Chubby and the Bully

Chapter 5

An obnoxious sound from whistle could be heard in four corner of the gym. All players went to their perspective team and position. Flare could not contained the excitement running through her veins right now. She missed this kind of tension and raging adrenaline rush inside her stomach.

Chester from the red team went to the service line. While the green team ready themselves for anticipating a good first ball. The pixie tossed the ball up in the ball as she leaped.

"Jump served!" Someone from green team informed her teammates. Chester spiked the ball and it flew to the other side with a massive impact.

The libero of the green team dug the ball so easily. Flare positioned herself as she paddled backward in attack line while the setter set the ball for her.

The coach is watching intently and patiently waiting to see how talented the new recruits were most especially Flare.

Flare run a bit and took a height leaped as she approached the ball. She bended her back as if she was flying without wings.

Flare missed this feeling.

Flare missed how this sport made her heart beats frantically because of excitement.

Flare swing her legs and animatedly stretched her right arm. The two blockers of red team sensed what Flare has to do. They formed into two man block not giving any opportunity to the red head to score. But Flare knew better. She was playing volleyball half her life and that gave Flare so much experience and confidence.

Flare hit the ball with a follow through from her wrist made the ball passed through between her blockers.

Chester, the pixie brunette was stunned by how fast the play by green team because the ball already landed on the Tara flex right in front of her.

Flare's feet touched the floor with a huge smile plastered across her face. Her teammates jumped up and down celebrating their first point against the red team.

"Nice attack!" The setter tapped Flare's shoulder.

The red head shake her head. "Nah! It is because of your excellence set though." Flare said. In volleyball, the setter is the driver of the team. Without a good set they can't produce a point.

The game goes on, both teams exchanged their amazing attacks, plenty of service aces and excellent digs.

The coach was really happy watching over her senior team having a difficult time to pull away against the try outs players.

The old woman sighed in satisfaction. Her former teammate was absolutely right about Flare. She must admit that the talents of the red head is really exceptional. It seems like she was molded in this sport.

The coach also noticed how versatile player Flare is. At the height of 5'9 Flare showed to everyone that even though her current position is Open Spiker, she can also play a middle position. Flare bombers the red team with various attacks like, cross court, cut shot, down the line and placement shot.

Megan sat there on the bench with her mouth hang open. She ditched her friends just to watch Flare's try out today.

"God! Flare is an animal!" Megan mumbled under her breath. She could not believe how monstrous Flare in Volleyball.

"Indeed. She' is really good." Someone's chipped in.

Megan looked at her right side, acknowledging the presence of a beautiful girl with her best friend. "Hey.. You are Julie right?"

Julie nodded her head with a blushed across her face. "Yes I am Julie."

Megan smiled and shifted her gazed to other lad "Mat?"

Mat grinned widely. "Yes. Megan."

"Are you alone?" Julie asked.

Megan looked at the brunette who sat next to her. "Ah, yes. I made a promised to my sister that i will be here. You know, a good and supportive sister today."

The brunette nodded in understanding. "I see... Anyway. I haven't introduce my self formally. I'm julie.. Julie Parker. " The brunette told Megan. "And this is my best friend Mat.. Mat Ford. Flare's classmates and also friends "

"Mat Ford." The latino held his hand out for a shake hand. "At your service."

Megan already knew these two but never got a chance for a proper introduction. Julie couldn't even feel more happier. Finally. After a four long years. She have a chance to speak up with Megan. Julie had a crush over the beautiful blonde since they were freshmen. The brunette really admired Megan not only because she's perfectly beautiful, smart and smoking hot but she admired Megan the most because despite of being a popular student she wasn't a bitchy type. Julie knew to herself that falling in love with Megan is a big big NO! Megan is straight and she knew it.

Mat stared intensely at his best friend Julie who is blushing none stop. He couldn't help but laugh inside his throat. The Latino knew how much Julie admired Megan.

The sound of the buzzer inside the gymnasium snapped the three from their reverie. The game is over.

•••

Flare

The game is over and excessive sweats from my forehead dripping down to my neck. My body is shaking from excitement as my knees betrayed me as I slowly flopped down on the floor together with other players. I'm so tired but feeling so good. Our team lost but im so proud that we literally gave our seniors a rough time.

Coach Beth was really happy about how game comes out. She congratulated each one of us for a great friendly game. She informed me that I'm officially part of the Volleyball Team and this time i accepted it.

