The Wallflower of Parkview High

Chapter Ten

Part of me wanted to ask Zander why of all things he had worried about me, however another part of me didn't want to. I almost felt...scared, like maybe he would laugh it off and say that he wasn't actually worried about me and that Charlotte was mistaken, that it was actually a different dark haired boy at this school whom I didn't know about.

My thoughts were interrupted by Mr. Greene calling everyone to attention, which caused my stomach to feel like it was in knots. Last night, I had begged Dad to let me skip school today after what happened yesterday, but he insisted I go to school and just be careful with what I do in PE. With whatever we were going to do today, however, I wasn't so sure.

"Today we're going to be doing a 'Beep Test' which is the final attempt to prepare everyone for the mile. You are all going to line up next to each other in front of the locker rooms. When I blow my whistle, you are all going to run and stop at that line over there." Mr. Greene explained, mentioning to a line that was drawn in the middle of a basketball court that was some feet away from the girls locker room.

Alright. I thought, my nerves slightly lessening. I could run to that point if I put effort into it.

However, my nerves skyrocketed back up again with the next thing Mr. Greene said.

"That may sound easy to most of you, however, there are ten 'levels' that you have to pass, with each 'level' getting progressively harder and harder. During each level, you are going to have to get to the line and then run back to where you previously were before you hear a beep. As the levels progress, there is going to be less and less run time. If you can't make it to the line and back before you hear a beep, I'll send you to the track and you'll get a fail for the day."

Once he explained more about the "Beep Test", he dismissed us to go change. After I changed, I sat down on my spot, waiting for everyone else, each minute becoming more and more nerve wracking, at least to me. Could I even manage running for another day? Would I faint again? Would I faint or get hurt every time I had to run in PE, like a continuous cycle? It could be a possibility since the last two times I ran, I fainted and got a bloody nose.

After everyone was changed and sitting down, Mr. Greene had us stand next to each other in front of the locker rooms like he had explained a few minutes earlier. It was just my luck that I ended up next to Zander, who was busy whispering to that chestnut haired boy while Mr. Greene was busy setting up a small radio that would emit the beeps for each level. Once Mr. Greene was done doing that, he turned to us.

"Everyone, listen up. I want you all to start running the second I blow my whistle, and stop at the line. When I blow my whistle again, run back to where you previously were."

The second he was done explaining, he blew his whistle. I let out a squeak of surprise, but started to run. I was a little behind most of the others, but managed to make it, a few seconds after the radio emitted a beep. I didn't hide my sigh of relief.

A half a minute later, Mr. Greene blew his whistle again and everyone raced back to where they were standing before. Again, I managed to get back to where I was standing seconds before the beep sounded.

The rest of class was like that, with Mr. Greene blowing his whistle and everyone racing to the line and back again. As promised, there was fewer rest time between each passing levelm which made my breathing grow heavier and more ragged. It seemed like an enternity when Mr. Greene finally dimissed us to go change back into our regular clothes.

As I walked back into the locker room, I couldn't help but celebrate internally. I had passed the "Beep Test" without fainting! For the rest of the day, I couldn't help but feel a slight happiness spreading through me just at the thought of it.