Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
A/N: Found a She's the Man yahoo group, and everyone has got to join so we can get the party started! URL is http/groups. join!
Twelfth Night, or Whatever
Chapter Five
It had been a couple of days since her friends had learned of Justin's abuse, and they would not leave her alone! Viola appreciated what they were doing, but she didn't need an entourage to follow her to and from the bathroom and wait outside the door for her.
Now, they were all gathered in Sebastian and Duke's room, and she was sure she was going to go stir-crazy. She suddenly stood up and grabbed Duke's soccer ball.
"I'm going to go to the field and kick the ball around," she declared. When they all stood up to follow her, she finally snapped. "For crying out loud, people, Justin doesn't go to this school! The chances of him being anywhere near the soccer field, or anywhere in the school, for that matter, are slim to none!"
She stormed out the room and down to the field. When she got there, she started to feel bad about how she had acted. They were only trying to keep her safe. She took her frustration out by mercilessly kicking the ball. If she wasn't so stupid in the first place, this wouldn't be happening!
"Mind if I join you?" Duke asked, stepping onto the field. "I know you don't need to be protected everywhere you go," he said hastily. "But maybe you'd just like some company?"
She smiled out him. "I'd like that, and about what I said up there…"
"Hey, don't worry about it. We were going a little overboard. We're just worried, that's all," Duke explained.
"I know, it's just that I feel so horrible about this whole mess," she said before shaking her head. "Anyway, did you come here to chat or play some soccer?"
They kicked the ball around until the sun started setting, neither of them paying any attention to the passing time. However, the lack of light soon clued them in that it was getting pretty late, so they started to head back in.
"So, um," Duke started nervously. "I don't know if this is a bad time or not, but there's this carnival tomorrow that my mom is making me go to…"
"For the Junior League, yeah, my mom wants me to go to," Viola replied.
"I was wondering, would you, maybe, want to be my date?" he asked apprehensively.
Viola stopped in her tracks. Did he just ask what she thought he did? "Why on earth would you want to go with me?" she asked softly, looking down.
He turned to her, confused. "Why wouldn't I? You're the most amazing girl I've ever met."
She scoffed. "After everything that's happened, everything I could have prevented if I were a little smarter, or stronger…"
He lifted her chin and forced her to look him in the eyes. "What happened with Justin was not your fault!" he said firmly. "You are a great person. And any guy would be lucky to have you for a girlfriend."
Her eyes started to tear and he pulled her into an embrace. Neither of them noticed that they were being watched.
Tbc…
Very short, I know, I'm sorry! Review and join the group!