The Track and Me

Nine

Last night was hard. Sometimes life falls down on you and takes you by surprise even when you're ready to fall.

I'm not sure what Jake said to Coach, but he texted me the following morning saying that I wouldn't have to see her until the next school year.

I'm happy she is off the team but I can't help but feel remorseful. There has to be a reason she is the way she is. Whether she made my life a living hell or not, I can't bring myself to hate her.

Kate was once the person that I relied on. The person I knew I could call at any time and she would be there for me. It's hard to forget that.

The sound of a horn blowing brought me out of my thoughts. Jake must be here.

I ran over to my window and seen him standing by his Camry waving at me. I walked over to my bag, picked it up, and made my way down the steps.

"Jake!" my grandma said hugging him. "It's lovely to see you."

"I could say the same to you, Margaret." He said smiling as he hugged her back.

Jake seen me as I walked down the steps. He walked over and grabbed my bag.

"I'll be home before you know it." I said kissing the top of my grandma's head.

"Take your time sweetie. Be careful. Don't let anything happen to her Jake."

"I wouldn't dream of it." Jake said slinging his free arm around my shoulder playfully.

"Be careful you two!" Grandma screamed out the door as Jake opened my door and put my bag in the trunk.

He got into the drivers seat and sat there for a second. My grandma already went inside. What was he doing?

"Ryan, thanks."

"For what?"

"For being there when I felt like no one else was." Jake grabbed my hand, squeezed it for a second, and let it go. He quickly began driving.

"Why are you saying this now?"

"I trust you more than I have ever trusted anyone, Ryan. I just wanted you to know that."

"I think I should be thanking you."

"Nonsense." Jake said as he chuckled.

"Why did you try?"

"What do you mean?"

"To be my friend. No one else gave me the time of day but yet you never gave up."

"Because I have been where you were and no one was ever was there for me. I couldn't let you go through this by yourself. You aren't alone. You'll get through this. I promise you there is light at the end of the tunnel."

And I believed him. Jake Stanley came into my life like a flash. He turned my world completely upside down. He was there for me and now I couldn't imagine my life without him.

I grabbed his hand quickly and smiled. Jake came to me as a surprise but sometimes surprises are just what a person needs.

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About 30 minutes later Jake pulled into a small campground with a few cabins. The retreat was only going to last a few days. Apparently we were going to do some team building exercises.

There were a group of people already over by one of the cabins. Jake grabbed both of our bags (even after I tried repeatedly to get him to give me mine) and we both walked over to the crowd.

Jake was instantly surrounded by members of the team slapping him on the back and talking to him.

I slowly walked away to, what I felt was, a safe place.