The guy held up his hand and began to walk towards the locker room door labeled Ladies. “Wait here, I’ll get the coach.”
“Won’t you get in trouble for that? You’re already late for your own class!” I called after him, but he only replied with a slightly toothy grin.
I was terrified he was about to make a fool of himself by walking in to the ladies locker room, but he only stuck his head through the door and called inside. A moment later, a tall, broad shouldered older woman in about her mid-thirties came out in a blue fitted track suit. Her long blonde hair was tied high in a ponytail through a baseball cap. Very coach.
“You’re my new student? You're late,” she said, her voice much higher pitched and valley girl than I would have expected.
“I’m sorry. I had an accident on the way here,” I unconsciously glanced over at the mischievous golden god.
She followed my eyes and groaned. “I should have known it was you, Mr. Clark. Well, since you made her late then you’ll be punished as well.”
“Punished?” I squeaked.
The guy chuckled. “I figured.”
With a wink at me, he turned and walked into the mens locker room. Huh. I should have guessed he also had gym class. Otherwise, why would a guy like that escort me all the way here?
I flinched when someone lightly placed their hand on my shoulder. My eyes snapped from the locker room doors to the coach who smiled down at me, her salon tan skin crinkling along her laugh lines.
“It’s alright. It’s nothing too bad. Just a lap around the track,” With her hand still on my shoulder, she steered me towards the ladies locker rooms. “It keeps the lazy bums from being late.”
Behind the door, there was a mesh of metal and tile. The air smelled of stale sweat and an amalgamation of perfume that made my nose itch. The few girls that were finishing up getting dressed glanced up when the two of us entered.
“This way,” the coach said, herding me towards an open door just inside the locker room.
The office was dark and there were boxes everywhere. The coach finally let go of my shoulder and moved to one of the boxes.
“What’s your size? A medium?”
“I think so.” I replied, absentmindedly rubbing my shoulder.
She nodded and rifled through one of the many boxes, pulling out two wrapped packages. She tossed them to me, the plastic crinkling loudly as they slapped against my chest and I fumbled not to drop them.
“Try those on, but be quick about it.”
I nodded and scurried off back into the locker room, which was now empty. Heading to a back corner, I pulled my hoodie over my head, the two extra layers underneath trying to come with it but I kept them down with my other hand. Hurriedly, I unbuckled the belt that held up the insulated jeans I was wearing. They were hand-me-downs from my sister and a little too big for my frame.
Pulling the shorts out of the crinkly plastic, I slipped them on. They were a size too big, but it was good as they stopped just past my knees. I would have to be mindful when I sat down with them on, making sure they didn’t ride up. I pulled the drawstrings tight and tied them to make the shorts fit. I suspected the shirt would probably be a size too big as well, but that was also okay. I pulled it out of the bag and swapped it out for the short sleeve shirt I had already over my close fitting maroon long-sleeve top.
Taking all of my clothes, I shoved them into my backpack and quickly stuck it into an empty locker. Hurrying out of the room, I was embarrassed when I realized I was still wearing my boots as compared to the other students who I’d seen wearing sneakers. But I didn't have anything else, so I tried to shrug it off as I crept discreetly through the gym doors.
The gym was ginormous! Immediately I noticed as my feet sunk slightly into a rubber mesh, the same kind found at playgrounds. There was a track that circled the outer edges of a wooden court with stands reaching high up against the walls. It all looked rather new, at least compared to the rest of the school.
I spotted the class gathered at one end of the track, talking amongst themselves as the coach called roll.
I jogged up to them, my feet bouncing ever so slightly on the rubber of the track.
“That was quick,” The coach said, pausing in her roll call. “Class, we have a new student. I believe your name’s Atalanta?”
I nodded and tried not to focus on the rest of the class staring at me.
“Well, as I said before, students who are late to my class are punished with a lap around the track. Actually, Clark, why don’t you get started while I go over the rules real quick with her.”
The guy who had ran into me stepped out of the crowd of students and set up at the starting line of the track. Several students were chuckling and I heard a couple mutterings of ‘this will be good’. Curious at the commotion, I watched him shoot off and begin to jog around the track while the coach spoke to me.
“Every Monday we start with a lap around the track, but if you're late, you have to do an extra lap. You’ll start here and I want to see you running. No lolly gagging…You didn’t have any tennis shoes?”
I shook my head and whispered, “No. I only just got my schedule this morning. I didn't know I’d be having gym.”
Clark stumbled about a quarter of the way around the track and almost fell face first before finding his balance and continuing his jog. A few of the students chuckled but the coach didn’t pay it any mind.
“Well, I would recommend you bring in some next time but you should be fine to run in those, shouldn’t you?”
“Yes,” I nodded, fiddling with the sleeves of my long sleeved shirt and wishing she would just start the class.
“I would also recommend you just wear the T-shirt next time. You're going to be hot in that,” She gestured to my undershirt.
I laughed internally. She would have to hold me down before I willingly wore short sleeves.
I watched as Clark stumbled THREE more times before finally falling face first and literally tumbling through the finish line. The class laughed hysterically as the coach groaned and berated the students for their rudeness.
So, he was just extremely clumsy. That was unfortunate. He was still handsome though.
“Okay Atalanta, your turn,” the coach said, gesturing towards the starting line.
I frowned as I rolled my shoulders and shook out my legs. It had been a while since I ran on a track and hoped I wouldn’t stumble around like Clark had.
Prepping in the crouched starting position, I took a deep breath and counted to down from ten in my head.
5…
4…
3…
2…
1…
And I took off down the track, my boots slapping hard against the rubber, my strides long and quick. Flying along the ground, for one short moment the euphoria of running washed away the stress of the day.
It ended all too quickly when I shot across the finish line and came to a walking halt.
Turning my head with a pant, I saw that everyone was staring at me with surprise on their faces. One of the guys whistled, making the blush I felt creeping up my neck burn hotter.
“You’re quite the runner, Ms. North. It’s a shame you’re graduating this year and the season’s over or I’d be begging you to join our track team,” The coach praised, walking over to me.
I rubbed the back of my neck, a little bashful. “I used to compete back in middle school.”
“You got schooled, Hip.” A large boy with chubby cheeks and beady eyes chuckled.
I looked away from the teacher to see a group of boys a few feet away standing around Clark who was rubbing a red spot on his knee where he fell. They were all still laughing at him. Bullies. I hated bullies.