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Five minutes before the bell rings. I can do this.

I barrel into the locker room ahead of all the other girls, who don't seem to care how late to class they are. I don't even have time to shower, so I just wipe myself down with some water and paper towels by the sink before applying more deodorant. I don't keep perfume in my locker – it's for special occasions and I'm always worried about breaking the glass bottle, I'm notorious for doing things like that, especially when I'm in a hurry. I throw on my sweater and jeans before changing my socks and slipping back into my ratty tennis shoes. I've been wanting some new, cool shoes, maybe some Nikes instead of this off brand whatever my mom bought me, but I'm never going to be able to save up money for it, what with school and sports. I have barely any time to babysit, or hang out with my friends for that matter.

Speaking of friends, I snap out of my auto-pilot and throw all my volleyball gear into my locker before grabbing my books and running a brush through my hair as I jog down the hallway. I didn't have time to blow dry it or use hairspray, but it's probably poofy enough on its own. I skid around the corner of the hallway, since my shoes have lost almost all of their traction from overuse. I make it to my homeroom right before the bell rings, and slide in behind my best friend, Danielle Allport.

Dani was cool, pretty much a cooler version of me. We were both sporty girls, but she was also popular and pretty. She may not wear much makeup because of sports, but her Italian heritage – long, dark lashes and beautiful voluptuous hair – made her so pretty that she didn't really need it anyway. She was up to date on fashion, though, always wearing cute jewelry and getting new shoes. I wish my parents had as much money as hers did, to get her new shoes whenever she felt like it. But I didn't resent her for it; it just bugged me since my own shoes were so ratty compared to her sparkly flats.

We had met in middle school, through sports. We were on the same soccer team, and the following spring, the lacrosse team. We made a great pair, always working together to make up new combos just helping each other improve our skills. And soon that spread from the field to in our daily lives, and we just became comfortable with each other; close friends and teammates. Of course Dani plays sports that I don't – really just cheerleading and horseback riding – but I play sports she doesn't either. This year I have soccer, volleyball, basketball, softball, and lacrosse lined up, as well as kung fu. It was what defined me. I was the weird sports girl.

I sort of wish I wasn't. Sports were just something I liked, to me they're just a hobby like some girls with makeup or others with drawing. But to most people, playing so many different sports, and especially those with overlapping seasons, is completely ridiculous. I get so many comments that I should just chill out, pick one, and take up aerobics to stay in shape. But then people also say that since I'm a girl, I shouldn't be a jock, or an athlete. That I should stop acting like a little kid, stop playing games, and grow up. If growing up means leaving what I love behind, then I say hell no.

That's why I liked Dani. She never says things like that. The only times she's told me to calm down were ones where I was seriously overworking myself. Overlapping seasons are really tiring, and Dani knows that.

Dani notices me, deep in thought, and chuckles at me. I probably look exhausted. I've been at school since 6:30, so I'm just about ready to drop dead.

"Rough practice?"

"Ugh," I flop onto my desk, my arms cradling my head. "Coach made us practice receives until our thighs burned. I'm just so glad to be in an actual chair."

"You're not too tired to go to that super cool craft show after school though, right?" I look up, and Dani's hopeful eyes are basically tearing into my soul. I know that if I say no she'll forgive me, but I don't want to let her down. Plus, I've had worse.

"Nah, I'll make it. That's the one good thing about morning practice, more free time in the afternoon," plus the fact that it was the glorious two weeks in between soccer and basketball season, meaning that I was gonna be one-sporting for a while. The perfect time for socializing.

It is at that moment that our teacher, Mr. Greyson, decides to show up. Every morning he's late, and every morning he has a different excuse. Not that I mind. He's giving his spiel and calling roll when I see him. Anthony Cattell.

