People were interesting in that unlike animals people could possess preferences. Some people just didn’t like certain things; call them picky, call them sensitive, call them whiny or whatever you like, they just don’t like things. It can be any number of things and in a variety of colorful levels of intensity. A mild discomfort to a screaming fit, the dislike of things came in all shapes and sizes.
For example, Riley Parker happened to believe that gym class was for assholes and jocks, a category in which jocks and assholes were conveniently paired up. Riley had seen enough SOTF TV to know that the bullies usually either got what was coming to them or made a name for themselves in the game, but that wasn't exactly confidence-inducing for Riley. For a number of reasons. Besides, that wasn't the point; the point was that gym wasn't for a girl like Riley.
Consequently, running for 2 miles and/or for an hour (whichever came first, luckily) was not something high on Riley's list of things she'd want to do. It didn't quite have the charm of, say, playing a really overpowered D&D character or watching SOTF TV. These were things that interested her, not so much exhausting herself and getting sweaty and sticky and gross. That was something she wanted to avoid if at all feasible.
Sadly it was mandatory, so it wasn't really feasible to avoid.
Instead, Riley squinted in the harsh sunlight as the gym teacher explained the distance. They'd be making 4 laps, half a mile each, and you had to try and meet the average for your gender and blah, blah, blah. Riley sighed, and readied herself for an epic confrontation with her own physical limits.
Race to the Finish (Before you drop dead)
Davison Gym Class, come run the mile!
Brendan O'Toole had always considered gym class a welcome break from the banality of schoolwork. Still, he was a bit disappointed to find out that they were running. He would've preferred that they play a sport, something fun and competitive. Running around the track was just boring and exhausting.
Still, he was much better off than most of the other kids. The two mile run was by far the most hated part of gym class. There was always a bunch of people couldn't make it in time, and those who did usually looked ready to collapse. Brendan's experience was pretty pleasant by comparison.
Brendan didn't bother paying attention to the teacher as he went over the requirements. To his right, Brendan noticed a girl that he had shared a class or two with in previous years, who he had never noticed was in his gym class. He figured he might as well make small talk before they had to start.
"Sooooo... " he paused for for a second "...Riley, right? This sucks, huh? I don't know why we can't just play ultimate or something."
Still, he was much better off than most of the other kids. The two mile run was by far the most hated part of gym class. There was always a bunch of people couldn't make it in time, and those who did usually looked ready to collapse. Brendan's experience was pretty pleasant by comparison.
Brendan didn't bother paying attention to the teacher as he went over the requirements. To his right, Brendan noticed a girl that he had shared a class or two with in previous years, who he had never noticed was in his gym class. He figured he might as well make small talk before they had to start.
"Sooooo... " he paused for for a second "...Riley, right? This sucks, huh? I don't know why we can't just play ultimate or something."
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delicateMachine
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Ah, gym class. Truly the best part of the day, if you considered pointless physical exertion under threat of receiving a poor grade entertaining. Erik, who rather preferred to stay indoors, where there was air conditioning and comfy chairs, didn't find it quite as appealing.
Even this class could be entertaining at times if they were doing some sort of game, but nope, today's activity was just a plain old two-mile run. Erik detested running. What was the point? You aren't even trying to get to any place in particular, it was just exhaustion for the sake of exhaustion.
Doing his best to tune out the gym teacher, Erik nonchalantly slid over to his good friend and fellow SOTF conniseur Riley. "Are you ready for some good, healthy exercise? Because I'm sure not." He said, quietly, to avoid being noticed by the teacher.
Even this class could be entertaining at times if they were doing some sort of game, but nope, today's activity was just a plain old two-mile run. Erik detested running. What was the point? You aren't even trying to get to any place in particular, it was just exhaustion for the sake of exhaustion.
Doing his best to tune out the gym teacher, Erik nonchalantly slid over to his good friend and fellow SOTF conniseur Riley. "Are you ready for some good, healthy exercise? Because I'm sure not." He said, quietly, to avoid being noticed by the teacher.
