Eyes of Blue Flame

Chapter 9 - To Kill Lucy

Chapter 9 - To Kill Lucy 

Coach blew the whistle and demanded we huddled. 

"Laps around the field," he said, and we all cried out in protest. "Do as many as you can for the rest of class. You've only got a few more minutes of class. If I see you lagging, you can stay after class and give me some push-ups. How'd you like them apples?" We all grumbled, but coach just blew his whistle once more. "Let's go! I want to see some movement. This is Physical Ed., not Drama." 

"Drama has just as much movement!" someone yelled. "There are the dancers, the actors-"

"The fairies and elves and muchkins. I've seen the school plays," he replied. "It's not my fault some of you decided to play on you phones during this class. If you don't want to run, you can talk to me and we can figure something else out, but I'm not going to promise it's going to be something better than running. Next time maybe some of you will rethink the phone temptation. Now, start unless you want me to mark you down!" 

"Look who's talking," a girl muttered. 

"Hypocrite," the guy behind grumbled. 

"He was on his phone too!" protested Emily, but Coach Hector ignored them all. 

We stopped complaining and reluctantly began jogging on the grass around the football field. Ash was in the front along with all the other top athletes in the class. I was somewhere between the end and the middle. I wasn't even average when it came to athletics. 

Jeez, Ash was right. I'm really not athletic, I thought as soon as I felt out of breath.

Then, it felt like someone hit me as the light bulb went off in my brain. I'd thought about it earlier in Art while Ash and I awkwardly avoided the other's gaze, but apparently it had not fully processed and clicked in my brain: I would be forced to talk to him tonight. 

Oh, crap. I could ditch-no, but then I'd be screwed for math. I can't get have a C for math! Oh, gosh, what if I have to retake the course? And what about the e-mail? I'm too scared to tell on Ash. The tutoring gives me an advantage, doesn't it? 

I found myself running faster to catch up to Ash. I passed the averages and made it to the athletes. I was towards the back of them, and I was out of breath. My lungs began to burn, and it felt like I would spontaneously combust at any moment. 

About ten feet in front of me, I could see Ash, Jamie, and another boy named Ted leading the pack. Almost there. I pushed on ahead, making my way towards Ash and the other two. I sprinting now, and just wished Ash was a lazy pig so he could have been slow and in the back. 

"Ash," I managed, breathing heavily, as I finally reached him. 

He turned, and looked surprised to see me. "Whoa." He turned to Jamie and Ted. "You guys can go on ahead." They nodded, and Ash slowed for me. "What? Are you canceling the tutoring for tonight?" 

I wish, I thought, deeply regretting my decision to sprint just to talk to the one guy who may or may not kill someone. My eyes widened. What if he's already done it? I eyed Ash warily, and he looked confused and innocent. I didn't trust it. 

"Um," I began nervously. Just find out if the 'her' is Lucy. If it is...punch him! Whether it is or isn't, go to the dean afterwards. I took a deep breath, which wasn't a simple task considering I was already out of breath. "Can we slow down?"

"Oh, yeah," Ash said, and he slowed so much that we quickly ended up towards my usual spot. Not last, but not average. "So what is it?" 

Coach blew the whistle. I stopped immediately, and was practically wheezing. I turned to Ash sharply. "Do not...go...anywhere!"