Gym
This will probably be my last update in a while, as (sigh) I have homework that I really need to do... :)
"Alright class, listen up!" Mr Hopkins shouted over the astoundingly loud group of teenagers gathered near the entrance to the gym. They quieted immediately, not wanting to incur his legendary wrath. "Today I have a surprise for you!" he grinned (slightly manically one might observe) and only the reluctance to become acquainted with said wrath stopped the entire class from groaning as one – Mr Hopkins' surprises were also of legendary status. "Today" he chuckled, "you will be doing a little obstacle course. There is a time limit, so yes; you will have to run it." He stepped back to allow the reluctant students to peer into the gym with trepidation.
There was nothing little about it!
The inside of the gymnasium was littered with hoops, tires, ropes, hurdles; there was even a huge climbing wall right at (what they assumed was, as it looped back and forth more than an angry snake) the end of the course. There were gasps and mutters of disbelief, even more so as Mr Hopkins went on to explain the layout of the course and the time limit that was their goal.
At the back of the group, one boy was especially nervous. Not because he thought he couldn't make it; oh contraire, he knew he could make it. That was the problem. Why? Because he shouldn't be able to make it. Alex gulped and looked to his right, where his friend and adoptive sister, Sabina, was peering intently at him. Seeing his desperate expression, and knowing just how hard he had been battling to cope over the past couple of weeks, she took pity on him.
"Alex…" she whispered, sidling closer to him, "go on; show 'em what you've got!" He looked at her in surprise, knowing full-well this was not something she normally approved of, but then understanding flashed in his eyes and he gave her a wide grin.
Throughout their conversation, the rest of the class had been struggling over the (to them) nigh impossible course, and now, minutes before the bell, they were the only two to go. Alex approached the start slightly apprehensively, knowing what he was about to do was very reckless, but then decided he just didn't care.
He took off at a full sprint, dodging and weaving through hoops and tires, flying over hurdles, climbing up the rope ladder and swinging skilfully across the portable monkey-bars. He dropped and flung himself through a hanging hoop, rolling on landing and springing instantly to his feet before sprinting towards the wall – his last obstacle. He took a flying jump, grabbing the top with the tips of his fingers and pulling himself swiftly up and over, falling the whole distance down and landing in a crouch, from which he launched himself to sprint the last couple of feet to the 'finish line'.
Alex stood up, panting only slightly, and saw his entire class facing him with slack-jawed amazement written clear across their faces. Mr Hopkins had dropped his clipboard and was breathing slightly heavily. In fact – Alex noted absently – he looked like he was going into shock. He grinned widely, winking at his teacher and smirking at Sabina's half-exasperated, half-smug expression, before turning gracefully on his heel and sauntering out of the gym.
Thanks for the supportive reviews guys! :)