Ok, this chapter is kinda slow, but bear with me, the next chapter will be right back to action. There will be two or three, possibly four more chapters (I keep getting new ideas hte more I write! haha)

Chapter 21: Passing Notes

When I walked inside the school, the guys were all standig their. Obviously they had stayed and watched to see what Benny wanted, even if they hadn't been able to hear. One look at me, and they all scattered to the next class. I brushed right past them without a word. I heard Smalls call my name and start to move to follow, but Ham grabbed his arm and stopped him.

"I wouldn't do that Smalls." I heard Ham shout-whisper.

"Yeah, yeah!" Yeah-Yeah quickly added. "You don't want to go near a girl when she's mad."

'Wrong thing to say Yeah-Yeah.' I thought grimly.

I knew it was wrong of me, but I couldn't help but get mad at all the guys, especially Benny. After all the time I had known them, I had thought they were different! That they didn't believe in sterotypes!

I took a deep breath as I reached my locker and got my books. I knew it wasn't fair. They are just guys after all, and guys always have this thig about protecting girls.

'Ha! Like I need protecting!' I thought angerly as I slammed my locker shut, startling several girls around me and sending them whispering. 'I was doing just fine on my own! What right does Benny have to tell me to stay out of a fight?'

'He didn't tell you to stay out of the fight,' a voice in my head answered. 'He just said you shouldn't have been in the fight cause you're a girl and could get hurt.'

'Thats my point!' I silently yelled at the voice. 'I'm not a normal girl! He knows that! I've proved that!'

'He just didn't want you to get hurt.'

'Ah shut it!'

I took a deep breath.

"Great." I muttered out loud. "I'm arguing with myself."

I made it to the class just as the bell rang. The guys were already there and I saw that the only seats open were beside Phillips or Benny. I frowned as I took the seat beside Benny. No matter how mad I was at him, there was no way on earth I was going to sit beside Phillips.

The teacher started talking and I got ready to take notes when a piece of paper suddenly landed on top of the page. I unfolded it and recognized Benny's handwriting.

Hey, I'm sorry about what I said. I wasn't thinking. I know you can take care of yourself.

I glanced over at Benny and saw that he was waiting for me to answer and pass the note back.

No, you were thinking. Thinking that I'm nothing but a little girl who can't take care of herself and should go and stay clean and cheer all the "tough" boys on.

I had no intention of letting him off easy and I made sure he knew that. I tossed the note back when the teacher turned his back. After a minute or so, the note landed back on my desk.

I'm sorry, Robbie. Really, I am. I was just worried. I didn't want you hurt. I didn't mean it. I know you're not the average girl. If you were you wouldn't have disguised yourself for over a month. I'm really sorry. Forgive me?

I sighed. I could feel my anger starting to melt away. How could I stay mad at someone who just didn't want me hurt?

I guess. Just don't do it again or you'll be hurting worse then you are now.

I passed it back and saw Benny bite back a laugh. I gave him a look to show that I was serious and the laugh dissapeared as he began writing and passed the note back.

Won't happen again, promise! So what did you mean when ya said somethin' bout fighting alongside your brothers.

I flinched. I hadn't realized I had said that out loud. I wasn't good at sharing my feelings and I didn't like to, not even to my Dad. That's why I write, so I don't have talk to aybody about how I feel. I sighed. No way I could get out of it this time.

That's what ya'll are to me. You're all the brothers I've never had.

I passed it back and waited for him to pass it back. I risked a glance and saw Kenny passing the note back to Benny. I rolled my eyes, realizing he was sharing our conversation with Ham and Kenny. Finally he passed it back to me and I saw that Ham and Kenny had added notes as well.

We think the same bout you, Robbie...uh except you not like a brother. -Ham

Smooth, Ham. What Ham means is we all feel like your our sister. -Kenny

They're right, Robbie. The other guys think the same too. That's why we're defensive about you. You're our sister. -Benny

I couldn't help but smile as I wrote back and passed the note.

Get too defensive and you'll be hurting same as Phillips and the rest. So how long ya think it'll be till all this mud comes off?

The rest of the class passed by with us passing notes and joking around. It was surprising we didn't get caught considering we all almost burst out laughing several times. The rest of school passed by quickly. When it came time for detention, me ad the guys all grabbed seats in the very back, leaving the Tigers to sit in the front. Every seat was full and I'm sure it was biggest detention the school had had all year.

I sat down between Benny and Smalls just as the principle walked in. His arms were folded across his chest and the look on his face was one of anger. He stared at us all for a few moments before beginning his speech.

"I can't tell you all how dissapointed I am in all of you. You all know fightig is against the rules. If this happens again, you all will be suspended" He turned and looked at Phillips. "Mr. Phillips, I am most dissapointed in you. I have heard from several witnesses that it was you who started the fight by pushing Mr. Smalls into the puddle. You have detention every day for the rest of the week. I have notified your coach and he said the next fight you and your team are in will be the last day of your baseball career." Phillips' eyes got real round when he heard that and he looked afraid. The principle scanned the seats until he was looking at me. "Miss McCallister, witnesses have said that you threatened Mr. Phillips before the fight began."

