Without The Words

Chapter 22

When practice for cross country started, I was a nervous wreck. Not only was I dreading the fact that I would have to eventually face Vera, but now I didn't know what to think about Mr. Lee.

Why had Mr. Garcia not suspected Mr. Lee at all? I even mentioned in my writing about a coach, why didn't he catch on? Not that I wanted him to at all, but I just found it odd. What if Mr. Lee had a wife? Seeing that he was extremely attractive and probably in his late twenties, it seemed more than possible that he probably did, which flattened my heart beyond belief.

I attempted to dismiss the thought and walked out and on to the track while tying my hair into a ponytail, where an array of cross-country students stretched and chatted. I spotted Vera among them all, who was thankfully oblivious to my presence.

The wind blew around violently, which annoyingly caused strands of hair to get stuck to my face. My sweatshirt flapped in the wind and I awkwardly tried to pull it down. The trees in the distance shook from the wrath of the wind and instinctively everyone wrapped their sweatshirts and hoodies tighter around their bodies.

Mr. Lee appeared in front of the mass of students.

"It's a bit chilly today," he said loudly, earning a few chuckles. "Think we can manage to run two miles?"

That earned enthusiastic cheers, and I felt myself smiling along with them. I stood in the back of all the students, thankfully unnoticed by everyone, including Vera. In the depths of my pocket, I fiddled with the edge of my notepad.

"You guys will be split into two groups. Since there is two completely different trails, Mr. Falliner and I will each tag along with a group, so don't even think about walking because I will yell at you and make you do ten push-ups every time you walk." More chuckles echoed, and Mr. Lee began again. "You may run at your own pace. I understand that some of you don't know the trail well, so that's why we are here to help you with that. Any questions?"

Nobody had any questions, so immediately Mr. Falliner and Mr. Lee started arranging two groups. As Mr. Lee walked past people, uttering which group they'd be in, he found his way to me and my adrenalin already started coursing through my veins. But when our eyes locked, holy shit it was like the world evaporated and it was just the two of us.

"You're with me," he said quietly, his eyes flickering to different parts of my face. I nodded ambivalently. I shouldn't be feeling this way, but how could I not? It wasn't like I could just turn off my feelings.

And hell, he wasn't even doing anything. He was literally keeping a professional distance. So far, he told me which group I'm in the same way he did to everyone else, so why was I reacting to it like this?

I discontinued my mental debate and walked past him, joining the huddle of students for Mr. Lee's group.

After a few more minutes, everyone began to prepare for the run. Some students quickly sprinted to get their legs prepared, while others mindlessly stretched and chatted next to each other.

We all followed Mr. Lee to the start of the trail, which was a large thick path of dirt that disappeared into the entrance of what looked like a forest. All of this was located far behind the track, which was also shaded by so many trees that I literally felt like I could get lost.

As everyone prepared to run, I anxiously peered into the start of the forest. What if I got lost? I was fast, but that didn't mean I could get ahead of everyone if I didn't know where to go. I backed away from the trail and took multiple deep breaths.

"Ease up," Mr. Lee said as he appeared beside me. "I'll be with you the whole time."

That made me feel self-conscious. Quite frankly, I didn't want him to witness how sweaty I'd be, but it's not like I could tell him that. On the other hand, him being with me would definitely cast aside the angst of getting lost.

"Is everyone ready?" Mr. Lee said loudly, our trance immediately shattering when his attention focused on the students. It's not like he could pay attention to me the whole time, anyways. Of course he couldn't, he was a damn coach and he was only doing his job.

There was a specific moment before a race started. This was only a two mile run, but the feeling still started up in my chest. Race jitters, I liked to call it. It was a mix of hysteria, major anxiety, and excitement. It felt worse than any panic attack, but it wasn't half as dreadful because once the race started, the feeling disintegrated.

We all got into our starting positions. I was in the back and Mr. Lee got into position right next to me. For five seconds, everything was dead silent except for the distant sound of birds chirping and the sway of the trees.

"One." Mr. Lees said calmly, which fit the atmosphere perfectly. His voice was so soothing that it could fit right in with the melodic and sedative sounds of nature. However, my insides were the opposite of calm. My hands were touching the ground, and I could see my arms wobbling. My breathing was unrhythmic and raspy.

"Two." Everyone quieted. I heard the caw of a crow echo from the inside of the forest.

"Three."

Sneakers thumping, wind whistling, breathing settling; all the sounds grew louder the more I fell into pace with everybody else. We advanced farther down the path. Everything was shaded by the trees, which casted a dark glow with only bits and pieces of sunlight shining through. Flowers dotted the trails and tree branches lay in our path, but just as easily as we spotted them, we carefully stepped over and moved along. Mr. Lee and I were running at the exact same pace, side by side. The sound of his breathing soothed me.

For over ten minutes, the running was uneventful. Nobody started walking, and I felt more lively than anything. Energy sprouted deep within me, and my legs pumped at a steady pace next to Mr. Lee. Some students ran ahead, obviously because they knew their way around, but I stayed in the safety of Mr. Lee's presence.

Most of the students were ahead except for three now, and Mr. Lee and I continued to remain at the same pace. I had no idea as to whether or not it was intentional, but either way I loved it more than anything.

"Look," Mr. Lee breathed, stopping abruptly and looking at something on the right side on the dirt path. I slowed down to a halt. I observed that Mr. Lee didn't seem the least bit tired, which made sense because he was in perfect shape, according to his toned stomach, biceps and bulging calves.

"Would you look that.." Mr. Lee murmured thoughtfully. He motioned for me to come over.

I walked over to him and averted my gaze to where he was looking. What I found was truly beautiful. Orange flowers formed a circle and their lovely green and brown stems were tangled with each other. The vibrant orange and yellow petals were the couches of droplets of rain water. I stared in awe at the nature before me.

"Do you know what kind of flower those are?" He asked me quietly, his eyes still glued to the flowers. I shook my head.

"Poppy flowers," he answered, his voice laced with gentleness. A smile broke out on my face. I had never seen poppy flowers.

Mr. Lee bent down and tugged on two flowers, the sound of their stems ripping from the soil echoing in the quietness of the forest.

"One for you and for me." He said, handing me the delicate orange beauty. I held it in my hand as if it could slip through my fingers and melt. The petals were soft and damp, the rain water dripping onto my fingers. He took one himself and placed it in his pocket.

I was about to put it in my own pocket, but Mr. Lee gently grabbed it with his thumb and pointer finger. "May I?" He asked tenderly. I didn't know what he was talking about, but I nodded either way.

He gently tucked the flower into the right side of my hair on my head, where it was supported by the tightness of my ponytail that prevented it from falling. His touch caused my body to turn completely still. Even my breathing stilled.

"Race me until we catch up with the other students? We're very far behind." Mr. Lee said casually, a hint of amusement in his voice.

I nodded and we were off. And we ran like that, a poppy flower in his pocket and a poppy flower in my hair.