Maybe Too Protective

Chapter 5

A/N: Sorry, I had to use this GIF

"Good shot." I laughed.

"Thanks." We waited for a little bit. Finally, most all the kids from each side were gone. I looked at the other side. Miley and one other boy. On our side Max and me. We both picked up a ball, hurling it at the same kid.

"Sorry." I winced as it hit him.

"Your good!" He called back. I didn't realize the ball that Mily had thrown. It was about to hit Max when I saw it. I lunged in front of him. It hit me right in the stomach, but I fell into a James Bond roll, rolling to my feet.

"That was awesome Lucy, thanks!" Max smiled as I began walking to the sideline where the rest of the team was sitting. They all were talking about what I had just done. Apparently it was 'heroic'. To me it was just fun and funny.

That was when it happened. It happened in an instance. I felt something hit the right side of my face. It was so powerful I felt onto my side. I opened my left eye to see a ball rolling away. "Oh my God, Lucy!" Max was by my side in an instant.

"Ow." I held my face.

"Are you okay?" Max looked me over, helding me lean up. I nodded.
"Miley!" I heard the teacher yell.

"I'm sorry it just slipped. Lucy, I'm so sorry." Miley faked being sorry and sincere.

"It's okay, I get it. It could have slipped on anyone." I told her. Max looked at me confused.

"Lucy, that was obviously deliberate." He spoke so only I could hear him.

"I know." I spoke so only he could hear me. "I'm fine." I began to stand up. Max helped me up and walked over to the end of the line of people. He walked back out onto the field. Both of them had a ball in their hand. I could see how angry he was. He knows what she has put me through. The teacher blew his whistle. Miley launch the ball she held. Max dodged it, throwing it at Miley. It was so fast that she had no chance. It hit her with a ding. She huffed and crossed her arms. Everyone stood back up, flooding back on the field. Some kids started to set the balls back up and Max walked over, helping me up.

"Lucy. You don't have to just bend to whatever she says." Max told me.

"Max, I have to. Can I be honest?" I asked.

"Of course." He told me.

"My mother's dream was for me to be a cheerleader. I fell in love with the idea after she died as just a way to keep her living with me. Now, I can't tell if I really still want it or not." I ranted. This was the first time I had spoken this to anyone.

"Lucy. If you don't want to do it, don't. Especially if you aren't sure and you are going through hell to do it." He told me. I smiled. The teacher blew his whistle, beginning the next game that I was cautious about. It was over quick with no accidents. We played 4 more games and then the bell rang. I walked to the locker room, terrified to go inside. I walked inside. I quietly sped to my locker, changing. I was about to leave but a set of angry footsteps pounded through the tile floor. I saw Miley's pissed off face. That was when I got scared. It wasn't even that she was bigger than me, it was that if I did anything, I know what would happen.

"You son of a bitch!" She punched my right in the face. I stood in place. That made her even more mad. She punched me again, this one with so much rage built behind it, stronger than any of them before.I fell back hitting the locker again. I dropped to the floor, crying out in pain.

"This is for your roten friend!" SHe yelled. She slammed her foot into my stomach. She repeated this over and over. Once in awhile she would miss my stomach as I moved to protected myself. She would hit my legs or my arms. A few time she hit my face. When I thought she was done, I stood in a great deal of pain. "Oh no! You are not going to get up any time soon on my watch!" SHe yeld. Miley slammed her fist into my face again. I put my back up against the locker, so I wouldn't fall. She had at least 3 more fist to face contact before my legs refused to let me stand. I dropped again. She finished my off with one more kick. Then, Mily stormed away in a fit of rage, out the door. I laid on the floor, unable to move. It was mostly the shock. There was a moment of silence. Then, knocking at the door.

"Lucy!" Max called. I used what little energy I had left to get out the door. Max looked at me as I stood there, eyes on the floor.
"Lucy, we have to tell your brothers. I can't stand to see you in this kind of pain anymore. And if you don't, I will." Max looked at me, his eyes looked glassy. I nodded. We turned to the cafeteria, heading there slowly. My energy built up, making everything a little bit easier as we went. Finally, we reached the doors of the cafeteria. As I walked in, ever table stopped talking, everyone looked at Max and I. No one spoke. Finally, one kid stood. He looked a little bit older than me. He walked over handing me a note. I looked at him, then back at the note. It was handwritten on a piece of lined paper. I read it carefully.

Lucy,

Listen, you can slut up the school, do what you want, and saw what you want if it's your way to cope. No one will judge. We know grief hurts. But really, your parents are dead and you are the cause. We know guilt is a bitch, but don't worry so am I.

I felt a tear fall from my eye. It wasn't signed, but it didn't need to be. I dropped the note, turned from the cafeteria and ran. I heard laughter behind me, few people called after me. I didn't stop. I was faster. I pushed out of the school. It was lunch hour, so no one tried to stop me. I ran as tears clouding my vision. The pain was so awful, but the emotional pain hurt worse back there.

Who could know that? I thought to myself. Finally, my legs gave out on me, causing me to fall onto the ground. I scraped my cheek on the sidewalk. The area I was in was secluded, closed off, private. I heard footsteps rushing towards me.

"Go away." I cried, thinking it was my brothers.

"No." Miley's voice was now a little calmer, but much more confident. I looked up to see about 5 girls with her.

"Please, no." I begged. She scoffed, not turning away. I stood up, holding up my fists.

"Fine." I sighed. She laughed. I realized I would never win this fight. Before she had a chance, someone stepped in front of me.

"Scram." Zach snarled.

"Hold on rookie." She laughed at him.

"I said scram!" He spoke much more macho. Some of the girls fidgeted. Then, the bell rang. It was still in earshot.

"You got lucky." She looked at me. They all walked away. Zach turned to me.

"Thanks." I scratched out.

"You need a doctor." He told me. I went to take a step forward, but collapsed onto the ground. My body became limp. My eyes struggled to stay open. My ears could hear, I couldn't feel. "Lucy!" He rushed to my side. Zach looked me over. He picked me up in his arms bridal style. My head hung limp, looking in front of us.

"Lucy!"I saw my brothers and Max all rushed towards me.

"Zach?" Mike recognized him. "What are you doing here?"

"Your sister and I are friends." He said. Ryder picked me up from Zach's arms. "You have to get her to a doctor."

"No doctor." I struggled and used all the energy I had to say that.

"Yes doctor." Max reprimanded me.

"I'm coming." Zach announced.

"You can ride with me." Max motioned for Zach to follow. They climbed in the car. "Ryder, she'll have space in back seat to lay down."

"We'll pick up Devan." Ryder climbed in the back of Max's car, allowing room for me to stay limp. My other brothers ran towards where we had parked the car earlier.

"Go!" Ryder told Max. Max hit it. "It's okay, you're gonna be alright Lucy." Ryder comforted me.

"When this is over Lucy, we tell them everything." Max said from up front.