Chapter 4 The Broken Friendship

My team raced across the soccer field. I usually loved physical education, but I wasn’t interested in soccer. Besides, my team was losing anyway. The other team was winning, 3-0. I was the goalie, and the ball was coming close. I swiped out my hands, ready to block it. Well I don’t mind if you say I’m the worst goalie in the world, but here you’ll get why.

My hand felt like it exploded as the soccer ball collided into my palm. I fell to the ground in pain, just as the ball flew into the goal.

“That’s 4-0,” the coach announced. Suddenly, the bell rang for recess. “See you on Thursday.” And with that, the coach turned and headed for the gymnasium.

I ran dully to the climbing wall. I climbed from odd shape to odd shape. Suddenly, I heard a mocking voice, which made me lose my grip. I screamed silently as I heard the wind blowing on my shoulders.

As I prayed quietly, my body thumped against something unusually soft and bouncy. I swung my head around. I was in the arms of Mark Tough!

His friends came running over. “What happened?” They asked. They narrowed their eyes when they saw me in his arms.

“Oh, nothing. I did a good favor for Jason by breaking his fall!” Mark’s friends congratulated him on that, and he put me down. Mark leaned close to my ear. “You’d better watch out, buster.” He whispered. He shot me a warning glance as he joined his friends.

I sat there, lonely. I realized someone was tapping my shoulder. I spun around, and was surprised to find Samuel. “Oh hey, Samuel.” I still thought he was a little angry at me for what happened yesterday, but he showed no sign of it.

“C‘mon, let’s go sit down on that bench.” He pointed to the painted wooden structure, and we went over to it. As I settled myself into the comfy seat, Samuel started talking about what we could do on play dates.

I was starting to get a little bored when he mentioned something. “And I’m having a birthday party on Saturday. Will you come?”

Samuel turned to me, waiting for my answer. “I promise.” I said solemnly.

He looked relieved. “Double promise?” He asked. I nodded, and we did a fist bump. “Also,” he continued. “Collin will be there.” I tipped my head to one side. Collin? But Samuel had already taken off.

When I got home, I looked for the wrapping paper. My mom came in, holding her phone. “You got an invitation!” She said excitedly. Must be Samuel’s, I thought.

She went on. “It’s from your best friend, Mark Tough!” My heart sank. He wasn’t my best friend, he was the school Bully! But if I refused to go, my mom would start to cry.

I looked at the invitation. Saturday… that was the same day as Samuel’s!

“Mom,” I started to say. But she wasn’t listening anymore.

“You should get good night’s sleep.” She advised. “So you’ll be ready tomorrow. And with that, she skipped away.

I crawled into bed, wearing my striped pajamas. Could life go the way I wanted it to go? I sighed and closed my eyes, the wind haunting the night.

I gripped my gift in my hands. It was time to go to Mark’s party. Dad had went out and bought a flying helicopter, with a remote controller.

“Jason!” My dad called. “Time to go to the party!” I looked back, and saw my mom looking at me.

“Mom?” I asked.

“What is it?” she asked back. This was the moment I would tell her there was some mistake.

“Well I was going to go to Samuel’s…” My dad called me again, and I leaped for the car.

The party was a nightmare, like I predicted. Mark had no interest in my gift, and he tossed it aside. “Why hadn’t you gotten me a gift card instead?” He demanded. I sat there, blinking. He glared at me, and then glanced at the helicopter. In one move, he flung it in the garbage can.

I felt anger stream through me. That thing had cost 40 bucks, and now Mark had treated it like a moldy banana peel. I shoved him, and his face splashed in the punch bowl. All his friends gasped.

I tore out of the house, and looked at my watch. 3:30. Samuel’s party had ended long ago.

I climbed up the stairs, ignoring my parents’ gasps of surprise. This would be a time I would have to be alone.

When I got to school on Monday, I had avoided Samuel for most of the day. The day flew past like a firecracker, until Mark cornered me after school. “You ready for some fun?” He growled. He pointed his finger at a clump of ferns weaved into a little shelter. “Destroy Collin’s creation!” He hissed. I gulped, and he shoved me into it, and it got smashed into a blanket of leaves.

