Love Hurdles

8. Natalie

a/n: I am soooooo sorry it's taken me so long to update, but here it is! hope you enjoy! btw quick warning, there is one not-so-nice word so just substitute it with another if you don't like it! :)

xo clo

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I scramble to find my running shoes, but I can only seem to find one. Last night, Luke sent me a message asking if I wanted to go running in the morning. Of course, I said yes; I always go for a run Saturday and Sunday mornings. Now, I'm scrambling around looking for my running shoes!

"Sweetie!" My mom yells from downstairs. "Come help me make breakfast."

"Mooom!" I call as I make my way down the stairs. "I told you, I'm--"

"OW! Shit!" I scream rubbing my now bruised butt.

"Natalie Rose! Language!"

"Sorry Mom, but I just tripped on one of Jack's toys that he leaves lying around everywhere." I scoop up the toy I slipped on and realize it's my missing running shoe, that Caitlyn probably dragged down to the middle of the stairs.

"Finally," I whisper and lace up my second running shoe. I scurry downstairs and into the kitchen.

"Bye Mom," I give her hug and saying bye to my four year old sister Caitlyn and seven year old brother Jack. "I'm going running."

"Have fun! Any boys?" She asks just like she always does.

"Mom," I groan. "I'm going running with Luke."

"Ooh, Luke," she says, wiggling her eyebrows. "You know, Luke is a very handsome boy and smart too."

"MOTHER!" I shriek! She always embarrasses me, even when no one's around.

"Wuke and Natawie sittin' in a twee," Caitlyn sings from her perch on the counter stool.

"Caitlyn," I tease her and glide across the kitchen to tickle her.

"Stop, stop," she squeals as she giggles.

"Alright," I say. "Bye guys."

"Love you," they chorus behind me as a head out the door.

I hurdle over the hedge that separates the two houses. Luke opens the door right as I get to the porch.

"Ready?" He asks.

"Ready Freddy!" I reply.

"Good, because I know some great trails behind our neighborhood!" Luke exclaims. I follow him out our neighborhood before quickly swinging a left through the park's paved path. I notice a black knee brace around Luke's left knee. It must be painful to run sometimes, but Luke doesn't let it stop him.

After a short jog through the park (Luke says it's the short cut to the trails), we come across a steep hill with large pine trees all around it. A small path leads up through the trees and then turns to the right so I can't tell where it goes.

"It's just a short run up the hill then it flattens out," Luke explains. We pick up the pace and attack the hill in front of us. It's pretty large and hefty but we both manage to get up it perfectly fine. It starts to warm up, so I pull off my light running jacket and tie it around my waist and just run in my t-shirt. We keep running for another two miles before we reach a meadow like opening in the trees.

"It looks like the trail ends here," I point out.

"This is where I stop every time but I can never find any other trail," Like replies. I walk to the edge of the meadow and through some trees until I'm at the edge of the hill.

"Hey Luke!" I shout, "Come look at this!" Luke comes jogging over to my spot past the trees. It's a gorgeous view of the park, our neighborhood, and part of our town. We can see everyone from up here! He points out a mom with a stroller as Mrs. Chadwick, who lives a few doors down. I notice Mr. Jerold, our history teacher, and his dog playing fetch.

Luke laughs and points at something. "What's so funny?"

"Look," I follow the tip of his finger to a soccer game on our high school field. Then, I notice a blonde figure bicycle kicking the ball into the top right corner of the goal, nearly missing opposing goalies fingertips, scoring a point for the team in our school colors.

"It's Sam!" I exclaim, identifying the soccer player.

"Come on, we should head back," Luke says, offering a hand to help me up. We jog down the path then slide down the hill on our feet.

When we get back down to the park Luke shouts, "Race you!" And then takes off sprinting. I follow him in close pursuit until we are neck and neck. Simultaneously, we collapse on his lawn. Even though we are gasping for breath, we start laughing and we can't stop laughing.

"Are you hungry?" Luke asks when we finish our laugh attack.

"Of course!" I respond; I'm always hungry.

"Let's go eat! I think there is some pancake mix," he says as he drags me through the grass to his porch, I pop up at the mention of pancakes.

Back inside Luke's house I hop up onto the counter while Luke starts to make pancakes. Feeling like I should help out, I start hunting through the fridge for pancake toppings. I find syrup, butter, and whipped cream and set them down on the table. Then I grab the leftover bacon I found in the fridge and pop it in the microwave.

"I'll be right back!" I shout to Luke; I know what will go perfectly with breakfast. I hurdle of the hedge and run into my house. Grabbing two of the treats on the counter, and quickly filling the cupcakes and frosting them. I jog back over to Luke's house (skipping the hedge and just going around), and I burst through the door just in time to catch Luke flipping a pancake and it hitting the ceiling. I barely get the cupcakes onto the table before I fall to the ground because I'm giggling so hard.

"Hey! It's not that funny!" He protests, but it's hilarious! Then, Luke has to get a chair and scrap the pancake of the ceiling. By this time, Luke, too, is laughing. The pancake makes it into the trash and finally my grumbling tummy can eat!

I grab a few pancakes and two pieces of bacon and head to their breakfast nook. Luke immediately notices the cupcakes on the table.

"Ooh, what is this?" Luke curiously asks.

"My new and improved, legendary, hot chocolate cupcakes!" I say with a dramatic flair. "It's a cinnamon-chocolate cupcake with a hot chocolate fudge filling, that was just been filled, topped off with a homemade whipped cream and chocolate flakes."

"Natalie Rose Sparks," Luke says with a serious expression on his face. "You are a genius!" A smile as wide as the room stretches across his face.

We dig into breakfast and gobble it up fast. Running and filing pancakes do make you hungry. Luke and I both saved our cupcakes for last and when Luke takes the first bit he moans in delight. I guess my cupcakes are just that good.

"I'm glad you're enjoying the cupcake," I say. I notice Luke has a bit of whipped cream on his nose, but I don't mention anything because it looks cute with the whipped cream there. I smile to myself and take a bite of the delicious treat in front of me; this is shaping up to be a great Saturday.