The Track and Me

One

Chapter One

"Carrie, come on. Wake up."

I opened my eyes to see my grandma staring back at me.

"Carrie, sweetie, it's time for school."

School. Today is the last week of my junior year. You may be wondering why my grandmother is waking me up. Two years ago I lost both of my parents in a car accident. I still haven't recovered. My grandma instantly took me in. I'm an only child so there was just me. All alone.

Alone. Being alone is a huge fear of mine. Now that my parents are gone, who is going to be there for me? No siblings. No aunts or uncles. No cousins. Both of my parents were only children. I've learned to cope. With being alone that is.

"Carrie, breakfast is ready." I heard my grandma yell from the kitchen.

I ran down the stair and seen a table full of things grandma made. There were biscuits, gravy, bacon, and eggs.

"Grandma, you know how things have been." I grabbed an apple off the counter and kissed her on the head.

"I know, but you have to try." She said with pleading eyes.

Ever since the death of my parents I have had several problems. I was diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression. Eating became difficult. What was the point? Two years later and I'm still struggling. The panic attacks don't help either. Grandma tries to help me but the constant feeling of panic won't leave. Who else will be taken away from me too soon?

"And I will, grandma. I promise. I love you. I'm going to be late."  I slid on my favorite pair of running shoes, grab my bag, and jog out the door.

It's still dark. Grandma wakes up at four every morning. She calls it her internal alarm. She wakes me up at five and I'm at the school track around five thirty. Did I mention I love running? I run every morning. I get to the track way before school so I know no one else will be there. I hate the attention. Ever since my parents died I became an outcast. No one wanted to be seen with the girl that was always sad. I locked myself up. I didn't want to be helped and no one tried to help me. They seen a broken girl.

And I was broken. I still am. However you have to learn to not cut yourself on the edges. Life goes on whether you want it to or not. I know that and it's still a struggle. It's a struggle that I'm willing to go through to get to the end of the race.

Life is like a race. At the beginning you're worried. You get your footing right and you try to clear your head. Then the sound goes off and you start going. You run and give it all you got. At first it's easy. Then you begin to get out of breath but you keep going. Life is full of twists and turns. You get closer to the finish line. You push yourself even harder. You have people all around you trying to be better than you- trying to be faster. You push yourself to the limits and push yourself until you cross the finish line. Whether you are first, last, or somewhere in between, you gave it all you got and that's what matters.

I went to the line, got my feet into position, and began running. Some people hate running. Not me. It is a relief.

I finish my tenth lap around the track and look at my watch. It was ten minutes after six. I grab my bag and walk to the locker rooms. They are always left unlocked so I use them as I please. I take a quick shower and get ready.

I step outside and check my watch. Six forty. School starts at seven thirty. The buses will begin arriving soon. I walk back out to the track and sit on the bleachers. I quickly notice that I'm not alone.

There was someone running. They were very graceful- if running could be graceful. I looked closer and noticed the person right away. Jake Stanley.

Jake was an amazing runner and he knew that. He was extremely arrogant. I have never talked with him before but he was just one of those types. I stood up and began leaving before I had to officially meet the Jake Stanley.

"Hey, wait." I turned around and seen Jake approaching me.

"What are you doing here? It's early." He said.

"I could ask you the same thing."

"Touché. I'm Jake." He said stretching out his hand. "Are you from around here? I haven't seen you before."

"Yeah. We must just have different paths. Listen I need to-"

"Do you run?" He noticed I didn't reply and continued. "Why else would you be at the track?"

"Kinda."

"How do you kinda run? You either do or you don't?"

"Listen, I really need to get going."

"Wait. I didn't get your name."

"I didn't give it." I said as I walked away.

Don't get close to anyone and you can't get hurt.

"You're just going to walk away?" I heard from behind me.

"I'm not the chatty type." I said to Jake as I kept walking.

"When will I see you again?" I heard from over my shoulder.

However he never got an answer.

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Authors note

Hey readers! I'm sorry this took so long to come out! School has been hectic but I am going to try to make time for my writing.

When it comes to a cast for this book, it never really come to me. I thought maybe Lucas Till for Jake? Then I thought maybe Sadie Robertson for Carrie? I changed my mind on that one. So, I've decided to not have a cast if I don't have an inspiration while writing. I don't want to just put one down, so come up with your own.

Thank you guys for taking the time to read this book. If you haven't checked out The CEO and Me, The Nerd and Me, or The Past and Me, please give them a try. All three are completed so you won't have to wait for updates! And as always....

-J