Jake's heart thumps as he races down the track, his arms pumping and his breathing heavy. The crisp air nips at his nose and burns his lungs with each breath. Despite the Tuesday morning chill, he only has a pair of running shorts and shoes, his sweatshirt discarded by his backpack. The morning dew is turned to frost on the grass beside the rubbery track, the sun peaking over the tips of the trees, the sky painted brilliant oranges and pinks.
Suddenly a voice breaks over the silence, over the calling of the birds. "Jake! Hey!" Jake turns to see Ryan on the other side of the field. He slows to a jog and then to a walk, stopping to let Ryan catch up.
Ryan stands beside him and quickly looks him up and down. Jake realizes with embarrassment that he's half-naked, so he crosses his arms over his stomach and chest.
"Hey, Ryan," Jake says. Ryan has a muscle-tee on with jeans. His arms, exposed from the shirt, bulge from years of football. His backpack set by Jake's with a leather jacket beside it. Of course Ryan wears leather jackets.
"What are you doing out running so early?"
"I just wanted to get an early start," Jake replies.
"Oh, okay." They stand there for a few seconds in an awkward silence. "Well, can I join you?"
"Sure, if you want to." Ryan smiles and peels off his letterman jacket and sweatshirt, leaving himself in just his jeans. Jake tries not to look, but he feels his eyes quickly flicker over Ryan's tan, muscular, toned body. Jake nervously uncrosses his arms and begins running, feeling self-conscious about everything—the way his arms pump beside him, the way his legs move, how fast he's breathing.
After another hour or so of running, the early bell rings and they head up to the upper fields. Jake throws back on his sweatshirt, grateful to be covered again. Ryan throws on his jacket but doesn't zip it up, leaving his shirt, which is now almost sheer from sweat, completely exposed aside from his shoulders.
Jake rips his eyes away. He turns back to his backpack and throws it over his shoulders. As they walk up to the school, Jake trips and falls into Ryan. Jake blushes and apologizes, but Ryan just smiled. With that grin still on his face, Ryan dips his shoulder into Jake.
Jake realizes what Ryan's doing and shoulders him. They batter each other back and forth on their way up to the school, but when there's other people they stop.
"Well, it was great running with you, Jake," Ryan says. Jake rubs his bruised shoulder, but smiles at him.
"Yeah, you too, Ryan."
"We should do this again sometime." Jake's heart flutters, but he has no idea why. It's his friend asking him to go running with him, right? They're not anything more than friends, so why should he be excited?
"Sounds cool," Jake says as calmly as possible.
Huh, I guess I'm getting better at playing it cool, Jake thinks to himself.
"Okay, well I better get to class. See you at practice!"
"Yeah, see you then, Ryan." Jake walks off to his first period, butterflies swarming his stomach.
School ends soon, and Jake catches up with Drew on his way to the field. "Hey, bro."
"Hey, Jake!" Drew calls back with a grin. Ryan jogs up to them.
"How was school, Jake?" Drew looks at Ryan, his eyes wide. Jake had almost forgotten how few his interactions with Ryan were.
"It was pretty good," he replies smoothly.
"So Mason didn't bother you at all today?"
"No, thankfully," Jake says with a laugh.
As they make small talk, Jake sees Drew's eyes flashing between the two of them.
Coach calls them to the field so Jake, keeping a conversation going with Ryan, throws his backpack to the ground. He winces as it brushes his shoulder which is still bruised from this morning.
They get out on the field and do some quick laps, causing Jake to start sweating in his sweatshirt, but he doesn't take it off because he forgot to bring a shirt to change into.
The laps are followed up with tackling drills (Jake pairs up with Colton) and practicing throwing again (Jake pairs up with Drew again).
After they're done throwing, Drew pulls Jake off to the side.
"Hey, what's up with you and Ryan?"
"What do you mean?" Jake asks, his eyes furrowed in confusion.
"Oh come on," Drew says. "You know what I mean." He smirks suggestively and Jake's brows instantly fly up.
"What?! No! Why would you even think that?"
"If you hadn't been thinking it first, how would you know what I was suggesting?" Jake curses himself under his breath.
"Or maybe I just know how you think."
"Seriously? You can be real with me, Jake," he says gently. "I've known about all your crushes since what, sixth grade? If you like him you can tell me, Jake. And I mean, liking him makes sense: he seems to genuinely care about you and plus, he's hot." Jake rolls his eyes, but he feels a smile tugging on his lips.
"Okay, okay. I might like him a little," Jake relents.
"Ha! I knew it!" Drew exclaims.
"Oh, shut up, Drew," Jake replies, rolling his eyes.
"I will... for now." Drew grins broadly and wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.
"Wait, why for-" Jake's cut off by a hand landing on his shoulder.
He turns to see Ryan behind him, his green eyes bright from his smile. "You did good today, Jake!"
"Thanks," Jake replies with a sheepish smile, running his hand through his hair. "So did you, but that's a given." He laughs awkwardly, kicking the toe of his shoe into the dirt.
Ryan laughs too. "Well, thanks. Do you want to go running again tomorrow morning?"
Jake's heart leaps into his throat. He coughs lightly, giving a second for his excitement to fade. "Uh, yeah. That sounds great."
Ryan smiles lightly. "Great! See you then." He waves and throws his backpack over one shoulder and his jacket over the other.
"You have a date, Jake!" Drew exclaims when he's out of earshot.
"No, not a date," Jake reprimands. "We ran together this morning, too. And anyway, don't you have your girl to get back to?" He gestures to Drew's girlfriend who's sitting in the bleachers: a sophomore with wavy dark brown hair, hazel eyes, and pale skin. She sees us looking and waves.
"Fine, fine," Drew says with a sigh. He throws his bag over his shoulder and puts his chain in his mouth, fiddling with it with his teeth. Every step, every movement, is open flirtation with her.
Jake shakes his head as he grabs his bag. As he walks back home, he feels like he's above the world and walking on clouds.
Images of Ryan flash through his mind: Ryan laughing, Ryan smiling, Ryan out in the field. Okay, maybe he liked him a bit more than just a little.
A/N: Sorry about the leather jacket thing again, I may or may not have an obsession... Anyway, sorry for taking so long to update. I hope you enjoyed!
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Just Me
Fanfic*The sequel of Meeting You* Jake Holland is the son of none other than Tom Holland and his wife, Emma. He was the wide receiver for the football team and a sophmore and was amazing, just like he is at almost everything he tries. He loves his family...
