Flipped Into Place

Take Over

Juli's POV:

The Principal announced back to game time.
"Welcome back to the Game! I hope each and every one of you has taken good favour of our cafeteria lunch. Now, that we're all recharged and ready to go, let us welcome back the teams!"

Bleachers suddenly roared with great cheers as the Lions and the Bears jogged to the field.

"Now everyone, remember that the game resumed and we're still keeping track of the scores. Captains take your place and shake on."

I could see both not wanting to do it but Bryce stepped up maturely and held out a hand with the other clutching his helmet under his arm. His game face on. You know the kinds that make you squint a little and your eyebrows together? Yeah. Something like that.

Alex shook on it but immediately ran back to his team. He left Bryce hanging.

"Now for the long awaited event, players, take your places and let the game begin!" the principal exclaimed.

They took their places on the field and when the whistle was blown, the ball was released.

The game of baseball is quite a long process. It usually takes hours. I always see the players exhausted after.

I know because I've been active and cheering for Bryce since the second grade. I've been supporting him all the way until now.

The game was long. It wasn't boring. It's actually quite satisfying to watch them run and chase after the ball. Or how the batter perfectly hits it, drops the bat and goes for the next base.

The game had short breaks here and there. I always went down to help Bryce refresh. I'd give him water and get him a towel. I took care of my guy but he looked really exhausted.

After breaks, the game would resume. It was going smoothly until the time it didn't.

Guess what? Alex was pitcher and Bryce was the batter. I saw how Alex had a grin on. That's not good. I had this bad feeling as I watched closely. The whistle was blown once again.

Alex threw the ball improperly. He threw way too hard and too low. That wasn't allowed! It made its way to Bryce's upper leg. My eyes widen. I couldn't tell if he did it intentionally but before I could make it out, I saw Bryce dropped down along with his bat and fell hard on the ground.

The referee blew the whistle calling for time out. I ran down the bleachers and to the field. By the time I got there, his teammates knelt down, surrounding him. I shoved them aside.

I heard the principal say something but I was too worried to care.

"Bryce! Bryce! Where does it hurt? Talk to me!" he held his leg in pain. He couldn't even talk. "Coach! Nurse help! Over here! Please! Guys what are you standing for, get someone!" I pleaded.

Coach approached us. "Help me get him to the tent."

Daven swung Bryce's arm over his shoulder. I did the other. We pulled him up and he started limping on one leg. He was groaning in pain. It looked really bad.

We made him sit on the chair as we squatted next to it. I placed my fingers on the side of the chair. He took it and gripped it tight. The nurse brought a cooler box along with a first-aid kit.

"Bryce, I want you to breathe okay? Let me see what happened," said nurse Janice.

She pulled up Bryce's tight pants to the top. His upper left leg, just above the knee was badly swollen. A big bruise of purple and black.

"There's the problem. The kid had a strong throw. Too strong. Looks like your veins are clogged and due to the sudden hard throw, it numbed. Didn't it Bryce?"