Superposition (Starting Position Sequel)

Chapter 21

A/N: Hi! It's been a busy week for me and things are looking to be staying that way for a while. I thought I might do a surprise chapter drop since time seems to slip away from me during the week, and most free moments I have goes to writing. I'm participating in NaNaWriMo next month, so even more of my spare time will be focused on writing. So, here are three chapters for you! Enjoy! 

xxx

"Either I've gotten faster or you're running slower," Ian panted beside me. "And there is no way I've gotten faster so..."

Snow and ice still shielded the campus grounds, which meant it was too dangerous to run outdoors; running club was held inside the athletic complex when the women's and men's track teams weren't practicing. For this reason, our club meetings were scattered and often a bit shorter, but the majority of us showed up when Dre sent out the mass text usually stating, "It's on!!!"

Ian and I were slowly jogging along the indoor track. A week had passed since Elliot and I ended things. Neither of us had said a single word to each other in that time, but her presence never seemed to leave. I thought of her constantly, and it was the reason I was currently running so slowly. Dre had passed Ian and I twice so far – the only reason I knew this was because he shouted words of encouragement at us while enthusiastically clapping his hands.

"Sorry, I'm kind of out of it," I replied.

Ian wiped sweat away from his forehead. "Out of it? What do you mean? Elliot?" he asked.

I nodded. "Yeah."

Ian tucked his chin, forced a strained laugh, and said, "Okay – listen, you know I feel bad and all, right? Like I do feel your pain, but you did kind of bring this on yourself, you know."

Dre passed us again, clapping vigorously.

"I had to end things, Ian."

"So you keep saying, but I still don't really understand why, and you've been moping around for a week about it, and I just – okay, I don't mean this rudely, really, I don't – but remember when I told you not to be a jackass?" he asked. "Stop being a jackass."

I ran a little faster. "I'm not being a jackass."

"Eh," Ian breathed. "Kind of. You're sad about breaking up with Elliot, I get it. I'm sad, but it wasn't like you had to do it."

"Yeah, I did," I professed, almost like I was trying to convince myself.

Ian shook his head. "Why did you break up with her?"

"I already told you," I said. "Because I'm not" - the breath I took was sharp - "I'm not good enough. She should be with someone who can match her. Physically," I added. And that's exactly what I told Ian when he asked the next morning after he woke to find me in our bedroom, surprised I wasn't waking to the sunrise with Elliot. I hadn't explained the full extent of my motivations, but I did tell him it was because I thought she deserved more. Ian scoffed at me – and then scoffed again – entirely confounded by what I had done. I could tell he knew there was more to the story, but he didn't press me and instead made me breakfast; however, his sympathy hadn't lasted long, which was fine. I didn't need his sympathy, but I also didn't want him to tell me I was being a jackass.

I was being a jackass, but I was being a jackass for Elliot's sake.

"Dude, all I'm saying is that it wasn't like Elliot did something or whatever to make you break up with her – you didn't have to do it. Whatever it is you're going through, I wish you'd just work through it, so the normal Ben comes back and replaces this mopey version who runs slower than shit."