Gym Class

“So, I see you managed to escape?,” Mike said as they met during gym class.

V nodded.

“Well, we can thank my classmate for that,” he tipped his cap towards her and took a seat beside her.

It was lucky that the school had arranged the gym class schedule in such a way, that Mike’s and V’s class came together.

At least she had company since V was always singled out of games.

The reason she wasn’t allowed to play dodge ball with the others in fear that the super strong ones might injure her badly.

She was refused in basketball as there was no way she could compete with the elastic Stretch Clan members.

Running was out of the question, the Accelerates, even when casually jogging could beat cheetahs.

In the end she jogged around the basketball court while the other students engaged in their own activities.

She was not alone though. Mike as usual voluntarily asked to be excused stating some kind of medical condition. It was the only, way he could keep a lonely V company. Also sporting was not his thing.

V got up and began stretching lightly. Mike did the same. He didn’t mind following V. They both kept a leisurely pace.

The coach, unlike a regular school one, was very unfit himself. Slightly to the plump side with a sleepy look on his face, he took to his job as more of a babysitter.

As long as the students run, jumped or whatever, he considered it a good job well done. The fewer students the better, so anybody who could come up with a good reason was relieved to the corner.

After a few warm up moves they began to move.

Mike’s class was having a friendly basketball much. She looked intently at the group. She was looking for somebody.

“So, when you going to tell him? ,” Mike grinned.

“Tell who what?,” V pretended not to understand Mike’s question, but her eyes were still wildly searching the group of basketball players.

Mike gave a slight chuckle.

“He is playing yet. Only in the second half. To your right. Front corner, two seats from the left,”

V looked and Dawson gave her a wave.

V stumbled back, bumping into Mike. Then she sheepishly returned Dawson’s wave

“So when are you going to tell him? Or should I do it. After all we are classmates,” Mike said as he helped steady her.

V elbowed Mike lightly.

“Not too loud,” she hissed at Mike.

Dawson looked curiously at them from a far. Quickly V gave him a mischievous grin.

This was the most important thing about having a mix class session. It meant that Dawson also was there.

“You know, if you really do like him you have to tell him you’re actually a girl,” Mike whispered while jabbing her cheekily.

“Are you crazy! What if he tells everyone else? Then what? What if he doesn’t like me that kind of way? Also remember what Ma did when my kindergarten teacher found out about my secret. I don’t want the circus to be on the run again. I kind of like it here,”

Mike shook his head.

“Yeah you may be right about that. But again if you do like him sooner or later you have to spill the beans. You can’t just like him from a far. He can only be available for so long. He is after all a really popular guy. As rumour has it, girls from neighbouring schools have already set their sights on him,”

V rolled her eyes up.

“That’s the same rumour I have been hearing for the past three years,”

V looked unconvinced.

Mike continued waving his arms in the air.

“You need to weigh the options. If he accepts, then congratulations. If not, the worse that could happen would be the circus will be on the move again. You won’t have to see him again if it goes downhill. Hey, either way at least you would know how he really feels about you,” Mike said shrugging his shoulders.

“But what about you guys. What happens if this turns sour,”

Quickly he gave her a reassuringly pat.

“To be honest, aside from you, the rest of us really feel this school stinks. So don’t worry about us,”

V gave Mike an amused glance.

“Fine I’ll tell him sometime soon…..,” she said untruthfully fingers crossed behind her back.

“After we finish this last lap,” and without warning she sped off.

“Hey, no fair! You have a head start,” Mike said and with a tired look on his face slowly jogged after her.