Just as the group was settling into their lighthearted banter, a flurry of notifications buzzed from their phones. Lexie pulled out her phone, frowning slightly as she read the message that flashed on her screen.
“Guys, check this out!” she called, excitement bubbling in her voice. “Seattle Grace is facing off against Northwest General in a charity baseball game next week!”
Meredith leaned in, her curiosity piqued. “Is it really happening? I thought they were still trying to figure out the scheduling after everything that’s happened.”
“Looks like they pulled it together,” Lexie said, scrolling through the details. “Here’s the roster.”
Seattle Grace Roster:
Pitcher: Lexie Grey
Catcher: Miranda Bailey
First Base: Mark Sloan
Second Base: Callie Torres
Shortstop: Cristina Yang
Third Base: Derek Shepherd
Left Field: Alex Karev
Center Field: Owen Hunt
Right Field: Arizona Robbins
Designated Hitter: April Kepner
“Lexie is pitching?!” Arizona exclaimed, her eyes wide. “That’s amazing! I remember that last game you played. You practically struck everyone out.”
Mark smirked, his pride evident. “I wouldn’t want to face her on the mound. She’s got a cannon for an arm.”
Cristina leaned forward, her competitive spirit igniting. “We can’t just win; we have to annihilate them. I’m talking no mercy. This is a chance to show everyone what we’re made of.”
“Exactly!” Lexie agreed, feeling a thrill at the thought of stepping back onto the field. The idea of a little friendly competition was exactly what she needed. “And I want to prove myself. Plus, I’ve got a little motivation.”
“What do you mean?” Callie asked, raising an eyebrow.
Lexie hesitated, then glanced around before lowering her voice. “I saw one of my old high school bullies is part of the Northwest General team. They were always so smug and rude to me. I want to show them that I’m not the same girl they used to pick on.”
The group fell silent for a moment, then Arizona spoke up, determination in her voice. “Let’s make sure they regret ever messing with you. We’ll have your back, Lexie. You’ll show them exactly how fierce you are.”
“Totally,” Callie chimed in. “And I’ll catch whatever you throw. We’ll make an unstoppable team.”
Lexie felt a rush of gratitude at her friends’ support. “Thanks, guys. This is going to be epic. I can’t wait to step up to the mound again.”
Mark leaned closer, a teasing glint in his eyes. “Just remember, Cuddlebug, it’s all in good fun. Don’t lose your cool out there. I can’t have my girlfriend taking anyone down—unless it’s on the baseball field.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got this,” Lexie replied confidently, her mind already racing with strategies for the game.
“Alright, here’s the Northwest General roster,” Lexie continued, pulling up the details.
Northwest General Roster:
Pitcher: Ryan Adams
Catcher: Laura Keating
First Base: Tim McKinley
Second Base: Sarah Jenkins
Shortstop: Eric Larkin
Third Base: Vanessa Wu
Left Field: Jack Thompson
Center Field: Chloe Rogers
Right Field: Sam Patel
Designated Hitter: Angela Rivera
Lexie’s eyes narrowed as she spotted her former bully on the list. “And there she is—Vanessa Wu. I can’t believe she’s still around.”
“Perfect. Let’s channel that energy into a solid performance,” Cristina said, her competitive nature flaring. “I want everyone to know that Seattle Grace is a force to be reckoned with.”
“Count me in,” Lexie said, a fierce determination settling in her chest. “I’m not just pitching for the team; I’m pitching for myself. Let’s show them what we can do.”
As they gathered around Lexie, their excitement palpable, she couldn’t shake the feeling of empowerment. This game was going to be more than just a match; it was an opportunity to prove herself, and she was ready for the challenge.
As Lexie’s gaze lingered on Vanessa Wu’s name, a heavy silence fell over the group. Meredith exchanged a glance with Mark, her brow furrowed in concern. “What do you mean, you want revenge?” Meredith asked, her tone shifting from light-hearted to serious.
Lexie took a deep breath, recalling the painful memories that had been buried for so long. “It’s not just the typical high school bullying, Mer. Vanessa was part of a group that made my life hell. It got really dark. She… she actually paid a guy to assault me during our senior year. I didn’t report it because I was so ashamed and scared.”
Mark’s expression darkened as he processed the information. “Wait, what? You’re serious?”
“Yeah,” Lexie said, her voice trembling slightly. “It was all a joke to them, something to prove how ‘powerful’ they were. I’ve dealt with it, but I always wanted to show her that she can’t just walk through life thinking she can get away with anything.”
Mark’s hands clenched into fists, his jaw tightening in anger. “I can’t believe this. That’s disgusting, Lexie. You shouldn’t have to face her again.”
Meredith’s eyes widened, horrified. “I had no idea, Lexie. Why didn’t you ever tell us?”
Lexie shrugged, feeling vulnerable. “I didn’t want to burden anyone with it. I thought I could just move on.”
“No one would have seen it that way,” Mark interjected, his voice strained. “You should have told someone. She needs to face consequences for what she did.”
Lexie felt a pang of guilt. “I didn’t want to relive it, Mark. It’s hard enough as it is.”
Mark’s anger simmered beneath the surface. “That’s not the point. You deserve to be treated with respect, and this Vanessa should be held accountable. I’m going to confront her.”
“No, Mark!” Lexie pleaded, panic rising in her chest. “Please don’t. It’ll only make things worse.”
But he was already shaking his head, his expression furious. “No, Lexie, you don’t understand. I won’t let this slide. She needs to know that what she did was wrong. I can’t stand the thought of her being able to just walk back into your life like this.”
Before Lexie could respond, Mark turned on his heel and stormed away from the group, the tension hanging thick in the air. Lexie’s heart raced as she watched him go, feeling a mixture of worry and frustration. “Mark, wait!”
“Great,” Meredith muttered under her breath, her gaze darting between Lexie and the direction Mark had stormed off. “This isn’t good.”
“Yeah, I know,” Lexie admitted, her voice shaky. “I didn’t want to drag anyone into this. I thought I could handle it.”
Arizona stepped forward, her expression serious. “You’re not alone in this, Lexie. We all have your back. We can’t let her get away with what she did. But Mark’s anger won’t help. We need to find a way to talk to him before he does something he’ll regret.”
Cristina crossed her arms, her competitive spirit now overshadowed by concern. “Look, we’ll deal with this together. But you need to be upfront with us from now on. We can’t protect you if we don’t know the whole story.”
Lexie nodded, feeling overwhelmed by the support but also the weight of the past pressing down on her. “I just want this to be over. I want to move on.”
“Then let’s find Mark and talk this out,” Meredith suggested, her voice calm but firm. “He’ll come around, but he needs to understand that confronting her could put you in more danger. We need to be smart about this.”
The group quickly moved to find Mark, the stakes feeling higher than ever. As they searched the carnival, Lexie’s heart sank, knowing that the shadows of her past were creeping back into her life. She just hoped they could prevent the situation from escalating further.