Summer Break

It was quite possible that running was something I wasn't best at. When We did the running tests in gym class, I'd always managed to come last. 

I'd only ever been good at running when it came to chasing. The want, the need, to get whatever it was I was chasing after exhilarated me and pushed me harder. I sucked when it came down to being the one chased. 

I remembered a time when a boy in elementary school had chased me. He chased me around the playground yelling that he was going to 'make me eat dirt'. Even though I knew the teachers would stop him before that could even happen, my seven-year-old mind couldn't help but believe the older boys' words. 

Even after Summer had chased him away. 

I couldn't help but think of the little boy. He'd spent the rest of the afternoon next to the teachers on their bench. He sneered at me as we played and it sent a shiver down my spine. Something told me that sneer promised something. 

It held a silent promise that he was going to get me. His small brown eyes hardened and stared hard. 

The same brown eyes chasing after me. 

I knew I was done for the moment I saw his lips quirk up in a deadly sneer. Any normal person would hiss and curse out, but not Peter Nixen-No, his sadistic smile told me he was going to do a lot worse than curse at me. 

I hadn't spared him a second thought before I started running away. I didn't want to find out what he planned to do to me. I willed my mind to stop racing and the adrenaline to be enough for me to make it back to the actual party. To the clearing.

However, while drunk, Peter's astounding athleticism shone through. He was fresh on my heels, even with my head start it felt I wouldn't make it. I could hear his sneakers pounding at the pebbles behind me, no doubt sending the flying. 

Still, I pushed myself faster. Even ignoring the shortness in my breath and the aching in my calves. I flew past overgrown bushes, twigs, and jumped over shrew logs. 

I steal a peek behind me and smile when I see Peter's slowed down to jump over a large log. That wasn't for long, as he looks up and bounds towards me. At a much faster pace than before. 

At this point I didn't know how much longer I could sprint for, I could feel a fire seeping into my lungs and my body felt heavy. The only thing keeping me going now, was that I could see the slightest of lights ahead. No doubt from the bonfire. 

I don't look back. I could feel him hot on my tail.

I knew that if I looked back now, I wouldn't make it. 

So I willed that last ounce of energy in me to pick up my pace, even faster than before. If I wasn't being chased by a blood-thirsty asshold, I'd smile and dance my ass off. 

I had to of broken a world record of some sort.

I'd grown closer to the bonfire and was slowly closing in to the end of the path. I could see the final obstacle, a fat, oddly shaped log thrown lazily over the path. I paid no mind to it as I lift my leg to jump over it and burst through the shrubs. To the safety of the light. 

Except when I go to jump, I don't land. I find myself being pulled back by two large hands placed harshly under my armpits. I dangle two inches off the ground and I look around in confusion, only to realize what'd happened. 

I'd been caught. 

I could tell I had because of the heavy breathing behind me. They came out in harsh heaves of air, but they were there. His chest expanded with every breath and gently tapped my back ever so slightly.