Hmm, good friend and random guy. Suddenly Riley had options. Options that didn't include running bored and alone. Well that was lovely, especially since Erik was one of the people. Erik was a nice guy, and that was a plus. Not to mention he had good taste in SOTF, which was an automatic bonus.
Also Brendan. He was...there. She didn't know much about him except he was a jock, and while she would prefer to avoid most jocks she had nothing against this particular one, so she might as well chat with him while she had time.
"Eeeyup, I'm Riley, and, uh, I guess? Ultimate's the Frisbee game, right? I guess that isn't so bad, at least it isn't an hour of running. Hold on a sec." She turned to Erik, and offered a lopsided sort of grin. "I'm never ready for exercise. I get up from the couch to eat and that's like a marathon compared-"
Riley's oh-so-funny thoughts were interrupted. The teacher called them to line up at the starting line, and Riley rolled her eyes in the most weary tone imaginable as she stood and trudged to the line.
Well, hopefully she'd pass out and go home early. Or maybe if someone else passed out, they'd have to cancel the class for everyone. Riley silently wondered what ailment Mr. Dawson could have that caused fainting spells at random without doing serious damage. A job was a job, even if the job sucked. Riley could get behind doing a crappy job just to put food on the table.
A pity she had to deal with the fallout.
Also Brendan. He was...there. She didn't know much about him except he was a jock, and while she would prefer to avoid most jocks she had nothing against this particular one, so she might as well chat with him while she had time.
"Eeeyup, I'm Riley, and, uh, I guess? Ultimate's the Frisbee game, right? I guess that isn't so bad, at least it isn't an hour of running. Hold on a sec." She turned to Erik, and offered a lopsided sort of grin. "I'm never ready for exercise. I get up from the couch to eat and that's like a marathon compared-"
Riley's oh-so-funny thoughts were interrupted. The teacher called them to line up at the starting line, and Riley rolled her eyes in the most weary tone imaginable as she stood and trudged to the line.
Well, hopefully she'd pass out and go home early. Or maybe if someone else passed out, they'd have to cancel the class for everyone. Riley silently wondered what ailment Mr. Dawson could have that caused fainting spells at random without doing serious damage. A job was a job, even if the job sucked. Riley could get behind doing a crappy job just to put food on the table.
A pity she had to deal with the fallout.
Brendan didn't notice the other guy until he began talking. Before Brendan could say anything else, the teacher called for them to line up.
As Brendan prepared to start running, he looked back to Riley and Other Guy. They didn't look like the type of people who did well with intense physical activity.
"Well, good luck."
As Brendan prepared to start running, he looked back to Riley and Other Guy. They didn't look like the type of people who did well with intense physical activity.
"Well, good luck."
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delicateMachine
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Riley had apparently been talking to Brendan before Erik came along, something that he had somehow completely failed to notice. Maybe Erik actually did need legit glasses, instead of the stylish lensless ones he usually wore.
Well, it probably wasn't really worth thinking about. People missed fairly obvious things all the time. Not exactly a good trait for a prospective journalist, though. The instant you stop paying attention is the instant when a shiny piece of info is going to sail right past your oblivious face.
Erik smirked a bit at Riley's statement, definitely knowing where she was coming from. Before he could respond, however, the teacher interrupted their pleasant little chat by calling them to line up for the start of the run. It was happening, however much Erik didn't want it to.
Brendan wished the two of them luck. Erik didn't really know the guy, not being a sporty person in any sense of the word, but he seemed pretty alright from the few idle conversations they'd had. "The same to you!" He replied, smiling. "Hey, if I collapse or something, just keep running, save yourself. I'm already beyond any hope of salvation."
Well, it probably wasn't really worth thinking about. People missed fairly obvious things all the time. Not exactly a good trait for a prospective journalist, though. The instant you stop paying attention is the instant when a shiny piece of info is going to sail right past your oblivious face.
