Pepped Up
Page 19
He raises an eyebrow. “I’m here for you, of course.”
“You flew all the way here to watch me race?”
“I did. Technically, I’m on an official recruiting trip to USD, so they paid for the flight.”
“Oh.” It would stink if he went to USD. Too far away.
“But between you and me,” Jace leans down to speak in my ear. “I’m going to sign for CU.”
I slap him on the arm. “That’s not very nice, Jace. Taking advantage of recruiting trips.”
He shrugs. “They don’t care.”
“So how did you get here from USD?”
“A friend from football camp is at USD and he let me borrow his car.”
I feel an arm around me and glance up at Ryan. I realize how close I was standing to Jace and I step back.
“Hey, man. This is a surprise, huh?” Ryan asks. He hasn’t shown much jealousy up to his point but his voice is unnaturally tight.
“Yeah, I couldn’t miss it.”
“Oh! I dropped the pins when you got here, let me find them.” I avoid the awkward moment and get down on my knees to look for the safety pins I dropped in the grass.
“Here, let me help you out.” Jace takes them from me and holds the bottom of my singlet as he pins it up for me. His movements force Ryan to take a step back, dropping his arm from me.
“Ryan, hi!” Katie bounces up to him and wraps him in her arms. Jace glances up at her for a moment and then back at me.
“Ex-girlfriend,” I tell him.
Jace doesn’t say anything while he continues to adjust my number, and I’m really thankful he doesn’t check her out. Ryan glances as me while Katie fawns over him. When we make eye contact, the irony of the situation dawns on me. What is happening here?
I blink and break eye contact with him. Now is not the time to think of it. I feel a twinge of guilt that Jace’s presence will mess with Ryan’s focus, but it immediately disappears when I realize his ex-girlfriend’s surprise visit does the same thing to me.
“I’ve gotta warm up, Jace,” I tell him when he finishes pinning the number to my jersey.
“Go do your thing. I’ll be here.” He gives me another hug.
“Warm up with me?” I ask Ryan.
“Sure.”
As we head off, I hear Katie introducing herself to Jace. He’s here for me, but Jace won’t turn down an opportunity to flirt with a hot girl. I just hope that’s all he does.
***
Coach told me that some girls might take off at a crazy pace and try to break away from the get go. He was right. Two girls sprint ahead like it’s a one mile race instead of 3.1. I know the girls at this race are supposedly the fastest in the nation, but there’s no way they’ll maintain that pace.
I settle in with the main pack. The pace is definitely faster than I’m used to. I can see Jace out of the corner of my eye, and it gives me confidence that I belong in this race. Earlier today, my main goal was not to embarrass myself. Now, I want to kick ass. I want Jace to be proud of me. I want to make it worth his trip to watch this.
We catch and pass the two girls who broke away by mile two. Coach told me that if I felt good at this point, I should go for it. But this pace is quick, and I don’t think I can pick it up. Listening to the labored breathing of the four other girls still running in the lead with me, I know I’m not the only one hurting.
A tall girl in the lead group wearing a Northeast Regional singlet starts to push the pace, and I sense the other girls dropping off. I recognize her from the photo in Running Fast Magazine. It’s Jessica Lillis, the girl who got second last year and is expected to win. I follow her lead when she pulls ahead, even though my lungs and legs are already screaming. I’ve never raced this hard. There’s still half a mile to go and I already feel the same way I typically feel in the last one hundred meters.
I can hear Coach yelling something at me from the sidelines, but everything around me is a blur. All I can see is Jessica’s braid swinging in front of me as she sets the pace. There’s screaming and noises all around me but I can’t process it.
Until I hear Jace’s voice. It’s brief, only for a second, as I pass by where he’s standing. “Stay with her, Pep! You got this!”
I repeat it in my head like a mantra. Stay with her. Stay with her. Stay with her.
My legs hurt. My chest hurts. I want to ease up, not press harder. Second place would be awesome. I’d be happy with second place. That’s what my body is telling me. It wants me to drop back.
Then I hear Ryan’s voice. “Take her, Pepper! Pass her!” I can do this.
I move to the side to look ahead. I think I can see the finish line. It’s probably four hundred meters away. That’s only one lap around the track. It’s nothing. I can do this.
