Page 29 of Find Me
“What a bitch,” Ethan said as he scooped up my stuff off the floor.
I couldn’t have agreed more.
* * *
Going outside literally felt like stepping into an oven. As the day went on, the temperature reached over one hundred and ten degrees. In gym class, the coaches made us stay inside the gymnasium for safety and everyone was required to play volleyball.
“Shiloh is going to be on our team,” I overheard Colt say.
I glanced up from where I sat on the bleachers retying my shoe. Colt was standing with Creed, Ethan, and two of their friends, Gabe and Daniel, discussing who would take what position. Daniel was the tight end on the football team with Ethan. Gabe was on the baseball team and was Cassy’s cousin. I shouldn’t have been surprised. They resembled each other, with the same tawny hair and honey-colored eyes. He hadn’t been friendly either when Colt had introduced us. Being a jerk must run in the family.
Creed came up next to me and glared at my sweatshirt. Yes, I’d agreed that I shouldn’t care what other people thought about my scars, but I hadn’t found the courage to go without covering my arms at school yet. Thankfully Creed seemed to understand that. “How are your legs? Do you think you’ll be up for this?” he asked, bringing my focus back to the volleyball game.
The stiffness in my legs had loosened up as the day had gone on. “As long as I’m not forced to run a mile, I think I’ll be fine. But you should also know, I’m not the best volleyball player,” I said as I got to my feet.
Creed shrugged. “Not everyone here is.”
“Thanks for the pep talk,” I deadpanned, which earned me a chuckle.
Our team faced off against another group of six students that included Cassy and her minion, Amber, who happened to be on the girls’ volleyball team.Great.
I did my best to help from my position in the back center. Colt, Creed, and Daniel were in the front row. Ethan and Gabe flanked me in the back. As the game proceeded, both of our teams seemed to be evenly matched. Each time our opponents gained a point, Cassy would give Creed a taunting look from where she stood directly across from him on the other side of the net. Creed ignored her, which thoroughly pissed her off.
The game was neck and neck. The guys became really determined to win, especially Gabe. He was insanely competitive. He openly complained about me hitting the ball incorrectly and just now, we’d run into each other as we both tried and failed to hit the ball before it touched the ground.
“Next time just stay out of the way,” he snapped at me.
“Gabe, relax,” Colt snapped back at him.
“If she doesn’t know how to play right, why is she even on our team?” Gabe snarled.
Creed whirled around and gave Gabe a disapproving look. “It’s just a game. Quit being an ass.”
I caught Cassy smirking. Amber leaned close and whispered in Cassy’s ear. Cassy’s smirk stretched to an evil smile and they got back into position to serve one last time. The final round would determine which team would win. The ball was hit back and forth, until Cassy tossed the ball straight up and Amber hit it over the net toward me. I put my wrists together, intending to go for the ball. A body slammed into me, knocking me to the floor. I hit the ground hard, landing on my left hip. Pain zapped from my hip bone down my thigh, making me whimper.
“Shiloh!” Colt ran over and knelt next to me. “Are you hurt?”
Biting my lip because I refused to cry, I shook my head, lying. Cassy and her friends laughed, pointing at me.
“What the hell is your problem?” Creed yelled at Gabe.
Gabe shrugged. “I told her to stay out of the way.”
Before I could protest, Colt slid his arms under my legs and around my back. He lifted me with ease.
Fear of being dropped had me gripping his shirt. “I can walk.”
“I have a feeling you can’t,” he said, anger seeping into his voice. Colt had always been kind, sweet, and the peacemaker. To hear his tone turn so cold left me stunned.
“I saw you go after her, Gabe, not the ball,” I heard Ethan argue.
“You fucking shoved her?!” Creed yelled.
Colt set me on the bottom bench of the bleachers. “I’ll be right back,” he said tightly before heading back over to where Creed was now up in Gabe’s face.
Gabe straightened his stance. “Get out of my fucking face.” Then he shoved Creed.
Before Creed could react, Colt came up behind Gabe, jerked him around by his shoulder, and punched him in the face. The impact and force behind the punch made Gabe crumple to the ground.
