2017 Preeti Lunt
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Cover and chapter banners by @humorously
Character banners by @SassyReads
Movie poster by @shadednights
blurb under construction
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I've never liked P.E. classes. Though, I think today's is definitely going to be the least likeable lesson ever. The fact is, our teacher is attempting to force us girls to play soccer with the guys. Huh. Come on. Like those football aficionados would ever give that sport a try. The truth is, no-one here likes it at all.
Plus, it's just about twenty-two sweating idiots running back and forth behind a hard spherical ball. To be honest, I kind of get why it's so unpopular here in the USA. Yet, it doesn't seem as anybody would understand. It seems as they want to emulate European top clubs, with the great difference that there's way less experience and, obviously, less appeal. Oh, I should have counted that, too: less money.
Still, there are people who keep not understanding that. Never mind. After all, who am I to tell them what they have to do and what they should appreciate? Oh, screw that.
***
I'm about to change for the loathsome P.E. class as I notice some girls peering out of the toilets. Among them, I recognize Kendelle Bond, one of the top athletes of the school. She's in the soccer team, even though she spends most of her time on the bench. Still, she finds it a good way to brag about being in the squad. Huh. Who cares, honestly?
Anyway, Kendelle is slowly approaching me. As she's tying her long, messy braids in a bun, she stares at me with an eloquent look, like she wants to ask me, "What do you think of my look?" To be truly honest, what makes me say it's a huge no-no is that shirt. Oh, yes, she's wearing none other than the Barcelona home shirt. I don't like it.
Yet, I can't tell her. I'd sound plain rude, and she wouldn't talk to me anymore. Well, who gives a fuck anyway? No-one wants to talk to me!
Back to changing for class, she sits at my bench, where my stuff is all scattered. I haven't brushed my hair yet, and I haven't even got changed. As I pick my pink T-shirt with a unicorn drawn on it - okay, it looks ridiculous - I look around me, ashamed of the possible reaction from my peers. Kendelle can't help laughing.
"Do you mind stopping, please?" I snap, irritated at her irriverent attitude. Meanwhile, the majority of the other girls are slowly leaving the locker room.
On the other hand, Kendelle keeps giggling and laughing, much to my horror. Maybe I shouldn't bring that T-shirt to school anymore, given that it's caused so much trouble, as well as mockery.
She points at her horrible shirt. "You may like having one of this, Raylynne. What do you think?" She doesn't seem to notice that I'm rolling my eyes and groaning. Instead, she restarts talking. "This is the shirt that was used during the 2016/2017 season. Do you like it?"
I just shake my head, trying to look polite. However, she frowns, not convinced at all by my reaction. "You know you can voice your opinion, right? I won't be offended." To be honest, I don't believe her. Every time I'm told that there's no offense in my words, the other person gets offended as I actually voice my opinion.
Huh. Screw it. I'm not gonna wear my ridiculously childish T-shirt. I don't even care if I'll get detention for just attending class in just my pants and sports bra.
***
It doesn't look like Kendelle wants me to show up like that, though. She's grinning mischievously, making me fear that she'll enact one of her devilish plans on me.
In fact, she's extracting something from her backpack. Oh, no, this is what I'm thinking! She has a backup shirt - not an ordinary one. It's completely white and there is the Fly Emirates logo written on it in dark blue.
Shit, that's the Real Madrid shirt! It looks exactly like the one my brother is keeping in his den (pardon, room). Why me, though? Does she really hold a grudge on me to force me to wear that shirt?
"Come on. Put it on," she says. "I guess you'll look perfect with that on, do you agree?" I shake my head politely, not making my mind up about wearing that shirt. Still, I have to. The alternatives are wearing that T-shirt with the unicorn or getting time in detention.
I put it on without saying a word. Then, I catch Kendelle taking a picture of me; moreover, she seems to be wanting to post it on social media. I won't let her do so. My dignity isn't to be traded for some extra visibility. She'd better not post that photo, or else she'll pay for that.
Still, she does. She smirks, turning her back at me and leaving the locker room, but not without pushing me. She betrayed me. That cold-hearted bitch... I thought she'd be friendly with me for once, but instead she acted like everyone else at this fucking place.
She's gonna pay for that, big time.
***
For some reason, the class hasn't started yet, which means that we have to wait for the PE teacher. Why on hell is he late? I mean, let's get with this quickly so that we can move on with the next classes.
I'd like to pretend that everything is okay, that no-one is going to stare at me and criticize every single action of mine, that I'm not going to be judged for what I do and what I am. Though, I know it's going to be impossible.
The room is filled with mocking laughter, which makes me want to go and hide in the locker room. Indeed, I do so. I don't want to see anyone else. They're all dead to me. Every day, I have to deal with their crap, and this is what I get for not even bothering them and staying on my own, minding my own business.
This shit must end. So, as soon as I'm back to the lockers, I look for Kendelle's backpack, eventually finding it. I know there must be something she hides.
I open it, emptying it and revealing its content. The first things I find are just some apparently pointless items such as a comb, a bottle of mineral water, an extra T-shirt (it's black with the number "26" written in white), her notebooks, some text books, her wallet and, last but not least, an envelope.
I'm curious to find out what's there in it, but for now I just place it next to my stuff, since I need to find more evidence. And I have to do so as quickly as possible, before Kendelle comes back and, possibly, rages at me for looking through her stuff.