Erik smirked a bit at Riley's statement, definitely knowing where she was coming from. Before he could respond, however, the teacher interrupted their pleasant little chat by calling them to line up for the start of the run. It was happening, however much Erik didn't want it to.
Brendan wished the two of them luck. Erik didn't really know the guy, not being a sporty person in any sense of the word, but he seemed pretty alright from the few idle conversations they'd had. "The same to you!" He replied, smiling. "Hey, if I collapse or something, just keep running, save yourself. I'm already beyond any hope of salvation."
Riley nodded to Brendan. "Yeah, same to you." Well at least he was friendly.
Riley chuckled at Erik's joke. "Please," she whispered, "if anyone's going to collapse it's me." She took a deep breath, and tried to remember how to actually run. Wasn't there a trick to it or something? Like, move your arms in some way for some reason? She wasn't sure, but it didn't matter, because it wasn't like some ninja technique was going to help much.
Riley stretched and yawned just as Mr. Dawson blew the whistle and everyone took off running. "Oh sh-" Riley censored herself so Dawson didn't bitch her out, then bolted, running wildly as fast as she could to try and catch up to the pack.
Sadly she wasn't very fast, so roughly a quarter of the way down the track she was hopelessly behind and completely exhausted. She stopped where she was, panting and clutching her chest.
Riley chuckled at Erik's joke. "Please," she whispered, "if anyone's going to collapse it's me." She took a deep breath, and tried to remember how to actually run. Wasn't there a trick to it or something? Like, move your arms in some way for some reason? She wasn't sure, but it didn't matter, because it wasn't like some ninja technique was going to help much.
Riley stretched and yawned just as Mr. Dawson blew the whistle and everyone took off running. "Oh sh-" Riley censored herself so Dawson didn't bitch her out, then bolted, running wildly as fast as she could to try and catch up to the pack.
Sadly she wasn't very fast, so roughly a quarter of the way down the track she was hopelessly behind and completely exhausted. She stopped where she was, panting and clutching her chest.
Brendan laughed at Other Guy's joke. Well, he seemed alright. Brendan didn't usually hang around the nerdy seeming kids, as they rarely shared any of the same interests, but he liked talking to them from time to time.
Brendan readied himself for the signal to start, and when Mr. Dawson blew the whistle, Brendan immediately started running. He was able to keep up with the main pack without much trouble. He didn't bother trying to catch up to the runners ahead of the pack. There was no point overexerting himself when there was nothing to gain.
Brendan readied himself for the signal to start, and when Mr. Dawson blew the whistle, Brendan immediately started running. He was able to keep up with the main pack without much trouble. He didn't bother trying to catch up to the runners ahead of the pack. There was no point overexerting himself when there was nothing to gain.
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delicateMachine
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Aaaand they were off. Erik started at a very casual pace, jogging at what was probably a decent-ish speed if you didn't compare it to anyone who was actually in shape. It served its purpose in keeping him from being overly winded, at least. Brendan and the pack had left him far behind within the first minute, not that he cared all that much.
Before too long, he caught up with Riley, who was paused in the middle of the track, seemingly in considerable distress. "You see," he said, slowing to a halt next to her. "This is where the whole 'slow and steady doesn't collapse from exhaustion during the race' idiom came in."
Erik shrugged. "Welp, if we're going to fail this thing, we might as well do it together, right?" He waited for Riley to catch her breath so they could continue on with the exercise.
Before too long, he caught up with Riley, who was paused in the middle of the track, seemingly in considerable distress. "You see," he said, slowing to a halt next to her. "This is where the whole 'slow and steady doesn't collapse from exhaustion during the race' idiom came in."
Erik shrugged. "Welp, if we're going to fail this thing, we might as well do it together, right?" He waited for Riley to catch her breath so they could continue on with the exercise.
Riley was glad Erik was behind her. He was company to talk to while they ran walked shambled ahead, while was always good, and he was a friend, which made the talk even better, since they had common interests and such.
