Angela went over the basics with me. Lacrosse was nothing like soccer, but did require running and coordination. Angela explained my position as midfielder. How I was allowed to run up and down the field, unlike other positions. She talked about circles and violations, but it was more information than I was ready for. She pulled out two sticks, one longer than the other. Andie favored the shorter stick, so I started with that one. Angela threw a rubber ball at me, and I would capture it in the net of the stick. I was doing pretty well and catching and tossing the ball back at Angela exactly where I was aiming. It amazed me how easily I found handling the ball and stick. I began to feel like I had played the sport my whole life. Of course, practicing in the backyard was not the same as knowing the rules and playing a game, but as we wrapped up, I felt comfortable.
Walking into the house, Angela's parents smiled, looking less stressed than they had after talking with Carlisle. Seeing them genuinely smile at me with love and concern, I decided I would take the advice. This was my life.
"Hey, girls, how was practice." Dad asked.
"Good. Andie hasn't lost that part of her memory."
"Dr. Cullen said everything would return. Lacrosse was important to you." Mom said.
"I hope you're right. I'm sure it would be nice to remember my life." I said.
"We will do everything we can to build new memories for you. Old memories fade anyway." Mom said.
"That's really sweet." I walked over and hugged her. It was something I think I needed to hear. To know that no matter what, they loved me or their Andie enough to not let anything hurt her.
"We love you very much, baby. If we have to show you all over again, we are more than happy to do that." Dad said.
Even as my eyes stung, I held back the tears. Angela and I hugged them before we headed up to our room. I closed the door and leaned against it.
"Was I a horrible person before?" I asked. "I mean you aren't close with me and my choice in friends is appalling. Was I like Brooke, was I just awful?"
I'd talked with Angela about Andie, and while she never said her sister was a bad person, I was beginning to wonder. But if someone had said Gwen was horrible I would stab them in the neck. She might not be the queen of goodness, but she was my sister, and my loyalty was to her. I wasn't sure Angela would be honest for the same reason I would defend Gwen.
Angela shook her head approaching me. "Brooke is not the nicest person, but you've been friends with her since kindergarten. You're loyal, even when it hurts you. I'm surprised you're seeing her for what she is now, but I think you always saw her for what she was, and chose to be her friend anyway." Angela said. "You're nothing like her. And you are NOT an awful person."
I slide down the door as the tears began to fall. "I just want my life back."
"I'm sorry if this isn't the life you want." Angela said. "But I wouldn't know what to do without you. And as miserable as you are, I want you here with me. I know that sounds selfish."
I smiled through the tears. "That sounds like a sister."
Angela sat next to me wrapping her arm around my shoulders. I leaned into her letting my tears wash away the Andie I was. I needed to be this Andie. For Angela, for her parents… I needed to be this Andie for me.
After accepting my fate, I felt stronger. Forks in January might not be the best place to be, but I knew this is where I needed to be to deal with my issues. Angela and I walked to school, and I found all my classes without issue. At lunch I headed to the gym. Coach Clapp handed me a stick and began to put me and a few freshman through the paces. I again, found the sport relaxing, something that came easily. I needed help with some of the rules, but otherwise I did pretty well. I was happy I was playing better than the freshman. Coach told me to come back after school, but she believed I would be ready for tryouts.
By the time I sat down in Bio, I was happy and tired at the same time. Edward stood at my table, but he was talking to Angela.
What's going on? I thought at Edward, hoping he would hear me. Please sit with Bella. I don't need brooding virgin today.
That got his attention. He turned, but he wasn't glaring at me or growling, he smirked.
He clapped the boy's shoulder sitting next to Bella. "Hey Austin, Andie doesn't need my help, so we can just switch back."
Austin looked like he was going to pass out, but got up and moved to my table. I sat next to him pulling out my book from my backpack. I looked over to Edward and Bella. Her eyes only on him as he talked.
And this is where the story begins… I thought.
Volleyball in gym wasn't too bad. Bella and I were on the same team as the day before, so it made it a bit easier to keep the ball away from her. Most of us came away relatively unscathed. After gym, coach had me help with gear since I didn't need to change. I could practice in my PE clothes, which was probably easier than my jeans. I set out sticks against the wall and cones along the lines that Coach had specified, not that I really understood the positioning of the cones. I figured I would learn as I played.
"Hey Andie."
