Mrs.Brown entered the room,"That was the tardy bell, I'll write passes" She said quietly.
"Thanks Mrs.Brown." Jessica said
Mrs Brown expression hardened, "Jessica and Marcus you two will stay here."
Jessica opened her mouth in protest.
Mrs.Brown raised her hand,"Jessica, Gym class is no place to be for someone with a wrist brace. Last thing I want is for you and Marcus to get more injured than you already are. Especially if what I'm hearing is true."
Marcus sighed in relief, "Thanks, Mrs. Brown." The look on his face made it seem like he was happy not to be drafted into war.
Jessica looked defeated. "I guess you're right, Mrs. Brown. Marcus and I wouldn't be much help to Kevin and the rest today anyway."
"Hey now, Kevin isn't alone; he still has us," Connor said, wrapping his arm around Barry's shoulders.
"Don't count me out, I'm game too," Keisha said.
Barry nodded, "Not to mention Alicia."
Connor groaned, "Here we go again, bro."
The room erupted in laughter as Barry's face went red. Everybody knew he had eyes for Alicia.
"Bruh, stop being a player hater. Hate the game! Alicia is my queen," Barry said.
Stanlee laughed out hoarsely, "Bet you were happy Coach K chose you to go with Alicia to take Jess and Mark here."
I rolled my eyes and chuckled, "This dude Barry will jump off a cliff for Alicia."
Keisha shook her head, "Well, player, when are you going to ask her out?"
Barry shrugged, "Maybe today after the game."
Just then, Mrs. Brown walked in holding four blue sticky note passes. She handed them out to the twins, Keisha, and me.
All the noise drowned out, and reality was staring at me through the blue slips. Yesterday was crazy enough, and we weren't even playing a contact-heavy sport. That's not even counting our empty spots. No Stanlee. Jessica and Marcus are stuck down here. Plus Jason wouldn't be back till tomorrow.
Jessica brought me down to earth, resting her good hand on my shoulder,smiling " Todays gonna be tough.But I'm there right by your side in spirit at least."
I smile, "Yeah, rest up."
"Ditto for me" Marcus said tapping his fist on my chest, " I know you'll give em hell."
"Survivor boy is gonna have some competition on that end" Keisha hissed, "Jack, Wade and that whole gang of wannabes!"
She cracked her knuckles.
"Are going down with me!"
"What's that one line Jason said last week when Alicia blew up on player boy?" Connor said.
"Bruh, for real." Barry said, facepalming.
Marcus laughed for the first time since he entered the room, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."
Connor clapped his hands, "Yeah, that's the one! Mannnn, Alicia doesn't play; she's got this foo wrapped around her finger!"
"Why are you bringing this up?" Barry said while giving Connor a playful shove.
"Cuz, we're about to walk out of that gym with a W, twin."
Mrs. Brown clapped twice, "Alright, time to go, kids." She walked past us, setting up the beds in between Stanlee's.
Stanlee coughed weakly, "Be careful, guys."
"Awww, Stan's worried 'bout us, ya know deep down we're gonna whoop 'em." Keisha growled.
Stanlee smiled as he brought out his fist, "Give 'em hell."
We all brought our fists in.
"Bet," We all said in unison.