I stared blankly at the sheet. It looked back at me menacingly. The words on the page taunted me, laughing and pointing. They thought my humiliation was funny. My name next to my fathers was plastered in the same bold print as all the other letters. It read, "2nd Place- $300 College Scholarship - Kimberly Daeschewtz and Maverick Daeschewtz". I clenched the paper angrily, creasing the paper into defined lines.

$300 of scholarship, of course. But was it really enough? Ever? $500 would have been awarded to first place. My eyes scanned upwards, searching for the name. Since this was the girls division only, it was not hard to identify who would be in the lead. My knowledge didn't miss- the sheet reading, "1st Place- $500 College Scholarship - Jaiyana August-Winston and Kaylahni August-Winston".

I felt vomit tickle the back of my throat. She had been about four lanes down from me, but I didn't know how good she and her mom had done. According to the papers, her mom had bowled a 277, and she bowled a 236. That was way above both of their averages- and her mom was only two strikes away from getting a 300.

Rico stared up from the front desk. "At least you got $300, hm? Jaiyana was on the team with you- you should have figured. You've seen what she can do." He pointed it out like it was obvious- but I was still aggravated. "Still. My father had bowled phenomenally, and I did alright. Jaiyana always bowls her best. She never has it bad.

"You know that's not true. You've replaced her while bowling in your teams." Rico seemed stubborn about the subject, and I wasn't sure why. "Why are you defending her?" I retorted. He scoffed, shaking his head. "She's a normal girl. She's not a brat about it. Jaiyana is sweet and humble!"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My hands clenched so tight, a piece of the paper ripped at the side. Out of pure frustration, I slammed the paper on the front desk counter by Rico's hand. "You defend her for everything. Try being in my shoes! You don't know how it is to lose to the same person over and over again!" Anger built up in my gut like I was a waste dump for garbage.

Rico blinked dryly back at me, taking the paper and gently placing it by the register. "You're right. I don't know. But it can't be that ser-" I interrupted him quickly, the anger travelling up to my mouth and in the spit of my words. "Don't even. I know you don't know- so don't try to understand." And with that, I walked away angrily.

I walked toward the snack bar, anger still fuming. Elorie, Sera, and Kirstein were sitting, eating food. I sat at the open seat in between Kirstein and Elorie. "What's got your panties in a bunch?" Elorie snorted, taking another bite of her grilled cheese. I ripped off a corner piece that was not in her mouth and ate it. "Fanta Tournament."

Kirstein nodded. “Which day were you in? Saturday or Sunday?” She asked. I swallowed the grilled cheese bit, and sighed. “Sunday. I had bowled fine Friday! I don’t get the problem.” Sera glanced over at me. “I saw the sheet- you bowled good. It’s just.. Jaiyana did better.”

The winner takes it all.