Swell I {Then, There Were Four}

[Dreamforge]

"No more..."

"I beg your pardon?

"N...No more! I can't let you go through with this! I... I won't allow it!"

"Oh? I believe you must be mistaken Principal Krepps. We're not asking for your permission. This is merely a heads up."

"G...Get out! Just get out! Tell Cecilly I'm not playing her lapdog any longer!"

"'That so? Well that's rather sad to hear."

"Wh...what are you..."

*click*

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[COLOR=Red]SWELL[/COLOR]
First Movement: Then, there were Four.
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"So you're saying you used to have your ass kicked by a kid with no legs?"

"If really had to go for the paradoxical, yes you can say that."

"All the time?"

"Every recess."

"Dude, that's like... that's beyond weak!"

"He was a big kid! Really strong arms! Really fast in a wheel chair!"

"Whatever, Blake. I'm just glad I don't have that kind of drama."

Charlie Forrest was geek. He was asthmatic, wore glasses, greasy haired, rather short and spindly, had a face pockmarked like the planet Mars and was capable of reciting at least ten minute's worth of Japanese dialogue from any Anime movie released after 1979.

Up until recently, he was actually just as big a geek as Blake Takashima (who, despite the last name, only understood Charlie's obsession). The Takashimas moved to Harrington only a year ago but they were best friends from that very first meeting. If it wasn't obvious enough, though, "up until recently" means that a few things have changed.

Charlie Forrest was Blake Takashima's best friend for a number of good reasons. Both were tenth graders having each skipped a grade before (then again, Brett skipped two and was now a Senior); both were rock bottom in the high school social ladder; both were overshadowed by more popular older siblings (Rex Forrest played Center for the Harrington Men's Basketball Team); and both were overshadowed by everyone else.

Being fourteen in the Tenth Grade meant for some noticeable "behindness" in physical development. This was especially true in Harrington Secondary School where everybody seems to be modeling for some bizarre four-dimensional Health and Beauty catalog. Everyone, that is save for the tiny geek population and the odd "normal-looking" transferee. Then again, the transferees all end up blending in with Harrington's picture perfect community anyway... which frustrated Blake quite a bit: he was still a runt and Harrington hadn't changed that.

This brings us back to Charlie Forrest who, up until recently, had the same sentiments despite having been born there. He was more than a little pleased then (and Blake, more than a little irked) when he was finally getting solid proof that he wasn't in fact a midget.

Charlie grew two inches in two months. He was an inch shorter than Blake but now he was an inch taller. He also gained more weight than he'd expect from a two-inch growth spurt. And judging from the fact that his body was as fatless as always (and the mild definition forming in his arms and legs) it was probably good weight gain.

As the two walked to school that morning, a teasing grin crossed Charlie's face, reflecting the bright sunshine. Blake sulked under his own personal storm cloud, plotting to spike his best friend's lunch drink with a shaker-full of salt. That should teach him to be a cocky asshole.

"Oi! Eight Eyes!" a voice hollered behind them. Before either of them could look back, they felt the wight of two heavy, muscular arms drape down their shoulders and the pain of a sharp pinch in the rib cage.

"Dammit Cam! Oww!" They cried in unison.

Reeling forward, they then felt a pair of large hands tussle-up their hair.

"Mornin'!"

"Jeez Cam! Must you do that every morning?" Blake barked, trying to regain hold of his heavy backpack.

"Yup!" the "assailant" flashed back with a smile even brighter than Charlie's was.

"Well you two seem to be in high spirits." Blake gruffed.

Cameron Marches was another friend of Blake's and Charlie's. Unlike the two bespectacled runts-of-their-litters, Cameron was a jock. He was also a tenth grader but unlike the two, he really was supposed to be in the tenth grade. He was tall- a smidge over six feet, had a toned, tanned boxing physique and was handsome the way only a green-eyed, blond-haired Frenchman could be handsome. Unfortunately for every girl who has heard of his thick eight incher, he was also the only openly gay athlete in the Harrington Champion Boxing Team.

"I was wondering about that, Chuck. New anime movie coming out?"

"Nah." Charlie replied, his grin not fading. "let's just say I've 'outgrown' that for the time being."

Cameron eyed for a while Charlie and approached him. He then proceeded to wrap a large hand around one of Charlie's biceps and proceeded to squish it. Charlie was shy at first but he went on to brush it aside, flexing hard to Cameron's touch.

"Oh!" Cameron remarked, a bit surprised at the unexpectedly hard and large ball of flesh in Charlie's arm. It was hardly anything compared even to most of the eight graders but knowing Charlie for as long as he has, it was certainly something.

"Yeah. It's going to all come in soon. I can feel it! And when it does, it's hello Danielle Chen!"

"Always with Danielle Chen with this guy" Blake muttered to Cam who only nodded as he held back a laugh.

"You know Charlie, it's probably going to 'come in' even faster if you actually had some physical exercise. You and Blake seriously need to get off your asses more often." Cameron then paused, held Charlie by the shoulders and swayed him around to get a good look at him. "Hmmm. By the looks of it, you might be an easy gainer if you just tried. I've asked you before and I'll ask you again - wanna try working out? I'm there at the gym everyday after class."

Charlie collected his composure after the brisk manhandling.

"You think I'm an easy gainer?"

"Well, you haven't exactly been doing a hundred push-ups a day have you?"

"Still watching net porn to the wee hours!" Charlie answered proudly with Blake only shaking his head as he stifled a chortle himself.

"Then work out with me then. You never know, you might even get something half as spectacular as this."

With that, Cameron flexed a large, cut bicep, drawing Blake and Charlie to stare at it like moths to a bug zapper.

The two came back to their senses with a snap, cracked in front of their faces by a tall brunette in a black tank top.

"Sorry to interrupt your muscle drool session but you guys are late as it is."

Eva Bloom. The final member of their Gang of Four. 5'7" of sassback and unofficial ringleader of their little group. She was Cameron's next door neighbor and closest friend.

"What are you doing out here then?" Cameron snapped playfully; his brows furrowed, feigning annoyance.

"I was looking for you guys of course! First period has been canceled."

"Awww. And I was so looking forward to gym today" Blake droned sarcastically, cracking a full-blown sunny-day grin as well.

"Why?" Charlie asked.

"There's an assembly in five minutes. Something about a new Principal."

"What happened to Principal Krepps?"

"How should I know? Just come on, they'll probably talk about it there!"

With that, the four raced into the school, letting the world pass by without them.

~*~*~*~

"Brett, I really think you should go to sch...ooOOOoooaaahhh!"

"Blake texted. It's just an assembly out there. We can go for one more round."

"You're such a spoiled brat, y....aaaah..."

"Hush. We have a good hour and a half left..."

"Brett..."

{End of First Movement}

*Help turn a nerd into a hot nerd! Post suggestions on ways how today!

[wolfotehmoon]

I vouch for some kinnikudebu! (i.e. Thickly muscled, but not ripped; a powerlifter's build, but a lot more cut, though still belly-riffic :P) And for method... How about some good ol' fashioned hard work, coupled with a freakishly magnified growth spurt?

[Dreamforge]

[How about some good ol' fashioned hard work, coupled with a freakishly magnified growth spurt?[/quote]

I do believe that's it ?_?

[therealm1]

This has the beginnings of a fun story. I love high school mis-adventures!

[digger]

Any progress on the next installment? Is Blake going to start down the road to surpassing Brett?

[Dreamforge]

Originally Posted by digger

Any progress on the next installment? Is Blake going to start down the road to surpassing Brett?

He will but not for a while. Just a bit sidetracked with stuff...