Old Habits Die Hard

10

Just an FYI, neither Alexa nor I have run a day in our lives, let alone run track. Please bare with us.

Barry stepped into the lunch room with a sigh. There were a lot of kids walking around and trying to find seats. He didn't understand why it was so difficult. There were plenty of seats open. Barry shrugged it off, assuming it was a high school thing.

"Barry!" Marley called out to him, waving her hand in the air.

Barry looked over at her and smiled slightly. Most of the kids from Glee were there already. There was an open seat beside Marley so he made his way over and sat down in the seat.

"Hey, Marls," he said.

"Hey, Barry," she replied.

"Uh, so, I have to stay after school today," Barry stated.

"What, why?" Marley asked.

"I kinda was thinking of trying out for the track team," Barry said.

"Really?" Marley asked. "You used to love doing track!"

Barry nodded. "Yeah," he said. "Blaine told me track tryouts were today, so I thought I'd go for it."

"You totally should," Marley said.

"Yeah...I'm just not sure if I'll be able to handle it.." He said in a lower voice so only Marley could hear.

"What do you mean?" Marley asked him, tilting her head to the side.

Barry just shook his head, not wanting to get into it.

"Is this about what you don't want to talk about?" Marley asked.

Barry nodded. "Don't worry about it though," he said.

~~~~

When Barry got to the track field, there were multiple people there. Some more fit than others. He looked over at the Track Team coach who was looking down at a clipboard. He glanced up at everyone on the field for a moment.

After a second, he began talking. "Alright, when I say your name, please get into one of the lanes."

Everyone went quiet, paying attention to what the man had to say.

"Jones, Nicholas."

A boy with dark brown hair and green eyes stepped into the first lane. He didn't seem to be very fit. But he also wasn't out of shape.

"Brown, Relish."

Barry had to hold back a laugh, however some of the boys around him didn't bother. A boy with dirty blonde hair and brown eyes stepped up to the next lane. Giving the other boy's a glare. Relish was pretty fit compared to Nicholas.

"Breadstick, James." This time, even more boys laughed. James couldn't even glare because he hated his last name. The boy had Ginger hair and grey eyes. He had circle glasses as well. He had almost the same body type as Nicholas. Just a bit more fit.

The man continued with the names. He finally got to the last person to sign up. "Allen, Barry."

Barry stepped over to the next lane.

"Alright, boys. I will not be disclosing what exactly I am testing you on. I would just like for you all to try your best to get around the track. You need to have run around the track at least twice before the timer runs out." He began before setting a timer. "The timer will be set for Two and a half minutes, alright?"

The boy's all nodded.

"Alright. Three...Two..." The boy's began getting into running stances. "One."

Barry heard the whistle and started running. He smiled at the little bit as he felt the air move around him, the slight burning in his lungs, and the feeling of his feet hitting the pavement. He'd forgotten how nice running felt, why he'd enjoyed it so much. He was never good at sports, but running- that he could do and he did it well.

Too bad Vanessa ruined that.

It had taken him halfway into his second thought to let that thought break through. He felt his throat close a little bit.

No, he wasn't going to mess this up, not because of her. Not again.

He pushed himself to run faster, hoping to reach the end before the dark thoughts that came with a thought of her took over.

He finished third, and nearly collapsed when he did. "Good job, Allen," the coach said. "Next time, though, pace yourself."

Barry, who was doubled over and wheezing slightly, just held out a thumbs up. The fourth and fifth people finished before he managed to calm his breathing to a manageable level where he felt he could crack open his water bottle without choking. He really hoped he'd make the team.

The final person made it just before the timer went off. "Alright, good job everyone." The coach gave them a smile. He was about to say something else when a certain someone shouted at him.

"Hey, Porker!" Sue called out to him. "Are you and your Deadhead team done yet? I need you for the..." Sue paused, there were students there. "Situation with the Cheerios." She finished.

The coach had a fearful look in his eyes, "Uh- they're not my team. It's tryouts."

"Same thing." Sue told him.

He turned toward the boy's. "Alright, guys. Tryouts are over. Go do whatever. I uh- have things to do."

Sue dragged him away by the ear. Barry wondered what that was about.

~~~~

Barry was sitting at the table doing his homework, and looked up when Marley came in.

"How did tryouts go?" she asked.

"Good, I think," Barry answered. "I finished in the time limit for the running, but that was all he had us do because Coach Sylvester needed him for something."

"So it was short?" Marley asked.

"Yeah, which is good because it means I had less of an opportunity to mess it up," he said, half jokingly. "I kinda forgot how much I enjoyed running though."

"I'll never understand that," Marley said. "Running is hell."

Barry shrugged. "I don't mind it."

"You might be the only person- no, only nerd I know that likes running." Marley commented.

"I prefer-" Barry got cut off by Marley. 

"Geek to Nerd."

"They're two completely different things." Barry said to her.

"I know, I know." Marley laughed lightly. "I've heard the speech before."

"Whatever," he said, smiling in amusement.