Pepped Up (18 page)

Chapter 16

Even though the fainting episode is all over the Internet, none of my friends talk about it in the days leading up to Regionals. In fact, I think everyone must have decided not to get me worked about qualifying for Nationals because my friends seem to avoid any mention of the race. I appreciate the sentiment, and surprisingly, it does help keep me from obsessing about the race.

After school
each day, it’s just me, Ryan and Coach Tom at practice. Charlie offered to help pace me at workouts, but I could tell he was enjoying his afternoons off with Zoe so I told him not to worry about it. Ryan and I are enjoying are the extra time together too. The transition from friends to more-than-friends is surprisingly easy. It’s a natural development, and there aren’t any complications, aside from Lisa giving me dirty looks in the hallways.

I can’t help but contemplate what a transition
to more-than-friends would be like with Jace. There’s no question that it would come with a boatload of complications. Our different social circles being at the top of the list. Ryan’s hybrid social status - as a runner and a popular senior - makes being together easy.

Ryan’s parents invite me over for a pasta dinner the night before Regionals. I’m bringing a plate of meatballs out to the dining room table when Kevin joins me.

“So you’re Ryan’s girlfriend now, huh?” He asks.

“
Sort of. How do you feel about that?” I don’t know what else to say and it seems like he brought it up to give me his opinion anyway.

“It’s cool. I like you way better than Katie. That was his girlfriend in California.”

“Oh. Okay, well, that’s good I guess.” I’m not sure I want to know anything else about Katie. It’s enough that Ryan was with her for almost three years.

“S
he was really mad they broke up,” Kevin says in a loud whisper. “My room was next to Ry’s and I could hear her sobbing and being all hysterical. It was funny.”

“Kevin! That’s not funny. That’s sad. What if I cry and get hysterical if Ryan breaks up with me? I’d feel even worse knowing you would be laughing.”

Kevin smirks. “It probably wouldn’t be funny if it was you. She was just a drama queen so it was different.” He shrugs. “Anyway, Ry would be an idiot if he broke up with you. But if he does, I’m happy to console you.” Kevin grins widely and I laugh. He’s pretty ballsy for a fourteen-year-old. I was under the impression he was shy, but I clearly pegged him wrong.

On the way back to my apartment later that night, I tell Ryan,
“Your brother told me he’ll console me if you ever break up with me. Looks like you’ve got some competition.” I nudge him lightly in the ribs.

“
And why would I break up with you?” Ryan asks.

I shrug. “He said your old girlfriend didn’t take it well.”

“Yeah, she really didn’t,” he says tiredly. “I think she thought we’d stay together when she went to college and then go on to get married.”

“Does she still think that?” After all, it ha
sn’t been so long since they broke up.

“I doubt it.”
But he doesn’t sound so sure. “I’m sure she’s met tons of guys in college.”

I c
an’t tell if I’m just being paranoid but I think I detect a note of regret in his voice.

***

              The sky is filled with dark clouds when we arrive at the course the next morning. It’s at a park south of Denver and I’ve never raced here before. I recognize a few of the girls from Colorado, but most of the people warming up are from other states. We are the furthest west state in the Midwest Region, and people flew in from places like Chicago, Cleveland, and Milwaukee. Some drove long distances from the Dakotas or Kansas. I almost feel guilty that Ryan and I got to sleep in our own beds and drove just one hour.

             
Not to mention the advantage we have from living at altitude. Denver is the mile high city, and people traveling from sea level won’t be used to the oxygen deprivation.

             
I inhale the cool air, and think about the course I just walked through. It’s incredibly hilly, and I like hills. The ominous clouds look like they’ll break at any moment, and I love to run in the rain. Everything seems to be in my favor.

             
I adjust Jace’s friendship bracelet that I tied onto my wrist last night. No point in being stubborn about it. I’ll take any luck I can get.

