Okay, when it comes to teaching, I was probably not the best role model. I've tried Science, but it resulted in me exploding all of the vials and test tubes. I've also tried English, but I couldn't pronounce "pneumonia". Or spell it. Or define it. But that's beside the point. When I taught PE, I could be as loud, crazy, and ungrammatical as I pleased. And anyway, I liked teaching, but it was WAY more fun if you could make the annoying kids run an extra twenty laps.
After that Jackson kid whipped Mr. Stefani's butt at sword fighting (which probably isn't a legal subject, but whatever), I was excited to hear the both of them were joining the swim team. They didn't seem to exactly get along, but that didn't matter. It would just mean that they would fight, and I wasn't opposed to that.
But what I was opposed to was Almanza. That kid was a wimp. Totally not a worthy opponent. No good fights would be coming from him. In fact, I doubted he ever swam in his life. But of course the year he decided to try-out was the one year that we didn't have a ton of people for the team. Well, at least I'd get some fun out of his embarrassment.
Okay, by now, you're wondering why I'm so cold. And now you're expecting a sob story about how I was bullied as a child, and it was revenge that made me this way. But honestly, it was none of that. I just believed that there was only one winner, and whoever the losers were, they deserved whatever they got. I just wanted to see how things turned out. I never really got along with the jocks in high school, and when they picked fights I fought back. I was never the victim. So, put back your tissues, there will be no crying over a pathetic childhood. In fact, the only pathetic childhood here was Almanza.
The first day of practice was always the most interesting. You would see how everyone interacted with each other. I should've been watching for "teamwork", and "working together", but there would always have to be one star of the swim team.
Stefani and Jackson tried to enter the locker room at the same time. Percy stepped back, but Brody jabbed his elbow into his gut anyway. Percy barely flinched, but he scowled. Woo-hoo! Feud, here we come! Percy entered the locker room, and disappeared from my sight.
"Damn," I muttered, clapping my hands. I quickly shut up. I wasn't technically supposed to cuss, but all the high schoolers did it anyway, so whatever.
Brody stepped out of the locker room wearing a black speedo. He was beefy in a tough guy sort of way, which made me want to yell, Put some pants on! But most kids wore speedos, so I swallowed my words.
Percy walked out in thigh length swim shorts and a bead necklace (manly, right?). I was about to tell him that he couldn't swim the necklace on. But then again, it might choke him. But then there would be no feud, and a whole lot of paperwork.
"Jackson, no swimming with jewelry," I said loudly. Snickers passed like a wave over the boys, but Percy just frowned.
"I think I'll be fine," he said, tugging a a clay bead with a painted trident on it. I shook my head, and came closer. Paperwork and CPR didn't sound too fun.
"Mr. Jackson, please take off the necklace," I ordered, placing my hand flat out between us. He hesitated for a long while, but then slapped the beads in my hand. That's right, nobody messes with me! I threw the necklace on my desk without a second thought.
"Okay!" I shouted, and everybody quieted down. "25 laps! Go!"
They all found a lane, and dove in on my mark.
I sat back with Sports Illustrated, hardly ever looking up until I noticed 17 dripping boys staring at me expectantly. I slapped the magazine shut and studied each of them. Brody gave me a cold hard stare, all business, yet he was panting. I took it that he swam hard, but couldn't catch up with Percy. How did I know that? Well, Brody was looking ticked and tired and Percy was obviously bored. That angered me. If he wanted me to push him, I could.
"Okay, 200 yards of butterfly," I replied to their anxious stares. As Jackson turned, I caught a swift eye roll.
"Jackson!" I barked. He was getting on my nerves. "An eyeroll? I don't think so. 400 yards." He looked at me quizzically, then shrugged.
When I looked up from Cam Newton and Colin Kaepernick, someone was already done. I expected it to be Brody looking all smug and tough, but it was Percy. My eyes bulged. Percy?! How did he finish 400 yards before anyone else finished half?
"Percy!" I growled. He observed me carefully, but then turned red.
"Sorry, sir," he said bashfully. I raised my eyebrows.
"Why? You're going to be the star of the swim team, kid!" I congratulated. He broke out into a...grin? I don't know how to describe it, but it was the exact opposite of Brody's reaction, that's for sure.
After swim team, everyone stepped out of the water, and headed toward the locker rooms, but I stopped Percy in his tracks, and put a hand on his shoulder.