Also it meant she wasn't in last. That was good too.
She continued panting, completely fatigued and starting to cramp a bit in her side, which was not exactly pleasant. After a few moments, Riley had recovered, at least enough that she could breathe properly. She dusted her pants off, then looked at Erik. "T-thanks." She said, smiling at him.
"And yeah, I can't do this, so might as well not do it with a friend, right?"
She started walking at a casual pace.
Also it meant she wasn't in last. That was good too.
She continued panting, completely fatigued and starting to cramp a bit in her side, which was not exactly pleasant. After a few moments, Riley had recovered, at least enough that she could breathe properly. She dusted her pants off, then looked at Erik. "T-thanks." She said, smiling at him.
"And yeah, I can't do this, so might as well not do it with a friend, right?"
She started walking at a casual pace.
Brendan managed to stay with the pack until he finished his fourth lap. By the time he crossed the finish line, his legs were sore and he felt like he could barely breathe.
He didn't pay attention when Mr. Dawson hold him his time. He staggered over to kids who finished before him and sat next to them on the grass. They all looked exhausted, and even the ones who still looked alert didn't seem up for conversation, so he watched the remaining runners.
There were always people who stopped running halfway through, and Riley and Nerdy Guy seemed to be in that group. For a brief moment, Brendan considered trying to give them some sort of encouragement, but he figured that he would just annoy them.
Brendan felt like he just wanted to rest for five minutes. Still panting, he lied back and closed his eyes. The ground wasn't that comfortable, but he tried to ignore it.
He didn't pay attention when Mr. Dawson hold him his time. He staggered over to kids who finished before him and sat next to them on the grass. They all looked exhausted, and even the ones who still looked alert didn't seem up for conversation, so he watched the remaining runners.
There were always people who stopped running halfway through, and Riley and Nerdy Guy seemed to be in that group. For a brief moment, Brendan considered trying to give them some sort of encouragement, but he figured that he would just annoy them.
Brendan felt like he just wanted to rest for five minutes. Still panting, he lied back and closed his eyes. The ground wasn't that comfortable, but he tried to ignore it.
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delicateMachine
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"Certainly! We shall fail this in exceedingly heroic style!" Erik exclaimed dramatically, then proceeded to walk alongside Riley at a rather un-heroic rate. Well, it was just a matter of how you looked at, right? Everyone's a hero in their own way, to paraphrase that musical his brother showed him once.
Riley and Erik proceeded to have a casual conversation as they walked at a casual pace, speaking about casual things. It was a very casual session of P.E., to say the least.
At long last, a couple minutes before time ran out, Erik and Riley crossed the finish line. Mr. Dawson gave the two a rather dissapointed look as he told them their thoroughly unimpressive time. Disappointment was about par for the course for Erik's performance in the class, anyway.
Brendan had apparently finished long before them, and was now collapsed on the grass. Erik figured it probably wouldn't be a good idea to disturb him. "Well, Riley, we managed to survive another grueling session of gym." Erik said, turning to his friend and smirking. "We're truly the top athletes in the school."
Riley and Erik proceeded to have a casual conversation as they walked at a casual pace, speaking about casual things. It was a very casual session of P.E., to say the least.
At long last, a couple minutes before time ran out, Erik and Riley crossed the finish line. Mr. Dawson gave the two a rather dissapointed look as he told them their thoroughly unimpressive time. Disappointment was about par for the course for Erik's performance in the class, anyway.
Brendan had apparently finished long before them, and was now collapsed on the grass. Erik figured it probably wouldn't be a good idea to disturb him. "Well, Riley, we managed to survive another grueling session of gym." Erik said, turning to his friend and smirking. "We're truly the top athletes in the school."
As bad as gym could sometimes be (really, though, just because it wasn't tackle football didn't make flag football less painful), having people around that didn't suck was always a boon, and certainly made it easier to do stupid pointless things like exercise.
