• "In this dodgeball tournament, I will call two teams to be on one side on the gym and two teams to be on the other side. The two teams on each side will fight as one in the first few rounds until only a couple teams are left. Then those teams will face each other, one-on-one. What I say goes. Understand?" Principal Shafer announced. Then he turned on some music that echoed through the gym. "First up is Pink and Red teams against Blue and Purple teams!" he said.

    The teams got into position. Morgan and Chelsey were both on the same side in this round. Sarah was on the other side. Danielle was up in the stands, for she was on the Yellow Team.

    "I'll cheer for all three of you!" Danielle called. "I don't have favorites!" Chelsey, Morgan, and Sarah seemed to understand, even though the crowd was roaring at a deafening volume.

    "Begin!" yelled the principal. Instantly, the gym was full of action. Many players were lost on both teams. The game was intense. Soon, about only ten players were left on each side.

    "Here I come!" shouted Sarah. She charged and flung her ball as hard as she could. It connected in the middle of two people, putting them both on the sidelines. "YES!" Sarah whooped. She leaped into the air with glee, then ran to hide behind someone.

    Sarah's friend, Amanda, limped over to her. "I'm not that good at dodgeball, but this is kinda fun. I wonder why I'm not out yet," she chimed. Just then, a ball flew toward them with blistering speed.

    "Amanda! Watch out!" yelled Sarah. She leaped in front of her friend and was hit instead. A winded and defeated Sarah trudged over to the sidelines and sighed. "At least I got out in honor," she said.

    Meanwhile, Chelsey and Morgan were jumping about, tossing balls, and having a pretty good time. Their side was winning, Sarah and Danielle were cheering them on, and they hadn't even been nicked by a ball.

    "Incoming!" shouted a tall boy suddenly. He happened to be near Morgan when he was hit, and was skillful enough to make it seem like Morgan had been pounded instead of him from the principal's point of view.

    "Morgan, you're out!" said the principal.

    "But--"

    "Go out or it's a detention for you! Don't complicate the game!"

    Morgan had no choice. She was forced to sit on the sidelines. As she went, she turned around and waved to Chelsey. "Win for me! I know you can do it!" she exclaimed. Chelsey nodded and resumed her strategy.

    At the end of the round, the Blue and Purple teams had emerged victorious. Chelsey, Morgan, Sarah, and Danielle gave each other slaps on the back for a job well done. Then it was Danielle's turn to go out. Her side won.

    After about a half hour, Principal Shafer announced, "It's time for the one-on-one part!"

    The girls glanced at each other. This was the part they were dreading.....


    continued in part 3