Mine, Always

Chapter Five

It's not until 3pm the next day that I see Zach again and I'm in such a rush I'm rather ruder than I'd have liked to been.

"Tom, hey wait up!" Zach calls just as I head out the back doors to the rear car park.

"Sorry I can't really stop," I say and I don't even slow down, let alone look at him.

"Oh right," he replies and I know he isn't following me. I make it to the track field a minute late – I vow to take my kit with me to my last class from now on.

"Brown," Coach says as I slide to a stop on the wet mud. "You're late."

"I know sir, maths last period with Mr Jennings." I tell him.

Everyone groans, even coach because they all know what a hard arse Mr Jennings is. Coach looks at his watch and then back at me.

"Wednesday's practice starts at 3:05pm, is everyone ok with that?"

"Thanks sir," I say as everyone nods that they are fine with it, it's only a five minute later start.

"It's ok son, no one wants to get on the wrong side of Charles."

Coach turns to everyone and instructs us to stretch while he takes a register.

"Right we are going to do a nice slow session today, 5000 meters and then stretch and go home," he tells, he blows his whistle and we all set off into a jog.

It felt good to get out and run, my 5000 meter time was just over 20 minutes but bar last night I've not really been running, it's been too hot for once. I set off slow, and once I'm warmed up I increase my speed. For the next 30 minutes I find my grove and let my mind clear and just run.

"32 minutes Brown," Coach tells me as I begin to stretch.

"Not my best time," I say because it's not but when I started in year 7 it took me 45 minutes to run that same distance so it's not my worst either.

"I expect you to work closer to the 20 minute mark this year," he tells me as he walks off to talk to one of the other guys.

Twenty minutes later I've changed and I'm in the pool. It feels amazing to be in the water after my run and is something that only happens Wednesdays and Fridays. (Swim team practice is Tuesday to Friday 4pm – 6pm and Track team practice is Monday, Wednesday and Friday 3pm – 4pm.)

Coach gets us all to do our warm up lengths and then sets us into groups for out trial times. "Right guys you all did well, but none of you came close to your times from last year. Practice starts next Tuesday, new recruits will be with us – don't let me down boys." Coach tells us and then leaves.

Everyone makes a quick exit, glad to be finally going home for the day but I just lay on my back for a while glad of the peace and a chance to relax.