"You did good, kid. What's your secret?" I joke, but he turns as pale as cold milk. He chuckles nervously.
"Protein," he blurted. "Lots of it." I nodded slowly. Um, okay?
"Well, whatever it is, keep it up!" I encourage, and clap him on the back. I grin as he heads off to the locker room. That kid was special. Looking back on it, he was probably more special than I gave him credit for. Because as I clapped his back, my hand came away completely dry. It never occurred to me, but he was dry, too, just seconds after he came out of the pool. Was the kid a frickin' towel? I thought not.
After the school day ended, I sat at my desk, trying to concentrate on work. A quick observation: work is hard. It can be hard to concentrate on. Sometimes, I don't want to concentrate on it. Scratch that. I never want to focus on it. See? Who says I can't be a Science teacher? I observe like a pro!
Anyway, Percy came up to me, a frantic sort of look plastered on his face. He held a pen in his hand in a way that wouldn't have made his kindergarten teacher proud.
"Where's the necklace?" he booms. I furrow my brow. Necklace? What was he-?
"Oh, the bead thing? I don't know," I shrugged. The look on his face was deathly serious, so I decided that "I don't know" probably wasn't the best thing to say. He pursed his lips angrily.
"Where is it?" he repeated irritably. I sensed this was urgent, so I started to scour my desk. Where was it?
"Stop playing dumb and tell me where it is!" he raged, holding the pen up. I knew that he was getting impatient. Whatever this preschool art project was, it sure was important to him. But I didn't like the look on his face.
"I don't know! I swear I put it right here!" I confirmed frantically. I wasn't used to being the victim. It was weird, being pushed around by a high-schooler, but I shrugged it off. I didn't like the look he had in his eyes. They looked shattered and broken. But deadly. Very deadly. So I kept looking.
"Just tell me where it is," he pleaded, lowering his pen. I looked him in the eye and threw my hands up.
"I have no clue! Somebody must have plucked it off my desk going to the locker room!" I offered. Percy's eyes narrowed. He was probably thinking what I was thinking. Brody. But of course, as a respected educator, I wasn't allowed to pick favorites. So I picked least favorites, of course. All except for one. But I wasn't sure if I liked Percy yet or not. I mean, he was chill when he didn't look like he wanted to kill me.
He tore out of the room, obviously searching for Brody. I was sure that he had the necklace. Wow. High-school boys competing for the custody of jewelry. I had an awful feeling that swim team wouldn't be a breeze this year.
Outside of the front office, I found Percy and Brody. Percy had tucked his pen into his pocket, thank god. He might (shivers) write an essay to beat Brody, or something. I didn't reveal my location. Maybe then they'd keep fighting.
Percy had a strained look on his face, like he was trying with all of his might to restrain from slapping Brody across the face. Brody wasn't as hesitant.
"Just give it back," Percy begged. Where did they Percy who was going to kill me (by making me read an essay) go?
"Dude, you want to get your jewelry back? Go fetch!" he shouted, throwing the necklace into the street. Percy didn't hesitate. He ran into the street, grabbed the necklace, and sidestepped out of the middle lane just as a Lexus whizzed by. Brody stood there dumbstruck as Percy retreated back, bead necklace around his neck.
"You idiot," Brody cursed, and punched him in the gut. Percy recoiled, moaning.
"Brody, you are a wonderful human being," Percy mocked, though he makes it sound pretty convincing.
"You're not," Brody smirked. A twisted grin played across Percy's lips.
"You're right about half of that." Brody gave a confused look.
"What do you mean?"
"Figure it out," Percy muttered, walking away. Brody tried to catch up to him, reason undetermined, but water cascaded him as a drinking fountain erupted. He screamed like a baby. How the-? Why the-? Whatever just happened, it was no coincidence. You're right about half of that. The wonderful part or the...human part? I was starting to question Percy. He wasn't what I expected.
Hey guys! Oh my gods, I am SO sorry! I haven't posted in forever! I just moved to a new school (tear tear) and it's a little stressful. I also got a new laptop, which I'm trying to figure out. Basically, I haven't written in a long time, and I'm sorry. But I hope you liked this chapter! If you want more chapters from different perspectives than the normal ones, just comment the name of the character, and I'll get on it. Make sure to follow, favorite, and review! See ya!