Loud, excited, talking met my ears as soon as I opened the locker room door. I frowned, but walked to the changing area to see what all the commotion was about. Casey was halfway through putting her shirt on when she noticed me.

"Holly!" she cried, yanking down her shirt quickly. "Guess who is subbing for gym class?"

I knew right away by all the excited girls, but decided to play along. "Who?"

"Mr. Heywood!"

"Cool," I responded, setting down my gym bag and starting to take off my shirt.

"Why aren't you more excited?" she asked, tossing her clothes in one of the lockers.

"Why should I be excited?" I responded, unbuttoning my pants. "This just means all the girls will be trying to impress him."

"Well I think you should be happy."

"Why's that?"

Casey winked. "He gets to see you in your cute little short-shorts."

I blushed, looking down at the shorts in my hand. "My shorts aren't that short!"

"Still, you never wear shorts except for gym."

"He's a teacher, Case, I don't think he cares what high school girls look like in short shorts," I told her, rolling my eyes. "When will you get it out of your head that Chris and I have a thing for each other?"

"Chris?" she repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"I meant Mr. Heywood," I corrected myself quickly.

Casey smirked. "Sure you did. Lance told me about how you and Mr. Heywood were in the same car together yesterday morning."

I scowled and silently cursed Lance. But I had never told him not to tell, so it wasn't al his fault.

"Whatever, let's just go up. Everyone has already finished changing and I bet the bell-"

Before I could finish my sentence, the bell went off. Casey made a face and together we ran for the stairs that led up to the gym. I pushed the door open and, sure enough, there was Mr. Heywood with a gaggle of girls surrounding him.

"I want to go talk to him," Casey complained as I dragged her to where Lance and Willis were.

"Hey babe," Willis greeted Casey, giving her a one armed hug.

"Hi," she responded with a sigh.

Lance laughed, patting Willis on the back. "Looks like she was struck by the Heywood love bug too."

Casey laughed while Willis shot Lance a dirty look.

"I'm not in love with the man, Lance, that's be creepy," Casey told him, rolling her eyes. "He's just attractive for a man of his age."

"Can we not talk about this?" Willis asked.

"You're still my favorite, Will," Casey told him, enveloping her hand in his.

I frowned to myself and looked at the ground. Casey thought it was creepy to be in love with Mr. Heywood? Did that mean I was creepy?

I quickly slapped myself, earning curious looks from the trio in front of me. I blushed and just shrugged at them.

"A mosquito," I lied.

"In the gym?" Lance asked with an eyebrow raised.

"I guess so."

Lance laughed and shrugged. "Whatever, Holly."

I turned away from them so they wouldn't see the blush growing on my face. What was I thinking? I wasn't in love with Mr. Heywood! It was a silly crush!

"Oh, Mr. Heywood! You have really big muscles!"

My eyes shot over to where he was. One girl was feeling the muscles on his arm as he flexed for her. I narrowed my eye slightly, getting irritated. I just wanted to take that girl's arm and rip it off-

I slapped myself again; however, this time mentally. Now what was I doing? Getting jealous? There wasn't anything to be jealous of, and yet I was getting jealous still! I ran a hand over my face and through my hair.

I did not like these feelings.

"Okay class, gather 'round!"

I looked back at Mr. Heywood, who was waving his arms to catch everyone's attention. His eyes locked onto mine and I swear I saw him quickly check me out. Either that or I was just getting ahead of myself. Which was probably more likely.

Lance pushed me from behind and I stumbled towards Mr. Heywood. When everyone was gathered, he cleared his throat.

"Okay guys, we have two choices today. We can either play handball or badminton."

Everyone started to shout what to play all at once. I heard about an even amount of handball and badminton. I personally didn't want to play badminton, since I sucked. I could do almost any sport fairly well. Except badminton. I had no hand-eye coordination whatsoever with a racquet.

Mr. Heywood rolled his eyes. "You can't all shout at once. Raise your hand for handball."

Ten people raised their hands.

"Badminton?"

Ten people raised their hands.

A few of the girls twittered with laughter. I rolled my eyes. Because having an even amount of people who wanted to play each sport was just so funny.

I pinched myself on the arm. Great. Now I was thinking mean thoughts about girls that didn't even do anything. Jealousy is such an ugly emotion.

"Well, Holly, what do you want to play?"

I stared at Mr. Heywood. He was going to make me choose? I flushed slightly as all the attention was drawn on me.

"Uh, well... I don't really care. But I'm kind of bad at badminton."

"Well then badminton it is!"

There was a cheering from the people who wanted badminton and a booing from the people didn't. I stared at Mr. Heywood with a dumbfounded look. He smirked.

"I'll go get the equipment. Come help me, Holly," he ordered, gesturing with his finger.

Before I could respond someone pushed passed me.

"I'll help you," a girl named Lauren offered, looking eager.

"I will too!" my friend, Kelsey, added.

