With Art as their new addition they set off running to the park. Art tried to keep up with Cara but was quick to realize that she was going to be very much ahead of both he and Asher. “Man, your sister is fast.” Art dropped back to match Asher’s pace watching the distance between them grow.

“Yea, she has been at this for ever I guess.” Asher managed to get this out between breaths.

Art slowly pickled up his pace showing a sheen of sweat on his forehead. ‘I will at least beat Asher there.’ This thought was resounding in his head over and over. He would beat his rival this time.

‘Art you can have this one, I will crush you in the jog home.’ Asher watched Art push himself hard at the start and made no move to compete just yet. This was a marathon not a sprint.

The three made it to the park to continue on to the circuits. Cara had already gotten her drink and was about to start the circuit leaving Asher to show Art the rotation. Asher took some sips and did not want to be left behind his sister too much.

“Seriously? No break?” Art complained a bit before sipping water and joining them still breathing heavily. The circuits went faster and after and Asher tried his best to keep up with Cara this time around.

‘I have no chance if keeping up with her running but I can try to beat her in circuits.’ His small goal was set and Cara seemed to feel this. She picked up her own pace and started to even do five extra repetitions to her own workout. Thus gave Asher the illusion he was catching up but really Cara had just started to be serious.

Art was trying his best to get the thirty repetitions but found himself five behind Asher and fifteen behind Cara. He looked at his own body wondering if he had really even been trying to pursue his dream of being a hero better than his brother. “UUUgghhhhh Let’s gooooo!” With his sudden outburst Art pushed his body faster and faster. He had found his own flame that would drive him.

Cara finished her circuits first which was to be expected. She stretched a little seeing that she had plenty of time to get herself some water and also start her long run home. She set a watch on her wrist as a timer. “If you two want to get better you should start to time yourselves. I am going to break my record today so don’t even try to distract me.” She got herself in to a sprinter’s start position and clicked start on her watch. With a little dust kicked up behind her the two boys just stared at her silhouette in awe.

“I never knew she was that fast!” Asher was amazed by his sister.

“Oh my God! We are literally being left in the dust. Let’s go!” Art started off behind Cara not even taking another sip of water before leaving. Asher did not make this mistake and gulped a little water then started his jogging pace.

Art looked to be well ahead of him but slowly Asher started to gain his ground back. Four streets from his house he was even with Art who was huffing and puffing along. “See you at breakfast!” Asher yelled and took off in to a sprint. Art was completely out of energy and could not even bother to look up at Asher.

When Asher burst through the door he could hear Cara coming down the stairs. ‘She still beat me in and out of the shower! I need to be faster next time.’ He knew he would not beat her home but for her to take the time to shower and change was an insult to his speed. “Finally made it back huh? Where’s your money friend? Don’t tell me he got lost?” Cara teased him while sitting down to some toast and eggs.

Asher rushed to the shower and started to get ready for school. Hew wanted to be able to sit down and eat this time. The door slamming open as a ragged looking Art walked in was the next thing he saw as he too came out of his room tucking in his shirt. “Dude…huff…hufff…how…did…hufff…you already… get ready…hufff?” Art was just as shocked as Asher had been the first time he had worked out with Cara.

“You’ll get used to it if you don’t pace yourself tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day, and the next day.” Asher let his taunts drift to Art’s ears as he sat down just in time to have a seated breakfast. His mother put together an egg sandwich for Art with a smile on her face. She knew that Asher had just been this way the day before and learned his lesson. Now that he had a rival in the house that he could compete against she was sure that they would both improve until they could properly challenge Cara.

Art tried his best to rush downstairs but by the time he got there Asher was standing there with a sandwich in his hands, “Awe I was just about to eat your breakfast too.” Art jumped forward to snag the sandwich from Asher’s hands.

“Ha! I am too fast, I am victorious!” Art had the egg sandwich in his hands and felt that his whole workout of torture was worth it. He hadn’t had a warm breakfast in days, this was ecstasy.

“Come on, Jane is already here waiting for us.” The two left out the front door while Asher grabbed a bagged lunch for the two of them. There were more fruits and even a small protein shake in them. His mother had started to take not of the needs they would have when working out like Cara and adjusted the lunches she would make.

“Thanks for lunch Mom!” Asher yelled one last goodbye before heading out himself.

“Good morning Asher, Art.” The sweet voice of Jane was one that warmed their hearts after their tough morning workout.

“Good morning.” The two said in unison, although Art’s voice was a bit rough since he had a mouthful of egg sandwich.

“My mom said we should have cooking classes today. Think we will make something good?” Asher recalled the dinner conversation the night before and was actually excited to make some food himself. “I really hope we make tacos…” He mumbled this under his breath hoping that some luck flowed and it would come true.

Jane heard this and could only wonder why he wanted tacos so badly. “If we don’t make tacos then I can make some for you another time.’ She turned her body away from him while she said this acting sheepish.

“You would make me tacos! That would be the best thing ever!” Asher was immediately caught in to the joy of his favorite food.

“I’m getting a feeling that you really like tacos.” Art had stuffed the rest of his egg sandwich in his mouth and looked at Asher who was nearly dancing about the street due to excitement.

With Art’s comment Asher took a hold of himself and cleared his throat. “Ehm, well I guess you could say they are my favorite.” Jane made a mental note to never forget this. ‘I will learn the best taco recipe ever.’ She had a new goal in life.

With the talk of food being their main topic the rest of the way to their classes the three now knew that Jane had a sweet tooth for anything strawberry and that Art would get in to a fight over any kind of smoked meats.

“Well let’s try to survive the academics. Good luck my friends, may you both hold on to your souls.” Art was dramatic but seeing that Mr. Smith already had some math formulas on the board when they walked in to the class they felt that it may be harder than they expected.

Feeling their brains slowly melt for the hours of academic every student started to come to life when Mr. Smith started to announce what was next. “Today we will start our cooking course. We get to use the kitchens once a week and we will start with a simple recipe. We will be making double chocolate chip cookies. If anyone wants to suggest a recipe for next week please place it in the box up front here. I will give you all five minutes to do so before we head over to the kitchen.”

Asher tore out as many papers as he could and started writing tacos over and over. “You will all only get one vote” Mr. Smith saw what Asher was attempting and put an end to it instantly. ‘There is no way I will be making tacos for a year straight’ This was Mr. Smith’s fear. However he also noticed that Jane had written the same thing down so he sighed knowing that with his luck he would be making tacos at least twice.