Life Lost and Found

23: Epic Six

Saturday, February 7

It took Madeline longer than usual to lace up her new running shoes. She took extra care, making sure they fit just right. Today wasn't just another run.

"You sure you're ready for this?" Gina asked.

Madeline set her jaw and looked at Alton Baker Park's running track. On the calendar in her room, there was a red circle around today's date with a big red 6 in the middle. Today she would run six miles, without stopping, whether she felt prepared to attempt it or not. What worried her was, her current record stood at just below five miles, and she'd only made it that far once.

"I'm sure."

They were both dressed in their usual running attire. Gina wore a black top and shorts, and Madeline was dressed in nearly the same, except she wore a t-shirt instead of a tank top. No need to broadcast the scars on her upper arms to the whole world.

Sydney (who also ran, but only at unholy hours) had given her some new shoes for Christmas after deeming her old ones unacceptable. It had been a little difficult trashing her old ones, since they were the pair she'd started running with in the first place, and even then only because Mark had—

Whoa, now. She dismissed the thought. She didn't feel like reminiscing. Especially not about that.

The morning fog was melting slowly in the sun. It was cool and a little bit humid. Perfect.

"Ready to go?" Gina asked.

Madeline grunted her response and placed her hand on the Sun. Yes, the Sun. The park was equipped with a scale model of the solar system, and since she had her head in the stars on a regular basis, a model of the closest star seemed a fitting place to begin.

"All right, Maddy. Big six." Gina said.

"Let's do this." Madeline took off in a light run.

This was her favorite park. It was huge, and it featured a three-and-a-half mile loop between Autzen Stadium and the Willamette River. Their run began at the west end by the bridge, and would carry them along a mulch path called Pre's Trail. Madeline admired the park as she went, with its mix of trees, wide grassy areas, and quaint, old-style streetlamps.

The first mile passed quickly, and she smiled as she strode by several landmarks, including a brightly colored children's museum called the Science Factory. A tiny branch of the Willamette flowed nearby and she enjoyed the smell of water in the air, combined with the scent of assorted trees, borne on a fleeting breeze.

"Why do you hate Rob so much?" Madeline asked.

Gina looked over. "Whoa, where'd that come from?"

Madeline frowned at her. They had been running together for some time now, but it still bugged her that over a mile in, Gina was barely breathing hard. "Just wondering."

Gina looked ahead. "I don't hate him." But Madeline kept looking at her. "Fine, I sort of hate him. I didn't before, honestly. But recently..." She growled softly.

"I heard that growl. What's 'recently'?"

Gina's expression darkened. "Do you really want me to trash-talk your boyfriend in front of you?"

"No." She wanted nothing less in all the world. "But do it anyway."

"Fine. He's annoying. He keeps messing with my stuff, even though he knows it bugs me. And..." She hesitated. "Have you really not noticed how superficial he is?"

"Superficial?"

"No, then," Gina huffed. She said nothing for a moment. "I went out with him once. A long time ago."