Daisy listened intently to Jay and Carlos as they tried to explain tourney to her while everyone waited for the gym teacher to arrive to start class. The three were sitting apart from the rest of the class so they could hear each other easier. The whole class had already changed into their gym clothes so everyone was ready to begin. Carlos switched into black basketball shorts and a white athletic shirt that seemed to be another layer of skin. Jay was in jeans and a deep red muscle shirt that definitely showed off his large arms. Daisy changed into purple sweat pants and an oversized grey t-shirt that nearly slid off her petite shoulders.
"Alright ladies! Give me your attention!" Coach Yao basically growled with his gruff voice.
The students stopped your conversations and stood up, some at attention, in respect of the former soldier. Daisy was impressed that someone who's probably shorter than she was able to carry such an air of authority.
"Today we're going to start with a couple of warm up laps around the gym. Once that's done, we'll get down to business. Go!" Yao blew the whistle hanging around his neck and the students started their laps.
Carlos sped ahead of everyone. Jay wasn't too far behind, but it was obvious he wouldn't be able to keep up with Carlos for long. Daisy didn't try to push herself like the boys. She stayed in the back with a steady jog.
"Pick it up, girly!" Coach Yao called to the dwarf. Daisy flinched his words, speeding up a bit but still at a jogging pace.
"On your right." Carlos warned as he lapped the girl.
"On your left." Jay said a few seconds later.
Carlos and Jay finished their laps before everyone else and then put their hands on their knees, a little winded. The others fell to the floor gasping for air at the end of their laps.
"Pathetic." Yao grumbled to himself.
Daisy was the last to complete her laps, but she wasn't even winded when she stopped. She just took a couple of deep breaths to cool down. Yao eyed the girl, impressed by her stamina.
"Hey girly, come here." the man called her over. Daisy nervously stepped over to the teacher. "How'd you get your stamina up like that? Not even these two could do those laps without losing their breath, and they're a couple of the best players on the tourney team."
Daisy shrugged. "My dad and uncles have a lot of land in the mountains. I like to explore them so I go on nature walks, I guess, a lot. Sometimes I stay out too late so I have to run back home before I get in trouble." the girl explained, thinking of all her favorite spots to relax in the mountains.
Yao nodded. He blew his whistle, causing Daisy to jump along with the rest of the class. "Time for the real fun. Line up against the wall!"
Daisy turned to walk back to Jay and Carlos but froze solid. A pair of cold eyes pierced straight through her. Braxton shoulder checked her as he made his way to Coach Yao. Daisy stumbled backwards and nearly fell. Thankfully for the traumatized girl, Jay was the only one who witnessed this. He quickly moved to Daisy, putting his hands on her shoulders to steady her.
"Thank you for finally joining us, Mr. Charming." Yao said sarcastically. "You're just in time for dodge ball."
Yao split the class into two teams for the dodge ball game. Daisy wasn't sure which would have been worse having Braxton on her team or not. She's pretty sure the current situation of separate teams was worse because his anger filled eyes were locked on her. Daisy's only comfort was that Jay and Carlos ended up on her team.
Yao set the dodge balls in the middle of the court. "On your mark" Nearly everyone crouched in preparation to sprint. "Get set" Dead silence filled the gym. "Go!" All hell broke loose.
Carlos and Jay sprinted forward to grab the balls before the other team: Braxton and a couple other boys did the same. Daisy shifted to the back of the court to hide. Carlos ran back to about half court before tossing the ball he managed to snag to Jay to fire off. A boy on the other team throw a ball, and it flew right by Carlos's head. The Isle boy yelped and jumped behind Jay. Daisy giggled at the sight, forgetting where she was for a moment until a ball flew by her head causing her to duck and scream.
She looked up to see Braxton aiming for her. The bully reared back and shot a dodge ball straight at Daisy. She closed her eyes and threw her hands up to guard her face from the impact. When the impact didn't happen, she hesitantly opened her eyes, completely opening them when she saw a hand had catch the ball inches from her nose. Daisy followed to arm to find it was Jay, wearing a satisfied smirk. Daisy relaxed and smiled at the boy.
Jay looked over his shoulder at the girl and mouthed "watch this." He threw the dodge ball back at Braxton and hit the jerk in the gut, knocking the wind out of him. Holding his stomach, the boy dropped to his knees before falling over into a heap on the ground. Daisy could have sworn she saw tears in his eyes. Oh the irony...
"Charming! You're out! Get off the court!" Yao yelled, never stopping the game. Braxton crawled over to the bench. Carlos laughed at the boy. Jay chuckled and went back to the game.
Forth block seemed to end a lot faster than any of Daisy's other classes. She ran up to Jay before he and Carlos could leave. "Hey, Jay!" she called, causing the boy to turn to her. "Thanks for... you know." she said gratefully, not completely sure what to call what just happened.
"Hey, I told you if anyone tries to mess with you again, I'll handle it." Jay grinned proudly.
"No kidding." the freshman giggled.
"Hey I'd say I did a pretty good job at handling that guy." Carlos bragged jokingly since he truly just hid from the flying balls of death like Daisy did.
Jay smacked Carlos on the back of the head. Daisy laughed when Carlos pouted at the bigger boy.
"Later Daisy." Carlos waved, leaving for his next class.
"Bye" Jay nodded, leaving as well.
"Bye guys." Daisy sighed before spinning on her heels to head in the opposite direction, toward her fifth block.
This day was looking up again. Hopefully it doesn't come down again in Daisy's last class of the day: Visual Arts.
A/N I was originally planning on having this story just be interaction between Evie, Doug, and Daisy. However, I like Daisy building relationships with the rest of the group as well. Plus it will help with the next stories I have planned. :) I'd say there will be one MAYBE two more chapters in this story.
