Luke yawned heavily, and the group stopped walking and turned to him.
Rose: Are you ok, Luke?
Luke: Yeah. (yawn) I was just working till late last night.
Rose: Oh dear. You poor thing.
Luke stretched his arms.
Luke: I'll be fine. Besides, you know what lesson comes next, don't you?
Max: Huh?
Ken: Oh yes, that will be quite inexhilerating. All things considered, though, it will be especially exhausting for you, Max.
Max: What? Why?
Luke: Cuz it's gym class.
Max: Gym?
Luke: Yeah. My advice? Try to keep your head down.
Max: Huh?
Ken: He's talking about Vince. Remember?
Max: Huh?
Ken: You'll be having a gym class with a bunch of jocks all of whom, because of Vince, have a problem with you.
Max: Hmmm. Oh yeah. Yeah. Vince.
Ken: Hmm?
Max: What?
Ken: You don't seem so worried.
Max: Heh. It ain't my first rodeo.
Tiffany facepalmed, Luke chuckled, and Rose giggled.
Ken: (sigh) You're just full of surprises, aren't you?
Max: Hmph! Naturally.
Tiffany: (sigh) Honestly... By the way, Max. What did the principal tell you?
Max: Hmmm? Oh yeah, I'd totally forgotten about that.
Max narrated to them what had happened in his office.
Max: ...so yeah, sorry guys.
Tiffany: (sigh) I knew he'd figure it out.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Ken: Well, now I have to kiss my relaxing evening goodbye.
Luke: Ugh. Well, I guess it's no big deal.
Max: Yeah, I'm really sorry about that.
Luke: Don't sweat it.
Rose: Yeah, Max. It's fine.
Ken: Of course. After all, it won't kill us.
Tiffany: Yeah.
Max smiled again. Being forgiven so easily warmed his heart. After all, that was not something he often experienced.
Tiffany: Huh. Why are you smiling?
Max: Huh. Oh. It's nothing.
Tiffany: In any case, I suppose it's good he figured it out today. After all, we have no plans for later.
Luke: Yeah.
Ken: That much being said, we really should get to gym class.
Rose: Oh, that's right. It's Mr. Collin's class.
The group all started walking towards the gym.
Ken: Are you sure you're ready for gym class, Max?
Max: Yeah, of course. Don't sweat it. I'll be fine.
Gym class.
Max had never once felt too strongly about this place. To him, it was always more of a bother than anything else.
A loud whistle was heard from a fit man well into his forties.
Man: Hypercity Howlers!
All the kids chanted, Woo! Woo! Woo! in unison.
Name: Gilbert Collins
Age: 46
Description: A high-energy man
Occupation: Gym teacher
Fact: Is a coffee connoiseur.
Gilbert: That's right.
The teens were all in a group, seated down on the ground in the football pitch as he spoke to them all as a group.
Gilbert: As you all may know, Hypercity High is the first ranked school when it comes to football. Can anyone here tell me why that is?
A hand shot up. It was a jock.
Gilbert: You!
The teen stood up.
Jock: Because we have effective P.E lessons, sir!
Name: Samson Sanders
Age: 15
Description: The most well-behaved jock
Occupation: Student, fullback
Fact: He dislikes the taste of candy or anything sweet for that matter.
Gilbert: That's right. Sit down soldier.
Samson sat down.
Gilbert: It's because we push our kids to excellence not only in their studies, but also in their own physical health that all the students here not only maintain the countries top spots in multiple sports, but also the reason as to why our kids are the healthiest. Look around. How many fat students do you see?
Max instinctively took a look around. He was right. Not a single kid in his class, male or female, was overweight.
Gilbert: So, now then. As with last year, I'm going to push you till you hang on with the skin of your teeth. Understood?
The class answered in howls.
Gilbert: Those are my kids. Now...
He got a clipboard and read it with a somewhat surprised look on his face.
Gilbert: Well, it would seem I forgot something. We have a new howler. Maximillian Hunter. Where is he?
Max got up and started to walk to the front.
Gilbert: Hmmmm. I see. Why don't you introduce yourself, Max?
Max introduced himself as always.
Gilbert: Good, good. I don't know what school you came from, but here, being as lanky as that is unacceptable.
Max: Huh?
Gilbert: Looks like we're gonna have to put you through the ringer. Isn't that right, class?
The class answered again in howls.
Gilbert: Alright then, let's begin.
The gym coach told all the students to head to one side of the track and field to prepare for a relay run.
Gilbert: The name of the game is simple. Cat and dog.
The group immediately started murmuring.
Max asked Ken, who was right next to him....
Max: What's cat and dog?
Ken: Basically, we all have to run laps while he chases after us?
Max: What!?
Ken: And whoever is overtaken by him has to do pushups until the last person is caught. Whoever lasts for ten laps or whoever can keep doing pushups till the ten laps are over is guaranteed to have passed.
Max: And if I fail?
Ken: You don't wanna know.