"Earth to Makara. Gamzee, wake up!"
I take my head out of my hands, looking John up and down. He decided that we should go for an early morning jog. I didn't even have enough time to protest, but by some miracle, John got all three of us first period passes to gym class. I swear this is his way of punishing me for my "quit the team" fiasco. It was funny, I just showed up to practice and started doing laps. Everyone was so overjoyed I was back, they kept following me, asking if I wanted water, or if I was tired. Even Coach Strider and Zahhak told me to take it easy, which I did. I barely ran that day. At least, I wasn't the only one he wanted to torture this morning. Tavros pops up behind us, coming up besides me and resting his head on my back.
"John, it's too early for this motherfucking shit." I whine.
"Aww, are you tired?" He says in a baby voice. I try to look as pitiful as a seventeen year old, male can possibly look and nod. "Good!"
Tavros and I groan in unison, "John, if you keep this up, you're going to make us too tired for our meet today," Tavros pants out.
John starts to do his cool down stretches, pulling his leg up to his back. "I'm just making sure you're in shape. This is a serious meet, it means whether or not that we can take the state trophy back to this lame ass high-school,"
"You're motherfucking point? Seriously, bro, get on with it. You're going to make us late for school,"
My point is," We stops stretching and pokes me repeatedly in my chest "I'm making sure that you don't try to quit the team again last minute,"
"C'mon! You aren't up and still mad at that, are you?" I start walking in the direction of campus.
"Yes, we are," John grabs Tavros by the shoulder "Aren't we?"
"Et tu, Tavbro?"
He rubs the back of his neck, smiling sheepishly, "Well, maybe a little,"
"Betrayed! Even by my best of bros!" I grumble.
"We'll forgive you after today," John starts up again, heading over to the chin up bar "Now, if you guys are done griping, lets do some chin ups. Especially you, Tav, you're doing javelin,"
We look at each other, and groan. Thank God this is my last year of track.
((()))
I silently cheer like I just got front row tickets to my favorite rap stars concert as I run out of the locker room. Now I just have one more periodu to go before all track students have to go and load onto the bus. I start to head in the direction of the Art and Miscellaneous building. Lucky for me, I have Study Hall. Also for me, I have Study Hall with Ms. Feferi Peixes.
"Goodmorning Ms. Fef," I walk over to her desk smiling. I really love this class, all of my friends are here, we don't really do any work, and, the very best part, we're allowed to eat. If anyone disagrees, then they're being a motherfucking dirty little liar.
"Hey, Gamzee," She glances from her paperwork, looking at me up and down " Do you have a game today?"
I forgot I was wearing my track uniform, " Oh yeah, we do have a game. It's the championships."
"Really? That's exciting! I hope you guys win! Are you still going to be trying out for the swim team?" Ms. Fef is the swim team coach, and is always out for recruiting. "Because once track season is finished, swim season begins."
"I'll be sure to look into it," I tell her. The bell rings, just as I start to make my way to my seat, just as all my friends storm in the room.
"Hey, Gamzee, what's up man?" A boy with dark starts his was towards me.
"Dave Strider, please remove your glasses. You know it's against the rules,"
"Sorry, Ms. Fef," I see his red eyes flash back at me in a michevious manner "Are you ready for the meet?"
"Ready to get this motherfucker over with," I grin. "Then on to whatever sport is next," He laughs dropping his stuff in the desk behind mine.
"Yeah, that's what the King of Skaia does," John, with his sister Jade stumble in to the room.
"King of Skaia you say?" A dashing girl follows suit behind those two, wearing a plain white T-shirt saying "I like my men how I like my Magic, Black," "John, I believe that would make a lovely fool for our king,"
I roll my eyes " I am not Skaia King," I shrug "I just like motherfucking school, you guys,"
"Sure, whatever," John says. He then turns to Dave with a can of peanuts "Hey, Strider, can you open this for me? I'll let you have some."
"Sure, bro, let me see," He grabs the can from him "Sweet, peanuts. John, you know how much I love salty nuts, man. You would of have to have given me some of these even if I didn't open the can. Seriously, I love these more tha-" Dave stops mid-sentence with the highest scream I ever heard from him. The next thing I know, he's jumped in Jade's arm. There's a ton of fake snakes all over the floor, along with John, dying of laughter.
