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Page interrupts ht yellow oversized tee with a bea cat on it that reads: HAVE A PURR-FECT DAY!

“Thanks, Page,” I grumble as I take the shirt from her and quickly put it on It nearly covers the shorts—shorts!—that I’ Why my locker contained shorts and not so sportswear, I have no clue

Note to self: add “bring pants” to note to self, too

I feel like Page is watching e pleasant nods before I throw my street clothes into the locker, slaym

As I walk, two thoughts run through o to the nurse’s office for a Band-Aid to cover the painful heel blister that I can feel grating against my sneaker with every step And, second, I can’t help but thank my lucky stars that only the twelve other hapless souls with first-period gym class will see me in this hideous ensemble

Unfortunately for me, Ms Martinez is a coldhearted woman

“No,” she says, when I ask to go to the nurse’s office before the gains

“No?” I ask in disbelief

“No,” she says again, black eyes daring ue She holds her whistle at the ready

I’m not stupid, so I don’t press the issue Instead, I hobble back to the bench, join h the pain

Then halfway through what I can only assuh school sports history, a noise ricochets through the echoing gym that all at once makes my arm hairs stand on end, my eardrums seize up, and my teeth chatter

For aon

Ms Martinez waves her arin lazily walking toward the doorway

That’s when I get it

We are having a fire drill