On the Other Side of the River

Chapter 1: Ezekiel

I laced up my tennis shoes, and set on. I love running. I feel as though I can do it for miles. The way you're lungs fill with air every single time you take a breath. The way you feel invincible. And the cold air whips your hair. Every time I go on a run I love every. Last. Minute. Although I'm not the only one who loves my running. My cross country coach does too.
"Ezekiel Jameson," he once said to me, " I love having you run for me. Allowing me to have the knowledge that a runner from my team, placed first in state!"
I hated hearing him say that. I don't run for him, and I don't run for anybody else. I run for me. As selfish as it sounds, I only run for my own happiness. Today I felt like I should run on the trail crossing through the field. I felt like something was drawing me down that path. Like some sort of invisible force was drawing me there. I ran through the field, down small path made by an ATV. I jumped over the barb wire fence.
A small stream of blood ran down the palm of my hand from where I pricked it on the fence. I ran through the woods. The trees were beautiful and green, and in my opinion, they're the prettiest right now, in summer. I stepped through bushes running. I slowly started to pick up the pace. Soon, I was running a full on sprint.
I reached an old rackety bridge my pop built when I was younger. It stretched across and three foot deep thin creek. I looked down it my feet as I crossed the old bridge, and stared into the sparkling water through the boards. All of a sudden I hit something with my shoulder. I tripped and fell into... A girl. We tumbled off the bridge and into the water. My tail bone hit the bottom of the creek first and my head was totally submerged. I took a moment to soak up the feeling. The water flowing through my straight, black hair. The cold feeling pressing against my skin. It felt great until reality hit me. I couldn't breathe. It wasn't hard to get up. The water was only three feet. I stood on the balls of my feet gasped for air. I took a moment to think over what had just happened. I thought, 'well let's see, I was running across a bridge, and ran into.... Oh god, The girl!'
I spun my head all around trying to see where she went. She had been sitting on the side of the creek, just staring at me, as if I were some sort of mythical beast.
" I was wondering when you were gonna come up." She said. I stared at her. Christ... She was beautiful! She had long, thick blonde hair, and beautiful hazel eyes. Her ski almost seemed flawless.
" You okay? You look a little... Like you're going to puke." She said. " I'm Josy." She stuck her hand out.
I shook it. " Uh yeah, I'm Zeke."
"Oh look, it speaks!" She smiled. And I smiled back.