I've had a crush on him for three years. Yes, I know it's ridiculous, but it's not like the crush is noticeable. Maybe it was in sixth grade, but now that I know he's not interested, I just keep to staring from afar. He's cute. He's grow his hair out from the buzzcut he used to have in middle school, to something that was a little more trendy, even if his pin-straight hair didn't really capture the same effortless style that was so popular in Hollywood right now. He was shy. That was sort of his mark, what defined him. He was smart, sure, but he wasn't vocal about it, so he wasn't a nerd. He played sports – mostly soccer and basketball – but he wasn't on the football team, and he didn't hang out with the showy athlete boys, so he wasn't a jock. He was just quiet. Not even shy. It just seemed like he wasn't fond of people, maybe. Or commitment.

I had heard through some questionable sources that his family moved around a lot when he was a kid. He was rarely at the same school for more than a year, and usually he only finished a semester before switching. He was smart, and he had taught himself most things, so he never had to be held back, but still. That sort of thing tends to stunt emotional growth. Maybe that's why I like him. Maybe I want to protect him.

First and second period fly by quickly. Lunch is next, but I don't have it with Dani. I hate that, having different lunch periods. But I still have friends to sit with. Debbie, she's with the sewing club. She isn't a fashionista per say, more of an eccentric. She likes to make really gaudy sweaters with all sorts of appliques on them, and she's very bubbly and fun. Carly is more of the fashionista. She likes fashion, but her real passion is playing matchmaker to everyone else. Since all the guys love her, she can take her pick and then set up his friends with her friends. It may sound a bit weird, but it's actually very sweet the way she pays attention and makes sure both parties have similar interests. Then there's Heather. She's a bit of a nerd, I guess. She's really into Star Trek and comics, superheroes and stuff like that. She's always working with Debbie to make costumes for her next convention, and I think she's sort of converting Debbie to nerdy stuff like that. A lot of people might see us as an odd bunch, but we like each other's' company.

The rest of the day passed quickly as well. The only class that seemed to drag was math. Geometry was easier for me than Algebra, but it was still difficult, and my least favorite class. To make it worse, it was my only class with Anthony, who was amazing at math, of course. He was a genius, so there was no doubt that he would be good at math. It's a bit embarrassing to say that I paid more attention to him than I did to the coursework.

Finally the day's over. I wouldn't say I'm the type of person to hate school, but no one really likes school to begin with, right? I would much rather be improving my spike or shaving a few seconds off my mile than learning about eqiu-whatever triangles.

I would also rather be with Dani, who's standing by her locker, exchanging the day's books for ones she would need for tonight's homework. I'm smiling, just about to tell her how excited I am to go to the craft show (aka glorified flea market…) with her, when I feel a hand on my shoulder the exact same instant Dani's locker slams shut.

"Bandura, glad I caught you. Sorry about the short notice, but the gym just freed up and we're gonna have afternoon practice today. It's only three days until the regionals, you know."

It's Thompson, my volleyball coach. I resist the urge to sigh heavily. Dani gives me a sad little smile as Coach claps my shoulder one last time and walks away. I know that regionals are important, I just wish this had been scheduled sooner so it didn't seem like I's blowing off my best friend.

"Sorry," I say, scratching the back of my head, a nervous reflex. Dani just waves me off.

"It's alright, it happens. Regionals are in three days, right? I'm not surprised by the extra practice."

There's a smile on her face, but I can tell Dani's disappointed. We haven't hung out in at least a week, and since we only have homeroom together, it feels like it's been a month instead. I smile back at her, it's soft and I hope it conveys how truly sorry I am.

"Hey, pick up something for me, alright?" I ask, rummaging in my pockets until I find a crumpled five dollar bill and hand it to Dani. I was planning on putting that money in the "get Robin some new shoes" fund, but Dani knowing that I care is more important than shoes. She smiles at me. If it's one thing she loves, It's getting people presents.

"Sure thing! I'll give it to you tomorrow then? You're gonna love it, whatever it is!" Dani practically squeals, crumpling the bill even further when her hands clench in excitement. I smile genuinely now – it's hard not to when your best friend is so happy.

"I'm sure I will! Bye Dani!" I call as I turn to make my way to the locker rooms.

"Bye Robin!" She calls, heading towards the front doors of the school.