"Gotcha, Dave, old buddy!"
"Dammit, Egbert!" He gets out of Jade's arms, trying to keep his composure "Damn you and you're pranking,"
"Hey, you guys, what's going on?" We turn in the direction of the voice. It's Tavros and Aradia walking in the class, with Nepeta not to far behind.
"Yeah, what's with all the commotion?" Aradia inquires, glancing at john still silently snorting on the ground.
"You don't want to know," I say, taking a seat "Hey, where is Sollux and Eridan? Don't tell me they're still suspended,"
"Yeah, suspended until next week though," We all shuffle into our seats. We're allowed to sit anywhere, but since the start of the year, we all have sat in the same place. Me in the middle, Dave behind me, John to the left, Tav to the right, Aradia in front of him, Rose in front of John, and Nepeta in front of me. Sollux and Eridan usually sit on top of John's and Dave's desk.
"So, when are you guys leaving for your game?"
"Like, fifteen more minutes," I glance down at my watch "Then, I don't have to worry about any practice for about three days,"
"Yeah, I'm more looking forward to the Spookfest dance," Tavros says, looking at Aradia lovingly.
"Gamzee, seriously man, you have to go to this one," John nudges me " Who do I have to hook you up with?"
"John, do you have a date?" I smile at him.
"Well, no, but-"
"Who do you want to take John? Because, if a motherfucker trying to hook me up with somebody, I can do the same, bro,"
"Well, I, uh," His cheeks start to flush into a crimson red. I know that John has had a tiny crush on Rose for the longest, but never said anything about it. Well, at least when there's anyone other than Dave, Tavros, and I around.
I turn in the direction of Rose "Ms. Lalonde, do you have a date to the dance?" I feel John stare at me like he's about to drill a hole in my head with his gaze.
"Well, I might have to check, but I do believe I'm free," She smiles.
"Then, would you mind taking John here? It would be a motherfucking shame if somehow, someway I got a date, and Mr. Egderp here didn't,"
"Well, if he won't drool on my shoes, it's a deal,"
"Great," I turn back to John "Now, your turn, bro," I smirk at him.
Just then, we hear the crackling of the P.A. system above our heads "Teachers, sorry for the interruption, but it you could release all Track Students at this time,"
I give Tavros a high-five, "We're out of this motherfucking bitch," I grab my duffel bag, and slid out my desk.
The three of us start heading out the door, towards the bus. "Hey, John, why so quiet all of a sudden?"
"Why? Shut up, is why," He says tussling my hair, "Thanks, Gamzee, for asking Rose, I don't think I could have on my own,"
"Sure you could," We turn the corner, stepping out into luke-warm sunlight of the morning. There's a crowd of students all surrounding the two buses. As long as I have been at this High School, there's been this tradition of how to ride the bus. Freshmen in the back, then Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors in the front of the bus. At first I always thought it was stupid, now, I'm glad I can get off the bus first without haven't to shuffle my way through the crowd. We hang around as Coach Strider and Zahhak try to organize the heard of students.
"So, what event are they going to do first?" Tavros asks.
"I heard it was Throws, Relay, Jumps, Hurdles, Middle-Distance, and Sprint," I tell him "Zahhak will probably pass us sheets on the bus,"
"Yeah, something for us to read on the motherfucking two hour drive up there," John says, shuffling through his back-pack. "I wish we could just fly there," He pulls out three granola bars, tossing one to each of us. I accidently drop mine , and as I reach down to grab it I notice something out the corner of my eye.
"John," I say, not taking my attention off what I see "Mr. Vantas has a third period class right?"
"Oh, yeah, normally. He's coming with us to the meet though,"
"What?" I stare at him right in the eye.
"Yeah, what's wrong?"
"N-nothing, just curious," I try keep a straight face, but I can tell he doesn't believe it.
"Hey, it looks like, uh, they're loading the bus, c'mon you two," Tavros starts walking in the direction everyone else.
"Wait up motherfucker," I speed walk to catch up to Tavros. Hopefully, this bus ride won't seem any longer than it already is.
