Always Been You | Jake Baker [2]

Chapter 10

"Alright. From now on, no seeing the Murtaughs, no talking to the Murtaughs, no thinking about the Murtaughs." Tom lists, pacing back and forth in front of us and the white board. Turns out when me and Jake left, Tom foolishly made a bet with Jimmy Murtaugh about the Labour Day cup. So now we all have to suffer.

"Can't we compete and still, like, see them?" Sarah asks.

"No!" Tom says firmly.

"Fine by me." I shrug and Jake flicks the back of my head.

"Right now, I am not a father, I am a coach." Tom states. "And we are gonna be training twice a day, every day, starting outside, in ten minutes." He walks outside and we all groan.

"You're dad's gonna kill me." I groan, looking at the event I'm competing in. 500 metre sprint? Urgh!

I huff and stand up, heading to my room. "Mads, where you going?"

I turn and start walking backwards. "To change into my running gear."

"I'll join you." He smirks.

"Haha, no you won't." I shake my head earning a pout from him. "You've got a pouting problem."

"You're one to talk." He jokes.

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I changed into a pair of running leggings and a tight-fitted sleeveless top. Tom made us all line up and do jumping jacks. "Jumping jacks! Jumping jacks! Good, good, good!"

"Lorraine, come on!" Tom calls to his second oldest daughter who is sitting on a lounge chair reading a magazine.

"Push-ups! One-Two!" Tom instructs and we all try to do a push up. "Now back up to Jumping jacks! Come on!"

"Seriously?!" Jessica complains causing me, Sarah and Jake to laugh.

"Come on Lorraine!" 

"Okay!" Lorraine replies, not taking her eyes off her magazine.

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"Okay, its a three-legged race, but run as if you had two!" Tom instructs Jake and Mike as me, Nora and Bud watch in amusement. "On your mark, get set, go!"

They fall over instantly and I crack up. 

When they're back on their feet Tom give them no time to get situated. "Go!"

They fall and get back up. "Go!" And again. "Go!" And again. "Go!"

This time Mike is too frustrated and blames Jake so he shoves him and Jake shoves back.

"Its your fault!" Mike accuses.

I roll my eyes, "Its both your fault cos your not talking to each other. So stop having a hissy-fit and try again."

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"I've marked out 500 metres from here to Jake." Tom states. "Run as fast as you can and  get to Jake in two minutes or under. I'll see if your best is good enough or if you'll have to keep training."

"Gee, thanks. I'm glad you have so much faith in me." I say sarcastically.

"On your mark, get set, go!" Tom counts down and I start running. 

Breathing heavily, I reach Jake who hands me a cool water bottle with a cute smile on his face. "That looked good, Pretty Girl."

"Thanks." I smile breathlessly, and turn back to Tom.

Tom holds up a thumbs down sign and shakes his head at me. "Crap. So what now?"

"You have to go again. Get timed running to my dad." Jake tells me.