Crushed

Chapter 3

I heard hushed speaking as we brushed past them. Ezekiel rammed into my shoulder and I stopped and turned around. "Excuse me??"

He turned around and said to me, "Your excused."

"Why'd you ram into me? What did I do?"

"Nothing except not believing me." He said as he turned back around and went back with his friends that had stopped to see the drama. I did the same.

He sashayed away as I clench my fists to withhold the anger that has stirred up inside of me. I didn't have to believe him. My blood pressure is higher then it should be.

"Dude, chill. Just ignore Ezekiel. He can't do much."

"That's true. With his jelly arms and legs. When he rammed into me, it didn't hurt. It's just that he's so annoying."

"We all knew that."

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We got back from lunch to find the 7th graders still in the gym. But coach still insisted on going in. I walked through the double doors with a groan.

"Who was that groaning??" Coach turned around and I stood up straight innocently. One of the boys pointed to me. "Oh, Miss. Samantha Rose wants to complain. You don't have to play. You may sit out if you'd like. Your choice. Or you can just come over here and explain in front of the 6th and 7th graders why you groaned on the way in the gym. What would you like?"

I turned to the boy that had pointed at me and I stared at him with my famous death stare. Then I looked up at coach to realize he was giving me a death stare. His eyes looked like daggers about to pierce right through my chest. They looked like the devils. He looked like a tiger about to attack me. I realized he was waiting for an answer.

I had a pit in my stomach and everyone from my group was staring at me. "Um.. uh.. well.."

"Well, Samantha Rose. If you don't choose in the next 5 seconds, I will choose for you." He had his hand up ready to count.

5...

I had to think quick. I didn't want to be embarrassed and I felt like I was going to hurl.

4...

Umm....

3...

I could always tell my mom later..

2...

I got it!!

1...

"WAIT!!!!!"

"Have you made your decision?"

"Yes."

"What is it? Your wasting the class's time."

Everyone in the class groaned.

"HEY!! Stop that. Now.. your decision."

"Right. Can I just play and I'll take a punishment after class?"

"That's your final decision?"

"Yes.. uh.. sir."

"SAY IT WITH CONFIDENCE!!!!"

"Yes, sir."

Here was my idea. Since I don't like my next class, I was gonna get a punishment after so I can miss some of that class, or even the whole class. I'll also tell my mom later and make sure she tells the principal to talk to him. It was a pretty smart idea.

"Okay. Students, go play."

The problem was, now I was a little afraid to talk to coach.

My friends and I were just talking and I had my back facing the rest of the gym as we were playing truth or dare.

"Okay, Daniela. Truth or dare?"

"I choose.. dare, Brooke. Dare."

I saw the look in Brooke's eyes that meant she had an evil dare.

"I dare you to.. take this basketball," she said as she handed a freshly blown up basketball, "and hit Ezekiel with it." She said and ended it with an evil laugh and an evil smile.

But Daniela accepted. She nodded, got up and stood at a line at a good angle to hit him. He came close, and she threw it.

It hit that back of his neck and his next contracted. He put his hand on the back of his neck and turned around just as me, Brooke, and Daniela turned around and struck the post unnatural pose ever, trying to hide that we hit him.

But coach saw it. He screamed across the gym.

"HEY!! BROOKE, SAMANTHA, DANIELA, AND EZEKIEL!!! GET OVER HERE!!!" We all ran over.

"Coach, why are they over here?"

"Didn't you just get hit with a basketball?"

"I did."

"They hit you."

"Coach, kick them out. That really hurt."

"Do you have a concussion?"

"I'm not sure."

"Let me check." Coach said as he stood up and felt along Ezekiel's head, examining it.

"Careful, coach. He's injured easily." Daniela blurted out, then cupping her hands over her mouth.

It must've infuriated coach, because he turned his head so fast, it looked like he might've broken his neck.

With his hands still on Ezekiel's head, he said, "watch your attitude, young lady. That kind of mouth will get you kicked out of school." He then gripped a huge chunk of Ezekiel's hair, moving it so he can examine some more.

"Yes ma'am.. oops I mean yes sir." She said, laughing.

"You think that's so funny, don't you?!" He tightened his grip on Ezekiel's hair.

"Not as funny as your bald head!!" Brooke joined in, dying of laughter.

Coach started yanking Ezekiel's hair, causing Ezekiel pain. He let out a little yelp, but coach paid no mind to it.

"I only shave my hair off because that means I don't pay for shampoo, unlike girls."

"I wonder why! Is it because you can't afford the price of $2.00?" I joined in, causing me, Brooke, and Daniela to die of laughter. Was it bullying? Nah. Even Ezekiel started to laugh a little. It was pretty funny.

Coach turned to Ezekiel. "You thought that was funny?!"

"Oh.. uh, well.. no.. uh.. coach.."

"Sit down."

"Did you forget why they are all here?"

"Right. Girls, you could have caused him a concussion. You are in so much trouble."