of her in .
“Thanks. It’s provided a lot for me.” I want to see if her expression changes, and if that makes a difference. Likely she would read into it and maybe understand that I don’t have the backing of a wealthy family. It doesn’t change. It could be she doesn’t grasp my meaning entirely; I don’t know.
I think of the time and the long walk to stadium—I know I have to show up at 8:00 sharp, but I don’t want to check my watch in front of her. I decide to ask if she’s headed somewhere, thinking she had been coming down from the entrance, and knowing she probably has to be somewhere on time to.
“Oh ,. . . yes, I need to go into the chemistry building next door for a minute.”
“Yeah, I’d better head off to.” I carefully catch her eyes, and gauging by them I can tell neither of us wanted to move from our spots. When she looks down and to the side it’s evident she saw it in my eyes to. “I’m glad you’re alright.”
“Thanks. . . and thanks again for the coffee.”
I begin to turn facing the sidewalk a few steps in front of me, conscious not to be abrupt to jolt her into thinking I’m hasty to be leaving, and physically extending the invitation to walk the same direction until she gets to the chemistry steps.
She accepts.
10
shay
My heart is racing.
I’ll stay in the lobby long enough, as if I really have something to do here before going back outside.
I watch the people passing by, trailing down the sidewalk, and get lost in thought. . . What just happened? For the first time in my life I wanted to steal every look I could of him. He’s so tall, and his shoulders, so broad and erect. His physique is perfect—a runner’s body. I catch myself and feel the warmth of blushing, and try to be convincing that the observation was from a science—anatomical standpoint. Who am I fooling . . . ? Really, he would stand out anywhere, and normally I would turn away, but the thoughts came and left. . . and I couldn’t. And now that I know he’s truly nice. . . —it makes me shiver.
I walk down the steps to get back over to my building.
I held his hand. . . there was such surety in it.
“ Hellooo? Anyone there?”
“Jenny! I didn’t see you.”
“I don’t know how not—I’ve called your name twice only a few feet behind you! And what were you doing coming out of Langley? Change programs?” Always teasing.
I look at her and smile. “Hardly.”
“And what’s that Cheshire cat smile about?”
“Jenny, he came?”
“Who came?” She’s looks at me as if I’m out of my mind.
“Dane . ” I wait for her reaction, and for the first time I’m feeling independent of whatever it ends up being. She looks stumped, and I continue. “I came back here at 7:00; the same time we saw each other yesterday just to see if he’d show up. And he did.”
“ Are you kidding me —no shit?” She stops walking and turns to me. I face her. Her eyes softening as she fully sees my expression. “ Ohhh . . . you’re going to have to come down from that state,” she warmly responds, “before your class starts.”
I keep my smile, thanking her with trust in my eyes, and locking arms as we walk up and inside.
dane
The whole thirty minutes Coach Lewis has spent bitching about Harvard hasn’t even ruined my mood.
“Hit the track!”
I start off down the hall to change into practice gear.
“Dane!”
What now?
I look around for my next command, controlling my expression. “Yeah, coach?”
“You’re up first after warm ups!”
“Got it.”
No doubt the 100m is the biggest event in track and field, and any win is sure to be glory for him—especially against our biggest rival. I wouldn’t say that about any other coach that I knew, but his manifesto seems pretty self-centered. I’ll let him have it—what other option is there?
I won’t let him ruin my morning though—not today.
I slam my locker door shut and walk to the tunnel to get
“Thanks. It’s provided a lot for me.” I want to see if her expression changes, and if that makes a difference. Likely she would read into it and maybe understand that I don’t have the backing of a wealthy family. It doesn’t change. It could be she doesn’t grasp my meaning entirely; I don’t know.
I think of the time and the long walk to stadium—I know I have to show up at 8:00 sharp, but I don’t want to check my watch in front of her. I decide to ask if she’s headed somewhere, thinking she had been coming down from the entrance, and knowing she probably has to be somewhere on time to.
“Oh ,. . . yes, I need to go into the chemistry building next door for a minute.”
“Yeah, I’d better head off to.” I carefully catch her eyes, and gauging by them I can tell neither of us wanted to move from our spots. When she looks down and to the side it’s evident she saw it in my eyes to. “I’m glad you’re alright.”
“Thanks. . . and thanks again for the coffee.”
I begin to turn facing the sidewalk a few steps in front of me, conscious not to be abrupt to jolt her into thinking I’m hasty to be leaving, and physically extending the invitation to walk the same direction until she gets to the chemistry steps.
She accepts.
10
shay
My heart is racing.
I’ll stay in the lobby long enough, as if I really have something to do here before going back outside.
I watch the people passing by, trailing down the sidewalk, and get lost in thought. . . What just happened? For the first time in my life I wanted to steal every look I could of him. He’s so tall, and his shoulders, so broad and erect. His physique is perfect—a runner’s body. I catch myself and feel the warmth of blushing, and try to be convincing that the observation was from a science—anatomical standpoint. Who am I fooling . . . ? Really, he would stand out anywhere, and normally I would turn away, but the thoughts came and left. . . and I couldn’t. And now that I know he’s truly nice. . . —it makes me shiver.
I walk down the steps to get back over to my building.
I held his hand. . . there was such surety in it.
“ Hellooo? Anyone there?”
“Jenny! I didn’t see you.”
“I don’t know how not—I’ve called your name twice only a few feet behind you! And what were you doing coming out of Langley? Change programs?” Always teasing.
I look at her and smile. “Hardly.”
“And what’s that Cheshire cat smile about?”
“Jenny, he came?”
“Who came?” She’s looks at me as if I’m out of my mind.
“Dane . ” I wait for her reaction, and for the first time I’m feeling independent of whatever it ends up being. She looks stumped, and I continue. “I came back here at 7:00; the same time we saw each other yesterday just to see if he’d show up. And he did.”
“ Are you kidding me —no shit?” She stops walking and turns to me. I face her. Her eyes softening as she fully sees my expression. “ Ohhh . . . you’re going to have to come down from that state,” she warmly responds, “before your class starts.”
I keep my smile, thanking her with trust in my eyes, and locking arms as we walk up and inside.
dane
The whole thirty minutes Coach Lewis has spent bitching about Harvard hasn’t even ruined my mood.
“Hit the track!”
I start off down the hall to change into practice gear.
“Dane!”
What now?
I look around for my next command, controlling my expression. “Yeah, coach?”
“You’re up first after warm ups!”
“Got it.”
No doubt the 100m is the biggest event in track and field, and any win is sure to be glory for him—especially against our biggest rival. I wouldn’t say that about any other coach that I knew, but his manifesto seems pretty self-centered. I’ll let him have it—what other option is there?
I won’t let him ruin my morning though—not today.
I slam my locker door shut and walk to the tunnel to get
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