The red team also approached us after the game. What a good sportsmanship. We introduced ourselves one by one. And tomorrow is my official training day with our team. And im so freaking happy about it.

After a short reminder Coach Beth let us go and my ever jolly sister Megan jumped on me.

"Sissy!" Megan squealed in excitement "Oh. My. God. You are so amazing! I didn't know that you are so freaking powerful." Megan giggled. And finally she noticed that im sweating all over my body. "Eww. You are sweating" She immediately pulled away from me.

"You attacked me!" I scoffed at her.

Megan playfully rolled her eyes at me. "Yeah right! But seriously sissy. I was wondering where did you get those powerful spike?"

"It is called training." I replied, chuckling. Then I noticed Julie and Mat behind Megan. I honestly didn't expected them to come and watched. "Thank you guys for watching."

"Good game Flare." Julie said.

"You are a monster Flare!" Mat blurted out and as if on cue Julie smacked the back of Latino's head. "Stop it. Damn!"

Megan and I started to laughed at them. They were so cute, they already knew each other.

My sister tagged my arm. "Flare. I'm starving." She complained.

I nodded "Okay.. Let me take a quick shower." I turned my head to my friends "Come with us. Let's have lunch. My treat."

Mat face beamed by mentioning the name of food and nodded vigorously. Awe. Mat is really adorable. Julie smiled shyly. I grabbed my sport bag and headed off to the shower.

Since it's past lunch time, we decided after 45 years of arguing where to go to, what to eat then we ended up here in Pizza Hut. We all craving for it.

While waiting for our food. I examined the diner. Well. It is a typical fast food restaurant. Suddenly, I remembered the last time I eat in a restaurant or fast food. A pit of longing swarmed inside my stomach. I really missed London, Those mouthwatering food, breathtaking spectacular scenery from London Eye.

I remembered on my 17th birthday last year. My mother took me out to Dans Le Noir in Clarkenwell.

It was friday night when my mother and i decided to go out for a mother daughter dinner date. It was my 17 birthday today. I didn't want to go to party get drunk or something like that. I only care for now is my mum. As soon as the doctor dropped a bomb that my mum has a cancer. I promise to myself that i will take care of her, spending more time with her.

I tried so much to be strong not for myself but for my mum. I know she was thinking about me. She is worried if something happen to her. I have no one here in England. My father is living in America.

At first, i didn't find any interesting about Dans Le Noir from outside and inside it was a ordinary restaurant and spas offered their boring services. My mum ordered for the two of us.

My mum wearing a simple black yet elegantly black dress really fit with her slender and athletic body. Her hair cascading down to her back perfectly.

And tomorrow is the starts of her chemotherapy. If you look at her, she's healthy like a horse.

As soon as our food arrived. The lights inside the restaurant turned off. They served us in a total darkness. Of course. I found this so creepy and crazy. Who the hell is going to eat their food if they couldn't barely see anything.

"Relax. Flare. This restaurant served their guests in darkness." My mum informed me.

I relaxed a bit and squinted my eyes readjusting to the darkness. "Thanks god. I thought we are lock up here because of power interruption." I said truthfully.

My mum smiled at me. She is really beautiful. Im going to miss those smile.

"I actually love being here. It was peaceful and the darkness is comforting." My mum said smiling while roaming her eyes. There's something in her eyes. Sadness......

Seeing her in this situation really hurts me. If I can only take all the pain and worries away. But I can't. I couldn't do anything for her. I painfully swallow the bile inside my throat. I want my mother to live more, a long healthy life.

"Please, don't look at me like that Flare." I heard her whispered. I tighten my grip in my fork and spoon "It''s your birthday. Let's celebrate it."

It was a tortured of pain and agony to see her like this but I want to be more stronger for her and nodded my head.

A tears strolled down to my cheeks. It still hurts. I missed my mother. I really want her back but I know to myself that it is impossible. I just want her to see my accomplishments.

"Flare. Hey.." I heard a soothing voice of my sister Megan, looking at me with concerned. "Are you okay?"

I swiftly wiped my tears and smiled at them. I cleared my throat before answering her. "Yes Megan. I'm alright." Looked down at the menu "I'm okay."

