Crying On The Inside Chapter 19
Michelle burst through the double doors at the
hospital. She saw her four friends sitting outside of
Lance's room. JC was the first to see her and went up
to her.
"What happened to him?" she asked breathlessly.
"He landed on his arm wrong in practice today. I
think he hurt it real bad," JC said tirelessly. He and
Joey had been there since they brought him in. Not
even a minute later the doctor approached them.
"Your friend is going to be fine. His arm is in
pretty bad shape though. When he fell there was to
much body weight on it and he broke it in three
places. I'm afraid he won't be getting on a court any
time soon. He has to keep the cast on for at least 8
weeks," he said. He had sorrow in his voice. He knew
the team wouldn't be the same without Lance. He even
attended some of the games.
"Can we see him?" JC asked.
"Sure you can but only for a little while. He's
been a little out of it since surgery. So when his
parents come out you guys can go in," he told them.
When Lance's parents came out they told them he was
awake and had asked for them. They entered the room
and saw Lance. He looked small in the hospital bed.
His arm was in a cast and a sling. His eyes fluttered
as he tried to speak.
"Hey guys," he said. His voice sounded hoarse.
"How are you?" Joey asked him as they surrounded
the bed.
"I'm fine. Don't worry about me," he said
smiling.
"My arm hurts like hell though." His face looked
pained as he tried to move his body to a more
comfortable position. Heather helped him and he
thanked her.
"I'm so glad you're okay," she said holding his
free hand.
"Thank you babygirl," he said and in seconds he
was asleep. They decided to let him rest. They all
went home since it was getting late.
At school the next day everyone had heard about Lance
and wanted to send him cards and flowers. People
approached JC and Joey and asked about the team. The
coach was going to hold tryouts that afternoon. The
next game was that Friday and they needed a
replacement. At lunch that day Michelle kept staring
at Justin and he kept staring back. He gestured for
her to meet him outside and she did. He hugged her as
soon as they were out of everyone's view.
"I missed you," he said.
"I missed you to," she said when they let go.
"I'm sorry I didn't make it last night. You heard
about Lance right?" she asked him.
"Yeah I did. I'm sorry," he said.
"He's going to be fine," she reassured him.
"I'm going to try out for the team," he said. She
looked up at him. She knew he liked to play but the
thought of him around JC and Joey wasn't a good idea.
They already sensed his crush on her.
"Just be careful," she told him. Before he could
ask her what that meant, the bell rang and he had to
leave her.
After school a lot of people showed up to watch the
try-outs. They all wanted to see who was good enough
to replace Lance. Michelle saw Justin. He looked like
he was looking for someone. When their eyes met he
smiled.
"There's your friend," Brianna said laughing.
Michelle smiled but said nothing.
"These guys suck. None of them can replace my
Lance," Heather said snottily. Brianna laughed but
Michelle thought it was mean. She hoped Justin was
good. It would wipe the smiles from their conceited
faces. When it started the coach had them play against
each other-five wannabes against the five starters.
The coach looked them over as they played and
occasionaly wrote on his clipboard. When each game
ended he told some to either stay or leave. When
Justin's turn came up he had to guard JC. When the
game started Justin stole the ball from JC and scored.
He held his own and scored most of the points. He
played a good game all around and it was clear that he
was better than JC, Joey and even Lance. Michelle
smiled to herself as she heard people whisper asking
who this new guy was. Heather and Brianna said
nothing. Justin was asked to stay and at the end of
the last game there were only 3 guys left to choose
from. Out of the 3 Justin scored the most and had more
steals and assists. He was asked to join the team.
The girls decided to wait for the guys in the parking
lot. Everyone else was getting ready to go home.
Michelle looked toward the locker room to see Justin.
When he came out people were congratulating him. He
smiled at the praise When JC and Joey came out JC
walked by Justin and bumped him. His books fell out of
his hand.
"Hey new kid, how can you hold a ball so good and
you can't even hold your books?" JC asked taunting
him. He and Joey laughed as Justin bent down to pick
up his books. Michelle walked toward them sensing JC
picking a fight.
"You jealous?" Justin asked him. This drew
attention from the on-lookers. No one had spoken to JC
like that before.
"Jealous? Me jealous. I'm the best in this damn
school and don't you forget it," JC said loudly.
"Didn't look like it in there big guy," Justin
said. Michelle made her way through what was now a
circle.
"JC come on let's go okay," she said to him
holding his arm. She looked at Justin apologetically.
JC jerked his arm away, offended by what Justin said.
"You think you're the shit now cuz you made the
team?" JC aked him getting closer to him. Michelle
stood in his way afraid that he would hit Justin. She
knew he wasn't a big talker. He would just start
hitting. "I know what this about. You tryin' to
impress my girlfriend." JC said to him. Justin was
quiet. "You'll never have her and you stay the hell
away from her, you hear me. Next time she won't be
here in my way." JC said pointing in Justin's face.
Michelle pushed him back with all her might. Joey
grabbed JC's arm.
"Come'on man. It ain't worth it," Joey said. They
started to walk away.
"I'll never have her, is that right? If I'm right
then I know she wants me. Tell him Michelle," they
heard Justin say behind them. Michelle froze in her
tracks. Everyone looked at her and she had no idea
what to say.
[chapter 20] [Crying on the Inside]
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