Chubby and the Bully

Chapter 4

Flare

For all people and places. Why her? Why Erin? Of course, I won't forget who she is. She was the person who made my childhood life miserably unforgettable. From what i heard from Megan. Erin was still a bitchy and did not changed. Obviously, Erin established a unshakeable reputation and gained the number one spot in popularity in this school.

Most of the students here were intimidated by Erin even the teachers couldn't do anything against her because Cross are the main sponsor of this school.

Also, Megan told me that the Ice Queen is extremely intelligent. She has the record breaking GPA. Like really?

As much as i hate to admit this but Erin Cross is undeniably beautiful. The whole community of Marley Watson High School was mesmerized by the enticing and unparalleled beauty of the Ice Queen.

Okay. Did i really said it that? That's she's beautiful? Damn! No please. For all of people. Never.

"Are you ready for the try out tomorrow?" Megan asked curiously.

My face beamed by mentioning volleyball. Yeah. I was planning to try out tomorrow in Volleyball Team of Marley Watson. "Yes and I'm pretty excited. I can't wait." I replied excitedly to my sister who busy eating her pepperoni pizza. Watching Megan made me smile. I still feel overwhelmed that i actually have a family and a sweet, caring sister.

"Why are you smiling?" She questioned me.

"Oh. Nothing." I waved it off.

"You know." Megan paused. "You can tell me everything."

"I just...." I trailed off. I felt a little shy of what i was feeling towards her and about my new found family "I'm just happy that you, Tom and Marily—"

"Mom." Megan corrected me. "Call her mother."

I playfully rolled my eyes at me, earning a glared from her. "Okay. Like what i said. I feel so happy and grateful that you guys accepted and welcom me to your family."

"It's fine. Beside i always wanted to have a sister. Now I have you." Megan said chuckling and gave me big hug.

And out of nowhere. Her blue eyes met mine. Guess what. Of course. To my favorite person in the world. And you won one million dollars!

I was wondering, what if Erin found out that it was me, the chubby girl she used to bully before. What would be her reaction?

"Flare?" Megan interrupted my bittersweet thoughts. "Are you alright?"

My eyes cast down and foced myself to smile. "Ah yes. I'm okay. What was your question again?"

"I will be there for your volleyball try out tomorrow."

"You are very supportive." I told Megan. "Thank you."

After a not so long conversation with Megan. We stood up and headed to the spacious gym. There's a tara flex on the floor for security purposes. Plenty of cheerleaders were scattered around and busy doing their own thing. Megan introduced me to the whole cheer leadering team. So practically I sat there for about 3-4 hours just watching the cheerleading practice. There were times that I nearly had a heart attack everytime Megan flew in the air like a paper. Oh my God. Watching Megan and the whole team would killed me though.

It's already seven in the evening when we finally got home. Father and Marilyn were comfortably sitting in the living while watching some news.

"We are home." Megan said in a sing song voice.

They immediately stood up to approached us with smile. "How was the first day of school, Flare?"

"It was great. I already made friends" I told her happily.

"Well, that was great!" Marilyn said smiling "Come on, the dinner is ready." Marilyn motioned us to followed her in dining room. We settled down and started eating. If you are wondering where is Tom. He is already living in Manhattan while studying in College.

"Tell your coach that I want to be there for your try out tomorrow." Father said while cutting his meat.

"Dad.." I breath out "No need for that." I replied politely. My God. My dad needs to stop treat me like i was only five.

Megan snickered beside me while Marilyn pressed her lips together suppressing her smile. I thought we are a family? Then why are they laughing at me?

"Derrek, let her be. If Flare pass the try out tomorrow then we will watch her first game. Don't embarrassed your daughter." Marilyn interjected and smiled at me apologetically.

"Okay." My dad said disappointedly. "Anyway." My dad fished something inside his pocket "Flare, I want to give this to you." And he handed me a key. "A key of a condominium unit."

A condo? As in? My eyes went wide and stared hard at my father in disbelief. "Are you sure dad? Do you really want to give me this?"

My dad nodded happily "Of course. I bought that Condo two years ago. But since I'm here with Marilyn. I want you to have it." I stared down to my hand and smiling so big. "To start a new life, explore and be independent." He explained, assuring. I jumped out of my chair and hugged my dad tightly.

