Rubie dropped the hefty bag of weapons and money onto the ground. She released a groan of pain as the muscles of her back tightened.
''I need to find somewhere to put this bag so I don't have to haul it around with me any longer.''
Rubie closed her eyes and breathed a short prayer, hoping she would soon find a place to store her bag before she threw out her back entirely. After finishing her rather short prayer, she fluttered her eyes open and carefully stood back up, trying not to harm her back any further.
As Rubie inhaled a breath of air, her eyes fell upon a building that was sitting right in front of her. She squinted her eyes and read the sign that was hung up on the front of the building.
''Midtown High, hm?'' she said aloud to herself. ''Luckily I'm fifteen. I'll fit right in!''
She bent down and took a deep breath before using her strength to pick up the ginormous bag once again. She threw it over her shoulder and began to make her way towards the High School. It took a lot of motivation, but Rubie finally made it to the high school, up the stairs and into the building. Fortunately, the hallway of Midtown High was dead empty.
Quickly, Rubie put the heavy bag down and dragged it around with her through the abandoned hallway. Her eyes were scanning each and every locker that she was passing.
''Come on,'' she huffed to herself. ''there's got to be at least one idiot who doesn't shut their locker.''
Rubie soon felt as if she had powers, because as soon as she said those words, she spotted a locker that had its door hanging wide open. She gripped her bag excitingly and began to rush towards the locker. When she reached the top locker, she pushed the locker door open further, but frowned as she saw that the locker was filled with books.
Rubie thought about going back and looking for another open locker, but as soon as she looked at the bag, her mind immediately changed.
''You know what? Screw this,'' she murmured to herself, reaching for the books in the locker. ''I'm getting this locker no matter what. I'm done carrying around this gigantic bag with me.''
With no care for the books, she took the books from the locker and threw them on the ground. Once she finished cleaning out ''her'' locker, she picked the loaded bag back up and stuffed it right into the locker. She clapped her hands together happily after she closed the locker shut.
''It's a perfect fit!'' she squealed gleefully. ''Now, the locker number is 214 and it's a top locker. Alright Rubie, make sure nobody opens it except you. So keep your eye on it when this hallway is filled with students and-''
''Umm, why are you talking to yourself ma'am?''
Rubie about jumped out of her skin as the voice called her out. Chills ran down her spine as she turned around slowly, hoping that it wasn't a security guard or something. A wave of relief washed over her as she saw that it was just an adult man.
''I'm just talking to myself because-''
''Why are you out here?'' he interrupted, his face filled with suspicion. ''Everybody is supposed to be in class. Nobody ditches at Midtown High.''
''Um, I um, I'm sorry sir, I'm just a new kid here at Midtown High,'' she said, trying to hide her nervousness. ''I'm just trying to look for the Gym. I have Gym right now, but I don't-''
''Right there.''
Rubie's face flushed as he pointed at the Gym that was obviously right in front of her face. She gave him a nervous chuckle and quickly shuffled her way towards the Gym. Before she entered the Gym, he called for her once more and asked her the question she was afraid to answer.
''What's your name, ma'am?''
''My name?'' she asked. ''My name is um.. My name.. It's um..''
She pushed the door open and stumbled inside before she could finish her sentence. She expected the man to follow her, but she watched him as he just shrugged it off and walked away. She smiled because he was walking the opposite way of the locker that hid all of her weapons and money.
''HEY!'' a voice screamed. Rubie whipped around and saw a man with a whistle hanging from his neck pointing at her. ''COME HERE!''
With no hesitation, she lightly jogged up to him, her heart racing crazily. When she reached him, she stood straight up as if she was a soldier.
''You have a partner to do sit ups with?''
''No, I do not sir.''
''Over there,'' he said, turning and pointing at a guy who was sitting on a blue mat, playing on his phone. ''his name is Evan. He doesn't have a partner. You, um, what's your name?''
''My name? Oh um, my name.. It's um-''
''Okay, if it's going to take you that long to respond, then never mind,'' he said, clearly annoyed. ''Evan needs a partner and since you're late, you're going to have to suffer with him. Alright? Alright. Go have fun.''
The coach shoved her forward. Fortunately, she caught herself before she fully fell to the ground and began to walk up to the ''Evan'' guy. A few steps away from him, Evan lifted his eyes from his phone and looked up at Rubie.
''Oh, hey!'' evan smiled, putting his phone down on the mat. ''Are you going to be my partner?''
''I guess so,'' she said, shrugging. ''I guess we're doing sit ups?''
''Wow, you're very observant!'' evan replied sarcastically. Rubie rolled her eyes. ''Now get on the mat, you're starting.''
Rubie did as he said and sat down on the mat and got into the position of a sit-up. Evan picked up his phone and put it into his pocket. He then got to his knees and pressed Rubie's feet down with his hands.
''You have to do fifty sit-ups,'' evan explained. ''and that's just the warm-ups.''
''Fifty?!''
Rubie fell flat onto her back and stared up at the ceiling. She couldn't even do twenty without passing out.
''He's just kidding.''
Rubie looked to the side, seeing that she was lying next to a boy who had sweat trickling down his face. He had brown hair and innocent, brown eyes.
''You only have to do ten sit-ups,'' he corrected. ''but literally nobody even does sit-ups or practically anything in this class.''
''Then, why are you sweating?''
''Oh, me?'' he smiled, sitting back up. Her eyes followed. ''I have to do sit-ups. I have to stay in shape, you know, for the ladies.''
''Ha!'' evan snorted. ''Like you're ever going to get the ladies.''
Rubie sat up and wrapped her arms around her knees. Evan let go of Rubie's feet and pulled out his phone and proceeded with his game.
''What's your name?'' she asked, looking at the brown-haired kid. ''You look like a Daniel.''
''Nice try,'' he chuckled, copying her sitting position. ''my name's Peter, and yours?''
''Oh, you'd rather not know.''
''Come on,'' peter said, smiling. ''is your name that embarrassing? Plus, it's unfair for me to tell you my name and me not knowing your name.''
She opened her mouth to respond, but the bell echoed throughout the gym, excusing the students. Evan stood up and walked off, not even bothering to help Rubie up. Peter stood up and walked over to Rubie and put his hand out. She blushed and took his hand. He swiftly brought Rubie up to her feet.
''Wow, you're pretty strong,'' she complimented. ''I wish I was that strong.''
''Well, it didn't come easy,'' peter chuckled. ''so, what's your next class?''
''Um..'' she quickly thought of the book she threw out of the locker, which was a Biology book. ''Biology.''
''No way! Me too!'' he exclaimed happily. ''Wait, have you always been in my class? Because I swear I've never seen you in that class.''
''Oh, it's because I'm new here at Midtown High.'' she smiled nervously. ''I came in just today, actually.''
''It's always nice to see new faces.''
''So um, is it chill if I tag along with you?'' she asked shyly. ''Because I just want to know where to go after this period.''
''Of course!'' peter exclaimed happily. ''I'm just going to clean up and then we'll head over to my locker.''
Rubie's eyes widened instantly. ''Just a random question, which locker is yours?''
''My locker number is 214, and it's a top locker.''
Rubie swallowed hard. She couldn't believe it. That was the locker that had her bag filled with weapons and money.