(Extra)ordinary

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

"Do you always wear long pants to gym?" Dakota asked as I exited the girls' locker room.

"Urm, yeah?" I replied, suddenly feeling self conscious. I pulled my brown hair back into a ponytail and smoothed my gym blouse.

"Why don't you wear shorts instead?"

"And let everyone laugh at my fat thighs? No thanks," I defensively said. It was true, I don't need anyone laughing at me.

Dakota paused for awhile. "I think you'll look better in shorts." He mused. "All you ever wear is jeans and long pants."

"It's because I can't wear shorts!" I yelled exasperatedly.

Dakota held his hands up in surrender. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry."

We walked to our seventh period gym together, staying silent through the journey.

"Look Anna, I'm sorry that my comment hurt you."

I was taken aback. "And I'm sorry for snapping at you."

He held out his right hand to shake mine. He was so old-school sometimes. "Friends."

It was his turn to look taken aback. "It's boyfriend and girlfriend," he corrected.

A hint of smile played at my lips. "Focus on the road buddy. Puddle ahead, crutch carefully." I warned.

"Pfft."

I stepped around the puddle when we got there, but I didn't know what got into Dakota. He decided to use his crutches to walk through the puddle. Perfect representation of 'acting hero'.

I watched his cautiously as he took each step slowly. It seemed like the whole world was waiting for him to cross a puddle.

"You could have stepped around the puddle, moron." I scolded him.

"I can handle it-"

He was cut off when he slipped. He did slip.

I must have broke his concentration while scolding him, as he scowled at me. He was now soaking wet, injured, and right smack in the middle of a puddle.

I stifled a laughter, and so did everyone else who saw what happened. Some passers by have Dakota a sympathetic look, while others asked if he needed help.

With the help from a few seniors, we managed to pull Dakota out of the puddle. He was drenched of course, but that could wait.

I picked up his crutches and handed it over to him wordlessly. He grumbled as he took it.

Halfway towards the boys' locker room - where we were heading to get Dakota all changed up - , I decided to speak up.

"Well, I hope that was a lesson learnt - not to play with water."

"I wasn't!" He whined.

"Honestly, I sometimes wonder if you are 16 or 6."

He paused. "I think I'm 6."

I sighed. He could still joke in this situation.

After Dakota changed in a fresh and crisp set of clothes, we headed towards the gym. We were running late by 5 minutes already. At least I have a valid reason.

I threw open the gym doors and half the class paused from their volleyball games to look at me. It was as if time had stopped. Again. Suddenly, they started chattering to each other, pointing at Dakota and I. Dakota had a really goofy smile on his face.