Next Morning
Casey woke up to the smell of breakfast floating through the air and his phone ringing. He picked it up and answered it , unable to read who the call was from .
"Good morning ," he yawned .
"Hey , it's Roni . I don't know if you got my text last night but Jonah and Caroline have a track meet today and Anna Blake , Skye and I are gonna go and wanted to see if you could go ."
"How'd you get my number ?" Casey said , rolling over and pulling his digital clock close to his face . It read '8:23' .
"That's not important . What are you doing ? Sleeping ?"
"Would you get mad if I said yes ?" he said through a yawn and then Roni hung up . He chuckled under his breath . "What the puff it's Saturday ." After contemplating whether or not he should get up , he decided to get up and slowly , but surely , made his way to his closet . He stared blankly at his boxer section for a good three minutes before grabbing a set of clothes . He walked to his shoe shelf and grabbed a pair of white Vans and a key sat on the sole of the right shoe . He smiled and shuffled them on , running out the door and down the steps , entering the garage .
As the modern barn lights flickered on , a yellow glow was cast onto a sleek black 1969 Mustang . A smile grew on the boy's lips and he ran up to it , opening the door and starting the engine . A low hum escaped the vehicle , travelling throughout the garage . Casey placed his hands on the steering wheel and exited the garage smiling , cruising off to his destination .
He turned on the sound system and the first song to play was 'Under The Boardwalk' by The Drifters . Singing all the words and hitting all the notes , wind flew through Casey's hair and carried his voice far down the road . He neared a sign that said 'Carrollton Cross Country Race Ahead' and sped up , a loud roar exiting the engine when he pressed on the gas pedal . The signs lead him to a gravel path where a man stood on his phone .
"You here to see the race , kid ?" the mas asked , poking his head through the window . The boy nodded . "Alright , show me your student I.D." Casey fiddled for his wallet and opened it but was angered to see his old school's student I.D.
"I don't have it yet , yesterday was my first day ."
"Can't letcha through , kid ."
"Sorry , sir , he's with us," someone said . Casey looked in his rear view mirror to see Jonah standing there in a crimson and dark gray sleeveless shirt . Caroline stood behind him , although it was hard to see her behind Jonah's towering figure . She fastened a piece of paper to his back with safety pins . After a moment of silence , Jonah scoffed and said , "Jonah Berlin ?? Pine Hills' entire pride in a male track runner ?? How do you not know me ?"
"OH . You . Go on ahead , kid . Sorry for the inconvenience ." Jonah opened the door and sat down , Caroline taking a seat in the back .
"Are you really that good ?" Casey said .
"No . Now put the pedal to the metal before he realizes I'm no Usain Bolt ," Jonah whispered and Casey drove the car away .
"You guys ready for today ?" he said , trying to spark a conversation .
"HAH ," Caroline said . "No ." Jonah pointed to Caroline as Casey parked the Mustang . "Thanks for the riiiide ." The two runners said in unison , jogging off . Casey smiled and stood up , immediately making eye contact with Roni . He jogged over to her .
"How in the world are you wearing a short sleeve t shirt ?" she asked , looking him up and down with a questioning face . He shrugged . "Well ofc it's because you're the Snowmiser , how didn't I guess ." She rolled her eyes and scoffed , saying , "Anna Blake and Skye already got us pretty good spots . Anna Blake said she was bringing food ." At that , they accompanied each other , well , Casey followed Roni on the walk to their seats .
