Oleg made his way to gym when it came to 11 A.M. He stuff his backpack in his locker and grabbed out his gym clothes, snagging a pair of runners (size 24), some sweats, and a type of shirt that had the unfortunate moniker of 'wife beater,' before proceeding to the men's change room. He doffed his boots, jeans, and shirt to change. There was no self-consciousness about it for him; he had a body that gave him no need to feel ashamed. Perhaps he was too big, too many muscles to be attractive, but there was only one person whose opinion mattered in that regard. The big guy laced up his runners and made his way out to the basketball court.<br/><br/>Along the way he looked over at the football field, where the coach and the members of the Crows were congregated. Oleg stopped, and reflected on what could have been if his burgeoning gifts had not led him to stop playing on the team. The big guy could probably have had any position on the team he wanted; on the offensive there would be no one who could stop him, and on the defensive no linesman could keep him from breaking through and sacking the QB. He tensed a hand, feeling the strength of his flesh as the warming rays of the yellow sun showered down upon him, their role in empowering him unknown.<br/><br/>The big guy got back in motion, however, as the gym teacher blew his whistle to get some stragglers to get in gear. Oleg was broken from his reverie. The target for the gym teacher's whistle was young men who were not as physically inclined. Thin or overweight boys for whom gym class was a tormenting period of humiliation and a reminder of their physical inadequacy. Oleg always took it easy on them, and played to their level whenever they were paired up - he was careful not to hurt them or be callous in showing off what he could do. It was not, after all, their fault that they were not born like he was. And their gifts lay elsewhere; Oleg saw Harvey Wainwright, a gifted chess player who was a strong contender for the Kansas state chess championship, but who weighed all of 98 pounds soaking wet after a heavy meal.<br/><br/>One of the football players took aim at Harvey with a football. A Jordan Hayner, the back-up QB who made up for not being as good as Ashley with being meaner. Oleg broke into a run - no faster than a normal man in prime athletic condition - as Jordan threw the ball with all the force he could. It spiraled through the air beautifully, with a great, stable rotation that would have ensured the ball covered the distance and retained force on impact. But instead of the back of an unsuspecting nerd head, the ball was stopped by Oleg's outstretched hand. His huge palm curved around the pigskin and strong, long fingers curved around the ball's curves to arrest its forward motion even as Harvey continued to describe to two friends how he would implement a labyrinth that contained a minotaur with a transformative, petrifying gaze to a pair of friends. The sound of Oleg catching the ball startled the three of them, who turned with painful slowness to see Oleg looming overhead, casting a long shadow over them with arm outstretched.<br/><br/>"T-thanks, Oleg." Harvey said in a small voice.<br/><br/>Oleg nodded. "оно было ничего." He replied: 'it was nothing.' The big man took a few steps away from Harvey and his friends, who were moving over to the main body of students to be less obvious targets. Oleg cocked his arm back and then hurled the ball back. It was just as good a throw as the one Jordan made, if not better. Oleg had a stronger arm, and his aim was just as fair. The ball sailed over to the football field. And when Jordan tried to catch it, the force of the throw knocked him off balanced and to one knee. The other football players who were watching laughed.<br/><br/>Oleg gave Jordan a small nod. "Think twice." Oleg murmured, although the distance was so great there was no chance he would be heard. For his part, Jordan just glared with wounded pride.<br/><br/>"Oleg, hustle up!" The gym teacher called, blowing his whistle. The tall young man turned away from Jordan and went to stand with the rest of the class.