The Laws of Emotion

Chapter Fourteen

I shoved my backpack into my locker before slamming it shut. A guy I didn't know was leaning against the other lockers, grinning at me. I stared at him for a second before saying, "What are you doing?"

His eyes flicked down, so I crossed my arms over my chest. I already didn't like him, and I had barely spent a minute with him. He ran a hand across my cheek before pushing a lock of hair behind my ear. "Don't touch me," I snapped, pulling his hand away from me. "What do you want?"

"Ah ah ah," he said, clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth. "Why speak when we can do other things with our mouths?"

I brushed passed him, shaking my head in disgust. "Why would I ever do that with you?" I asked when he caught up to me. "I don't even know you."

"You know you want to know me," he answered with a grin.

"No thanks," I said. "Now, if you would get away from me before I knock you out, I have to get to my bus."

"You ride the bus?" he teased. "I have a car if you would like."

"No. I have to ride the bus to my softball game."

"Ooh, you're on the softball team?" he asked, his eyes lighting up. "I love softball!"

I stared at him and shook my head. "Goodbye."

He grabbed my hand before I could leave, making me face him. Most people weren't in the hallway, leaving me alone with him. I tore my hand out of his as he said, "You have a body like a goddess, but an attitude like a witch."

That stopped me in my tracks. I slowly turned around, staring at him. His eyes were dark as they landed on mine. "What do you mean by that?" I asked softly.

"You're hot, but your attitude sucks," he replied simply. "Haven't you noticed not many guys will even talk to you?"

I thought about it. He couldn't have been right, though. "I have to go," I said after a second. "Bye."

He didn't answer as I started to walk away. That was the second guy who commented on how I acted. I shouldn't let it affect like they want. Maybe they were just mad that I didn't take interest in them. Maybe they needed to get their anger out on someone, and they chose me. I hoped it was that.

I knew Coach Kidman was mad. Her glare pierced me from all the way across the parking lot. I hurried across the space between us and said, "I'm sorry I'm late."

"I don't want to hear it, Hudson. Just get on the bus. We have to leave right now."

I climbed the stairs and ignored the looks my teammates gave me. Thankfully Layla sat alone, so I plopped down next to her with a sigh. She offered me an encouraging smile. Coach Kidman sat down opposite of us, glaring at me again.

"Can I sit by the window?" I asked Layla.

She nodded so we quickly switched spots. I wanted to lean my head against the window, but it would hurt. 

"Are you okay?" Layla asked.

I looked at her and nodded. Forcing a smile on my face, I answered, "Yeah. Why?"

She blinked, searching my face. My cheeks ached with the force of the smile, but I kept it on full blast. "Nothing," she finally answered. "It's nothing."

I stared out the window and thought about that guy. His words replayed in my mind, echoing and echoing. Was he really right? I didn't want to believe him. I volunteered at the hospital. I treated everyone fairly. I never spoke bad about anyone. At least, not to someone who would tell them. I usually told Harvey what I really thought, but I knew he wouldn't tell anyone. 

Did people talk about me behind my back? I mean, most teenagers did that anyway, but I didn't think they would do it to me. But no one ever thought that, did they? No one thought anything bad would happen to them, but it always did. And I guessed I was in that boat, too.

I knew I wouldn't tell my friends about what happened. I didn't want anyone to know. I was going to change the minds of these people who thought that about me. I didn't know what I was going to do, though. Nothing came to my mind besides setting up laws about how I act at school. The first law was that I needed to be nice to everyone, even though I already was. 

I didn't have time to think of anymore laws because the bus slowed to a stop. Coach Kidman stood up and faced all of us. "I expect you girls to do your best out there," she said, not even looking at me. "I know this is a difficult team to play, but I believe in you. Now, get out so we can warm up."

All of us filed out of the bus and toward the softball field. The other team was already out there, practicing. Their coach strolled over to Coach Kidman as we grabbed some balls. Layla stood across from me, so I threw the ball at her. She caught it and whipped it to me. I yelped as it flew toward my head, ducking out of the way.

"Are you trying to kill me?" I asked. She apologized profusely, her face red. I cracked a smile and said, "It's fine. I would've been alright. I have a hard head. See?" I knocked on my skull, and she laughed.

"Girls, don't talk!" Coach Kidman yelled, glaring at me. "You're supposed to be practicing!"

I scrambled after the ball and threw it to Layla. She rolled her eyes at me and said, "Why does she hate you so much?"

"You've noticed that, too?" I asked her, catching the ball.

"I think everyone has," she answered. 

"I honestly don't know why she hates me." I threw the ball to her, and she caught it. Something about her expression reminded me of someone else, but I couldn't place it. "It's like she has it out for me or something."

"Some of the softball girls agree with her, though," Layla said, stepping closer to me so she could say it quietly. 

I stared at her. So now my teammates were saying things behind my back, too. "That's great. Thanks for telling me."

"I'm sorry for not stopping it," she said apologetically. 

"No, it's not your fault," I told her, shaking my head. "I'm fine. Really. It's not like I'm going to worry about it. Besides, I'm not going to see them again after senior year is over."

"Why?"

"Didn't I tell you? I'm not going to play softball in college."

"That's a shame." She paused as Coach yelled at us to get in the dugout. "You're really good at it."

"I know."

We piled into the dugout, listening to Coach telling us some stuff about this team. I didn't really listen; instead, I looked at each girl, trying to figure out who would talk about me behind my back. No one really stood out to me. I guessed I would have to be nicer to them as well. This would be harder than I thought.