5

After lunch, the juniors assembled in the gymnasium for the required physical education class.

"Okay, ladies," the gym master shouted, "we're going to make something of those bodies yet. Start running around the gym. Stop after each round and check your pulse. See me if you don't have a pulse."

The girls groaned and began jogging around the huge gym. The master chuckled and walked to the edge, leaning against the wall to observe the runners.

"Hastings, move it. We've got to get some of that gut off of you," he called to one girl.

"Check your pulse. "Nice run, Osborne," he called out. "Good pacing." Katherine smiled and waved as he passed by the teacher. None of them thought they'd make it through the class, but by the end of the period, they'd surprised themselves.

"I'm going to die!" Pierce gasped, standing in the shower after the class. "That woman should head a military school!"

"Come on, Pitts, it's good for you," Collins laughed.

"That's easy for you to say," Pierce shouted back. "The women didn't embarrass you to death."

Pierce turned quickly to face the wall as the gym master strolled through the shower room, monitoring the activity.

"How about a study group?" Mccall called out from the shower. "Right after dinner."

"Great! Good by me," several of the girls agreed. "Pick up the soap, Harrison," the gym master called out.

"You there," he pointed at another girl, "hurry and dry off!"

"Sorry Mccall, I can't make it," Katherine said. "I have to sign out to have dinner at the Pertersons' house."

"Who are the Petersons?" Pierce asked. "Whew! Big alums," Collins whistled. "How'd you pull that?"

Katherine shrugged. "They're friends of my dad. Probably in their nineties or something."

"Listen," Nore laughed. "Anything is better than the mystery meat we get here."

"I'll second that!" Charlotte agreed. The girls finished getting dressed, tossed their gym clothes in their lockers, and headed out. Talia sat silently on the bench, slowly pulling up his sock.

"A penny for your thoughts?" Nora laughed, as he sat down next to Talia.

"Not even worth that much," Talia said, shaking his head.

"Want to come to the study group?" Nora asked.

"Thanks, but … I'd better do history," Talia smiled.

"Okay, you can always change your mind," Nora answered. She gathered up his books and headed out of the gym.

Talia watched her leave and then stared into space again. She put on her shoes, picked up her books, and walked slowly back to the dorm.

In the distance, Toalia saw the fiery red sun sinking behind the green perimeter of trees that enclosed the sprawling campus.

"It's big, but it's so small here," she sighed, looking around.

Inside the dorm, she smiled at several girls in the hall but walked into her room and quickly closed the door.

She put his books on the desk, sighed again loudly, and sat down.

"I can't believe all the work I have to do," she said as she flipped through the stack of books. She opened his history book, took out a notebook, and stared at the first clean sheet of paper.

Absently, she scribbled SEIZE THE DAY in big, black letters.

"Seize the day?" he questioned aloud. "How am I supposed to?"