The storm doesn’t start gently. The boys race first
and seconds after the gun goes off, a gust of wind blows across the course, bring with it sheets of rain. I jog over to Gran’s car, and we huddle inside with the heat cranked up. I wish I could cheer for Ryan, but it’s more important to stay dry and warm before my race.

             
“The course is going to be completely torn up for my race,” I tell Gran.

             
“That’ll be fun! You can get all muddy. Think of it like an obstacle course,” she says excitedly.

             
“That’s actually pretty good advice for someone who has never run a mile in her life.” We exchange grins.

             
I huddle under a tree a few minutes before the race starts. Coach finds me and tells me to triple knot my shoes. “Once they get wet, they’ll slide right off. I just saw a guy run by in nothing but his socks.”

             
“Thanks, Coach.”

             
“I’d give you a hug for luck Pep, but I’m drenched, and you’re still pretty dry.”

             
I wait under the tree until the last possible second to toe the line. It’s a bit silly, since I’ll get drenched immediately. My teammates drove down to cheer for us, and I’m glad they had the foresight to dress appropriately. I hardly recognize them all bundled up in rain gear when they approach me.

             
“Ryan won!” Omar exclaims.

             
I grin. No one says anything about what place I need to get (top ten, I’m all too aware) to qualify for Nationals so I can go to San Diego with Ryan. But they wish me luck.

             
“You love running in the rain, Pepper. Just do your thing!” Zoe encourages me.

             
“Have fun out there,” Charlie tells me.

             
“I will,” I say with a smile.

             
“Hurry up already or you’ll miss the start!” Claire cries nervously.

             
I laugh and wave to my friends before heading to the starting line. Not surprisingly, I feel like I’ve jumped in a pool with my clothes on before the race has even begun.

             
Embrace it.

             
I’m nearly taken out right at the start line. When the gun goes off, I dig my spiked cross shoes into the mud, but find that it’s hard to get a grip. There aren’t as many girls in the race as Districts or State, but with all the slipping and sliding, I still have to keep my elbows out to prevent getting knocked over. We spread out after a few hundred yards, but I’m wary that I could find myself on the ground this time around for a completely different reason.

             
Just do your thing. I remember Zoe’s words as I settle in with the lead group. Coach and I didn’t really talk about a plan for this race, but I know what to do. Stay in the lead group as long as possible, and kick it up a notch at the end. We don’t know exactly where I’ll stand against the out of state girls, since I’ve never competed against them before.

             
The pace isn’t too uncomfortable, but I can hardly make out the course in front of me, and I’m afraid I could trip at any minute. The mile markers aren’t visible through the pounding rain, and the noisy winds prevents me from hearing anyone on the sidelines call out splits.

             
I’m guessing we’re at about a mile when my foot lands in a deep puddle. I sink into mud up to my knee, and when I pull my foot out, I’ve lost a shoe.

             
The triple knots didn’t work.

             
I don’t even consider stopping to put it back on. Who knows if I could even fish it out of the mud puddle? It might be lost forever. There’s no time to spare, and besides, I still have one shoe to help me maintain some traction.

The grassy part of the course that I walked through an hour a
go is now like a slip n’ slide. Charlie’s voice bounces through my head. Have fun out there.

             
The rain soaks through my jersey so it clings to me like a second skin. I try not to let the sliding sock on my right foot mess with my balance as we wind down a hill. Leaning forward, the momentum helps me fly ahead of the pack with little effort.

             
Two girls won’t let me take the lead, and when they pull in front of me at the bottom of the hill, I tuck in behind them. Their bodies protect me from the gusts of wind that threaten to knock us over. My ponytail whips around me head, and I focus on steadily moving forward and keeping my balance. 

             
We’ve reached the last hill before the final stretch. I can just make out my teammates through the pounding rain. They are lined up along the steep incline, screaming my name.

