The Last Play

The New Girl

"Ali get you stuff and get in the car," Colin screamed at me grabbing my softball bag.

"Stuff? What stuff, where' we going?" I asked

"Softball jersey, gray, gray, you're going to practice. Coach wants you their," Colin said scribbling a note on the table for Katherine.

I grabbed my jersey and left as Colin helped me into his car. we had the radio playing, besides that everything was quiet, until we were half way to the field, "Coach said a new girl was coming to practice today," Colin said taking a right turn to get to the field.

"Why does he want me there?" I said jealous that the new girl was taking my spot.

"He said I couldn't tell you," Colin said with a smirk as he turned left down the street that had the field.

"Fine," Colin pulled up to the field, helped me out and went to get my bag as I went to talk to Brittany, Taylor, and Kelly.

"I hear there's a new girl," I huffed as a rolled through the thick grass.

"Yeah, her names Riley," Kelly said helping me over to the little group.

"Coach said that she just moved from San Diego," Taylor informed me.

"Ha, must be a drastic climate change from San Diego to Chicago," I stated, it hasn't been the warmest summer that we could have. It was 70 today...and it's June.

"Last time I checked, I moved to the Suburbs, not the crime central of the state," An anonymous voice sounded behind me.

"Oh, you must be Riley," Brittany said, holding out her hand, "I'm Brittany."

I swiveled my chair so my back wasn't to her. She wasn't much, long legs, brown hair and pudgey in the middle. I gave her a look up and down.

"Yeah, that's me," Riley shook Brittany's hand after hesitating a moment.

"Ali," I said introducing my self and handing her my hand. She shook it and pulled it back as if I'd give her the plague.

"GIRLS, ON THE FIELD. ONE MINUTE!" Coach Jim yelled from the field.

The team jogged up in front of Riley and me.

"Come on, we don't want to get coach mad," I said starting toward the dugout.

"Not so fast cripple, where do you think you're going?" She pulled my chair back.

"The hell you talking to?" I asked

"Who else. You're the only cripple here," Riley stated with a devilous grin.

"You're gonna be in a second, why don't you come closer so I can roll over your ankles?" I asked. I may be in a chair but that doesn't mean that I'm scared of more things.

"You better watch who you're talking to or-"

"Or what?" I cut her off, "you better shut your mouth and get your ass on the field. I don't have to deal with your-"

"Hey, hey, hey" Coach Henry came up to us, "what's going on here?"

"I don't know, I came over to introduce my self and she started throwing threats at me," Riley lied, doing her best to fake cry.

"Coach! You know that's not like me! She's lying!" I fought back.

"Riley why don't you go out on the field and I'll deal with Ali," Coach suggested. We watched her walk out on the field, to have her replaced by Coach Jim.

"All right, it's not like you to be the last one out there. What's going on?" Coach Jim asked.

"I came over here and heard her and Riley threatening each other," Coach Henry informed.

"All right, now I want the story. The whole story," Coach Jim turned to me.

"I suggested we better get on the field before we get you mad, and she yanked my chair back and called me crippled so I stood up for my self," I replayed the scene in my head, all truth was in my words.

"Ok, I'll talk to Riley after practice and see her side if the story," Coach Jim scratched his head, something he does when he's nervous, or stressed, "So, Coach Ali, ready to get out there with your team?" His whole demeanor changed.

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying, all Coaches shall come to the field now," he said, walking towards the field. He made me a coach, because he knows I love playing softball, and this injury is going to stop at no where to hold me back from it.

After practice, Taylor, Brittany, Kelly, and I went to dinner at Red Robin because it's close to the field and they give us free ice cream if you wear you jersey. We were sitting eating our ice cream when Kelly asked it, "Al, what happened with you and Riley before practice today?"

I told them what happened, and what coach said about it, "I knew their was something off about her, I just couldn't put my tongue on it," Brittany shared.

"Yeah well, she shouldn't be on the team for that," Taylor said, absolutely furious.

"Don't say that, as much as it pains me to say, shes a good player, we need her. The team is still tight," I was standing up for her. She may not be nice but she is a part if the team.

"We can make do with out her," Taylor protested.

"We can't, actually," Brittany pointed out.

"We have 9 players if it wasn't for her," Kelly commented.

"But you're a Coach. She needs to treat you with respect!"

"I may be a coach, but she's part of the team wether we like it or not, we can a just."

"I guess you're right," Taylor sighed.

"Oh, I know. I'm always right!"

"Not in the head," Brittany pointed out.

"Neither are you, butt nugget!"

We laughed for the rest of the night, and I went home with Brittany and Taylor to Britt's house. After all it was a Friday.