“Alright, class,” Ms. Johnson said. “Ten pushups!”
The whole class groaned in annoyance.
“Why are you all complaining?” she said, throwing her hands up in annoyance. “We just spent half of the ninety minute block learning about baby making. Is this really a problem?”
Riley heard Paris chuckle from behind her.
“Alright,” the teacher stated, shrugging. “Do what you will, kids. Twenty pushups, and grab a partner, too, they’ll spot you.”
The class exhaled another sigh at the increased number of push-ups.
But Riley knew by now they secretly liked having partners so they could mess around.
Ms. Johnson knew, too.
“Ah—ah,” she stated, “I wasn’t finished, I’m picking the partners, my friends.”
Another groan.
“Yep, sucks, doesn’t it?” She pointed to Riley, making her still. “Riley, you’re with Paris.”
“Wait—” she said.
“No arguments,” Johnson said, shaking her head. “Johnathan, you’re with Alex.”
Riley took a glance at Paris behind her while the teacher continued to talk, and he smiled back at her.
Though, not kindly.
She stared back forward.
So this was how her day was going to go? Great.
“Alright!” Johnson said, clapping her hands and earning a couple gasps. “Let’s get to work, kids! Twenty push-ups and your partner has to spot you!”
“Ladies first,” Paris said, smiling when Riley shot him a look. “Wow,” he commented, “that was nasty, you might want to glare sharper, though.” He then whispered, “It’s more menacing.”
She shook her head and dropped to the ground, Paris remaining in a standing position and leaning lazily against the bleachers as she started doing her pushups.
“Your back’s not straight,” he commented, “you’re arching it.”
“Shut up,” she said, breathless.
“I’m your spotter, remember?” he commented. “So you listen to me.”
“Why do we even need a spotter?” she questioned cynically. “It’s pushups, it’s not like we’re lifting hundred pound weights or something.”
Paris chuckled from above her. “You complain a lot.”
“And you’re irritating a lot,” she snapped back, “but do I mention it? No.”
“You just did,” he said.
She finished her last pushup and stood, glaring at him with sweat sliding down her temples. “I hate you so much.”
“You barely even know me, and I could argue that you hate everyone, Riley.”
She rolled her eyes, staring back at the floor seconds later. “Yes, I have trust issues, but there’s reasons, okay? Now get on the ground and drop twenty.”
He smirked. “Yes, ma’am.” And he dropped down, starting his pushups.
Her eyes rounded at how fast he did them, it was two pushups per second, and he didn’t seem to be straining or hurting at all.
Her arms, on the other hand, were screaming in agony.
He stood after about ten seconds, stretching out his arms as if he just woke up and shook off his body, gazing at her seconds later.
“What?” he said. “You’re staring.”
“What are you?” she questioned. “A robot?”
He chuckled. “Does it seem that way?”
“Yeah,” she said as if he was stupid. “Either that or you’ve worked out since you were a toddler.”
Paris shrugged. “My father always taught me to protect myself, Riley.”
“From who?”
He stopped, and stared at her, blue eyes suddenly cold. “The police.”
Her heart stopped.
“Okay, kids!” Johnson said. “Let’s end class with a little kick ball, huh?”
“Thank you,” one of the popular girls muttered sarcastically.
“Alright, let’s get into our formation!” Ms. Johnson said. “Go! Go! Go!”
All the kids ran all over the gym, but Riley kept her eyes fixed on the bleachers behind Paris.
“Paris…” she whispered, “what are you to me? Are you dangerous?”
“Yes,” he responded shortly, making her heart stop, “but not to you. Everyone but you.”
She backed away from him and shook her head. “I don’t know how I can trust you….”
“You’ll have to learn,” he responded. “Trust takes time, but I’m warning you,” he leaned forward, “your time is running out.”
And he walked off, leaving her standing alone in the now empty gym; everyone already gone through the doors to the other one.
Was he bad… or was he good?
Either way, if she told the police who he was, they would take him, and whether he had followers or the fact that someone was after him.
Paris was right with what he told her last night.
She had to keep his identity a secret.
Everyone’s lives in this school depended on it.
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