Weight

Part One

I pounded my legs harder. The steady thump thump of my feet hitting the pavement was oddly satisfying. My lungs burned and my body ached. I felt sweat pooling in my armpits and trailing down my back. September hasn't yet brought down the summer heat, so the temperature wasn't helping my sweating issues. Just a little bit further, I thought as I rounded the street corner, my house coming into view a little ways down the street.

I pushed through the resistance my body was giving me and finished my run strong. Coming to a stop on my porch, I took a minute to get my breathing under control. My pulse was still beating rapidly, but I felt like I had taken enough deep breaths to survive. I pushed open the door, ready to fill up a tall glass of ice cold water.

I walk over the threshold of my house and the number of people in my living room catch my eye. I had my eyes on my kitchen, which was straight down the hall from the entrance, but got sidetracked when I saw the room full of people to my left. I walked into the room, finally getting a good look at who all made up the unexpected Saturday night company.

My dad was sitting on an armchair with my mom perched delicately as ever on the arm next to him. They were holding hands and smiling. My parents were always happy, always in love. I always wished for a love like theirs, undying and unconditional. I'd hoped to find it some day. My parents were talking with another couple that was resting on the love seat across from them. I recognized them as David and Alice Keller. They were family friends and I'd known them my whole life. Then I noticed the kids who were filling the rest of the room. My sister Kate was chatting with Nathaniel Keller and his two younger sisters, Anna and Jo.

Nate Keller was a family friend, just like his parents. Everyone at our high school would identify him as football captain and hottest guy in the senior class. I would identify him as a childhood best friend who I grew apart from when I began taking AP and honors classes and he began partying.

Don't get me wrong, I still go to a party every once in a while. But I am not the life of the party like Nate. I'm too focused on my future to screw it up by making some dumb drunken mistake. Nate's future is laid out for him at his dad's construction company, so he never had a care in the world.

My eyes raked over Nate. Yep, I thought, still gorgeous. I wasn't dumb enough to think Nate would ever see me as anything more than an old friend, but I wasn't completely immune to the pull all girls feel towards him. He was six-foot-three-inches of pure Greek god, with perfect tan skin, blonde hair, blue eyes, and an athletic build. I never really thought of Nate as boyfriend-material, but that doesn't mean I can't think he's beautiful.

Nate made eye contact with me across the room. He smiled, but it wasn't as bright as it usually was. There was something wary hiding underneath his smile, peeking out from his eyes.

I paused my music and yanked my headphones from my ears. I cleared my throat a little and brought my hand up to a small wave. "Hello, everybody," I said, making my presence known. My mom looked up and her smile grew.

"Evie! How was your run?" she asked, setting the glass of wine she had in her hands down on the side table next to her.

"Pretty good," I answered without elaborating anymore. I wanted to escape the room as quick as possible, hoping to take a cold shower and put on fresh clothes before I had to socialize any more. "I'm gonna go-"

"No, Evie," Mom cut me off, her eyes flashing quickly to Mrs. Keller and back to me. "Why don't you help me and Mrs. Keller get out that ice cream we have in the freezer out for everybody?"

"Oh, but I really need to shower after my run, and I-"

I stopped short. My mother was giving me her extra-intense do-what-I-say look and I've learned not to cross her when she makes that facial expression. So I sighed and followed her into the kitchen.