Pass her. Pass her. Pass her. I chant in my head. But I’m pushing as hard as I can and I’m right next to her. Stride for stride. She’s not slowing down. Isn’t she tired? Why can’t she slow down?
Then I see Jace. Right next to the finish line. How did he get there so fast? He’s yelling but I can’t hear him. There are too many other people yelling. I can see him though, and the expression on his face urges me forward. He really wants me to win. He wants me to beat this girl. I dig deep. Deeper than I ever have before.
My vision blurs and I start to see dots dancing in front of me but I keep pushing, digging, pressing forward. I don’t even know if Jessica’s in front of me, beside me, or behind me anymore. When I feel my body pass through a ribbon, I know I’ve reached the finish. I blink several times, and try not to collapse. No need to be dramatic here. I can stay on my feet. I look around.
Jessica is next to me. I don’t know which of us won, but I know I should hug her to congratulate her for a good race. I must be delirious. Why am I hugging a sweaty stranger?
I stumble away from the finish line, a volunteer pointing me in the right direction to get past the barriers. “Congratulations!” I hear over and over. People are patting me on the back.
I snap out of it when I see Jace with a huge grin on his face. He wraps me in a hug. “Holy shit, Pepper! That was incredible!” He lifts me off the ground and swings me around. “You’re the national champion!”
So I did win!
***
The feeling of euphoria doesn’t fade when Katie smothers Ryan after he wins the boys’ race. It doesn’t fade when Jace has to head back to USD later that afternoon. Euphoria last through the night, on the plane ride home, and when our teammates meet us at the airport. And maybe it is the feeling of euphoria that helps me face the truth. It’s not until I’m lying in bed late on Sunday night that I make the decision to break up with Ryan.
And as soon as I make the decision, I know I can’t dwell on it. I need to talk to him. I send him a quick text message.
You still up?
Can’t sleep. What’s up?
Can I come pick you up?
Ryan calls me. “Is everything okay?” He asks.
“Yes, of course. Sorry. I can’t sleep either. I want to see you.” I almost say, I want to talk to you, but I don’t want to get a break-up conversation started over the phone.
“Ok. I can come to you, if you’d rather.”
“Nah, I feel like driving anyway. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
I pull up to his house ten minutes later, and he heads out the front door wearing sweatpants and a parka like me.
He looks hot with his disheveled hair and concerned expression. I want to kiss him. Good thing I decided to do this now, when I was sure of it. I know it’s the right thing to do.
We drive to a park near his house. It’s a cold night, but I don’t want to sit in the car. “Swing set?” I ask him.
We sit on the swings next to each other. I’ve never had a boyfriend so I’ve never broken up with anyone. I figure, in this instance at least, honesty is a good way to go.
“Ryan, I think we should end things between us.” I look at his face for a reaction, and he doesn’t seem hugely surpr
ised. Phew.
“After the race, Jace was hugging me, and Katie was hugging you, and the moment made me realize this might not be our time. Things are good between us but, well, I guess I haven’t let my feelings for Jace go, like I thought. And I’m sorry for that.”
He’s watching me with those ocean blue eyes. He doesn’t look angry, or sad. Maybe a little hurt, but mostly just thoughtful. I wish he wasn’t so good looking. It’s distracting. Moments pass. “Say something,” I whisper.
He shakes his head. “I know I should probably just accept what you’re saying, but I need to try to talk you out of it.”
That definitely wasn’t what I was expecting. He was happy to be patient and wait it out before.
“If this is about Katie, I want you to know that I never felt about her the way I feel about you. It was easy to be with her at first, and then it never made sense to break up. I can’t even compare you two, really.” He rocks back and forth on the swing and looks up at the sky. “She took me by surprise this weekend. I thought she’d be over me, and move on at college. I haven’t spoken with her much since I moved here.” He turns in the swing to look at me. His explanation doesn’t change anything, but I let him continue, sensing he needs to get this off his chest. “I would have told her to back off if I knew how much it was bothering you. I just didn’t want to be an asshole to her.”
“It’s okay, Ryan. I get it.” And I do. “But I still think this isn’t our time to be together. I think you might feel that too.”
He looks up at the stars. “Maybe. But you’re not an easy girl to let go.”
Chapter 19
“Gran, I think the newspaper clippings posted all over the house are getting a little excessive,” I tell her Tuesday at dinner.
