We're Getting There

Chapter 4

After a quick nap during Break and a very boring Maths lesson, Liam stood in the PE changing rooms watching Jaxon look through his bag for something. He sipped from his water bottle.

"Liam." Jaxon waved his hand in front of the black-haired boy to get his attention.

Liam, caught by surprise, choked on his water. He spluttered a bit. "Y-yeah?"

"Can I sit with you at lunch? It's been a week and no one wants to welcome me into their friendship group," Jaxon complained.

"Who would give up the opportunity to sit with you?" Liam said, only half joking. He was slightly hurt by the fact that Jaxon had taken a week to ask him. Of course, Liam could never have asked, he would've only made more of a fool of himself.

Jaxon laughed. "So that's a yes?" Liam nodded.

"Sammy won't mind?"

Liam shook his head. "No, no. Not at all. And we're not joined at the hip." He added rolling his eyes.

Jaxon wasn't so sure he agreed - he could tell Liam and Sammy were extremely close - but he only shrugged and started unbuttoning his school shirt.

Liam flushed red. "Uh... what're you doing?"

Jaxon looked at him questioningly. "You do realise we're in a changing room... and we have PE next, right?"

Liam blinked. "Oh yeah! Right." He continued to watch Jaxon change.

"So are you going to change or...?"

Liam coughed and looked away. He began to change into his PE kit while sneaking glances at Jaxon to see if he was looking. He never was.

A couple of minutes later, Sammy joined them. He had been held back to talk to the Maths teacher about his work.

"How was the meeting?" Liam asked as they waited for Sammy to finish changing. 

"Miss told me she's going to put me in the extra help class." He looked at Jaxon as if he was expecting him to make fun.

"I know someone who's dyslexic," said Jaxon. When Sammy glared at him, he realised that had been the wrong thing to say. "Not that you are! I just meant-"

"I am not dyslexic!" Sammy said defensively as he tugged on his trainers. "God, why does everyone think that? I have dyscalculia and it's completely different and I'm not stupid.

Jaxon shook his head, his blue eyes wide. "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that, honestly. I promise I don't think you're stupid."

"It's fine, I guess," Sammy replied before changing the subject. "Let's go, we're already late, uh, I think..." He glanced at his watch.

They entered the gym just as the teacher started the lesson.

"Alright, year 10!" She said loudly, to quieten the class. "This term we are working on fitness."

Everyone groaned.

"Get into groups of three and we'll do a relay. Choose one person to go first, they'll run twice around the gym, then the second person will do the same, then the third. The winners don't have to do twenty push-ups."

The class split themselves up into threes. It took a while but after a few minutes, the class was ready.

"Ready everyone?" the teacher's voice echoed around the gym.

Sammy slapped them both on the back. "Go, team!"

Liam put his game-face on. "I'll go first. Show you how it's done."