These Pictures Tell A Story

Chapter 2: The Fall

Friday, August 11, 2003

The free period bell rang, but I was already on my way out the classroom door. Through the hallways. Out the back. Shifting my weight from foot to foot, trying to get as far away from the classroom as possible. To get closer to the track. I hate it in class. The only reason I even show up to class is to maintain my grades so I can stay on the track team. After all, what are they going to do without their fastest runner?

And anyway, not wearing the right shoes all day made me uncomfortable. Heels aren't good for my feet but my friends insist I wear them. Do what you have to do to fit in with the crowd I suppose. I sat down on the bench next to the gravel path leading to the track. Then, releasing my feet from their torture chambers, I pulled out a pair of socks from my workout bag. I keep that bag on me wherever I go, just in case. Once the plain white socks were on I pulled out a pair of dull blue running shoes. They're worn around the edges, and the laces could use replacing soon. My feet felt more comfortable in them. More natural. I shoved the heels into my bag not caring if they got damaged. My mother always said to take care of my things but those heels are the exception I guess. At least if they break I won't have to wear them anymore.

I started to walk down the gravel path towards the track, kicking at large rocks. It was hot out, but not unbearable, like over the summer. Dry as always, though, since it's Colorado. The smell of wet grass filled my nose. I hate grass. Reaching up, I tightened my ponytail and pulled back my brown sugar colored hair. The clothes I'm wearing aren't meant for running but I run in them anyway. Changing would take too much time out of my schedule. Hearing some other kids come out of the building after me I quickened my pace, almost to a jog.

I looked up from my feet and stared straight ahead of me. To my surprise, I saw another person walking towards me. Or rather, towards the school. I kept staring at the figure till I got close enough to see that it was a girl. I'm proud to say that this social butterfly knows just about everyone in school. Yet, she was someone I had never seen before. I realized I was staring a little too long, and that it was rude to continue, but I couldn't tear my eyes away. In my four years of high school here, I had never seen this girl. Her hair was in her face, but I didn't recognize her small, round figure. My pace slowed again.

Too late I had noticed we were passing each other, and as my head swiveled to follow her, my feet tripped over a rather large rock. Pain spread through my right leg and I yelped as I fell to the ground, hitting the gravel hard. For a moment I couldn't breathe, and as my lungs searched for air I rolled on my side. Taking a deep breath in, I tried to move my leg and winced in pain. It was like a million tiny knives were poking my leg till they got the bone. But then, a hand appeared in front of me, small and soft.

"Are you alright?" I heard a low, smooth voice say. My eyes turned up to the direction it came from but I had to look away. The sun was right behind who I recognized as the same girl I had been staring at moments ago.

"No," I said, my voice coming out a bit harsh and rough.

"Well then let me help you up."

The girl stretched her hand farther out and I raised mine up. I let out a gasp. Now it was most definitely from the pain in my foot, right? But...it felt like a spark leaped through my body when I grabbed her hand. The girl pulled me up, careful not to touch my right foot. Once I got back to a full standing position, I let a small giggle slip past my lips. The girl was about a whole head shorter than me and I towered over her like a titan.

"Are you in your first year?" I asked her. At least that would explain why I'd never seen her before, and why she's so short.

"No," she spat, wrapping her arm around my waist to support me.

"I'm short is all." She stated matter of factly.

"Now, would you like me to help you to the nurses?" And all at once a realization hit me. I started to curse under by breath. I've already been over there way too much this week. Mr. Ray is going to kill me.

"A simple no thank you would be fine!" I looked down at the girl and stopped my spew of curse words. Her eyes narrowed.

"Oh I'm sorry, I wasn't talking to you. Yes, could you please?"

"Well alright then, do you know where it is? I've never been." She admitted.

"Yes." I sighed and winced as we made the first steps there.

"Does it hurt?" Only a simple answer needed.

"No, not at all." Too heavy on the sarcasm.

"Well someone's snippy!" She noticed.

"I'm angry, ok?" And that was the end of that.

We made our way to the school building, not saying a word to each other, and from there I told her where to go.

"Do you come here often?" she asked.

"Do you always ask this many questions?" I responded rather rudely.

She sat me down on one of the benches in the nurse's office, and I got the feeling she didn't much care for my attitude. I looked around the room, getting a chill up my spine. I never much cared for the nurse's office but ended up here way too often. No one was in the room except her and I. Taking the chance I asked "What's your name? I've never seen you here before."

"Amy." she said, and walked out.

"Mine's Lillian!" I called after her. She glanced over her shoulder and gave me a friendly smile. Her smile jumped to me, but not for long, because as Amy left, Mr. Ray, the nurse, walked in, an unamused look on his face.