Fifteen Feet Ahead

Chapter XVII

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Chapter XVII

I sat on the bus again now, watching the boy I used to know trudge to the back seats. His lip bent down into a frown, and the green eyes I used look into dulled to a dark gray. I noticed recently, ever since his father was found in the woods, Duncan looked as if he was somewhere else, as if his mind was someplace far from my reach, or anyone's reach for that matter. Even in gym class, his favorite class, even alongside Gavin, Brandon, and Sanders, his eyes were still gray.

It was mid-November now, and nothing much had changed. Dani never came back, it's like I've never met her. It's not like I miss her all that much anyway because Janie's became her replacement, so to speak. She sat at our lunch table from time to time , and we enjoyed her company so much more than the person Dani was now.

It's crazy. It's like the people I knew moved to another state and where never heard from ever again, but here they still stood. It was as if their bodies were invaded by some other being.

Thanksgiving was tomorrow. I had no idea how this one was going to work out because Duncan and his mom always came over. Something told me that he was going to find anyway to get out of having to sit at table across from me.

Walk The Moon's sophomore album blasted from my headphones because it just came out last weekend, and obviously it's all I've been listening to lately. My favorite song was 'Portugal' because ironically, it's about growing up and missing the people you used to know.

"So I say I'm sorry I can't, I've got plans.
'Cause I watched the time slip through my hands..."

We pulled up to school, it was raining today, and I loved to feel the droplets roll from my cheek and onto the sidewalk.

Since we entered the second marking period, I no longer sit behind Sanders and beside Janie in biology anymore, which sucked because that was my only thing to look forward to until lunchtime.

"Growing up is a heavy leaf to turn."

The bell rang, and the morning announcements started. Reluctantly, I yanked out my earbuds and placed my palm on my chest for the national anthem.

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Gym Class, more like public humiliation.

Normally, I loved phys ed, especially when Duncan and I used to be on the same team. Brandon was there too, and he was annoying, but I usually blocked him out. Not now though, not the most expensive earplugs on the entire planet could silence Brandon Clifford today.

"Randeee," Brandon whispered. I hated the way his breath tickled the inside of my ear. Any of the other girls in my grade would literally pay twenty bucks for him to breathe on them like that. It gave me the chills. It made me feel nauseous.

We were playing soccer, which was normally one of my favorite games to play, but not on a day like today. I guess it being a contact sport gave Brandon an 'excuse' to be so close to me. I hated it, and I hated him.

I instantly kicked the ball across the floor to another one of teammates because it was the only thing that could get that asshole off of me. It was my team against Brandon and Duncan's. Personally, I found the selection of the teams to be extremely unfair, considering the majority of the players on my side were more beneficial sitting on the bench than on the field.

Not to any surprise, Duncan snatched the ball from my teammate and was sprinting straight for the goal. As fast as I could, I darted back for defense. Brandon was laughing. I don't know why, but he seemed to find even my slightest motion funny, and my entire existence was nothing more than one hilarious joke.

I beat Duncan to the goal. Now all I had to do was simply tap the ball to the outside and take it up the field.

Brandon snarled, "C'mon Arnolds, you can take her!" Duncan pulled his foot as far back as it would go, when
S L A M !

The ball propelled straight for my stomach, traveling at a near forty miles an hour. I gasped, all the wind knocked right out me. Losing your breath for a moment was always one of the most terrifying feelings ever. Playing loads of sports growing up, I knew this sensation all too well.

I tumbled to the floor, wheezing and gasping for air. Duncan had hit the soccer ball as hard as he possibly could. A few of my teammates noticed my desperation and were kind enough to help me on my feet.

It only took thirty seconds or so for me to finally breathe normally again, but the worst part wasn't losing all the oxygen in my lungs, not falling on the floor, not that Duncan scored a goal.

It was the laughing, but not just Brandon this time. My best friend thought it hilarious to watch me suffocate. Duncan Arnolds found amusement it my pain, and that was worse than any blow to the stomach.

He chuckled and ran up to Brandon for a huge high five. And watching him do this, watching him in so much joy, in so much victory, made me realize something even more excruciating. Duncan purposely kicked the ball at my stomach, perhaps he wanted to hurt me, perhaps I meant nothing more to him anymore but target practice, perhaps that's really all I ever was.

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A U T H O R ' S ~ N O T E

Hey guys! How'd you like this chapter? Things are getting pretty rough for Miranda, and I hate to admit it, but it gets so much worse from here. ;(

Xx Audrey