I was almost halfway up when I heard a giggle. I was self conscious again, I couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong. Then I heard another giggle followed by another and another. Then it turned into hysterical laughter. It felt like I was the only one who didn’t get the joke. I looked down humiliated and I caught a glimpse of Paige’s wide-eyed and bright red face. I immediately let go of the rope and fell flat on the mat below me with a thud. I got up as fast as I could and ran into the girls’ locker room.

As I passed the big mirror outside the bathroom I noticed my tear-stained face. Then what I saw almost made me faint: I had forgotten to put my gym shorts on! I didn’t know what to do. Should I cry, laugh, or what? Then without warning, laughter exploded from inside me and I couldn’t control it.

“Are you OK? Look I am so sorry that…..” Paige stared at me in confusion.

“Yeah I’m OK…it’s just that I find it funny how nervous I get sometimes. I probably got what I deserved.” I finally answered, getting my laughter under control.

“Maybe next time you won’t get so freaked out over nothing.”

“Hopefully you’re right and I won’t get embarrassed like I do constantly.”

“Hey, do you mind putting your pants back on its kind of weird you know.”

I looked at Paige and we both starting laughing.

“You know what, Paige,” I said “I think that hiding from your fears won’t help you at all, but if you face your fears you wont have to spend your whole life hiding from anything.”

She smiled at me and after I put my shorts on, we walked proudly back into the gym together.