Dodgeball

The next day, I woke up with a pounding headache. I stretched my sore limbs and went to take a shower. I turned the water to hot and went into the shower. I stood under the spray for five minutes, before I start to lather myself with soap.

When I was done, I stepped from the shower and wrapped a towel around my body. I then went into my room to get ready. I got dressed quickly into jeans and a baby blue sweater. As I put on my sweater, I cringed at the black and blue marks on my stomach. The old ones beside it was starting to look dark and ugly.

I then went over to my dresser to comb my hair. I run my hands through my brown hair and noticed that a big chunk was torn out from when Allan grabbed it yesterday. I caught my hair into a high ponytail in order to hide it.

When I was done, I began to apply makeup. I applied a lot of foundation and powder on my cheeks to hide the marks that had now turned a darkish blue colour. Thankfully, when I was done, it wasn't showing. I had gotten so used to hiding the cuts, bruises and scars, that I had become a pro. Within fifteen minutes, I was ready for school.

I heard Allan downstairs in the living room, so I sat on my bed and waited. He should be leaving for work soon. Well, I hope so because I didn't want to be late for school. I sat on my bed for ten minutes, when I heard the screeching of tires outside. I looked out of my window to see Allan's car speeding away.

Yes! I thought to myself. I grabbed my school bag from off my bed and left my room. I ran down the stairs and left the house.

******

It was the second to last class of the day and I was in the gym locker room changing into my P. E uniform; which consisted of a red and black T-shirt and red shorts. When I was finished, I slipped on my white sneakers. I then went out into the gym to join the rest of my classmates.

After a while, I saw Lucas. He walked up to stand beside me. He was in my P. E class. Our P. E teacher, Ms. Levy, finally walked up to us.

"Okay class, Mr. Dunham's class will be joining us today. We are going to play a game of dodgeball. My class will go against Mr. Dunham's class." Everyone started to chatter in excitement. Ms. Levy clap her hands. "Alright, everyone do four laps on the court until Mr. Dunham's class get here."

As usual everyone grumble in protest. Mostly the stuck up girls, who doesn't like to get sweaty. They were lucky we were only doing four laps. Normally, we do six to ten laps. Ms. Levy blew her whistle to indicate that we should start and stop the complaining.

"Well, see you on the playing field." Lucas said to me as he take off running. I started to run as well with the rest of the class at a slower pace. I didn't want to use up all my energy. Although, I was used to this. Come on, I walk two miles to and from school every day.

After a while, Mr. Dunham's class joined us and everyone finish up with their laps. We all gathered together and Mr. Dunham and Ms. Levy went over the rules of the game. I looked over to where Mr. Dunham's class stood and my eyes landed on Carson. He looked back at me and smirked. I shook my head and turn back to face the front.

I didn't even remember that he is in Mr. Dunham's class. Occasionally, Ms. Levy and Mr. Dunham would join classes, so I've come to know the students in Mr. Dunham's class. I think I've only seen him twice though, because he'd skip most of the time.

Ms. Levy and Mr. Dunham aligned the balls on the center line in the gym and then stepped back. My class stood on one side and Mr. Dunham's class stood on the next side. Ms. Levy placed her whistle into her mouth and blow it. As soon as the whistle sounded everyone run for a ball.

I run for a ball as well, keeping a keen eye on my opponents. There were a lot of balls thrown at me, but luckily, I dodged all of them. I then directed my ball towards a girl and throw it. The ball hit the girl on her leg. The girl gave me a glare as she trudged towards the benches. I lifted my hand and waved at her, grinning widely.

The game continued until only a few of us were left. On my team, there were three of us; Lucas, another boy and I. On the opposing team, there were four people; Carson, two girls and another boy. One of the girls was on the track team. Our classmates who had been eliminated was cheering us on from the benches.

I grab for another ball and directed my attention to Carson. Carson, however, was paying attention to the boy on my team, who had just thrown a ball towards him. He dodged it skillfully. Taking my chance at his distraction, I threw my ball at him. By the time Carson saw the ball, it was too late. The ball hit him on his cheek.

Carson looked in my direction, shooting me a glare. He began to rub his cheeks sorely as he walked off the court. The students from my class cheered loudly.

"Nice shot, little K." Lucas cheered me, calling me by the nickname he has always used for me. He then gave me a high five. I smiled at him quickly before turning my attention back to the game.

As the game progressed, Lucas was out as well as the other boy, leaving only me from my team. On Mr. Dunham's team, the two girls were out, leaving only the boy.

The boy threw a lot balls at me, but I dodged them. I also threw a lot of balls at him and he dodged them. The game was getting difficult, because it was only the two of us. We both were always watching each other, so we always knew when the ball was coming. My classmates were cheering me one loudly and his classmates were also cheering him on.

An idea popped into my head and I smiled to myself. I began to feign like I'm throwing the ball at him, while he watched me and the ball like a hawk. I finally brought the ball above my head and set like I was about to throw it. However, before the ball left my hands, I brought my hands down and directed the ball for his foot.

When he had thought the ball was coming for his upper body, he had ducked down. By the time he realized that I had changed position, he jumped into the air. However, he was too late, the ball hit him on his foot.

When my classmates realized that we had won, they shouted loudly and began cheering. I jumped up in joy as well. To be honest, this was the first time I've ever played dodgeball and was the last one standing. Normally, I would've been out by the middle of the game. I guess I was getting better at this game or it just pure luck.

"Good game, Kayla." Ms. Levy praised. Students from my class came up after that and congratulate me. "Alright, everyone hit the showers and head to your next class." She shouted and everyone left the gym.

As I was leaving the gym, I felt eyes on me and I turn around to see Carson looking at me. I waved at him and he just turned away and walked out of the gym.

Way to be a sore loser, I thought to myself as I left the gym also and head for the showers in the girl's locker room.

As soon as I finish showing, I put on my clothes in the shower like I always do. I do this because I don't want anyone to see the cuts and bruises on my skin and start asking questions. No one really questions why I do that though. They just thought that I was self-conscious of my body or something.

When I was done, I put my P. E clothes in my gym bag, put it in my locker and went to my last class.