally decide what I want to choose. She opened her first scrapbook, which contained pictures of her and her family. As soon as she saw the first picture, she began to smile, which grew bigger through every turn of a page. She was suddenly hit with multiple memories of her family, especially of those when soccer was involved. Would I really give this up? I would never want to miss out on things that are important to my family. Soccer and family are the two things that make up my whole life - I shouldn't give up on this.
Tori then decided to look through the scrapbook with her and her friends. With every page she turned, her frown grew. She found herself angry, not at herself, but her friends. Everything was about them. They never cared about me, or what I loved. It was always them. Everything we did was fun for them, but never for me. Everything we did had to deal with them. They never came to my old soccer games, but as soon as I missed one of their "important" events, they were upset. What did I do to deserve friends like them? Suddenly, Tori became so upset that she took her scrapbook and flung it across her room. But... they seemed like they were always there when I needed them... Right? No. They weren't. They never were. Sometimes they were... maybe. I don't know. The decision is so hard for her. Tori felt that she needed her friends' permission for everything. Tori began to think about joining the drama club and quit soccer so her friends would be happy. Her ultimate goal was always for her friends to be happy. However, she weighed out the pros and cons of the situation, and there were more pros and less cons for playing soccer than it was for staying with her friends. From that moment forward, she knew her decision. Soccer. She would never go and change her decision after this. This is it.
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The next day, as Tori was walking to her locker, Alex and Sam approached her. Oh gosh. She thought, before smiling happily at her decision.
"So..." they said in unison.
"I've decided..." Tori replied trailing off, preparing for Alex and Sam to get angry at her. One time was enough to deal with Alex and Sam angry. It was never good, but she knew she had to tell them the truth. "-to play soccer." She said. "Soccer is a very important part in my family and I don't want to lose it, especially since I love soccer so much."
Alex and Sam's eyes turned dark, with wicked looks in their eyes. "You. Will. Regret. This." Alex responded slowly, pausing after saying each word.
The two girls walked away, and Tori sighed. Would they really do anything to hurt me? I have no one else to rely on. Will they use this to their advantage, or were they just playing? Maybe it was an empty threat. Yeah, that's what it is. Tori convinced herself.
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SPLAT! Tori had gotten hit again in the face for the third time today. Twice with half-full water bottles, and once in gym, while they were playing dodgeball. I just don't understand why this is happening. I'm still the same person, but since Alex and Sam don't like me anymore, neither does the rest of the school. I can't stand this, or being here at this school much longer. Maybe I should ask mom and dad if they can transfer me to a different school. No. That would take too long, I would miss a lot of school, and have to make new friends. That seems a bit too much to me. My parents don't have the time to do this. So I guess I'll be fine at this school. I can push through.
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BAM! Tori fell flat on her face, dropping her binder and spilling her papers all over the floor after being tripped by yet another person in the hallway. She has been called rude names and has been the target for everyone these past days, due to her old friends. They had made Tori's life miserable, just over a stupid decision. Still, Tori felt like they cared about her, cared enough that they did all these things, so she can apologize, quit the soccer team, and they will all have a happily ever after.
Tori's family is so proud of her deciding to play soccer once again. They practice every day and give Tori useful tips on how to perfect her form, defense, offense, and shots. Tori is so grateful to have a family that supports her, cares, and will love her endlessly. However, Tori somehow still believes that friends are more important than family. She keeps wishing that her friends will come back and apologize, but that's never happened, even after three months, and Tori is beginning to realize that.
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Tori's views on life suddenly begin to alter and slip. They don't care about me. No one cares about me. How can I live a life with no one by my side supporting me? If no one cares about me at all, why should even I care about me? I'll find a way to make them care about me. She thought with determination.
Tori ran to the bathroom, closing the door behind her. She looked through everything in the bathroom before remembering where the things she needed were - the medicine cabinet behind the mirror. She pulled out all the medicine bottles and put them on the sink, comparing them, remembering which one was the strongest and worked the most quickly and effectively.
"This one!" She exclaimed aloud before opening a brand new bottle of pills, looking at it closely for a second. Am I really going to do this? Yes. She thought strongly.
Goodbye world.
Tori grabbed the pill bottle and shoved all the pills inside her mouth at once. Soon enough, she dropped to the floor, shaking as foam came out of her mouth. Then suddenly, she stopped moving, leaving her family to grieve in her wake.
