The Track and Me

Five

Chapter five

"Ryan, wait up."

Jake had been trying to talk to me all day and I've managed to avoid him every time but this one.

"It seems like you've been avoiding me?"

"Jake I really have to get home to study for the history final tomorrow."

"What about practice?"

"I don't think I'm going to be on the team."

"Carrie, why not? You are by far the best member on the team."

I had to hide my smile at that compliment.

"Jake, I- I need to get going." I stuttered.

"Let me drive you home. Coach will understand if I'm late."

"Jake, just leave me alone. Okay?" I quickly turned around before Jake could stop me.

Like I said, I'm sorry.

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"Grandma, I'm home." I said coming in the back door.

I spent a couple hours at the library studying before coming home. Sometimes I just need to escape this mess.

"Oh, Carrie, please come sit down. You didn't tell me you had a new friend."

What was she talking abou-

"Hey, Ryan."

Jake Stanley.

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"It was lovely meeting you Margaret." Jake said flattering my grandma.

"Please Jake. Come over anytime."

"I'll bring him right back to you grandma."

I yanked Jake toward my room.

"What are you doing!" I said as soon as I shut the door.

"I wanted to talk to you. You weren't here and your grandmother seemed so excited to have company so I stayed."

"I told you to leave me alone."

"Yeah. I don't understand that. I thought we were friends Carrie."

A looked of pain crossed Jake's face.

"You have plenty of other friends. Go annoy them."

"They don't understand me. I can't connect to them."

"And you think you can connect to me?"

"Yes. I do actually."

"How Jake? How do you expect to connect with a girl that lost her parents? A girl that lost everyone."

"Can you just trust me?"

"I had trust once but it's gone now."

My throat began to tighten. I felt as if I couldn't breathe. I closed my eyes and tried to take some deep breaths. I quickly sat down on the edge of my bed.

"Carrie, listen to my voice. Breathe, okay. Everything is going to be fine. Just breathe for me." Jake said crouching in front of me.

He took ahold of my hand and gently rubbed his thumb across it.

I slowly got my breathing back to normal. A tear rolled down my face.

"Better?" Jake asked me once I had calmed down.

"Why? Why would you want to become my friend? I'm broken."

"You aren't broken. You're just a little rough around the edges."

I smiled a little at that.

"Come on." He said offering me his hand.

"Where are we going?"

"I'm taking you to dinner."

"Jake, I can't-"

"You can. You just won't."

"You should study for your final."

"I have more important things on my mind right now."

"I don't feel like going to a restaurant."

"Good because I had other plans."

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Once we walked downstairs, my grandma gave Jake a basket. She also winked at him but I ignored that.

Jake took me to a park and we had a picnic.

"You're awfully quiet."

"I don't know what to say."

"That's a good reason to be quiet then."

"You're an idiot you know that?" I chuckled.

"I made you laugh though so that's okay."

The sun was beginning to set. Jake laid down on the blanket and looked up to the sky.

"I knew you were pushing me away."

"When?"

"Ever since we met really."

"Jake, don't act like you know what's going through my head."

"See, that's the thing. You don't want to be my friend. You don't want to get close to me. Carrie, I'm not going to hurt you. I'm not going to just leave when things get tough."

"You just met me. Why do you care?"

"Because I've been there."

I didn't say anything. Nothing seemed wrong with him to me. I began to stand up when he grabbed my hand.

"You don't believe me do you?"

I didn't say anything.

"If I tell you my story will you trust me?"

"If you aren't ready to tell it, don't."

"Then know I genuinely care about you and I want what's best for you."

I sat back down and shivered. For a summer night it sure was chilly.

Jake stood up and walked towards his car. I looked off at the sunset until I felt something being placed across my shoulders.

"I thought I took the blanket out of my car but luckily I hadn't."

"Aren't you cold?"

"I'll be fine Ryan." Jake said laying down to look at the stars.

I laid down beside him and placed the blanket over us both. I wasn't touching him but I didn't want him to get cold.

We stayed like that for a while until Jake moved. He stood up and offered me a hand.

"It's late. I should be getting you home."

I took his hand as he helped me up. I quickly lost my footing and began to fall. I closed my eyes waiting for impact but it never came. I opened my eyes to see I was safe in Jake's arms.

"Are you okay?" He asked me questioningly.

"Um. Yeah I'm fine. Thanks Jake. For catching me and the picnic. I actually had fun."

"That was the intent." He said smiling.

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"Carrie Anne Ryan, who was that boy? He was such a gentleman." Grandma asked once I returned home.

I thought before asking.

"My friend."