Four Doors Down(41)

Asshole.

We sail through the next couple of games, although I might as well not be there, then we’re up against Jake and Jessica in the final and I couldn’t care less.

“What’s wrong, Becca? Don’t wanna play?” Jake taunts me from his side of the court. I flip him the finger and get a stern warning from Miss Greene and a chuckle from the rest of the watching class.

They send a couple of balls our way which we manage to dodge and Ryan manages to throw one back and hits Jessica on the leg. After a few more throws no one is out and it’s time for us to collect the balls from around the court. Jessica and Jake hover together looking like they’re coming up with a strategy, I glance briefly over at Ryan but he doesn’t even look my way, he’s just stood there radiating tension. I have no idea what’s going on with him.

Miss Greene blows the whistle and Jake and Jessica run forward as one and both launch their balls at us hard. Ryan goes to catch one from Jake but misses and leaves me wide open, Jessica’s ball slams into me. Hard. Well, into my left breast, to be exact.

“Shit!” I hiss and double over in pain, feeling like I’ve been punched. I hear muted laughter from the crowd as I clutch the spot where it hit, only just stopping myself from rubbing my boob because even I know that’s a bad idea. I glare over at Ryan, “What the hell? I thought you were covering me?”

“I went for Jake’s ball.”

“And you couldn’t do that from in front of me? I thought you were supposed to be a star footballer?” I hiss.

“How would you know?” he shoots back. “You’ve never been to any of my games.”

I look at him in confusion. Why is he being such a brat? Everyone knows he’s a star athlete, Surely he can cover two balls coming at him in a game of dodgeball? “Oh, I’m sorry if I haven’t seen you prance around a field in tight pants, throwing a stupid ball about.”

His fists clench at his sides and he looks like he wants to explode. “I swear to God, Becca. You need to shut up.”

I send him a dirty look, still clutching my boob. “You’re the one who wanted to make sure we saw this out. Well, next time do your job and cover me. That f*cking hurt!” I spit at him.

“Oh. Want me to kiss it better?” Ryan says sarcastically, gesturing to where my hand covers my boob. This gains snickers from the crowd and I realize they’re all listening in. I can’t believe he just said that. Trust him to add to my humiliation.

“Okay, okay,” Miss Greene calls, “simmer down you two. And watch your language, Miss McKenzie.”

I turn to look at her and she’s trying unsuccessfully to hide her smirk. I glance back to Ryan. “What is your problem?” I demand quietly, trying to keep my voice as low as possible. He has no right to talk to me like this, I’ve done nothing wrong.

“You are,” he responds.

I shake my head at him in disgust and turn to face Jessica across the court whose eyes are glued to us. “Jessica, swap with me,” I call out. “You can finish off on Ryan’s team.”

She moves toward us and I start to walk across the gym toward Jake, but Ryan grabs my wrist and pulls me back roughly, “No way,” he hisses in my ear. “You’re on my team.”

“Yeah, well I’m over you treating me like crap,” I whisper viciously back at him. “I’d rather be on Jake’s team.”

“Trust me, I know you’d rather be on Jake’s team. I get it, you prefer him to me. In fact, I know you’d prefer anyone over me but you are on my team for this match and you are actually going to stick to something that you’ve agreed to for once!”

What the hell is he talking about? He looks absolutely livid, his face is flushed from anger and his nostrils are flared. His hand is still wrapped tightly around my wrist. Jessica reaches us, flashing a cautious smile at Ryan and a dirty look at me. I turn to walk away, but his grip on my wrist tightens.

“Jess, go back over there,” he tells her. “Finish off with Jake.”

She looks like she wants to argue but when she sees the look on his face, she reluctantly turns and returns to Jake, who’s watching us warily.

“Get your hand off me,” I practically spit at him, tugging my hand away from him just as Mr. White blows his whistle.

“What’s going on?”

“I want to swap with Jessica.”

He shakes his head in annoyance. “You can’t swap now. You’re in the final. The bells about to ring and we need to finish.”

“She’s not swapping,” Ryan says firmly. His tone brokers no arguments.

I sigh in annoyance. “Fine.” I’m ready to storm off but realize it won’t get me anywhere and turn to walk back to my corner. What the hell have I done wrong for him to be treating me like this?

“Okay, okay. Let’s go again,” Jake is calling.

I resume my position at the back, Ryan covering me. The whistle goes and I mutter “total dick,” under my breath just loud enough for Ryan to hear. I just see his whole body stiffen at my words before I glance down and notice my shoelace is undone. I look back up just in time to see Ryan purposelessly step out of the way and the ball smacks into my face.

This hurts. This really, really hurts. I don’t even swear this time, I think I’m too shocked. No one really says anything. No one laughs, they just kind of murmur in sympathy. I think they can tell it’s worse than the previous hit. I look across and Jessica is grinning like she’s just won the Super Bowl.