((()))
"Ladies and Gentlemen, we are now entering the final stretch of today's meet! Whoever wins, will be the new state champions! This event, three-thousand meter middle-distance run. The finalists: Skaia High verses Derse Private Academy. So far, they have tied in every other event. If Skaia wins, it will be the first time in ten years. Coming up to the final bend, Gamzee Makara, Skaia's secrect weapon. Derse's team is know where in sight behind the ever fast race horse! Wait, what's this?! Derse is finally catching up! Ladies an gentlemen, they are neck and neck! There almost at the line! This could be anyone's race! It's a photo finish! We are going to have to wait fo-, huh? It looks like Makara's down! He seems to be injured,"
That fucking annoncer, no motherfucking shit I'm hurt. It's he's fault I started running faster and twisted my ankle. I can feel the tudding on the turf as Coach Strider comes closer.
"Hey, Gamzee, are you okay? What's wrong, kid?" He whips off his shades
"My ankle, I think it's a sprained," I say through the pain.
"Shit, okay, wait a sec. I'll get Vantas to take you," He takes a step back and whistles "Vantas, c'mere!"
I can't even protest because of all the pain. Having Mr. Vantas help me with anything was the last thing on my mind. I feel a second pair of feet come near us. "What? Is he okay?"
Through my watered eyes, I can see both of my teachers looking down with concern, but there's something else written on Mr. V's face. "Gamzee has a sprained ankle. I need you to take him to the locker room,"
"What? Why me? Why can't you?"
"Because, Coaches have to stay on the track until the official statement is passed on who one, "
"Fine," Mr. Vantas uncrosses his arms. He leans in close to me and I slid my hands underneath and slowly starts lifting me up. I flinch at the pain shooting up my leg. Once I get up, I can feel all my weight fall onto him. "Okay, can you make it over there?"
"Yeah, I think,"
"Lets go," We clamber on down to the locker room, while the rest of my team crowds around with Coach. I suddenly feel betrayed by Tavros and John, but that's the least of my worries. I'm about to be trapped in a room with a teacher I've been avoiding for a week. We make it past the entrace doors and down Derse's hallway till we're in the boy's locker room. Mr. Vantas drops me down on the bench lightly. Then moving my injured leg up.
"Ahh, shit that motherfucking hurts," I whine.
"Next time don't sprain your ankle," Vantas mumbles .
"I didn't mean too," I tell him "That damn announcer made me go faster than I wanted too,"
" He did have the whole crowd pumped. Hold still, I'll get some ice," He wanders away, heading in the direction of the coaches office. I get a sudden feeling that he's not as bothered as I thought he was about the whole situation last Sunday. Yet, I still don't think I could bring it up. I hear him coming back and I push back my thoughts at the back of my head. "Okay, hold this on your ankle, I have to find some first-aid tape,"
"Mr. Vantas," I reach out and grab his arm "Thanks,"
"Yeah, sure," He grumbles "You aren't going to kiss me again, are you?"
So much for pushing the thoughts back "Look, I didn't, well, uh,"
"Makara, it's fine, it's," He pauses "It's fine. I don't care," He gets goes away around the corner, leaving me in confusion. It was okay? "And if you've been skipping my class because of that, then you're a fucking idiot,"
"You're not upset about that?"
"No," I hear him shout somewhere. Then there's a clatter of cans falling on the ground "Well, shit. That's not my problem, have their coach clean it," He pops back around corner holding the tape in his hands. "Got it!"
"Why wouldn't you be upset that one of your students kissed you?" I keep trying to make sense of this, but it's not adding up.
"Because I'm not," He starts wrapping the tape around my foot, leading up to my calf "I'm just not,"
"Why though?" I really want him to answer me. Silently wishing the impossible.
He sighs "Do you really want to know?" He places his hand on my knee so gingerly I can feel chills swimming up my spine. I just nod, now realizing he is a lot closer than I thought he was. Mr. Vantas has his head tilted opposite of mine, and his breathing slowed. Before I know it, I feel his lips caressing mine. I just went from motherfucking confused, to I have know clue what is motherfucking going on.