Metroville High School, the track stadium, Monday, 3:13 p.m.
Itwas after school. Mercedes and Lyn walked slowly to the track stadium, arguing quietly.
"Come ON, Lyn!"
"No!"
"But you PROMISED that if you passed that math test, you'd come with me to see Arthur!"
Lyn glared at her and stood at the top of the short flight of stairs leading to the bleachers, leaning against a handrail. "I only said that so you'd help me study! Besides, why would I want to stay at school any longer than I have to while watching sweaty boys run in circles while you ogle some swelled-head jock?"
"I'm going to pretend you never said that. Otherwise, I'd have to kill you. Besides, there're plenty of hot guys for you to ogle, to!"
"I realize this, but I have no TIME for guys! I'm trying to become a super here! A serious boyfriend would screw everything up!"
"Who said it had to get that serious?"
"Pervert."
"You love me anyway. OOOOO, lookit! There he is!"
"'Cedes, there is a huge crowd of people walking out of the locker room right now. Looking at said crowd with a gooey look on your face is not going to help me find him."
"He's the really, really, REALLY hot brunette standing next to Dash Parr."
"Dash Parr, the so called 'track star of the century'?"
"Yeah, him. Awww, look, his hair's in front of his eyes…isn't that sweet?"
"Y'know, him and Dash are together a lot. Maybe they're lovers."
Mercedes glared death at Lyn. "Now I shall beat you over the head with my backpack. PREPARE FOR DEATH!"
"Hey!" Lyn yelped, dodging the backpack by standing directly at the top of the steps. "I was kidding, I was kidding!"
"DEATH TO THE BLASPHEMER!"
"Look! He's about to race!"
"Where!" Mercedes turned quickly, hitting Lyn square in the stomach with her backpack. Lyn lost her balance and began tottering down the steps, windmilling her arms and stepping quickly to try and right herself while Mercedes looked on in horror. Lyn missed the last step entirely, evading the guardrail and falling face-first for a short distance before someone caught her and held her against his chest.
Lyn winced in embarrassment and looked up into the face of her rescuer. He had blond, swept back hair, and blue eyes set off by a wide face and strong chin. She gulped and instantly hid her face in his chest again, blushing furiously; the person who had so nicely caught her was none other than Dash Parr.