Jessie Grace's POV

--Thursday, September 3rd--

I knew where the Gym was, thank gods. I had gotten somewhat extremely lost finding Mr. Burns' class, on the 3rd floor. But I'd seen the gym before, right when I'd walked in that morning. Technically, it was located on the first floor, but really, the gym was underground, and the locker rooms were on the first floor.

I walked into the locker room, clutching my gym bag to my chest. I prayed for changing rooms, but nothing happened. I was supposed to strip down in front of the whole locker room. Great.

I looked for a corner to change in, but most of them were already taken. Believe me, I checked the bathrooms, but every stall was in use. I found the most secluded area I could find, and then started to change. I pulled my tee shirt over my head, revealing a black sports bra. Then I had to dig through my whole gym bag to find my shirt.

"Are you enjoying walking around in your bra?" I whirled around, my face bright red.

"Wha-?" The girl laughed as I pulled my shirt over my head. I was too embarassed to change in front of her.

"Two minutes, ladies!" Someone called from outside the door.

"I'm Sadie Cameron. Nice to meet you," The girl's short brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail and her short Nike shorts revealed tan skin.

"I'm Jessie Grace," Sadie laughed, and then turned around.

"You can change now, I won't peek." I rapidly put on my shorts, and walked out into the gym. Sadie followed, smiling.

"So, which boy do you think is hottest?" I nearly choked when she asked me.

"What?"

"Which boy do you think is the hottest?"

"I dunno!" Sadie was so open about her private life, it surprised me.

"C'mon. I know you like someone."

"It's the first day! I hardly know anyone! You're the first person I've said more than three words to!" Sadie laughed, and I smiled.

"Hmm... I think you and that guy over there would be super cute together!" I pointed to a boy who was shooting hoops at the far end of the gym.

"Jeremy?" I saw Sadie's eyes flicker.

"You totally have a crush on him!" I glanced at her, and Sadie laughed, shooting a basketball into the hoop perfectly.

"So what if I do? He likes this other girl, I hear."

"Exactly. You hear." I followed Sadie's shot with a perfect one of my own. Soon we'd started a game of knock out.

"Good game, Jessie," Sadie said out of breath. She wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead before Mr. Ayan blew his whistle.

"Alright, ladies and gentlemen; welcome to P.E., Gym, or whatever you want to call it. I'm Mr. Ayan, and I will be some of your worst nightmares, and some of your best dreams. It just depends on who you are." Mr. Ayan was huge. Tall, muscular, and very, very scary. My favorite teacher so far.

"We'll be starting off the year with something easy: soccer." I grinned, knowing that I was already way ahead of most of the girls in my grade. I had been playing on the local 10th grade soccer team when I was in 8th grade. And I was the best on the team. "Now, which one of you ladies can show me a proper dribble? I honestly don't see any gentlemen left in this room." Some people giggled. I raised my hand and Sadie eyed me.

"You sure you wanna do that?" Sadie looked at me like I was crazy. I nodded, my eyes dancing.

"Yes."

Only two people raised their hands: a boy sitting on the other edge of the gym, and me. Mr. Ayan called on both of us.

"Alright, and you are?"

"Ashton Cane." Looking at Ashton, I began to regret raising my hand. I didn't want to be beaten by a boy- gods no. I never even let my older brother Curt beat me.

"So, Mr. Cane- do you think you can beat this little lady, Ms.-" Mr. Ayan looked at me expectenly. Ashton crossed his arms and grinned.

"Jessie Grace,"

"Ms. Grace?" Ashton shook his head and just smiled, looking at the ground.

"You damn bet I can, Mr. Ayan." I gulped. Oh gods.

"Alright, Mr. Cane. Show us your best." And off he went. Ashton dribbled down the gym, the ball alternating between the outside of his right foot and the inside. He expertly pulled it back at the end, and ended it all of with a nice display of his juggling abilities. Mr. Ayan looked impressed.

"You should know I don't stand for show-offs like you, Mr. Cane... But that was mighty impressive. Are you still up for the challenge, Ms. Grace?" I nodded, the ball at my feet and the whole room's eyes on me.

"Yes, sir. I am." He blew his whistle, and I felt time slow down. I found my rhythym and felt the ball, and knew ever inch of it by heart. I felt myself doing some moves, and then turning back around. Time began to catch up with me. I thought of how to end my show. I just did the first thing that came to mind. My own move.

People applauded. I smiled as Mr. Ayan shook my hand. Sadie gave me a big thumbs up from the stands.

"That was excellent showmanship out there, Ms. Grace. I hope to see that same effort in the future in my class. Excellent work, kiddo." I thanked him, and tried to get myself out of the limelight. I changed quickly, and stood in the doorway of the gym alone as the clock began to tick the seconds away.

"You're amazing, Jessie." I knew exactly who it was.

"Thanks. I could say the same about you, really."

Ashton laughed, running his hand through his hair.

"Hey, maybe we could sit together at lunch- I have a really cool group of guys I met earlier this summer when I tried out for the football team. They're mostly a year or two older than us, but they're amazing. Most of them have girlfriends who might sit with them too," I smiled, flattered and completely stunned at Ashton's boldness.

"One of them doesn't happen to be Curt Grace, right?" I leaned back into the door frame, hoping he'd say no. My prayers were in vain.

"Oh my god, you guys are- he's your- Holy- Curt's your older brother, isn't he? Oh, I totally see it! God, that's insane! He's wicked! Have you seen him play? Wait, what am I saying, of course you've seen him play! He's practically a legend! Oh, this is so awesome. I cannot belive this. Wait- could you tell him that I basically idolize him? I mean, I could just go on forever..." Ashton did go on forever until the bell rang. But I did promise to give Curt the message. And to sit with him. I still have no clue why.