I instinctively started running at the crack of the bat. I rounded first and second base, and on the way to third, the reality finally set in. I had hit the game winning home run.
When I reached home plate, my whole team was there waiting for me. Then someone tapped me on the shoulder.
My best friend Andrea (or Andy for short) was waving her hand in front of my face. The home run was a daydream.
"Earth to Char!" she yells to me.
"Huh?" I mumble, coming back to the scene of Andy, her boyfriend Derek and my other friends gathered around the lunch table. "Sorry, I was spacing out and daydreaming about the big game. I guess I'm pretty psyched about it."
Andy rolls her eyes. She is supportive of me playing sports (softball in the spring and soccer in the fall), but easily gets sick of me talking about them. But they are a really big deal to me, since they're my only chance to get a scholarship to the school of my choice, which is William and Mary College. It isn't too far from here, just a short ride on the highway, so my parents are supportive of me going to that college.
"I'm just glad it's almost over," she says, then adds with a giggle,"but then all summer, you'll be whining that soccer doesn't start until August!"
"And is there something wrong with soccer, Andrea?" inquires Derek, who is also a soccer player. He is the only person other than teachers and parents that calls her Andrea, not Andy. He has never said so, but we know it is because Andy sounds too boyish.
"Yes, actually, there is. It is a bandwagon sport. Just because people think it's the cool thing to do, everyone plays it. And don't say that's not true. Remember how many people tried out for the soccer teams last year? 30 for the girls team and 40 for the boys team. That's more than half of the studen body!" Andy retorted. So many times I have wished I could be as bold as her. She is an individual, can easily express her opinion, and you hardly ever see her doing something just to be cool. That's what everyone likes about her - except Shawna.
"Okay Andy, calm down; you're shouting," chimes in Fiona, the quiet one in our group.
Andy, starting to get embarassed, mumbles, "Sorry," and turns a shade of bright red to match her hair, which I adore and she despises, as she realizes everyone in the small cafeteria is looking at her.
Luckily, just then, the bell rang to signify the end of lunch. We all got up to go to our separate ways for the next class.
My next class is phys ed, one of the few classes that I actually try to do good in. After this class I will get to leave for the sofball game, since it is an away game.
When I get to the locker room, I hear Shawna (my arch nemesis and teammate) raising her annoying voice above the other normal locker room chatter.
"Coach Tamoko said that the softball players don't have to take gym today so they don't use up their energy for the game," she was saying. As if Shawna would actually play in the game. She's so much worse than the rest of us that I don't know how she even got on the team. What I really despise about it is that I had to work hard to get onto the team, and she did nothing. That's just one of the many things that I hate about her.
I walk over to some of my teammates that I hang around with since my good friends aren't in any of my classes. There's four of us: me, Gina, Dawn and Marie. The rest of the varsity softball players are either in Shawna's group or are seniors.
On the way over, I wave to my twin sister, Airika. We're fraternal twins; we don't look alike. Everyone says that she got the brains and I got the brawn, but I don't mind.
"Is what Shawna has been saying true? That we don't have to take gym?" I ask my group.
"For once, she's actually right. That's a first," Marie said, without any emotion in her voice.
"Amazing," commented Dawn, obviously amused.
As everyone trooped outside to take gym, we darted for the bleachers. We had to get there before Shawna and the snobs did. If we wouldn't have gotten there first, we would either have had to sit on the old bleachers that are falling apart or on the ground which was soggy from showers the night before.
"Did you ever realize how overrated guys' sports are?" I asked, with my older brother, Rob, in mind, "Just think about it. With the guys, you just have to be on the team to be a star. In our sports, we have to prove how good we are, and if we mess up just once, everyone hates us. The guys can make as many mistakes as they want, and no one will care."
"Char, don't start this again. So Rob is a star and you're not. Deal with it!" Marie, the cynic, said.
"Actually," interjected Gina, finally speaking up, "I think she's right. Society expects more out of guys, and they totally overlook the girls."
"You poor thing, Char, having to live in the shadow of Rob, the so-called perfect class of 2000er," Dawn was saying, but I wasn't sure if this was an act of sympathy or mockery. Living in the shadow of Rob was quite an accurate description. The class of 2000 gets all the attention just because of all the new millenium junk. Rob is a star football player, so that makes it even worse.
I quietly nod, regretting that I brought up the topic and trying to think of something to say that could break the silence. I don't think of anything, and neither does anyone else, so we watch the class.
There are two groups of people. One is playing soccer, the other, basketball. Of course, I watch the soccer game. But not just because soccer is one of my sports, but also because Kevin is playing it. He's one of my brother's friends.
Kev, as everyone calls him is the cutest guy I know. With his hazy green eyes, blonde hair about to the middle of his ear, and that smile that could melt anyone, who wouldn't think he's hot? He's almost six feet tall, the perfect height for a guy, and has muscles from being a wrestler and a football player. Any girl would fit perfectly into his arms, and I've always hoped it could be me.
Kev has a certain confidence about him, just enough so that he can be optimistic, but not so much that he's conceited and snobby. He has such a great personality that everyone can't help liking. He has a good sense of humor, but knows when to get serious. He knows how to treat people, and how not to. It's no wonder he's one of the most popular guys in the school.
I know I shouldn't go off daydreaming like this, but I found myself thinking about what it would be like to be his girlfriend. We would share all of our hopes and dreams, and even fears, which would be his cue to hold me close and say assuring words that he'll never let anything hurt me. And maybe, just for a moment, we'll feel as if the two of us are the only thing in this world that matters, that this is true love, and nothing else can ever be as important. We'll kiss the most perfect kiss, soft and passionate, and then look deep into each other's eyes and realize that this was meant to be.
I long to find a soulmate who I always feel comfortable with, no matter what we are doing. We would be able to talk about anything with each other, and would always enjoy each other's company. We would sit under the stars just feeling priviledged to be with each other in such a beautiful and romantic setting. And we will know that this is what life is for.
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