“Shush. Let a grandmother be proud of her little hot shot granddaughter.” She waves her fork in my direction in disapproval.
I roll my eyes. “It’s just weird seeing pictures of myself everywhere in here. I can’t look anywhere without seeing an article.” She’s posted clippings on the cupboards, the fridge, and the walls throughout the hallways.
“I didn’t put any in your room,” she points out.
The front door opens and Jace walks in. “How’s the Brockton High Phenomenon doin’?” He gives me a hug from behind.
“I thought you weren’t getting in until later tonight?” I ask
“Came straight here. I missed my favorite girls.”
“Lemme grab ya a plate.” Gran heads to the kitchen before Jace can protest.
“So you saw that article in the Post yesterday already?” I ask. It was on the front page, with photos of Ryan and me breaking through the finish tapes, and titled “Brockton High Phenomena.” I suppose it’s pretty cool that two people from the same high school won Nationals, but the press coverage is starting to get embarrassing.
“Yup. I haven’t missed any of the news this weekend.” He sits down across from me with a giant grin and winks. Oh. So he knows about Ryan and me. I spoke to Jace on the phone last night and hadn’t mentioned it. But I’m not surprised someone told him. Apparently all of my business is Jace’s business.
Gran returns with a plate and silverware. I’m thankful she’s here, because I don’t know what’s going to happen with Jace and me. I’ve thought of a million scenarios, but for all I know, nothing will change. Maybe Jace already has plans to hook up with some other girl tonight. It really wouldn’t surprise me.
After dinner, Jace asks, “Wanna come over to start that Hendrix puzzle we got ages ago?” He asks.
I glance at Gran. “Did you finish your homework?” She asks.
“Yeah.” I didn’t, but I really want to hang out with Jace.
When we get to Jace’s house, I settle in on den sofa by the puzzle table. Before I can get too comfortable, Jace takes my arm and brings me into his bedroom.
Pulling me flush against him, he crushes his lips to mine. I push my hands through his hair, letting the sensations of tongue and lips heat my body. The ferocity and determination of his kiss tells me he’s been waiting to do this for a while. Maybe as long as I have.
The moment breaks when we hear the sound of pounding feet coming down the stairs.
“Who’s that?” I ask. Jace said that Jim was at his girlfriend’s house.
Jace frowns. “I don’t know. Stay here.” He heads to the den, and I stay standing in the middle of his room, unsure what to do.
“Wolfe, Rex, what’s goin’ on?” Jace asks. “Since when did you come over here unannounced?”
“We called man, but you’re phone was off,” Wolfe says.
“You’ve been out of town all weekend, and Wes said you’d be back today,” Rex says.
“So? You know I’m out, man. I don’t have anything for you. You can’t come by here like this anymore, got it?” Jace is angry, no doubt about it. I can just imagine his jaw clenching and his fists flexing.
“Nah, we know man, but we gotta talk to you. Wes is out now too, and now what are we supposed to do? You guys won’t tell us your supplier. How are we gonna get what we need to distribute? We got clients countin’ on us man,” Wolfe pleads.
“Your supplier’s gonna need to unload to someone else, Jace. Why don’t you give him our names?” Rex asks.
“Look guys, when I said I was out, I meant it. My supplier knows about you guys, but he didn’t sound like he was planning on reaching out to you. It’s not my business. Got it?”
Rex and Wolfe grumble in response. A few minutes later, I hear footsteps going up the stairs.
Jace returns to the room and shuts the door. He rubs his face. “Those two are fucking idiots.”
“I’m glad you’re done with that, Jace.”
“Hope it’s really done. What Rex and Wolfe haven’t figured out is that my supplier was a gang member. Gangs are real choosey about who they deal with. I think they’re gonna use their own gang members to distribute at CU now,” Jace explains.
“Why didn’t they do that before?” I ask.
“Good question. They’re based in Denver. Don’t really have a lot of guys in Brockton I guess.” Jace looks lost in thought. “But it doesn’t matter anymore. Where were we?”
“I believe you were standing there.” I point to a spot in front of me and tug him closer to me. “And I was standing here.” I take a step forward so we’re only inches apart.
“And what were we doing?” Jace asks with a smirk.
“Let me show you.”
Pepped Up is the first in a series that will follow Pepper Jones through high school and into college. Pepped Up 2 is coming soon!
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19