I rolled my eyes, turning around. "Looks like you don't need my help."

"Holly-"

"I'll help," Lance cut in, an annoyed look on his face. "Girls shouldn't be going down to the locker room anyways."

"Sure," Mr. Heywood responded, looking relieved for some reason. "Everyone else set up the nets."

He and Lance exited the gym to go to the storage room while a bunch of guys took off towards the nets. A few minutes later they returned and the nets were set up. Everyone grabbed a racquet. I held mine glumly and joined Lance, Casey and Willis at one net.

"Casey and me against you and Lance," Willis announced, looking at me. "So stay on that side."

"Sure," I responded.

"What? Why am I stuck with her?" Lance complained, a grin on his face.

I lightly hit him with my racquet. "Shut up."

He laughed. "Don't worry, I'm good so I'll make up for your lack of ability. You serve first."

I rolled my eyes, but tossed the shuttlecock in the air and swung at it violently. The shuttle fell to the ground and I sighed, bending down to pick it up. I threw it up again. No luck.

"You can do it, Holly!" Casey cheered from the other side.

I gave her a flat look and tried once more. I missed yet again. I scowled; frustrated now. I through it up and swung my racquet as hard as I could. Not only did it miss, but also my racquet went flying out of my hand.

I gasped, twisting around to see it nearly hit my friend Tom. He turned to me, his face in shock. I grinned sheepishly. He shook his head at me.

"Be right back," I told Lance, and jogged over to pick up my racquet.

"You almost knocked me out!" Tom complained, handing the racquet to me.

"I'm sorry," I apologized. "I don't know how to hit the shuttle."

"I'll show you."

I jumped and turned around to see Mr. Heywood, a grin on his face. I guessed he had witnessed my attempt at Tom's murder. He followed me back to the court. Casey's face brightened immediately.

I felt very self-conscious as Mr. Heywood took my hand and repositioned the racquet.

"Swing your arm like this," he instructed, slowly bringing my arm up. "Don't make quick short strikes, make long ones."

"That doesn't exactly help me hit the shuttle," I muttered, copying the movement of my arm again.

"Just keep your eye on the shuttle and swing. Don't worry about hitting or missing."

I nodded and he stepped away. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Lance glaring at Mr. Heywood. I ignored it. I tossed the shuttle in to the air and copied the movement Mr. Heywood had shown me with my arm, keeping my eye on the shuttle.

It struck.

Casey and Willis started clapping excitedly. It didn't make it across the net, but I still had hit it. I couldn't help a grin spread across my face. I turned to Mr. Heywood to thank him, but girls surrounded him again.

"Teach me how to hit too!" one of the more good-looking girls, Ally, requested.

"You were doing it just fine five seconds ago," Mr. Heywood told her.

"But I'm not sure if I'm doing it right!"

"Me either!" another girl said.

I scowled and picked up the shuttle again. "Stupid girls," I muttered.

I swung the racquet hard, keeping my eye on the shuttle. It landed again and flew across the gym. Casey went after it and hit it back to me. I slammed it again, letting out my frustration.

"You got better quick," Willis commented, receiving one of my hits. "You're not letting Lance get it a hit at all!"

"I've got this one!" Lance called, lunging for the shuttle.

He hit it straight up and I ran over to rebound it. Lance moved his leg at the last possible second; tripping me and making me fall straight down onto my face. I landed on the gym floor with a loud smack and my racquet slid a few feet away. My wrist panged painfully.

"Shit, are you okay?" Lance asked, hovering over me.

"I'm fine," I responded, putting my hands under my body to push myself up.

A stabbing pain went through my wrist and I quickly removed it from under me, falling down again. Lance laughed.

"What are you doing?"

"I think I hurt my wrist," I muttered, pushing myself back up with my other hand.

"You should probably go to the nurse," Casey suggested, suddenly next to me.

"Holly, are you okay?" a new voice asked, sounding slightly amused and slightly worried.

"I'm fine, Mr. Heywood. I just hurt my wrist."

Mr. Heywood took injured hand and gently touched it. His touch sent a tingling feeling through my arm and I wanted to rip it away, but I kept myself under control. He frowned.

"It might be sprained, so why don't you go to the nurse."

"Okay," I responded. "I'll go now."

"But Holly, can you stop by my room before you go home? I need to... talk to you about something," Mr. Heywood continued, a hint of a smile on his face.

Casey caught eye contact with me and wagged her eyebrows. I rolled my eyes at her. But part of me was excited.

"Sure, I'll see you later then," I told him, trying to keep my face. "I'm going to go to the nurse now then..."

"See ya."

"Mr. Heywood! I think I got it! Watch me!" a girl cried from the other side of the room.

"Sure!" Mr. Heywood responded.

He did a mini eye roll at me before turning around and jogging over to the girl. I smiled slightly to myself as I turned and headed back to the changing room.

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