             
At that moment, the sliding sock on my right foot catch on a root, or something on the ground. I pitch forward face first, with no time to brace myself. I swallow a mouthful of mud, and I’m sure I’m completely covered in it. I scramble up quickly.

             
The two girls have started up the hill, but I can still catch them. One is in a yellow uniform, and the other in red. The sock on my right foot has now come off, and I’m completely barefoot on my right foot. It’s actually easier to grip the ground now.

Think of it like an obstacle course
. Gran’s full of good advice. She’s probably freezing her butt off at the finish line, waiting for me to run by.

I dig my feet into the mud and embrace the burning in my quads. The harder I push, the deeper the pain in my legs and my lungs. But I’m closing the gap with the two girls in front of me, and that makes it worth it.

Just before reaching the top, the girl in the yellow uniform pitches forward and hits the ground. She’s back on her feet already when I pass her, but she’s lost her momentum. It’s not easy to regain on this terrain.

I’m shoulder to shoulder with the girl in the red uniform when we hit the top of the climb. It’s a straight 100 meters to the finish. I can barely make out the finish
line through my mud caked lashes, but it doesn’t matter. I’m not easing up.

I’ve got one shoe on, and I’m soaked in mud
from head to toe. Literally. This is my kind of race. The discomfort from the elements is nothing compared to the throbbing in my muscles. I welcome it all as I force my legs into sprint mode.

The girl in the red uniform doesn’t have a kick le
ft in her and she disappears from my side as soon as I crank it up. I can just make out familiar voices screaming my name when I zoom in on the finish.

Cameras flash and
I have to smile, because I just know those photos are going to be something else. I can already imagine a blown up photo of me covered in mud hanging over the fireplace. Gran will love it.

Chapter 17

There’s not too much celebrating
with my teammates immediately after the race. We’re all ready to get home for hot showers and clean clothes.

I first rinse off all the mud from my body in a shower, and then soak in the bath. Jace calls to congratulate me, but we don’t have much time to talk. He’s at the State semi-final game and it’s about to start.

After I blow dry my hair and change into yoga pants and a hoodie, the reality that I’m going to Nationals sinks in. It’s a bit anti-climactic. I could tell that my friends and teammates expected me to qualify, even after the disaster at State. We have two weeks to fine tune before it’s off to California, and a whole other set of competitive runners to confront.

My body is sore and tired, and I let myself doze on my bed. I don’t normally take naps, but I did just win Regionals. I deserve one!

I
won
Regionals.

Regionals.

I beat the top runners from fourteen states.

Now what?

My phone ringing wakes me up some time later that afternoon. I see it’s Wes on the caller ID.

“Hello?”

“Hey congrats! I heard you qualified for Nationals. I knew you would.”

“Thanks.”

“You know it’s Jace’s party tonight, right?” He asks.

That’s right. Kayla and Andrea cornered me at my locker the other day at school and asked me to come. It was weird. I’d stopped going to Jace’s birthday parties when he started high school. 

“Yeah, I know about the party. His birthday is Monday,” I say grumpily. Can’t a girl get some peace and quiet?

“You going? I can give you a ride later.”

“No, that’s not really my thing, Wes. Are Lincoln people going?”

“Yeah. And CU. It’s going to be huge. You should come.”

“What’s the point?” I ask. “I have Nationals in less than two weeks Wes, and a huge party isn’t a good idea.”

Wes sighs. “A couple of Jace’s friends really want you to go. They said they asked you already, and they asked me to ask you because you told them no.”

“Huh? Why do they even care?” I rub my eyes, and pat my bed for Dave to jump up.

“I don’t know. They think Jace will be happier about the whole surprise party thing if you show. Not that it’s even a surprise at this point,” he adds.

“Wes, he’s not going to care.” In fact, I can almost guarantee he wouldn’t want me there. “Seriously, I’m not going.”

Wes doesn’t push it. I’m already doing what I can, I don’t need to change. I never went to his parties before.

