If I wasn't in so much pain, I would have smiled. We were only down by one; we still had a chance to win this. Fifty seconds were put back on the clock. The boys who'd played when I was injured, as well as the girls, all lined the key; waiting for my second shot.

The ball was passed to me. And as I went to extend my arms upwards to shoot, I winced and dropped the ball; clutching my abdomen like it was going to fall apart. Embry was the first person to my side, and helped me off to the boy's bench; which just happened to be closer. Coach Wells put Scott in to take the shots.

Her first shot was good, but her second bounced off the rim and into the hand of the boy who'd injured me. Once that ball was in his hands, he took off like a bat out of hell. The girls were able to hold him off, and it looked like the game was going to end in a tie with ten seconds left.

But, that boy was a sneaky bugger. Somehow, he was able to get around Scott. Then Casey. Then Katarina. And with five seconds left, streak to the basket. He went up for the layup, and the buzzer went off. The boy's side erupted in cheers. He'd made the layup.

Andrews was just as excited as his team, maybe even more. He was hooting and hollering along with the rest of the boys. Myself, seated on the boys bench, was thrown a lot of 'in your face's or 'you didn't stand a chance's. Embry scoffed, and leaned towards me.

"You don't have to sit here if you don't want to. I'll walk with you to your change room if you'd like."

"That'd be great Em, it really would."

As he crouched down, for me to toss my arm behind his neck for support, Jacob and Quil appeared to our left.

"See Uley, I told you that you'd lose," Quil stated happily.

Opening my mouth to retort, Jacob cut me off.

"Quil, I doubt that's entirely fair. She is, after all, injured."

"And what do you suppose I do about it? It was a freak accident."

"When she's all healed up, let her take two penalty shots. If she sinks both, she wins the bet. If not, you do."

I grunted, not very lady like but it served its purpose. Both Quil and Jacob turned to look at me. Even though I was in pain and hunched over, I extended my hand in Quil's direction. He just looked at it though.

"You're supposed to shake it," I stated.

"Why?"

"The better man won."

"What?"

"Really Quil, really? You beat me, fair and square."

"Really?"

"It was a freak accident. It could have happened to anybody."

Quil just beamed, though Jacob seemed a bit upset.

"How can you say he beat you fair and square when you could never take your penalty shots?" Jake questioned.

"Simple."

"How?"

"I just say it so."

He gave me a puzzled look. Clearly my tactics didn't make sense to him.

Quil and Jacob left Embry's and my side, though, when Andrews called them back over. When we got close enough to the girls' side, Rebecca was getting up from the bench to help me to the change room.

I hesitated, wanting to ask Embry something. But as he lifted my arm carefully from my shoulders, he whispered in my ear.

"You can tell me, when you're finished in there."

Nodding my head, I allowed my new friend to lead me into the changing room. Considering our clothes had been left fairly close to one another's, she was able to help me when removing a shirt or putting on a shirt became too painful.

"I'm going to give that boy a piece of my mind," Rebecca would mumble every time I winced or groaned from the pain.

She sounded like a mother, which if I could I would have laughed at.

When I was dressed, Rebecca picked up my bag and books and walked me to the door and into the gym. The both of us jumped when we saw Embry waiting at the side. Rebecca handed him my stuff before saying bye and heading back into the changing room.

He carried my bag and books in one hand and helped me walk, and stay balanced, with the other. Slowly, we made our way towards the door to exit the gym.

"What was it you wanted to tell me?" he asked.

"I was just…just going to ask something."

"What was it?"

"It was just about Jacob."

"Oh?"

"I was wondering why he went from not talking to me at the beginning of the gym period to trying to stand up for my part in the bet with Quil."

"He's just…a very complicated boy."

"After the whole Bella dilemma?"

"Ah, you could say that."

"I don't completely understand what happened with her. When I was talking with Seth, I didn't get to finish writing my last question for him to answer."

"Seth?"

"Yea, we were passing notes in French class."

"Could I see the note?"

"Yea one-hold on," my phone buzzed in my bag.

Carefully reaching into my bag, I pulled out my LG Rumor and read the phone number that the incoming text was from; Sam.

Hey kiddo. Dad just called me from work and said that he won't be home until late. So he asked me to pick you up and make sure you're alright home alone till he returns. I'm on my way to the high school, I'll be there in a few minutes. I am awaiting to hear how your first day went-Sam.

Embry, awaiting me to pass him the note, patiently waited while I read it over. When I'd finished, and looked up, he looked at me; expecting me to tell him about it.

"Sam's picking me up," I said, sliding my phone back into my bag.

He nodded his head and we continued toward the exit. Along the way, Jacob and Quil joined us on Embry's left. And moments after, Seth, Jared and Paul added to my right.

The bell rang, and before we were aloud out of the gym, we had to promise both Coach Andrews and Coach Wells that I'd go to the hospital tonight.

When all the guys went to head towards their lockers, Embry and I made a beeline for the parking lot. The pain in my stomach was growing with each and every movement I made.

Reaching the parking lot, we both spotted Sam's truck at the same time Sam saw us. He drove over and got out, only to look at me in horror.

"What happened?"

"I'll explain later, she needs to get to the hospital tonight."

"At least tell me what's wrong with her!"

"She's got at least one broken rib, from the looks of it."

"And he didn't?"

"I'll tell you later."

Sam looked at me and then to a car in the parking lot. He ground his teeth together before pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. With an aggravated sigh, he looked at me and carefully took my arm from Embry's shoulders. He then proceeded to help me get into the truck.

My eyes were dropping and my head began to spin. I could hear Sam telling me to stay away, and Embry texting on his cell phone. But I just couldn't will myself to keep my eyes open.

The last thing I remember before I was out was Embry texting away, and Sam's voice, "When I see him next, I'm going to kill him."