---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------- "Hey Hunter," Billy, on of Jackson's friends jeered. "You have a nice time at our buds place?" He laughed and kicked the soccer ball with great force. It went flying, cutting through the air and hit the goal net with a smack. I shivered, waiting for the ball to come sailing back into my face and knock me dead. Unfortuneatly, I wasn't injured, and I still had to play. "No," I said finally, replying to Billy's question. The sheer calmness in my voice surprised me. I shook it off and gave the ball my hardest kick ever, pretending it was Billy's head. Gym ended soon enough. Panting, I raced to the chamber of torture..the girl's locker room. After I showered and changed into my normal clothes, I felt better...realived. While walking to lunch, Courtney caught up with me. "Hi," she called, in that sweet charming little voice of hers I hated. When I didn't answer, she nudged me and said, "I said "hi" you dork." I knew she was just kidding about the "dork" part, but hearing this word made my good spirits sink through my skink and soak into the floor. "Hi Courtney," I mumbled. She was really getting to me. "Could you please leave me alone? I-I'm having some problems right now, okay?" "Sure, whatever." she said, pulling a stick of Big Red out of her purse and chewing it noisily. "I was JUST seeing if you were okay. After all, you missed a few days of school. And you have that puffy look in your eyes. Did you use any masscara? I told you it looks bad on you. I mean, your style is grudge right?" My heart burned with rage. "Shut up," I snapped. Courtney stopped and gave me her sad little "puppy face". I sniffed and walked away fast...tears rolling down my pale cheeks. Why was the world so cruel to me?? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- Keep going...