Kyle's voice made my skin crawl as I turned around to face him. I crossed my arms over my chest. I didn't want to give him any reason to talk to me or try and mend fences.
He shook his head. "I heard you're telling everyone you lost your memory."
"Ok." I said walking toward the other students waiting for practice.
Kyle grabbed my elbow, forcing me to turn around. "Is that really what happened? Is that why you're acting like this?"
I pulled my arm away from him. "I really have lost my memory. Dr. Cullen isn't sure why, but he believes it will come back in time."
Kyle stepped closer to me. "When it does, just remember how things actually happened."
I stepped back bumping into someone. "Sorry." I said to the girl I'd back into. I turned from Kyle stepping away into the few students waiting on the side of the gym.
Kyle stood next to Coach with a few others in school colors. Coach gave us instructions for a scrimmage, and cut the group in half. She did the same with the group of students standing with Kyle. My group wore the orange vests while the green vests were worn by Kyle's team. I knew where my position was supposed to be after working with Angela. I held the stick, and waited for the game to start. As the ball was hit off the ground, people started moving. I kept my eye on the ball's location as I jogged up the gym. The ball was tossed to me, as I went to capture the ball, a hulking body stopped my forward momentum. I flew back landing hard against the ground. My head bouncing hard as my stick echoed hitting the wood floor. I reached out with my right arm for my stick. Kyle stood over me his foot coming down on my wrist. All his weight felt like it came down on my wrist as he bent over to grab my stick. I yelled out, but Kyle rotated his foot, squishing harder into my arm. I felt a pop in my wrist before Kyle moved.
"Oh, god. Andie, I was trying to help, I didn't even see your arm." Kyle said loudly to people walking over.
My wrist and hand throbbed. I tried to move my fingers than my hand, but I only had sharp pain radiate down my arm.
"What happened?" Coach asked kneeling down next to me.
"I stepped on her hand. I didn't see her move it, and I was trying to help her." Kyle lied smoothly.
"You fucking bastard." I shouted trying to sit up without using my hand. "You did it on purpose."
"Why would I do that?" Kyle said.
"Because you're a psychopath."
Kyle's smooth facade fell for just a moment showing his anger. He stepped closer to me before his smooth smile fell back into place. "You're our best player, I wouldn't do anything to hurt you."
Angela knelt by my side. I had no idea where she came from.
"Don't move." Angela said. "Dr. Cullen is on his way in."
I shook my head. "Help me stand up." I didn't want to sit on the floor with Kyle looking down on me.
Angela put her arm under my left shoulder, and helped me off the ground. I held my right arm against my body lightly. Coach organized the players, pulling Kyle off the floor. As I sat on the bleachers, Carlisle entered the gym holding a black bag. Alice following behind him.
"What are you doing here?" I asked when Carlisle knelt down in front of me.
"He was picking me up today." Alice said. "Good thing, too."
"Yeah, my lucky day." I sighed.
Carlisle's cool touch soothed my wrist as he carefully examined the damage. My wrist was swollen and purple already.
"Did something fall on your wrist?" Carlisle asked.
Coach replied. "Kyle accidentally stepped on her wrist."
"I don't think this was an accident." Carlisle said. "We'll go to the hospital for x-rays, but I really don't see how this could accidentally happen."
"Please call me after the x-rays." Coach said handing Carlisle a card.
Carlisle nodded then scooped my up keeping my right arm carefully placed on my chest. "Alice and Angela are getting your things."
I nodded as Carlisle left the school. He didn't say anything. He placed me in the backseat behind the driver. I closed my eyes trying to hold in the pain. I turned as the doors opened. Angela slid in next to me as Alice and Carlisle got into the front.
"I'll call mom when we get to the hospital." Angela said.
"Just tell her it was an accident." I said. "She doesn't need to worry."
"You can't let him get away with this." Angela said.
"I know." I sighed.
Carlisle pulled up to the ER before Angela could protest further. He helped me out of the car and into the hospital. He walked passed the reception desk to the cubicles. He set me on a bed then turned to a nurse. He came back toward me with a syringe.
"Are you allergic to anything?"
I shook my head. "No. I don't think so."
He injected the liquid into my arm and watched me. Satisfied he relaxed.
"That should help the pain."
His voice seemed far away and my vision blurred until i couldn't hold my eyes open any longer.