Standing In The Rain

Cross Country: Meet 1 (thursday)

We got out of the van, and the girls' team stretched together. Brooke, Michelle, Jessie, Makala, and me. We walked the 4 kilometer long course and headed to the finish line. My friend Riley, from Art, handed me a water bottle at the start, he held up his camera and mouthed "I'll get you!" I laughed nervously even though my stomach threatened to throw up my lunch.

"Good luck with that, I'm running this like a race." I said.

He smiled back, "Well, good luck to you, this *is* a race!"

I threw the water bottle back to him, and he easily caught it with his free hand. He jogged to the first turn a short bit away.

I whispered "Oh, God," as the start-man raised his starter gun and hollered "On your marks..."
I threw my hand to my watch as the shot the gun into the air. In my head, a voice screamed "Go!" I was confused. I rounded the first, second turn easily. I settled into my 2 km pace. Who's voice was it, said "Go!" in my head? I crested up a hill and counted the number of people ahead of me. 14. By the time I got done using the hill, it was only 12.. Time flew by as i rounded curves, jumped over tree roots, and passed other panting girls. I slowed down even more once I got to the 3 km mark. My lungs were burning. My joints were pleading to stop. "Keep going!" I growled to my self as I passed yet another girl. 5. That meant I was 7th place? A tall girl with short hair pulled back cut in front of me. My feet pounded after her. I made my strides lengthen to match hers, they were so long! I looked up. Up ahead, I knew, was a down hill. I pulled away from the girl, sprinting, to the hill. She gave chase, I could here her ragged breathing. But then, I thought, that could be my breath. I can't tell, it's too loud... She finally slowed down, and I was grateful. I was ready to puke. I was done. I wanted to be done. But I couldn't be. I worked for this! My ankle started paining me again. Then I realized who's voice it was! I forced my self to think about him. Only him. I could finally see the finish. I could see girls finishing. I wanted that. I wanted that to be ME! I tore off once again, my legs, lungs, muscles everywhere complained. My breathing grew quicker and quicker until I was sure I'd pass out! As I neared, maybe 75 meters from the finish, I pushed my legs even harder. As if it was possible. I caught up to the girl in 6th place. I matched her pace, stride for stride. I pulled ahead. The tall girl from earlier also caught up with us, she pulled ahead of both of us. I gasped and pumped my arms. 50 meters. I kept just a few feet behind her. We left the other girl in the dust. I sprint as if there was a mound of candy at the end. As if Jayze had come to watch me. 10 meters. 10 feet. The tall girl still beat me though. I couldn't do it. I crossed the finish line a second after her.
   I don't remember much after that. But, no, I didn't pass out. I was just dazed. I see a tree that is swaying oddly. I know it shouldn't be swaying, but nothing I can do can make it stop. I reach it, put my hand around a low limb, and puke. A hand rubs my back and pushes a Dixie cup of water into my hand. I squeeze it, a concentrate on putting it up to my lips, but my breath is still coming so quickly I can't calm down enough to take a sip. I hear Riley telling me that I did good. That he'd gotten some pictures of the end. I smile weakly and finally manage a drink. Then he tells me that Makala was tripped by some Skillum girl, and that she might have broke her wrist. I jump up, and am greeted by a dizzy spell. John nonromantically puts his arm around my waist protectively waiting for me to fall over. He guides me 1 1/2 kilometers away from the finish where an emergency team is surrounding my friend.

Jayze is one of them.

      He seems shocked to see me, but notices mine and Makala's matching uniforms and understands quickly. He calls Riley and me over. He acts like he's never seen either of us before. I look at him confused. He opens his lips and asks Riley to grab two towels and ice bags from our camp. He says it with such dominance that Riley turns and runs in the opposite direction to our camp with out saying a word. Jayze lays me down in the grass and whispers in my ear.
"Don't let them know you know me. I trust you haven't told anybody?"
"No, I didn't mention you to anybody." I whisper. "Why-"
"Not here. tomorrow. And you are running a fever. And, uh-I, I mean, I saw you run. You aren't too bad." He smirked and waited for my reaction. But I didn't have one. I had a straight face because I was so confused, tired, sore, thirsty and in pain.
"Jayze." My voice was so soft, no one else had a shot at hearing it, but him.
"yeah?"
"My ankle hurts. Real bad. And I feel like I need t-" I spun over onto my stomach and leapt to my knees. I took a few steps on them before I puked again.
"Come here" he guides me towards Makala again. But I don't remember ever getting there. I remember him lying me down, with my head resting on his lap. I barely remember him saying "thanks" and something so cold set onto my foot, I nearly cried out. Then a freezing cold towel was gently settled onto my forehead.