PROJECT: NYNE

Chapter Eight: Blaize

When we got to the school, everyone gossiped and murmured to each other about my crutches. I was surprised they weren't used to me in them yet. I almost always was. But, they cleared a path for us to go through. They knew I had kick ass crutch swing, and I wasn't afraid to use it. I went to the office to get Sky and Xena passes to help me carry books and stuff. Not that I needed it, since I could do anything. I was awesome. The mean office lady was staring at me. "Hello Mrs.Lady." I greeted. I had already forgotten her name. I really don't know how this was possible since I had seen her almost everyday for two years. Except summers and weekends. Obviously.

Sky did all the all the talking. She was better at it than me anyway. Xena just stood behind us awkwardly. Xena was awesome. The office lady was staring at me, waiting for my response. I didn't hear what she had just asked.

"Well?" she asked.

"Huh?" I blinked and looked at her blankly.

"What did you do this time?" She asked, I assumed for the second time.

"I fell down the stairs."

She continued to stare at me, almost making me feel uncomfortable. "I heard. Why were you in such a hurry to go downstairs?"

Why do you ask so many questions?

"Sky was having an asthma attack... and... her inhaler was in the car. So I ran to get it, but I slipped on... um...carelessly placed scuba equipment."

"Scuba equipment."

"Yes."

The office lady turned to Sky. "Mrs.Miller seems fine. Who got her inhaler?"

"Xena." I said, and watched as Xena nodded her head.

"The dust." Xena said.

"What?" The office lady asked, confused.

"I think it was the dust that caused her asthma attack." she explained.

"Oh. Yes."

"Yeah. I should clean my room." I butted in. "But that's not the point. Can you give these pretty ladies some passes or stuff?"

"Um... yes. Give me a minute." The office lady turned away from us to type something on her little computer. I decided to call her Mrs.Typing Lady then.

"Here you go." Typing lady said as she handed Xena and Sky pink passes. We walked out of the office and across the hall. Our next stop was the P.E. area to tell the teacher that I wasn't doing the swimming unit in P.E because it would surely cause my death.

Though that wasn't what I was going to tell him.

I called the gym teacher Godzilla Man. It wasn't just his physical appearance that earned him his nickname, either- I could totally imagine him setting cities on fire and roaring at the US Military.

Godzilla Man was easily over six foot with arms as big around as my head. His shoulders seemed as though he got trapped in doorways. Veins bulged from the massive muscles in his arms. His voice was like how my dog sounded when she growled at the Jehovah's Witness people that came to our door. Most found Godzilla Man intimidating, but I found him rather hilarious. And weird.

Godzilla Man was a very athletic person, and very overenthusiastic about any sport. He tried to attend as many practices as possible and acted like a cheerleader on steroids. And not even a pretty one. At least, pretty to cheerleader standards.

I had some serious skills with my crutches, so I had no problem speeding down the hallway. Sky kept telling me to slow down, but I didn't listen to her. Slow was boring.

When we finally made it to the gym, we spotted Godzilla Man attempting to sit in his rolling office chair, but his gigantic mass of muscle was too large for it to handle.

"Hang in there, buddy," I whispered to the chair. Xena gave me a funny look.

Godzilla Man spun his wheelie chair around to face us. He immediately spotted my crutches and rolled his eyes. "You must not like to swim." he said in his low, monotone voice.

"I fell down the stairs." I wondered how many times I would have to say it.

"Uh-huh. What was it last time we had the swimming unit? A concussion?"

"Yep." I beamed at him.

He gave me a hard look and scribbled something down on his notepad. I was surprised the pen didn't explode with his mini death grip. "That's not something to be proud of, Blaize."

I handed him my doctor's excuse in a very asshole-like way and grinned at him again. He looked like he could've strangled me then and there. He seemed a lot more intimidating than he actually was. Sky was used to him, but since Xena just got here, she cowered a bit. I have to say that at first, even I had a little bit of trouble with him. He just wouldn't accept that I was a faster runner than him. Twist in the story- he used to be my foster dad. I sure was glad to be with my real one again. I was relieved that the days of push-ups and running laps around the yard was over. Back in reality land, Godzilla Man was trying to ask me a question. It was sad how often that happened.

"What?" I gave my best confused look.

"I asked how I could possibly know that you didn't forge that doctors note, when you have done so in the past so often."

I knew what he meant by that, but I still don't understand why he couldn't just fax the doctor and ask him. He was very abusive. Sky stepped up next to me, but I put my hand out. She stormed out muttering something and pulling Xena behind her. Xena looked confused from what I could tell. I sat down in his rolley chair and held my injured leg out. He took his wooden ruler above his head.