I could see from the corner of my eyes that Julie and Mat stared at me with confusion written all over their face. Also Megan didn't buy my Im okay answer. Yet. She didn't tried to asked me again. Megan knew im still in a moving on process. Megan knew im still hurt. Maybe she was just waiting for me to open up with her whenever im ready

"Let's order guys." I said. Trying to break the walls and awkward silence between the four of us. We ordered Ceasar Salad, Cream soup, Spaghetti with meat balls, Carbonara, Chicken Wings, Salted fries, Two family Pizza Pepperoni and Hawaiian, Ice cream and Bottomless coke. Since my father give me a credit card. I think it didn't hurt if i spend hundred of dollars to treat my sister Megan and my friends. A mini celebration as well because im officially part of the Women's Volleyball Team of our School.

"Is this too much for the four of us?" Julie asked, ogling her eyes around the table.

"Don't worry Julie.. Flare will cover for everything." Megan reassuring the shy Julie. I just rolled my eyes.

"It's fine." I assured julie. And shifted my head to Mat who is already eating his delicious carbonara "I think Mat would take care of the rest." Make him choked and cough hard. We are all laughed at him.

"But it's too much." Mat said between cough and I handed him a glass of water.

I shake my head "If you don't finished all of this or you will pay the half of it. "

"Hold on. I thought it's your treat because you are officially a team member of the Marley Watson Volleyball Team." Mat whined and begged to Julie to help him.

"I do but only if you don't finish all of these." I pointed my finger on the table.

"Oh. My. God. Being with Flarere and her treat would killed me." Mat said and playfully tolled her eyes.

"Good Luck Mat." Julie said sympathetically, earning a middle finger from Mat.

We ate a lot. I really enjoy their company. I feel at home and happy with them. I know I'm getting there, slowly but surely in a moving process.

"I will just go to the restroom." I excused myself.

"Okay. Be careful." Megan replied and I made way to the rest room. I'm glad there was no one here. I washed my face and looked myself through the mirror. My face is free from any make up. I know I'm fine but still lost. I missed my mother. I want to tell her that I'm a official member of Marley Watson Volleyball Team, tell her I'm so happy to have a friends like Julie and Mat But I know I can't do that anymore.

I closed my eyes and let a heavy sighed before fixing myself and ready to face my sister and friends outside. I turned around and slowly reach up the doorknob when the door swing and hit me hard on my forehead made me stumbled backward.

"Ouchhhhh!" I hissed under my breath and painfully clutched on my forehead.

"Oh. The infamous London girl." I heard someone whispered.

I painfully lifted my head up and froze a second the moment I recognize the person who rudely open the door. But raging annoyance runs through my veins and glared daggers on her.

"And the famous Ice Queen." I put a fake smile on my face.

Erin arched her perfectly trimmed eyebrows at me as she crossed her arms around her turso. Annoyance written all over her face. She was trying to intimidate me. But it never gonna happen again. Never.

Her long blonde hair cascading down to her shoulders gracefully, her blue eyes show no emotion. Aha sure that's why she was called the Ice Queen. I shifted my eyes down to her pout red lips. Erin is really beautiful but her ugly attitude ruined her whole personality. Okay. Im totally crazy by thinking that Erin is beautiful. Hell.

"It's heart flattering that you know me " Erin dramatically clutches her chest and smirked at me "I guess. You already knew where to stand right now."

I scoffed at her overflowing confidence and glanced at the mirror to see my forehead for one last time. There's a red mark with a flying colors. I cursed under my breath.

"Oh, you have no idea." I replied with full of sarcasm. I turned my head to Erin with the most boring look ever.

"You have no right to talk me that way with your big mouth." Erin said furiously.

"Ohhhkay. Sorry. My Ice Queen. Sorry for my manners." I smirked. Erin's hands fell both to her side. I don't even know why im wasting my time with her "And don't you dare talk to me in your f*****g way too." And i started to walked passed her but a warm and soft hand gripping hard on my wrist.

"I'm not done talking with you." Erin clenched her jaw. I feel it. Im now a pain on her ass.

I laughed and glared at her reaction. We just stared each other. "I'm not surprised." I slid my hand on my pocket "You haven't change Erin Cross."

Erin still person I used to know few years ago, someone who used to bullied other people to satisfy herself.

I could see the confusion and shock written all over her face. But I don't want to say more. I don't want to be here alone with Erin. I walked passed her slightly bump her shoulder.