"What?" Me and the rest of the guys all said in shock. Phillips smirked.

"I believe you said something along the lines of 'I wouldn't do that if I were you.'" The principle paused to see if I would deny that.

"I wasn't threatning him though!" I argued, not abe to deny that I had said that.

"Then what did you mean by that?" The principle stared at me and I squirmed slightly.

"I didn't mean anything, sir." I replied nervously. "I was just trying to make him stop from pushing Smalls into the mud puddle. I didn't mean anything."

"And what exactly were you hoping Mr. Phillips would do at your words?" The principle stared at me, causing me to squirm even more.

"I don't know." I replied quietly. Honestly, I hadn't been thinking. It had just come out.

"You have detention the rest of the week along with Mr. Phillips." The principle announced. "Perhaps that will teach you two not to start fights."

Then he walked out of the room and the detention teacher walked in.

"No talking. You may work on homework for the remainder of hte hour." the woman said as she sat down behind the desk and pulled out a stack of papers to grade.

I sat back in my desk and pulled out my history homework. Before I could start on it, a note slid onto my desk. I looked over at Smalls who was pulling his hand back. I reached for hte paper and read the note.

Thanks for sticking up for me and trying to stop him. How bad did you get hurt?

Not bad. I wrote. Not bad at all compared to last month when they jumped me. How are you?

I passed it back and waited. It didn't take long before he passed the note back to me.

All right. Not gonna lie, it hurts, but I'll get over it. You could have stayed out of the fight you know. You're mom is going to kill you for getting dirty and into a fight.

I sighed. I had been trying to forget about what I would have to go home to.

I know. It don't matter though. She'll be gone by next week if the divorce goes through like it should. And I couldn't leave you all to have all the fun, now could I?

I handed the note back and watched as he rolled his eyes before writing and passing it back.

You call that fight fun?

Sure, it was. Isn't beating up deserving jerks and playing in the mud suppose to be fun?

He almost laughed when he read the note. He put his hand to his mouth to keep the laugh from escaping and passed the note back.

You're crazy.

I rolled my eyes.

You're just now realizing this?

Nah, just confirming it.

Geeze thanks.

When he read that, a frown crossed his face.

Sorry, didn't mean to insult you.

I rolled my eyes.

I was being sarcastic. I know I'm crazy. Heck, I'm proud of it! Being crazy keeps me sane.

Again, he almost laughed before passing the note back.

That makes no sence.

And that's the way I like it!

He almost laughed again, but he was getting better at hiding it.

Benny said you thought of us as your brothers. Is that true?

I flinched. To much feeling sharing in one day. I really wasn't use to this.

Yeah. Ya'll are the closest I've ever had to brothers.

You never had a close friend before?

Smalls, I'm a girl who hates all things girly and plays baseball day in and out. Even Texas that's not normal. Ya'll are my first real friends.

Really?

Yep.

I could tell he was surprised. After all, I had never shared much of my background before. I hoped I wouldn't have to now.

I never had a real friend before I came here either. To nerdy.

That surprised me. I couldn't see how someone as nice and friendly as Smalls could never have had a real friend.

Well that's a stupid reason to not be friends with someone.

Eh, I'm use to it. If it wasn't for Benny I wouldn't have any friends now either.

You mean the story bout that dog and Benny is true?

They had told me about a summer or two ago how Benny had pickled the dog they called the Beast, but I had thought they were making it all up.

Yep, it's true. Every last bit of it.

Well...if Ham and Squints and Yeah-Yeah didn't make up stories so often maybe I would believe them more.

The rest of the hour passed quickly as me and Smalls passed notes back and forth. Benny and a couple of the other guys passed notes to, and again I was shocked that the teacher didn't notice. Or maybe she didn't care because the second the bell rang she was out the door.

"So should we all go home and change or go on to the sandlot?" Timmy asked.

"Change or sandlot?" Tommy repeated.

"Sandlot!" Benny quickly said as we walked out into the sunlight.

"Change." Everyone else said.

Benny frowned, but gave in easy. He obviously didn't like being muddy any more then the rest of us. We all agreed to run home and change and meet up at the sandlot in thirty minutes. It would have been less, but Squints was sure that his Mom would chew him out, and we all agreed with him.

The walk home didn't take to long, and with each step I grew more and more nervous. I hated to admit it, but I was scared that Mom wouldn't let me go back to the sandlot whe she saw me and learned about the fight. Smalls and Benny solved that problem though.

"We figured we'd walk you home and explain to your mom that a bully pushed you in the mud and started beating on you." Smalls explained when I asked why they weren't going to their homes.

"Thanks." I smiled in relief. I just hoped Mom would believe the lie.

I noticed that Dad's truck was home, which was odd since he was usually either working or at the lawyer's office, or just driving around to avoid Mom who never left the house except to shop. We walked up the porch and I pushed open the door. The sight I saw when the door swung open will haunt me the rest of my days.

In the living room, my Mom stood, tears in her eyes and her dress all wrinkled a pistol in her hand and pointing at my Dad.