Date: October 12

    Frank sighed as he looked over his answers for his history exam. With all the exams that his teachers had been giving him, he was actually looking forward to P.E. for once. Frank thought of a dodge ball fight longingly while he tried to remember if Germany had invaded Poland or Russia first.

    When he walked into the gym after changing into his sports clothes, Frank realized that Coach Hedge was no better than any of the other teachers.

    "Today, we're going to do the Pacer," Coach Hedge said with a smile. "Boys first. Girls sit on the bleachers. Hurry up cupcakes!"

      The boys groaned. 

    "Why do we have to go first?" Octavian asked.

    "It doesn't matter if we go first or second," Ethan said. "The girls will be unimpressed with your score either way."

     "At least I can win awards," Octavian said. "I win debate trophies all the time. The only thing you've ever won is an arrest."

    "Get ready cupcakes!" Coach Hedge yelled as he turned on the speakers.

   "The FitnessGram Pacer Test is a multistage aerobic capacity test that progressively gets more difficult as it continues. The 20 meter pacer test will begin in 30 seconds. Line up at the start. The running speed starts slowly, but gets faster each minute after you hear this signal. [beep] A single lap should be completed each time you hear this sound. [ding] Remember to run in a straight line and run as long possible. The second time you fail to complete a lap before the sound. Your test will begin on the word start. On your mark, get ready, start."

    Frank ran as fast as he could. By the tenth beep, his legs felt like jelly. Frank had never been the best runner, but he managed to get a 35 on the test, which was better than he had ever done. Frank sat down on the bleachers next to Leo who was flirting with Calypso and watched the remaining boys running.

     He cheered on Travis, Connor, and Will as they pushed through the Pacer. Once it beeped for the 100th time, Connor and Travis staggered towards the bleachers dramatically. Will rolled his eyes and followed them.

   "You did ok," Nico told Will as the girls filed towards the starting line.

 "Ok?" Will sputtered.

    Frank and Nico chuckled. Frank saw Hazel clasping her hands together as if she was praying for luck on the Pacer. The annoying intro to the Pacer began.

    "Fine, you did really well," Nico conceded as the girls began the Pacer. I didn't expect you to do so well. How did you learn to run like that?"

    "Future Doctors of America summer camp," Will said. "We had first-aid races."

    "Of course you did," Nico said.

   Frank tuned out of their conversation and watched Hazel run. He was proud that she managed to do even better than him. In the end, the girl who managed to get the best score was Clarisse La Rue. 

    "I can't believe such a big girl can run," Octavian snickered.

    "Shut up, punk," Clarisse said, breathing hard. "I did much better than you."

   "Yeah, nobody cares about your opinion; you're just a Webkinz murderer," Chris, Clarisse's boyfriend, said as he put his arm around her shoulder.

    Frank looked at the two of them and he wished he had something like they did. His gaze fell upon Hazel and he felt his heartbeat quicken. Perhaps Piper was right after all. Hazel really was a special girl.