After lunch, I went inside the classroom hallway, and heard a nearby voice. I followed the sound, and hid behind an indoor cherry tree.

I slowly peeked out. Samuel was sitting on the bench, muttering to himself loudly. “Why did I trust him in the first place?” He said it quietly, but I could see that there was anger in his voice. I gulped, realizing he was talking about me.

I slowly crept out of the tree, only to get caught by Samuel.

“Hey!’ He yelled. I froze, fear making me shake endlessly. He ran over, confronting me. “Why didn’t you come to my party?” He asked, his voice shaking.

“I’m really sorry,” I began. But he wasn’t listening.

“What? I thought you were the best friend I’ve ever had!” He yelled angrily. “But now I see you’re not!” He took off, leaving me alone.

For the rest of the day, I thought I had lost all I had. But I reminded myself I still had my family, and that was good enough.

I ran, frantic to be seen by Samuel again. He wrapped his arms around my shoulders, making it hard to escape.

“Well if you excuse me, I’ll be going.” I said abruptly. I thrust desperately, but Samuel wouldn’t budge.

He leaned forward. “Guess what? I turned out the lights that day; because that was your wish! To have the school’s power go out! And guess how I did that? I left early at recess, and snuck into the electricity room, then bam! The lights went out! Was that what you wanted? Huh? Huh?” He asked mockingly.

I didn’t reply. Instead, I tore my shirt free from Samuel’s grasp and ran, and he followed, waves of anger flowing from him.

I ran around the corner, and hid behind a stocky clump of ferns. My bright green coat would help me camouflage, I thought. Suddenly, I heard voices. My head popped out of the ferns, and then quickly ducked down again. It was a recess teacher, the king of recess. Oops, I mean queen.

I saw Samuel delightfully hop over to her. I gasped. Was he going to tell on me? But then he ran away, leaving the teacher a satisfied look. I noticed the ball she was carrying earlier were gone. He must have offered to help carry them, I thought. I waited until the lady had passed me, and then hopped out of the bush,

relieved. I had been squatting there for so long, my legs had fallen asleep. I gave them a shake, and they trembled with pain.

Slowly, I hopped over, and around the corner. I saw Samuel standing there, holding the basketball. “Ready for some dodge ball? He sneered. I snickered. I had a good plan, but it involved injuries.

As he threw the basketball, I moved aside so it bounced back, and hit Samuel right in the face. Smack! It him hard on his forehead. I ran away, ignoring Samuel stumbling warily over to me. I hid behind a nearby pillar, and poked my head out.

When I looked closely at Samuel, I saw a giant bruise on his forehead. It was already turning purple, and then green. Suddenly, some girls hurtled toward him.

“Young boy, are you all right?” The girls asked him. I scowled. When it comes to girls, they only fuss over you if you’re new or you’re hurt. I looked back at them. The girls were ushering Samuel to the health room. I gradually crawled out of my hiding place. Dong! The recess bell rang. I wonder where Collin is now, I thought. Collin had been Samuel’s makeup friend, according to the gossip.

I tore through the garden, ignoring the thorns tearing at my legs. I found him sitting on a rock, and I joined him quietly. “You were the one who broke my creation, weren’t you?” He asked fiercely. He hated me.

“Yes,” I answered quietly.

“How could you?” He glared at me, and I shrank back. Although his eyes were dark brown, when the sun reflected on them they looked like a fierce golden light.

“I-I’m sorry,” I began.

Collin drew in a mouthful of air. “Never mind. I’ll meet you tomorrow, at lunch recess,” After he finished talking, he took off.

“Jason!” A stern voice made me freeze. “What on earth happened to you?” I looked across from me. It was the school nurse, Mrs. Luck. Then I looked down. I saw thin white scratches running down my legs. What are you making a fuss about? At least it’s not bleeding! I thought.

“C’mon, let’s get you to the health room!” And with that, she led me inside the school.