Chapter 2 If You Hate P.E. Clap Your Hands
If You Hate P.E. Clap Your Hands
The bell rings, and Mr. Green finishes giving us the bookmarks he brought for all of us. We all leave class wishing him a good summer and thanking him for being responsible for everyone’s grades going up because of how patient and good a teacher he was.
Allison finds my arm and sticks to my side until we reach the lockers.
“Can you hear that? It’s the sound of heartbreak echoing through these hallways. You gotta love the drama.” She laughs past a couple hugging tightly, both teary-eyed.
I feel bad for them, unlike Allison. Even though I should be glad about the misery of others’ love lives, I can’t.
It’s bad giving your heart to someone only to know it’s gonna end eventually.
This is a part of my many reasons I’m afraid to date.
Of all things in life, there are only two I can control.
Music, books, movies, and me. But I also know that as soon as I fall for someone, that control flies out the window faster than light.
Not that I have really fallen for someone.
“Well, that and lies.” I add to her statement, and she nods in approval, just to stop and make a grossed-out face.
“Speaking of cheating scum liars.”
I follow her gaze, and I see Blade Topper. I cringe remembering that night when I thought it was going well for a date.
He sees Allison and me, frowns with a concerned expression at the stink eye and the discreet flip Allison is giving him.
“Alls please…” I insist, dragging her along. She rolls her eyes but stops intimidating him.
I groan, getting closer to the gym, and Allison gives me taps to comfort me.
“It’s only an hour.”
“The longest hour.”
If you can’t tell, the subject that goes by PE and I do not get along.
I guess it all started when I realized I was so bad at all group sports that I was the last one to be picked for a team.
It’s not like I mind it, I’m used to it by now.
I mean, I can’t blame them. I start to gasp for air and have to sit down when we have classes on the third floor.
Not to mention losing all races, all agility tests, and having the elasticity of a tree.
Allison lets out a sad sigh.
“I’m actually gonna miss PE.”
When she said she liked physical activities when we were younger, I asked her not to joke about that stuff. She wasn’t joking. She’s one of the top athletes in the school, managing to participate and win most of the basketball, soccer, and track and field competitions.
Ms. Fairwon — yes, she has heard every pun possible for her name, considering her profession — makes us run for fifteen minutes to warm up.
I try to whine and beg her and remind her it’s the last day, but she doesn’t really care. She’s one of those people who, if it were in her power, she would wake us all at 5 AM to run for an hour every day.
I start running slowly, saying goodbye to Allison, who stays in her own rhythm, and two minutes pass, and I already have a side ache. If you think that can excuse me, you’re very wrong. Ms. Fairwon says I’m just not breathing properly, which makes me run an extra wasted minute.
I’m sweating like a pig just as Allison passes by me, breathing perfectly, posture perfect, and overall appearance and performance, perfect.
I can’t even groan in frustration because I don’t have enough energy to do so. Nothing gets worse than running.
And those five words should have never ever ever crossed my mind because it can get worse.
“You know, you should get that wheeze checked out, you sound like an 80-year-old going up the stairs.” Jake West positions himself beside me, and even though my body could fail to work at any minute now, it still does that reflex of rolling my eyes every time I hear this voice.
I can barely run, let alone waste my words on him, so I just keep on going, head held up high and feet almost dragging the floor.
“Giving me the silent treatment? Well, wouldn’t be the first time…”
I concentrate just enough energy on my body to be able to say a full sentence, while he easily starts running backwards in front of me.
“Don’t you have some poor girl to leave commitment issues with, right now?
” I manage, and I swear that right after I finish saying it, he bumps into Claire, who’s running in front of me, and she lets out a giggle while he smirks at her, saying Sorry, leaving my mouth slightly open in shock.
Her face is all red when she turns back to run, and he shrugs at me.
“Well, it’s always precious talking to you, but I have commitments on the other side of the lane. Hang in there, Brown, I’m rooting for you.” He points a finger at me, and somehow just his presence makes me indignant.
“Thanks, West, your support is everything I ever needed.” I sarcastically utter, and he laughs.
As soon as Ms. Fairwon blows the whistle, I lie on the floor dramatically because if I’m gonna look disgusting and tired — which is an understatement — at least let me have my drama.
Allison approaches me and crouches by my side.
“We should do some exercise this summer, what do you think?”
I look dead serious in her eyes.
“I would never do that. Why would I do that voluntarily?”
She puffs and sits beside me.
“You don’t want to do anything, Mads. You would never meditate or do yoga, god knows why, you barely have to move…
You would never go to a club, you would never go swimming at night, you would never do something that involves you moving for more than five seconds, like riding a bike…
How are we supposed to do something fun if you’re gonna do the same thing every day? ”
“Hey, I do move for more than five seconds. I go to the grocery store…” I joke, and she rolls her eyes. I know, I know, the joke sucks. I was never much of a comedian.
My summers are all the same, and I didn’t even consider that with Allison finally coming with me to Mailview, she wouldn’t like my routine.
We’re two opposite people in every aspect.
Where she’s blonde, I’m brunette. She has blue eyes, I have brown.
She’s an adventurer, I’m a stay-at-home-‘till-I-die… Because I live life ruled by fear. I don’t do that stuff she does because I’m so into my comfort zone, I would never dare to get out into the world.
Someone fake-coughs.
“Chicken!” Jake blurts, walking just behind us.
“I’m sorry, how are you a part of this conversation?” I whip my head around to glare daggers at him.
“Apology accepted. I’m just concerned about your well-being and your well-being only.” He mocks with a stupid grin on his face, sitting down beside us. Suddenly, like a miracle, my energy comes back.
“As much as I’d like to stay here and hear you two call me a coward in many different ways, I have to go to the bathroom.”
I fast pace to Ms. Fairwon, and she lets me go.
This summer is going to leave me exhausted.