Jump Then Fall

chapter 1 ⋮⋮ tied in knots

DELANEY FOSTER WAS starving. She hadn't eaten anything but ice cream over the three-day weekend and that was evident in the small pudge of fat that sat on her belly and the swell of her thighs. She could live with that. But she really couldn't live with being hungry.

Her stomach rumbled obnoxiously as she took her spot on the gym bleachers with a pout. She rubbed her abdomen in a nurturing manner.

"It's okay, girl, " she whispered to her belly, ignoring the weird looks that her peers sent her way. She exhaled deeply and threw her weight unto Alicia Reed, her greatest friend (second to food, that is). Alicia tensed and sent Delaney a side-glance that was almost guilty. Delaney gasped sharply and retracted from her friend's shoulder.

"You have food!" The food lover said a bit too loudly, pointing an accusatory finger at Alicia.

Alicia's eyes went wide and she slowly shook her head only for Delaney to probe her backpack with her foot aggressively. The plastic rustled in her bag causing Alicia to groan in annoyance.

Delaney gasped once more, "And it's hot Cheetos!"

Alicia was momentarily shocked before realizing that her friend was a human snack detector. She rolled her eyes and reluctantly placed the bag in Delaney's grabby hands and Delaney practically tore the bag in half trying to get it open. Alicia watched the girl devour her chips with an annoyed expression.

"Ya' know, you shouldn't be eating those before you run,"

Delaney only proceeded to stuff her face in response. She turned to look at her friend with an expression that perfectly displayed how very little she cared before speaking. "I on iv a uck," she said. Her mouth still filled with Cheetos.

"You're the best!" Delaney beamed before chugging all of the water in one gulp. She looked over at her best friend with a mischievous gleam in her dark eyes and rose the plastic container. "THIS BITCH EMPTY-"

"Please don't-" Alicia started to plead.

"YEET!" The girl chucked the empty bottle only for it to hit a boy on the back of the head and when he turned around, Delaney found that he was a very handsome boy. Chris Lowery to be more precise.

"Sorry!" She cringed at the frown her actions caused.

Alicia rolled her eyes at her best friend's antics. She never really intended to hit anyone. She continued to shove chips in her mouth to cope.

"Oh my gosh, Alicia. He's so delicious," the flustered girl practically moaned.

Alicia rose a brow and looked between the bag of snacks and Delaney with a questioning stare. "He?"

"The boy, not the chips."

Alicia opened her mouth to reply but Coach Matthis had blown her whistle and everyone turned their attention to her.

"Alright, let's run our laps!" The woman bellowed and Delaney could almost hear her classmates' suppressed groans.

"Ugh, I don't feel like doing anything, " Delaney mumbled as she made her way to the gym floor. "My tummy hurts."

"I wonder why," Alicia replied dryly to which Delaney only rolled her eyes.

The pair broke into a light jog once they made it to the track. Initially, Delaney was able to keep up with everyone but after the second lap, her legs started to give out and she felt a strange rumbling in her stomach.

"Alicia, something doesn't feel right, " Delaney panted out to her best friend.

"It's called perspiration, Dee. That happens when you exercise, " Alicia quipped but slowed her pace so Delaney could catch up a little.

Her stomach rumbled again. Her spit tasted of salt and it felt like there was an entire ocean in her mouth. Her legs wobbled and she grabbed onto the first thing her fingers touched. Before she knew what was happening, she was vomiting all over someone's shoes.

Chris Lowery's shoes.