Read Online 13 by Jason Robert Brown - Free Book Online

right!” he said. “The first few phys ed classes are going to be about working off some of that summer flab. Conditioning, my friends! So we’ll start with laps. Slow and steady! I’m looking for endurance here! Get moving!”
    I stood up. In New York, phys ed was kickball in the park. Was I really going to have to spend an entire period running? A minute later, we were going around the track. For half a lap, everything was cool. I took it light and easy. Endurance, after all. But then I felt a whack on the back of my head. Brett passed me, laughing.
    â€œPick it up, Brain! The girls are kicking your butt.”
    â€œBut he said to take it slow!” I said.
    Wrong answer.
    Another whack on the head. This time Fudge cruised by, cracking up. I turned my head just in time to have Eddie slap me in the nose.
    â€œOh, dude, sorry!”
    Brett turned back and yelled. “Come on, Brain! Move it!”
    What happened to slow and steady? Ugh. I pumped harder, thinking of the cliff at the quarry. Was this another test?
    We went around once. Twice. I’d almost catch up to Brett, but then he’d suddenly step on the gas and he’d be halfway around the track ahead of me. Fudge and Eddiewere almost as fast. They’d slow down, then scamper off like a couple of rabbits, looking back and laughing.
    Fine, jerks, I thought. I can do this.
    I pushed hard off the balls of my feet and started driving forward as fast as I could. And amazingly, I began to catch up—even with the guys running full out. I passed Eddie first. Then Fudge. Then bam! I was right up to Brett! Wheezing, my eyes tearing from the wind, my heart pounding out of my chest, I lunged forward and passed him!
    And he stuck his foot out and tripped me.
    I flew off the track right into the Q of Quails and curled up in a ball with scraped knees and my hands pocked with gravel. I couldn’t breathe.
    â€œIs that Goldman?” That was the gym teacher “Get up, Goldman!” But I was immobile.
    Then I felt something squeeze under my back. Suddenly I was in the air. Brett had picked me up.
    â€œIt’s all right, Coach, I’ll get him in to the nurse! Looks like he went down hard!”
    I saw the gym teacher give Brett a thumbs-up.
    â€œGood man, Connelly!”
    Â 
    I walked stiffly down the hall, with Brett supporting me.
    â€œWhat was that about?” I asked. “You didn’t have to trip me!”
    Brett seemed to be keeping himself from laughing.
    â€œI didn’t trip you, Brain. You were just running too hard out there. You gotta learn to take it easy.”
    My body hurt. I didn’t want to have to explain this all to the nurse, either. It was my first day!
    â€œThis way, dude.”
    Brett pushed open a door and guided me inside. But it wasn’t the nurse’s office, just an empty classroom, one of the science labs.
    â€œWhat are we doing in here?”
    Brett checked to make sure nobody was in the room, then grabbed a chair and propped it against the door so no one could get in.
    â€œGotta talk to you, Brain.”
    â€œWait a second,” I said. “Aren’t we going to the nurse?”
    Brett smiled. Suddenly he was back to being the likable guy I had met at Calvi’s a few weeks earlier. “You don’t need a nurse. I got us out of gym because I need you to help me out.”
    I have to say that I was pretty surprised. One minute the guy is taunting me, the next he’s asking for help? Besides, how could I, the new kid in town, help the Savior of Indiana?
    Brett pulled a chair next to mine. “You’re gonna need to get us into the movies on Friday night.”
    I blinked. “What?”
    â€œ The Bloodmaster , dude. We all wanna go see it on Friday at the mall, but it’s rated R.”
    This was the horror flick Brett, Eddie, and Fudge had been talking about on the way to the quarry.
    â€œThat’s it? That’s all you need me to