Two weeks had gone by and Callie found herself shivering, standing on the edge of her schools football field. She was surrounded by her P.E. classmates who all seemed to be complaining about how it looked like it was about to rain. Callie agreed that it was stupid of Coach Kenner to not reschedule the 2 mile run for a day that had better weather. But she knew that if she didn't manage to run these two miles in under 15 minutes, her shot at a 3.5 GPA was gone.

8 laps. That's the only thing that was standing between her and her goal. 8 very long laps. 8 very fast laps. Callie shook her head; she doubted she could do it. Sure she had played her share of soccer and was in pretty good shape but 2 miles in 15 minutes? That seemed downright impossible.

"Okay people, you know the drill. 8 laps around the football field. No funny business! And don't think I won't know if you try to skip out on one. And, as usual, any persons able to run it under 15 minutes will get a special prize!"

Coach Kenner's last statement drew a few sarcastic laughs and remarks from the class. No one was interested in the "special prize", everyone seemed more focused on how they were going to be able to run 2 miles in the hour they had left of class.

"Alright, everyone! On my whistle, 3, 2, 1" and the loud shrill of the whistle signaled everyone to start moving.

Most of the class took off with a running start; the only sound for the first 2 laps was that of sneakers squishing into the already muddy field. But it didn't take long for the class to get distracted and start walking. Nearly everyone seemed to be walking and talking in a large group except for a few students that were still running.

Callie, who was on her third lap and going strong, looked around at the people who were still running. She saw Jeff, an Asian kid who was on the football team a little ahead of her. A girl she had never talked to before named Rose was ahead of her too. To her right was a tall and thin girl named Teddy, and a little behind her was a familiar blonde.

Callie looked over her shoulder and smiled at her. Arizona smiled back and quickened her pace until she was running side by side with Callie. Neither one of them spoke because their lungs were working in overdrive and didn't have the air for that.

Arizona kept glancing over at Callie, watching the brunettes focused facial expression and her toned muscles flex with every pace. Arizona would have never guessed Callie be in such good shape. Arizona was a good runner because for as long as she could remember she ran every morning with her father. She had grown to love running and was quick as a whip and in excellent condition.

A loud roll of thunder and crack of lightning interrupted the silence of the run. Instantly, rain started to gush from the storm clouds, soaking everyone quickly. The class all made a hasty move to the shelter of the school buildings, groaning and complaining, but Callie kept running. She had two more laps to go and would not give up now.

She stretched her legs further and accelerated her body faster. Her muscles began to ache in pain and it was taking Callie nearly everything she had to not throw in the towel. The rain was stinging her eyes and she could feel her toes and fingers beginning to go numb.

"One more. Almost there." Arizona said when she noticed Callie's pace begin to slow.

Callie was shocked to see that Arizona was still running with her. She thought she would have run inside with the rest of her class by now.

"Almost there." Callie agreed, breathlessly. Both girls were turning the corner of the last stretch in a dead sprint, doing anything to finish in time. Arizona's heart was pounding in her ears and her muscles were screaming for relief at this point, but she continued to run next to Callie. The finish line was getting closer and closer and not until they had overshot Coach Kenner's bundled up and sheltered by an umbrella figure did they slow down.

"14 minutes and 54 seconds. Great work, ladies! Now hurry and get back to the gym." And with that he jogged back to the building himself.

Callie was completely spent. She has pushed herself harder than ever and was exhausted. She stood there, face flushed, dripping wet, her chest heaving up and down violently as she struggled for air. Arizona was in a similar fashion as she walked around slowly with her hands clasped above her head. All that could be heard was the rain, which was considerably lighter, tapping on the ground, and the heavy breathing of the two girls.

"What do you have in this class?" Callie asked a few moments later.

"An A" Arizona responded, not making eye contact with the brunette.

Callie narrowed her eyes. "So you didn't need the extra credit."

"No, I guess not." She said with a slight shrug.

"Then why did you keep running with me?" Callie asked again, taking a step closer to Arizona.

"Well I didn't want you to run alone. That's all. Sorry, it won't happen again." Arizona said defensively, looking at Callie briefly before turning and walking towards the gym.

Callie, afraid she had hurt Arizona's feelings, quickly closed the distance between them and fell into step with her.

"No, that's not what I meant. It was nice. Thank you." Callie offered a smile that Arizona returned. They entered the gym just as the last stragglers from class were leaving. It was lunch break next, so they weren't worried about being late.

Callie looked at herself in the mirror with a groan. "I look terrible, I'm soaked and freezing."

"Me too." Arizona agreed, looking at her reflection next to Callie's.

"No, you look fine. You have nice hair, it doesn't frizz out uncontrollably like mine does."

Arizona smiled and looked down at her hands, a little embarrassed by Callie's compliment. "Your hair is really pretty, actually. It doesn't look bad at all."

Now it was Callie's turn for an embarrassed smile. "Well, thanks."

Both girls stood awkwardly, their gym clothes stuck to their skin and their lips a light shade of blue.

"Fuck this, I'm going home. My socks are all wet and I feel sticky and I don't want to get sick. I feel gross and I want to take a hot shower." Callie said as she unlocked her locker, grabbing her backpack and the shoes and clothes she wore to school.

"Ugh, me too. I would kill for a hot shower." Arizona grabbed her change of clothes and walked towards the bathroom stall. "I'm gonna change back into my clothes and then go out to lunch. I'll see you next class." With a smile, she disappeared behind the stall door, shut it and locked it.

"Wait. Why don't you come with me?" Callie asked.

"Eh, I don't know. I've never really skipped before."

"Come on Zonie, you aren't scared are you?" Callie asked in a playfully teasing tone. She secretly had her fingers crossed that Arizona would agree to hang out with her for the rest of the day.

Back in the stall, Arizona's mind was racing. Of course she wanted to leave with Callie, but what if she got in trouble? What if it was too awkward?

"I'm waiting…"

With a smile Arizona said, "Oh, why not?" She opened the stall and stepped out, noticing the big smile on Callie's face.

"Good choice. Let's get out of here."

Both girls laughed as they exited the gym and took the back sidewalk to the parking lot. Callie's hand swung as she walked and it bumped into Arizona's thigh. The contact sent a fire through both of their bodies, but neither one of them acknowledged it. With a nervous smile and laugh, they got into Callie's car and they were off.

"Where are we going?"

"My house, obviously. Didn't I say I wanted to take a hot shower?" Callie flashed Arizona a devilish grin that left Arizona trying to decipher what she meant. Before she could ask any more questions, Callie turned up the stereo and began singing loudly to a song Arizona recognized.

What a coincidence, she thought; Blink-182 was one of her favorite bands. She wondered what else the two would have in common.