Fvck The Haters

It was the following Monday after school and I could barely bring myself to speak to Lauren. Jake and Hannah were talking animatedly close by, giving us the perfect chance to be alone without interruption but I didn’t know what to say.

“You should add me on Xbawx.” I said with excitement.

“I play PS.” Lauren sighed, biting her lip.

“Oh.” My voice trailed off. I looked to Jake desperately seeking a way out of an awkward moment. Jake wasn’t paying attention.

“Can you do any tricks?” She pointed to my skateboard.

I did a couple of kickflips and frontside flips, popped an ollie and stopped to see if she was still watching.

She smiled, slightly blushing. “You’re really good.” She said.

Jake had his arms folded in the distance, shaking his head in disapproval. He mouthed the words ‘talk to her’ and I ignored him long enough to somehow wipeout a kickturn.

“Nice one Ferguson!” One of the footballers yelled in the distance.

Lauren stepped next to my board and picked up a football, “He would’ve nailed it if it weren’t for this!” She threw the ball angrily at Ashley.

“I didn’t throw it!” Ashley shrugged, tossing the ball to someone else.

I glared at Ashley. “Nice arm.” He nodded to Lauren.

“I’m on the arm wrestling team.” She rolled her eyes.

“There’s an arm wrestling team?” Ashley wondered out loud.

“Hey.” One of Ashley’s friends joined him. “You’re Chris’ sister, right?”
Lauren’s face turned red. “No.” She answered defensively.

The guy looked surprised, tossing the football at Ashley.

“I mean, well yeah.” She sighed and put an arm around me. “I don’t know why you guys have to pick on us.”

Ashley tossed the football at Lauren. “How far can you throw?”

“A lot farther than my brother.” She rolled her eyes again. A fourth guy joined Ashley’s side, I assumed he was Chris.

“Heyyyy.” The guy said to Lauren.

“I thought we didn’t talk at school.” Lauren glared, throwing football at his head.

“Owww.” The guy grinned, rubbing the side of his head and laughing. “Is that your boyfriend?” He became serious, shoving the football into my stomach.

“Leave him alone.” She shouted, moving close to his face.

“Or what?” Chris answered.

“Your little sis was about to show us how far she can throw.” Ashley put his hands up to me. I tossed him the ball. He tossed it to Lauren and nodded to a spot on the field. “Well?”

Lauren bit her lip and looked at me for reassurance. Jake and Hannah joined our side. “Ha!” Hannah shouted suddenly. “She’s on the wrestling team.”

“Arm wrestling.” Lauren corrected, angrily raising her arm in the air. She glared at one of the guys, smirked and threw the ball.

All but one of the guys whistled, cheering her on. “It’s official.” Ashley said. “Your sister’s replacing you on the team.”

“She probably throws better than her boyfriend.” Chris said, slamming the football into my stomach again.

I felt my face turn red and tossed the ball with as much force as I could.

“Nice.” Ashley watched the ball. “Let’s see you do it again.”

Chris glared hard and I felt like I was about to mess it up. I glanced at Lauren and when I saw her smiling I gained the courage to throw the ball again.

“JINXX!” Destery yelled at the exact moment I was concentrating hard on throwing the ball with a spiral curve to make it go further. The guys laughed.

“Jinxx!” One of them echoed. “Is that his name?”

The ball nosedived. Jake sighed. A whistle blew in the field.

“Nuuuu!” Chris yelled. “I didn’t eat.”

“Haha!” One of the guys yelled. “Coach doesn’t give a damn. Looks like you’ll starve.” The guys walked away.

Ashley stopped walking and looked back at me. “Well?” He said expectantly. “You coming, Jinxx?”

Notes