Worst of Me

Chapter 8

ROSEANNE PARK’S POV

Skyler had decided to join us, I felt kinda excited being with her. We waited in the lounge as the current teams were still fighting. I looked over at Skyler, we made eye contact before she turned her head, looking flustered. How did I not notice how vibrant and soft her eyes were, it’s kinda seductive in a way? Thoughts about her invaded my mind and I felt a nauseating feeling with a fuzzy warmth. Am I in love with her? Am I….gay? Now my feelings felt anxious and I started to panic, but regained my composure. Only one way to find out. I have to kiss her! I looked at her and then her lips, they looked soft and were a soft pink with peach lingering. NOPE. MAYBE NEXT TIME.

They called us in and I walked in, glad that I could get Skyler off my mind with some paintball. They went over the rules with us and gave us 20 seconds to run off and hide. Skyler was on the opposite team. Great… 20 seconds ended and the air was filled with paint splattering and the noise of footsteps and breaking plastic filled the atmosphere. I used my height to my advantage and inside of a log. It has a hole that I can see out of and see the sidelines where people who got hit stand. I noticed that everyone except for 1 person from each team was out. That leaves Skyler and I. Everyone from the other team started cheering since they could only see one person from the other team. Poor Summer. She must be so disappointed in herself since she’s so competitive… I crawled out and went into a bush, scanning my surroundings.

I felt a slight push against my back and the feel of cold metal. Skyler. I froze. I braced myself to get hit,but she was hesitating. I used this stalled time and moved from her aim, aiming at her. We both stood there, not wanting to shoot. I started to bring myself to pull the trigger, but I heard a bang and felt something hit my stomach.

I looked down at my shirt,which now had a splatter of paint. Skyler’s team cheered and ran out with her. I feel betrayed. I dropped my gun and walked out of the arena, as the next team waltzed in.

“ROSE,YOU IDIOT!! WHY DIDN’T YOU JUST SHOOT?! ALL YOU DO IS AIM AND SHOOT!!” Summer started yelling at me immediately.

“SHUT UP SUMMER, IT’S A STUPID GAME. I KNOW HOW TO PULL THE STUPID TRIGGER AND AIM. I DIDN’T SHOOT BECAUSE…” I hesitated at the last word as tears stung in my eyes.

“OH MY GOD ROSE!! I WAS THE LAST ONE FOR OUR TEAM AND THERE WERE LIKE 8 PEOPLE ON THE OTHER TEAM!! I DIDN’T SEE YOU OUT SO I THOUGHT YOU HAD MY BACK SOMEWHERE BUT NOO! YOU WERE HIDING IN A LOG!” Summer continued yelling.

“CAN YOU MAYBE TAKE MY FEELINGS INTO CONSIDERATION AND ACTUALLY CARE WHY I DIDN’T SHOOT FOR MY EMOTIONS AND THOUGHTS, INSTEAD OF THE STUPID COMPETITION. I’M SORRY I DISAPPOINTED YOU IN THIS STUPID GAME!” I yelled, running off with tears streaming down my face. I didn’t look back at all, I ran to a restroom stall and locked myself in there,crying from the stress. I heard someone else walk in and tried to make myself quieter.

“Rose? Are you in here?” I heard a familiar voice asked, quietly.

“Go away.” I said,aggressively. I don’t want anyone to see me crying..

“What happened?” Skyler asked, knocking on my stall door. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine go away!” I repeated. I didn’t hear anything after that and assumed she left until I saw a head of black hair from under the stall door. “Oh my God why are you crawling under the stall door?! What if I was using the bathroom?! You pervert!” Skyler made it all the way and was inside the stall with me now.

“Ok, you obviously weren’t and you weren’t gonna let me in anytime soon so I had to.” she explained, standing across from me.

“I just need some space, I’m overw-" I was interrupted by Skyler,pulling me into a tight hug.