Standing In The Rain

Are you gonna kiss me or not? (song)

"So what makes you so special? I mean, why did they let you join the MUTTS when you were only 8 years old? Isn't that, a bit ridiculous?"

"Everybody is 'special', Alex," He mocked that common parent voice, but then he laughed, and resumed talking like his own flirty self.  "Just like everybody else!"

I laughed. Normally at school, I laugh so that my friends don't think I am depressed or something. At home, I don't really say a thing. And when I do, it's only about important stuff that doesn't need my opinion. But with Jae, I laugh. Alot. And it isn't like that stupid forced laugh my sister does to flirt with the football boys. Speaking of which, like I predicted, she DID go out with that dumb jock, Jake. It lasted about 3 weeks I think. And it ended because Jake finally became too predictable for her. It was typical. But she still loudly laughed at their jokes. All of the football, baseball, rugby,and basketball guys. But Jae, shares my sarcastic sense of humor. Pretty much unlike anybody else.

"Ready?" He says.
I bob my head up to look at the first base. Every 2 weeks we would change up the course. This was the last day for this one activity that we nicknamed the 'fan'. It works on sudden change in direction. From home, I run to fist base. Then I run back to home base. As I near home, Jae yells either 1st, 2nd, or 3rd base, from which I have to turn around and run to that base. Sometimes, he will call out a command like "pushups!" and I must drop to the ground and do pushups until he calls out another base. Other times, before I even get back to home base, he will yell out a different base, and I will have to switch direction.

I nod my head. "All right" he says "let's make this one good! 2nd base, GO!" He yells. I tear off to 2nd base, slam my foot on it, and turn around. I hear him yell "3rd!" just as I turn. I twist again to my right, to go to third base. As I touch 3rd, I kick off to home, as I near the last 6 feet, he yells "slide!" I threw one my right foot out too far, so that my legs slipped out from underneath me. But it was on purpose. I quickly slipped my left foot up to my right knee while keeping my right leg straight and foot pointed. My elbow dug into the dirt, it burned. After a few harsh minutes of pure sprinting (6 minutes will get you over a mile, so a few is far :) Jayze threw my an icy water bottle. It was only half full. I paused before drinking it.

"Did... ugh, you... drink some?" I asked through forced breathing. He looked away, his eyes were sheepish, and he could barely keep a poker face.

"No... why would you think that?" He was struggling to keep a frown on his face!! I kept my own straight-face, and walked up to him. I was about to take a huge risk. I was feeling good about it, though. I got real close to him, and shook the nearly empty bottle.

"Come on." He broke into a grin, it showed his bright teeth. They were all perfect except the front, top two, had a gap. But it just made him look more mischievous and daring. Just one more thing that I loved about him. For the first time, he actually touched me. He grabbed my hand, and guided me to the wooded trees beyond the field. I giggled and followed him. I couldn't believe this was happening. About a quarter mile into the woods, he abruptly stopped. He looked around, to his left, right, behind us, even up to the sky. It wasn't very late, but it seemed quite dark because of the mass of branches above. He leaned in. Put his lips real close. And just when I thought it would happen, he whispered, "you ready?" Just like he had so many times before some sprint drill. Many people say that their heart pounds and flutters when they are in love. But I can't tell. I am much too focused on far more important things. I nod my head. I am about to go numb. "Good" he whispers. He ducks, so quickly I am startled. He moves some inconspicuous branches, moss, leaves, debris, ecetra, until he finds a small brass knocker. He pulls up on the handle.
He steps on the declining, cement steps down underground. Cement. I can tell by the dull 'thump' sound it makes every time he steps lower. I am disappointed. I really thought it could have.. No. I was stupid to think that that would ever happen. I sighed, and followed Jayze under ground. He grabbed a torch, crouched down, and whipped the torch against a brick to the side on the step. It burst into a smoldering flame, threatening to choke me. He reached for the door and yanked on another handle. We went probably 30 feet underground when Jae finally flipped on a switch.