I ran as far as I could back to the Wingham campus. I was not prepared to face the guys and the new girl I mistakenly gave the note too.

I did not shed a tear, nor did I yell. But as soon as I was alone on the asphalt, I bent down on my knees and covered my face. Exhaustion and frustration came before me.  I just wanted to melt down and disappear.

I'm sure Xavier and the others had their fun taunting me, but I heard that the headmistress, Miss Westley of the Trinity school woke up as soon as one of the girls giggled boisterously. That probably wasn't a pleasant sight to see, since the headmistress soon found Max who kept strumming his guitar.

The other boys hid in the bushes, and left as soon as the coast was clear.

Since Max was detained by a drowsy Miss Westley, she phoned Mr. Williamson in the middle of the night to report what his student had done to prevent her from having a 'beauty' sleep.

Therefore, Max was soon interrogated by Dean Williamson, and was asked who else was behind this scheme.  But since our friend refused to give him any names, Max was given detention the whole week for disturbing the neighboring campus at night.

 The headmaster also warned him that if there was going to be any other mischief going on;  deeper consequences would ensue. Thus, that was what I would call our 'second strike'!

~~

Meanwhile, I was stuck in meeting Hyacinth, since she followed the orders on what was written on the note.

And sure enough, the next day, she turned up when I was sitting at our hideout alone.

It was a Saturday afternoon, and all of us 'Outfielders' had our fun playing baseball in our designated area. We were all supposed to have our ritual meetings in the hideout before the girls came to visit, but little did I know that the rest of the boys left me, possibly for their last and final joke!

I was scared when she came in, because I did not expect to see her.

At first glance, I wasn't really attracted to her because of her features, but once I got to know her well, things began to change.

Hyacinth was a chubby Hawaiian girl with jet black hair. She had dark brown skin, but beyond her looks, she had a big personality and could make any guy laugh and have a good time.

We talked for hours in the 'shack', and I'm not going to lie to you Marlene, but I did enjoy my decent conversation with Hyacinth. 

But after a while things began to go awry.

~~

"So Owen, why did you leave a note in my balcony last night?" she asked.

I didn't want to tell her the whole truth of what the guys tried to make me do, but I knew I had to say something.  So I replied by saying anything that came to my mind.

"I just wanted to know you better!  Besides, what's a nice girl like you doing all alone?"

I guess I blushed as I said these words, because in the next few minutes, she was all over me.

"You do?  I really like you too Owen."  (She walked closer to me, started touching my hair as she said this, and it caused me  to fall back due to my embarrassment) "I think we can make a great couple you know." (I gulped!)

I didn't know what to do, because this was not what I had in mind.  But then I heard the magic words that caused me to be ignite.

"I heard that your dad owns Thom Food Corporation, you must be rich!"

Once I heard that comment, the sound of money went through my ears.

$ KA-CHING! $

And I certainly did not want that!  I never ever want to become like my father!

~~

She was now hovering around me like a hungry female bear trying to capture her prey, as I headed toward the door.

But once I opened the doorknob, Xavier and the rest of the gang decided to show up.

I assumed they had to save me from 'power-hungry for a boy' Hyacinth, but I knew she wasn't really going to hurt me.

But the boys just laughed at her once they saw Hyacinth, and I felt sorry for her.  As the good guy, I always tried to be, I spoke up.

I told Hyacinth to stay outside for a little bit, because I needed to talk to the guys privately.  I assured her that I would go out soon to get her, so she followed my orders.

After I closed the door, I faced the three men and started my lecture.

"Oh, come on you guys, don't be so hard on her.  So what if she's a little chubby, it's personality that counts!  And I think she had a courageous heart to see me!"

"Whatever you say Owen," Xavier replied.  "I think you finally met your match, don't you think boys!"

"Be quiet, Xavier! She appears to be a little clingy ... but I like her."

"Okay, Owen that is if you like a hippo!"

"That is so cruel Levi, and if she wasn't outside, I'd slap you in the face!"

I wanted to scream, but held my breath and went out the door to ask Hyacinth to come back in, so I could prove to them that she was a nice person on the inside.

However, at the same time Brooke suddenly showed up, and saw that I held Hyacinth's hand.

For some unknown reason, the two girls began to retaliate against each other.

Brooke also eyed Hyacinth ... looking at her up and down.

"Why are you here Hyacinth?  Is it due to the note, Owen supposedly threw?  Did you know, that letter was meant for me and not you?  Xavier told me Owen just made a terrible mistake!"

Hyacinth began to cry and knew things were going to explode if I did not put a stop to it.

"Honey, do you think Owen likes you?  You are so fat that ..."

I had enough of this 'cat fight', so I interrupted Brooke and shouted at her.

"DON'T SAY ANOTHER WORD BROOKE!  I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE AGAINST HYACINTH, BUT YOU ARE DEMEANING HER!  AT FIRST, I TOOK PITY WITH WHATEVER MAX DID TO YOU, BUT I CAN SEE THAT BEHIND YOUR SHY PERSONALITY, YOU ARE A BULLY TOO! JUST STOP IT!  (I pointed to Xavier, Levi and Neil.)   AND YOU GUYS YOU DON'T NEED ME.  YOU NEVER DID!  I AM NOT YOUR SLAVE OR 'GUINEA PIG'!  I'M GETTING OUT OF HERE AND YOU CAN KEEP YOUR STUFF, BUT THIS IS MY BASEBALL BAT AND BALL!"

Thus. I grabbed my items, went out and slammed the door behind me.

And that Marlene was the end of my friendship with the 'Outfielders', but I still kept my nickname as a secret.

However, that day was also the marking of my 'third strike', because I accidentally hit the window of a residential house nearby once the boys followed me.

And it was a big 'oops' on my part, because the school got sued.

~~

Hello fellow readers,

Aren't you happy when a person sticks up for another, once you see he or she has been bullied?  Been there before when a guy actually stood up for me, so this episode kind of reminded me of him.

I'd like to dedicate this chapter to fellow Wattpad author Dmitri Ragano.  I am currently reading his story entitled "Employee of the year".   It is a great story where you, the reader, just want to take the conniving antagonist and slap him, because you want to prove that the protagonist is innocent.

Owen's character is almost the same, he's had it with the other guys and if it means that he too will get in major trouble with the law, so be it.

The song attached to this chapter is "It's my Life" by Bon Jovi. Enjoy and please leave me a note or vote. Thanks!