Gran is at a knitting/smoking pot get-together, so I’m on my own for the night. Fortunately, Zoe calls shortly after I hang up with Wes to invite me over. She’s inviting Charlie too, and I’m supposed to call Ryan.

“You can go to Jace’s party if you’d rather, Ry. I know it’s supposed to be this big thing,” I tell him over the phone. We’re technically together, but he still hangs out with Jace’s group, and I don’t want to be a party pooper.

“I would only go if you wanted to. I just want to hang out with you.”

Awww, sheesh.

I decide not to change out of my yoga pants and hoodie. We’re just going to lounge around anyway. All the holding back makes sense now. I am physically and mentally drained. Certainly not enough to keep me from feeling excited about Nationals, but I have to admit, Coach Tom knew what he was doing.

Gran has the car, so Ryan picks me up. He gives me a long kiss when I see him. Kissing each other hello or goodbye has become a regular thing over the past week.

“You clean up nice,” Ryan tells me after taking in my yoga pants.

I quirk in eyebrow. “I happen to think the mud covered look is quite sexy. On you, at least,” I say with a wink. Flirty isn’t usually my style, but sometimes Ryan brings it out in me. It’s the dimples. He’s so easy-going, it’s hard not to simply relax and enjoy being with him.

“I’m so proud of you Pepper,” Ryan pulls me in for a deeper kiss. The storm has stopped but it’s still windy and cold outside. I burrow into his arms, and let the warmth from his kiss seep through me.

When we get to Zoe’s place, it’s a zoo as usual. Her parents ordered pizza, and her two little brothers and sister scramble around the kitchen counter when it arrives. When I spend time with the Burtons, it’s easy to understand how Zoe is so chatty. Constant noise, every time I come over.

We head down to her basement after dinner to escape the chaos. “We’ve got tons of games, or we could play cards. Hey Pepper, what’s the game called again that we play sometimes with your Gran and Lulu?”

“Oh, Euchre? Yeah that’s a good game for four people. You guys know how to play?”

We teach Charlie and Ryan the rules, deciding on couple teams so that each team has one “experienced” player. At first, Zoe and I openly advise the guys about how to decide what cards to play, but the game quickly escalates to a fierce competition once everyone gets the hang of it.

“You guys want to finish this round and watch a movie or something? Or we have a hot tub if you want to go in?” Zoe asks.

“None of us brought bathing suits,” Charlie points out.

“Hmm . . .” Zoe taps her index finger on her chin, mulling this over. “Pepper can borrow one of mine. You guys could borrow my dad’s, or go in underwear?”

We decide to go with a movie, but it takes half an hour to decide on one. We end up going with
Up
, a cartoon with my favorite character ever, Doug the golden retriever. Zoe and Charlie take one end of the couch, and Ryan and I squeeze into an oversized recliner together. I’m half on his lap, but he assures me he’s comfortable. When the movie ends, I see I have three missed calls from Jace. That’s weird. I don’t usually hear from him at night, especially on the weekends. There’s one text.

u aren’t here

I frown. Since when did I go to these things? I went to one party with Ryan, and that thing at Wes’s house, but that doesn’t change the way things are.

I text back:
it’s not my thing, u know that

I hope he’s being good and not doing anything stupid.

It’s past my bedtime, but none of us wants the night to end. Ryan and I could go off to be alone, and let Zoe and Charlie do their thing, but I think there’s some sort of tacit agreement that we’re all better off hanging out as a group in this stage of our respective relationships. We decide to go in the hot tub, and apparently the guys are cool going in their underwear. My phone vibrates while I’m changing into one of Zoe’s bathing suits. It’s Jace.

“You’re still up?” He asks.

“Yeah. What’s going on?” I ask, concerned.

“Why didn’t you answer earlier?” He sounds needy, and it’s so unlike him that I’m immediately uneasy.

“We were watching a movie and my phone’s on vibrate. Aren’t you at your party?”

