-Gym Partners-

"You will each have a partner assigned by me. You will pick a group activity, either tennis, volleyball, or track and compeite against another set of partners,"they gym teacher announced. A wave of groans echoed in the gym which was quickly silenced by a whistle."QUIET! NOW! Everyone take a seat on the floor." I sat next to my usual group of friends, two heroes and a wizard. Kyle signed.

"How I dread physical education,"he sighed. His baggy red and yellow striped sweater wrinkled as he took a seat next to me.

"Agreed,"I replied. Fanboy and Chum Chum slid next to us.

"Well, the teacher already told us we're gonna be partners,"Fanboy giggled, looking over at Chum Chum who smiled back at him. Kyle rolled his eyes.

"No surprise there,"he mumbled,"They aren't allowed to split you two up. The world would end." He wasn't being dramatic. I heard it almost happened. Anyways, the teacher looked down at her clipboard, writing down pairs. I sighed, knowing she wouldn't put Kyle and I together if we were the last people on earth.

"Okay! Let's have Victor and Yo, Cheech and Francine, Nancy and Micheal, Fan boy and Chum Chum, Kyle and Chris and Duke with Rima!,"she announced. Kyle and I stared at each other, obviously not happy with our partners.

"Why can't she just pair us up for once?," I asked him.

"Because she thinks we're gonna be like all those other couples who do nothing but suck each other's faces for the whole class period,"he groaned. Chris walked up behind Kyle and tapped his shoulder. Kyle turned around quickly.

"Wha-wa-wha-wa-wa?,"Chris asked. Kyle turned back to me, gave me a sorrowful look, and walked away with Chris to the volleyball nets. Fanboy and Chum Chum ran for the track. I searched the gym for Duke, who was leaning on a wall next to the tennis nets. I walked over to him, giving him a nervous smile as his gaze turned to me.

"Hey," I weakly waved. He handed me a racket, not returning my welcome, and walked over to a net where Victor and Yo were standing. He obviously didn't want me as a partner either. I sighed and followed him to the net. Yo held a tennis ball on the other side of the net and quickly dropped it to wave to me.

"Rima! Hi, Rima! I just LOVE your sweats!,"she smiled. I rolled my eyes.

"I don't,"I replied,"My mother chose these glittered demonds." Yo laughed.

"You talk like Kyle,"she giggled, chasing after the tennis ball, which was rolling away. Duke groaned.

"Can we PLAY now?,"he shouted. See, Duke was one of those guys who takes gym WAAAAY too seriously. He plays rough and doesn't care who gets hurt, just as long as he wins the game. Me on the other hand, am not the athletic type since I happen to be VERY clumsy. We obviously weren't the best choice for a partnership. Yo finally caught the ball and served it gently over the net. The neon green ball flew in my direction. I set myself up to hit it and ended up swinging too high, giving the other team a make believe point.

"Ooops,"I giggled,"Too high."

"You think that's funny dude?,"Duke asked, obviously angry,"Now they're winning!" My eyes drooped as I looked at Duke's angry face.

"I-I'm sorry,"I mumbled. I tossed the ball over the net for Yo to serve again. She hit the ball gently again and it flew in my direction. Feeling pressured, I swung too early, making Duke even more angry.

"RIMA! WHAT THE HECK?,"he shouted. I hid behind my hair. Victor laughed on the other side of the net.

"At least I got a girl that knows how to play!,"he teased. I felt tears coming to my eyes as I picked up the ball and tossed it over the net again. When Yo hit it this time, Duke jumped infront of me to hit the ball. I stood in the corner of the court and watched Duke hop around to each side like a dog just to hit it back over the net. I searched the gym for Kyle, who I saw yelling at Chris as Micheal victory danced with Nancy. Then I heard Duke yelling again.

"RIMA! YOU MISSED THE BALL!"

"Huh? What, I thought you-"

"You SUCK at tennis! You just SUCK!,"he yelled. He caused alot of teens to stop their games and look over at our court. Kyle watched closely, knowing I was Duke's partner, to see who he was talking to.

"Duke, you don't have to yell at me okay?,"I sniffed, feeling the tears coming back. He stomped his foot.

"Don't tell me what to do dude!,"he screamed,"You SUCK! Your the WORST partner EVER!" I dropped my racket and looked around the room as teens laughed at me. The gym teacher walked over to our court and started scolding Duke. I covered my face and made a clean run out of the gym. Kyle chased after me, dropping the ball he was holding.

"RIMA, WAIT!,"he called for me. I ran into the janitors closet and hid behind a shelf of sprays and chemical cleaners. Kyle quickly found me, since I didn't close the door. "Rima, don't ever run from me again. I HATE running." I looked up at him as he turned on the closet light and closed the door behind him. He sighed when he saw my face covered in tears.

"I know I'm not the best athlete, but did he have to embarass me like that?,"I cried. Kyle pulled me off the floor and hugged me. He hushed me as I cried.

"Oh come now Rima, stop all this crying,"he said to me,"I'm not the best either. Who cares?" I continued to cry.

"I was trying my very best though, Kyle! I was!"

"And that's all that matters. Who cares about Duke. He's an idiot." I looked up at him and smiled, cuz Kyle calls everyone an idiot just to make me feel better. It's funny cuz it works.

"T-Thank you,"I replied, trying to get my breathing back to normal from all the crying. He kissed my forehead and pulled me out of the closet, walking me back towards the gym. I quickly pulled back. "No! I don't wanna go back in there!" Kyle looked down at me.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes!"

"Rima, your going back in there right now!" He pulled me in, although he fought a little, and finally got me back into the gym. Duke was playing tennis with Chris Chuggy since niether of them had a partner. Kyle walked me over to the benches to sit down. A few kids in our class whispered when they saw me back in the gym. Kyle shot them bad looks, especially one really bad one towards Duke. Fanboy and Chum Chum ran inside from being out on they track. They were all sweaty and collapsed to the floor to catch their breath.

"Best class ever, right?,"Fanboy asked me. I looked up at Kyle who looked back at me. Fanboy never got the answer to that question.