"Thank you so much dad." I said happily.

"You are very welcome my chubby girl." My dad teased. I scoffed and playfully glared at him.

"Awe gow about me mum? Dad? When you guys will give me my own condo?" Megan chipped in.

Marilyn cleared her troat. "Not until you work hard for it." Megan scowled at her mother making us laughed.

"Can I please go to see the condo unit?" I asked

"Of course." My mum and dad replied in unison.

"With Megan?" I asked again and looked at Megan.

"Sure girls. Be careful though." My father said

"Great!"

I was silently watching Ms. Rosenbud standing in the podium with so much poise and grace. Isn't it amazing how Ms. Rosenbud taught us without getting bored with her lectures.

Still. I still could not get over the fact that she is already engaged with one of raging popular singer in the world today. Well. There's no doubt how they fell in love to each other. I think they are really meant to be.

"Miss. Evans. Are you with us?" Ms. Rosenbud asked momentarily with amused expression.

I instinctively shut my eyes. Oh my f*****g God. Did she really caught me checking her out in the middle of the class?

"Yes, Ms. Rosenbud." I still managed to say in a very audible tone while opening my eyes.

"It's okay, pay attention this time." I saw Ms. Rosenbud smiling at me then go back to her lecture. I heard Mat and Julie giggled.

"Don't forget, Ms. Rosenbud is happily engaged with the love of her life, Flare." Mat stated. Hello! As if im trying to flirt or something like that involving with a teacher? Julie smacked the back of Mat's head "Ohhhh.... What's that for julie?"

Julie rolled her eyes. "Oh. Better shut up your big mouth. I don't want Ms. Rosenbud hear us digging her personal life and that was a shame. Beside that's her privacy."

Well. Julie is perfectly right. I don't feel like invading personal issues. Ah .sure. I admire Ms. Rosenbud the way she teaches us but not in a romantic way. I don't have a plan to have a illegal relationship with a teacher. A person like Ms. Rosenbud doesn't deserve to go in prison.

"Fine!" Mat decided to drop it off.

And we paid attention again to the class. Well you know. The glimpse of Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet. Blah. Blah. Blah! With all due to respect with the great Shakespeare but im getting sicked reading his novels over and over. I might sound bitchy but i just couldn't take it anymore. Sorry. I'm just being honest. I'm not a bookworm.

All of us participate in discussion earning our points. We enjoyed it. Ms. Rosenbud make us forget about the time till the bell rang. Slowly. I gathered my school stuffs and shoved it all inside my booksock.

"Goodbye Ms. Rosenbud." Mat, Julie and I said in unison before headed off out of the classroom.

The three of us walked through the hallway towards my second class hour. Mat and and Julie decided to dropped me in my room everyday.

"I heard you are planning to try out today for women's volleyball team?" Mat asked.

I tilted my head to side making me face the latino. "Yeah and how did you know about that?"

"Well you know Megan is." Mat chuckled and runs his fingers through his hair. "A very proud sister. She talks a lot about you around the school then spread like a wildfire. Since you were the topic inside the campus yesterday until now, people here wanted to know more about you."

"Yeah. I will try out later after my Algebra II." I said while cratching my eyebrows.

Mat immediately snatched my hand and brough on his chest "Flare, that is so f*****g hot." I scoffed and yanked my hand away from Mat's grip. "I already imagine how sexy and hot you are with those volleyball uniform."

"Sometimes. I was having a second though if Matteo is really gay." Julie rolled her eyes and smacked Mat's head again.

"Damn girl. Stop assaulting my head." Mat groaned.

"Stop perverting over Flare." Julie retorted. You know it's really nice to have a friends like them. They are witty and funny. They're cool in a simple way.

Megan is patiently waiting for me in the hallway with some of her popular friends. I couldn't help but smile. When she noticed my presence and wave at me excitedly.

"Megan is so beautiful." I heard Julie murmured next to me.

"Yeah. She is." I agreed.

"I like her since freshmen year until now." Julie added. I froze on my track and tilted my head on her direction. Julie is blushing and so red like a tomato. "Yes Flare, I'm lesbian and the whole school knew it." Julie admitted. "I hope you will not hate me for being gay."

