I am Clara

Eudora's Story

"The Sphere is like your spider," Andrews continued excitedly, never ceasing to click the small tally counter in his hand.

      A month passed since he caught me in my bloody suite, and still he wasn't over the big discovery as he called it. I shook my head, aiming my defeated look at the ground as I pumped my arms up and down to satisfy Brewer's demand of push-ups until failure.

      "I will never understand why you think this is cool," I said, pushing my body downwards. "And for the hundredth time, can we not talk about this at school?"

      "I'll never understand why you think otherwise."

      I was tempted to make a remark on how I didn't think a death sentence was cool, but Andrews hadn't yet come to the realization that this whole thing was likely to lead to my death. I dreaded the day he did. He could be annoying on a regular day, but a worried and overprotective Andrews, was a stubborn force you didn't want to mess with. It was much better to have him believe the situation was cool.

     The way he suddenly fell silence made me fear that he had already come to the same conclusion. I thought I'd have a naïve Andrews for a while longer. He hadn't stopped talking since the bell announced the beginning of our least favourite class. I held onto to hope that something else caught his attention. Marlene Lewis, perhaps? She had been wearing a rather short pair of spandex, along with a superman tank-top. The latter was probably what most caught his attention. He was probably ready to ditch me in a leap and offer her his hand in marriage.

     "Clara," he muttered, interrupting my thoughts.

     "Yes?" I questioned, mildly irritated for no good reason. I turned my head to meet his eyes, mid push-up. His eyes never met mine, his careful gaze roamed the rest of the gymnasium. Forgetting the push-ups, I brought my knees to the ground and turned my head the other way. Scattered around the gym, in their own resting positions, the entire class was staring at me. I froze. What did I do?

      Jason along with his click, red in the face and sweaty, gazed upon me with a mixture of anger and disbelief. I was hit with realisation. It looked as though I went a little overboard with the push-ups and ruined their reputation.

      Damn it. Andrews had distracted me. Turning once again, the look Andrews shot the tally counter confirmed my suspicions. I very much doubted I wanted to know the number the small instrument read.

      "Now, that's what I'm talking about!" Brewer whistled, before blowing his actual whistle and announcing the role change.

      Coming into a sitting position, I groaned into my hands.

      "I think you tripled the amount of push-ups Bradford did, without even breaking a sweat," Andrews snickered. "And that is why I say it's cool."

      "How can I take pleasure in something that was given to me? I'm a cheat." I pouted. "I don't even like sports."

      "Well, you sure caught Brewer's attention."

      I groaned again, sneaking a glance at said man that was watching me with interest.

      "This isn't funny," I complained. "He's already asked me to join the hockey team, three times this week. I don't even know how to skate."

      Despite my request, he continued to laugh, placing himself on my abandoned mat.

      "Want to give them another show?" he joked. "I'd give up my turn just for you."

       With a stubborn huff I stole the tool from his hands, nodding towards the mat for him to get a move on.

       Despite his complaints, I knew he wouldn't have much trouble with Brewer's command. He had been tagging along and sometimes forcing me to go to the gym, go for a jog or just follow a random workout video online, and I couldn't help but notice the slight change already present in his physique. If he really tried, I'm sure he could have given Jason a little competition. There was no stopping Andrews when he had his mind set on something, and these days he was determined to help me reach my full potential. It really was a wonder that him and Mimpi didn't get along.