Erik was a good guy, and Riley was glad he was around. They chatted about various SOTF and non-SOTF things while walking at a reasonable speed (although it apparently wasn't very reasonable according to the "proper" time for the distance).
By the time they finished, Riley was a bit winded, but certainly recovering from her initial attempt at keeping up with the pack. Dawson didn't look pleased to see them arrive so far behind, but the class wasn't exactly important to Riley, so she didn't mind. Besides, it wasn't even graded like her important classes, so why should she worry about things like that?
She snorted in laughter at Erik's sarcastic comment. Sarcasm made everything better, or at least funnier, in Riley's esteemed opinion. Ignoring the various people she didn't care about or hated, Riley trotted over to Brendan, who appeared to be catatonic. "Hey, need a hand? You look dead."
Erik was a good guy, and Riley was glad he was around. They chatted about various SOTF and non-SOTF things while walking at a reasonable speed (although it apparently wasn't very reasonable according to the "proper" time for the distance).
By the time they finished, Riley was a bit winded, but certainly recovering from her initial attempt at keeping up with the pack. Dawson didn't look pleased to see them arrive so far behind, but the class wasn't exactly important to Riley, so she didn't mind. Besides, it wasn't even graded like her important classes, so why should she worry about things like that?
She snorted in laughter at Erik's sarcastic comment. Sarcasm made everything better, or at least funnier, in Riley's esteemed opinion. Ignoring the various people she didn't care about or hated, Riley trotted over to Brendan, who appeared to be catatonic. "Hey, need a hand? You look dead."
Brendan was surprised when he opened his eyes to see Riley standing next to him. He didn't expect that she would come talk to him after she finished.
"Um, nah." He sat up and smiled at her. "I'm fine. Well..." he paused for a second "...I'm alive, anyway. You didn't lose anyone, right?"
Brendan stood up, looked around and saw Nerdy Guy standing a few feet away. He finally tried to put a name to his face. "Hey, um..." Something starting with an E. Erik? Ethan? Something like that.
"...Erik? Looks like none of us collapsed. Uh, I mean-" he looked back to where he was resting a few moments earlier "-none of us collapsed until after we finished, anyway."
"Um, nah." He sat up and smiled at her. "I'm fine. Well..." he paused for a second "...I'm alive, anyway. You didn't lose anyone, right?"
Brendan stood up, looked around and saw Nerdy Guy standing a few feet away. He finally tried to put a name to his face. "Hey, um..." Something starting with an E. Erik? Ethan? Something like that.
"...Erik? Looks like none of us collapsed. Uh, I mean-" he looked back to where he was resting a few moments earlier "-none of us collapsed until after we finished, anyway."
((Sorry boogie but it's been a long while))
Riley chuckled. Honestly? Gym didn't suck today. She got a nice chat with Erik and Brendan, who was actually pretty cool. Maybe she oughta look at the brighter side of things more often, enjoy life and youth and all that crap old people go on about sometimes.
Meh, it was more fun to gripe than to be cheerful. Besides, it just wasn't her style to be happy-go-lucky or whatever.
The bell rang from inside as class ended and lunch began. "Hey, Erik, I'll see you later. Brendan, maybe we could hang out again sometime? We could watch SOTF or something." She shrugged. "Hell, we could have lunch if you want."
"Welp, later!"
((Riley Parker's story continues in Choices))
Riley chuckled. Honestly? Gym didn't suck today. She got a nice chat with Erik and Brendan, who was actually pretty cool. Maybe she oughta look at the brighter side of things more often, enjoy life and youth and all that crap old people go on about sometimes.
Meh, it was more fun to gripe than to be cheerful. Besides, it just wasn't her style to be happy-go-lucky or whatever.
The bell rang from inside as class ended and lunch began. "Hey, Erik, I'll see you later. Brendan, maybe we could hang out again sometime? We could watch SOTF or something." She shrugged. "Hell, we could have lunch if you want."
"Welp, later!"
((Riley Parker's story continues in Choices))