"Oh." I echoed. I don't have a problem with same s*x relationship because I have plenty of friends who happened tqo be gay and lesbian. And they were really good person. I have nothing against them. We couldn't chose who to love. We can't forced ourselves to be straight. Do what makes you happy because at the end of the day. It is your happiness really matter. I reached up and hold her shoulder gently, looked straight deeply in her eyes. "It's okay Julie. I don't hate you. In fact im thankful that you told me. We barely know each other yet you came out to me."

We all know that it is not easy to come out of your closet if everyone around you were homophobic. I also read and saw in the news that some gay and lesbian committed suicide because of the inhumane treatment of other people to them. I believe that it's not a sin to be gay. God loved us regardless the gender.

Julie smiled really big, feeling relief that I understand her sexuality. "Thanks Flare. I know it. That you will accept me."

"Who am i to judge you?" I said softly. I'm nobody to judge her because she is a lesbian. Julie is a good friend and that's enough for me to accept her wholeheartedly.

"You are Flare Evans." Mat chipped in earned a glared from me and Julie. "Okay. Okay. I will behave."

"Flare thank you so muh and please don't ever think that I only make friend with you because of Megan. Infact, I really want to be with your friends." Julie explained.

"I know. I know. You talk a lot." I playfully shoved Julie's shoulder and walk passed them.

Megan happily enveloped me with her arms as soon as we reached my room. Julie and Mat stood there behind me.

"Awe.. Did you miss me?" I arched my eyebrow at my sister.

"Oh.. Hello to you too sister!" Megan snorted. And shifted her eyes to my two friends. "Hey thank you guys for dropping my sister here. Go to your class now. The bell is about to ring." Megan remind the two.

Plenty of people were inside the spacious gymnasium. I walked inside and noticed half of the them wearing a red jersey well maybe that's the color of Marley Watson. There's a 7 feet high net set up in the middle of Tarflex court. I already wear my uniform from my old school in London.

I swang my sport bag over my shoulder as I looked around, searching for the coach.

"Hey. Are you here for the try out?" Someone spoke behind me and I turned around and come face to face a beautiful pixie brunette girl, she is really tall. Like 6 feet height. I guess her height is 6 feet perfectly fit for a middle position. She has a tantalizing hazel eyes.

I smiled at her and nodded my head. "Yes. I'm actually looking for Miss. Beth."

The pixie brunette also wear a red jersey, so she's already part of this Team. She motioned her hand "Follow me." And i did what she told. I trailed behind her. We made way to the bench and found the coach.

"Coach Beth, there's another walk in." The pixie brunette informed.

Coach beth didn't bothered to look at us. She was too focus in a paper. "Name?"

"Flare Evans." I replied, smoothly.

The old woman snapped her head at me. "Flare Evans from London? Am i right?" The old woman asked in disbelief. I nodded with confusion while the pixie brunette listening to us intently. "Yeah. It's you. I heard so much about you Flare. Well. It is from your coach in London, who happen my former teammates in US National Team. She talks a lot about you. She bragged how excellent you can play and it seems like that you are her favorite player."

I didn't know that my former coach Mrs. Adams talks a lot about me. My former coach loved to kill us during practice. But I learned so much from her, she is very inspiring, intelligent when it come to strategies and have a heart and passion in volleyball.

"Also. Megan Evans mentioned you to me yesterday that her little sister wants to be part of the team. And I didn't know that you were the one she referring of." Coach Beth added. I could see in her face that she's really happy to see me here. It is really heart flattering that some people appreciates your talent, skills and love in sport.

"If you want. You can officially join my team without this try out." Coach beth offered. But it was a good offer actually but at the same time it's unfair.

"Thanks coach. I really appreciated your offer but i want to play and show you as well that I have a reason to be here and to be fair though." I replied truthfully. I could see from the corner of my eyes that the pixie brunette smiling ear to ear at me. While the coach stared at me hard contemplated for awhile.

"Okay. It's your choice. Call me Coach Beth and please go to the green side." She instructed me and shifted her attention to the pixie brunette. "Chester, go to your team so we can start now."

I dropped my sport bag on the bench and jog towards the green side and introduce ourselves to each other and talked for awhile. Because in volleyball, communication with one another is very important. We need a familiarity.

And i realized that the pixie brunette named Chester is team captain and popular here according to my teammates and the whistle boomed inside the gymnasium.

"Show me what you got girls. Lets play."