“I wanted you to be here. I told them that. They said they invited you. How come you didn’t come?” His voice sounds funny, slower and faster all at once.

“Ummm… I don’t know. I don’t usually go to your birthday parties, Jace. I haven’t since middle school.”

He sighs heavily and I can hear loud music and voices in the background. “Can I come over?”

“And leave your party? Why? Aren’t you having fun? How did the game go earlier?” Maybe they lost and he’s upset.

“We won. But I just want to see you. Or you can come here.”

“I’m at Zoe’s,” I tell him.

“Oh, that’s not far from here right?” He asks.
 

“I don’t know where you are,” I remind him.

“Jesse’s house.”

“I don’t know who Jesse
is or where he, or she, lives,” I explain to Jace.

Zoe comes back in the room with an armload of towels. She frowns. “Who’s on the phone?”

“Jace,” I tell her. She raises her eyebrows in question.

“Jace, just enjoy the party. We’re celebrating your birthday with Gran on Monday, when it’s your real birthday. Hang out with your friends.”

People call his name in the background. “Okay. I just, I wish sometimes you were with me all the time, but I know it’s better that you’re not. I’m glad you’re with Zoe.” He sounds far away now.

“I know. Okay, I gotta go, we’re getting in the hot tub. Have fun and be safe!” I know I sound like a mother, but really, that’s all I want for him tonight.

I can’t hear his response with all the background voices and he signs off a moment later.

“What was that all about?” Zoe asks.

“I’ll tell you later.” I don’t know how to explain the conversation I just had because I don’t understand it myself.

When we settle in the hot tub, Zoe looks at me and Ryan next to each other, with Ryan’s arm stretched out behind my back. “So are you two, like, together now or what?”

I roll my eyes at her bluntness but glance at Ryan, who is smiling at me. “Whatever Pepper says.”

I sigh dramatically. “I suppose you can call me your girlfriend if you want.”

Ryan’s smile widens. “So I’m your boyfriend now, huh?”

I shrug in response but lean in closer to him so he knows that I really mean it.

“Finally!” Zoe exclaims. “You’re like, so perfect for each other. We all knew it was going to happen. Right, Charles?”

Charlie blushes. “Yeah, it’s pretty classic. You guys are local celebrities and it seems right for you to be together.”

Zoe bounces up and down in the hot tub. “Hey! Maybe they’ll start calling you Pepyn. Or Ryper!”

We laugh at Zoe’s enthusiasm. “If you try to make one of those names stick, I’m going to start calling you two Zolie or Choey,” I warn her.

“I don’t know, Zolie’s actually pretty cool,” Zoe says, laughing.

We hang out in the hot tub chatting until our skin starts to prune. The hot tub is outside and the cool night air feels good on my hot skin when I get out. I let myself air dry for a minute while the boys pull on the cover. They look pretty silly with their cotton boxer shorts clinging to their little runner butts. I try not to stare at Ryan, but I’ve never seen him like this and it’s hard to look away.

“Pepper!” someone whispers from the other side of the yard, where the fence door opens to the sidewalk. We all look up to see two shapes walking toward us.

I recognize Jace immediately. His confident, smooth walk is slightly unbalanced. Remy is beside him. I can just make out their faces as they near us. Remy looks embarrassed and confused, but resigned. Jace is gazing straight at me but I refuse to make eye contact. I glance at Ryan, who’s reaching for a towel to wrap around his waist.

“What are you guys doing here?” I ask quietly, but with unmistakable accusation in my tone.

“I’m sorry, Pepper.” Remy puts up his hands, palms up. “He said he was coming here and I couldn’t get him to drop it. I haven’t had much to drink so I drove him. He’s wasted.”

Jace stumbles towards me for a hug and I can’t do anything but hug him back. I see Zoe widen her eyes over Jace’s shoulder.

“Hey, I thought you guys might want to come to the party,” Jace says when he finally releases me.