Inferno

~20~ Fire Alarm

Emma's POV

The last couple of weeks have been awful. Sasha's friends have been horrible to me. She either hasn't noticed, or doesn't care. I can't decide which.

I've been dreading today for a week. I was up all night thinking about it. Today during PE, the boys and girls have to be together. The school is doing their yearly test to see how many students are fit, and how many are overweight. I already know where I'm going to fit in, and I don't need to make a fool out of myself in front of everyone.

Lucas and Trace will be in class with me. And Lexi.
And a ton of other really popular, really fit people. I have to be able to run a mile, do 30 push-ups, 20 chin ups, and climb the rope. There's no way I'm going to be able to do any of it. I'm going to be the laughing stock of the entire school.

I'm a nervous wreck all day long.

"Emma. Calm down. You will be fine" Luke says, squeezing my hand.

"Easy for you to say. You can do all of this" I say with tears in my eyes.

"Emmy, you don't have to do it all. If you do ten pushups you will pass" Trace says, giving me a hug.

"I can't even do 10" I say, tears filling in my eyes. I probably could on my knees, but they won't let me do that.

Trace and Luke just stare at each other. Even they know I'm going to make a fool out of myself.

"I can't do it, I think I'm going to skip" I say. I'm that desperate to not do this that I'm willing to skip class and get in trouble. I've only ever gotten spanked once in my entire life.

I was 8, and I wasn't paying attention and ran out into the road. I almost got hit by a car. Dad spanked me, and he cried the entire time. I think he hated it more than I did.

"No way, Emma. Do you really want to deal with those consequences? I promise you that you don't" Luke says, horrified.

"Listen to him, Emma. Come on. Let's get it over with and be done with it" Trace says, grabbing my hand.

A tear falls down my face as the gym teachers come up and start telling us what we need to do. First up, rope climbing. I watch as Lexi and Cooper go up the ropes with ease. Then I watch as Luke and Hannah do it, and then Maya and Trace do it. They come back over to me and try to give me pointers.

"It's not bad. Grip tight and use your legs to help pull you up" Trace says as Luke squeezes my hands.

"I can't do it" I say as I start to panic. I feel myself starting to hyperventilate. Suddenly I see something out of the corner of my eye. Before I can even think about what I'm doing, I get up and pull the fire alarm. Immediately the alarm sounds and the lights flash. Trace and Luke just stare at me in horror.

I walk back over to them quickly as we all start filing out of the gym and go outside.

"What the hell, Emma?!?" Luke says. He looks like he's going to puke.

"I panicked" I whisper as I quickly wipe a tear away. We get outside and the fire trucks pull up. I can immediately see dad getting out of his car and I see Wes and Liam get out of Squad and Truck.

We stay outside for 20 minutes while they check everything out. Mom has found us, and she's been chatting with us the last couple of minutes.

"You guys ok?" She asks, concerned.

"Yeah" Luke says with a smile.

Suddenly I see dad, Liam, and Wes come up to mom.

"Hey Darlin' you guys ok?" He asks as he gives mom a kiss.