When Summer Arrives (On Hold)

The Walk Home

Sorry for not posting for awhile I was camping.

I had reached my couch after possibly the longest walk home I could have ever ventured.  The classes after English were, as always, dull and long.  The worst class was P.E. not only was it not informative it was exhausting.  Instead of having to play dodge-ball everyone was required to run at least two miles on the track before being let out of class. 

As I was running- far behind everyone else- I was lapped several times- not surprising- mostly by Sam.   I had to hand it to him the boy was fast; he easily strode pass everyone in class, even the teacher commented on it, without so much as a heavy breath.  Witch could not be said for me who’s hearts pace was jagged, breath wheezing, limbs dragging, and covered in sloppy and sweaty hair flying which ever direction the wind desired.

“Hey there!”  I looked over my shoulder it was Sam, lapping me again.

“Why hello there stranger.” I said with the occasional pause for a breath. “What brings you around to this end of the track?”

“I just wanted you to know that I figured out your name!” I couldn’t help but notice that my running was equal to his jogging.

“You didn’t figure it out somebody told you.”

“Never-the-less I know it.” He wore wide grin to compliment his achievement. ”Winter.”

We were turning the corner of the tack and the wind picked up my hair and flung it into my face.  “You’ve failed to mention a last name.” I said plucking the hair from my face as a small smile emerged at the ends of my lips.

He turned his head towards the sky and rolled his eyes.  He was about to say something when the coach told him to pick up the pace.  Bowing his head he started running faster.  “See ya next lap Winter.”

I watched him run off in the distance I was able to see his toned leg muscles.  I caught myself staring and would have continued if my hair hadn’t flown into my vision once again.

 Sam was one of the first dismissed from class and I was the last.  Since I wasn’t able to sneak out earlier I was thankful that the locker room was empty, aside from a few stragglers.  It was almost as nice as coming here before everyone else.  After taking my sweet time changing I slowly left the building. 

There I saw him leaning up against the schools entrance gate, his leg propped against the wall.  There was little to no way I was leaving school without him noticing me.  I had two choices wait or confront him.

“Trying to act natural?” I said as I walked up to the gate.

“Huh? Oh, hey Winter what are you doing here?”

“Leaving school.” I said flatly.

“Oh, yeah that would make sense, wouldn’t it?”

For a moment we stood there in an awkward silence.  I had to end it.

“So what are you waiting for?”

Perking up Sam said, “I missed the bus, so I was wondering if you could show me the way home and all.”

“Mmhh. Fine I’ll show you.”

***

After several long pointless conversations and some awkward silences we were back to the apartments.  I waved to Sal and he, like always, thought I was someone called Victoria.  Sam was renamed as Winston.  Apparently the two spent a lot of time together.

“What was that all about?”  Sam asked as we reached our doors and was out of the range of Sal’s hearing aids.

“Oh that? It’s just Sal.  He’s convinced that I’m Victoria.  Although I don’t know who Winston is.”

“Have you ever met this Victoria?”

“No. I don’t have the foggiest of who she is, or what her relationship with Sal is or was.”  Another silence grew between the two of us.

“So I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Just don’t miss your bus.”  For some reason these small smiles kept on occurring when I was around him.  “How long did you rehearse that by the way?”

            “Rehearse what?”  Sam took a step closer.

“Come on Sam, you were one of the first ones done with P.E.; there’s no way you could have missed the bus.”  A little unconsciously I took a step forward.

“You caught me.”  Sam was now smiling and took yet another step towards me.

Taking a step back I turned around and opened my door, I had forgotten to lock it that morning; I was halfway in my door frame.  “See you around Sam.”  I then closed the door and walked towards my couch.