Can't Run From You

Chapter 46

I had been sitting with my parents for about 30 minutes in silence. I stared at the field the entire time. There was no thought in my head. There was nothing I could think of that would change the situation I'm in.

"I'm going to the bathroom." I said after the first 45 minutes of silence. As I was standing up I saw my mom give my dad a look. My dad let out a sigh and said

"I'll go with you. I want a hot dog." I rolled my eyes and walked down the bleachers. When we got to the bleachers my dad walked left and I went right to the bathrooms. When I came out my dad was still in line so I went and stood next to him. I rested my head on his arm and stared at the ground.

"You okay sweetie?" The question seemed ridiculous. It seemed so absolutely absurd that I almost started laughing. Almost.

"Is that even a question?" I stepped back and looked at him.

"I know you feel like your mom is only doing this to torture you." I crossed my arms and looked down at the ground.

"Thea she's not. She loves you. She want's what's best for you. I told you before, we don't agree with this but your mom's having a harder time of it. Just give her some time. I wish I could give you a better explanation but for right now that's the best I can do."

"Dad I love her. I know it's hard to see that but I don't understand why mom is making my life so miserable. You guys had no problems with her before I told you." The people in front of us grabbed their stuff and moved forward. My dad ordered a coke and a hot dog and some popcorn for my mom.

"You want anything?" He asked. Yeah, I want to see my girlfriend and tell her I'm sorry and that I love her.

"No." When we got back to where we were sitting Molly and Lucy were sitting with my mom. When they saw us coming they turned around and said,

"Hiiiiii."

"Hey guys." I sat down on the bleachers and the girls moved to sit next to me. We sat there in silence for a couple seconds before Molly's phone started ringing.

"Hello?... Right now?... okay we'll be there in a minute." I gave her a confused look.

"What?"

"That was Jenny, she said Clarks looking for me and you. Something about our hand off."

"Oh okay." I started to get up and follow Molly. I turned around and gave Lucy a look.

"She didn't want to talk to me." Lucy shrugged her shoulders.

"I'll hang out with your parents. They're great." She said smiling at my mom. My mom just smiled back.

I followed Molly down the bleachers and back to our camp. I looked around the camp but I only saw some guys and girls asleep on the mats. Clark wasn't here. I turned and looked at Molly who was actually walking past our camp.

"Molly?" I asked as I followed her wherever she was going. She didn't say anything she just kept walking towards the jumping pits. The high jump mat was closest to the fence and there was only about 4 feet in between the matt and the fence. There was no one here anymore because the field events had been long since over. We walked to the 4 feet of space between the mat and the wall. When I looked down I saw Eli sitting there with her knees up and her arms resting on them. She had her headphones on and was staring at the road on the opposite side of the fence. When she saw me, she stood up and took her headphones out.

"What're you doing here?" I looked at Molly who was just smiling at me.

"We knew you guys were having a rough time so Lucy and I set this up so you guys can talk it out. Lucy's got eyes on you parents and I'm standing guard." Molly waved her phone in the air and started walking away. I looked back at Eli. I ran to her and wrapped my arms around her.

"I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry." I cried. I could feel Eli's chest rising and falling at a rapid rate. She held onto me and buried her face in my neck. When we pulled apart Eli and I sat down on the floor and faced the road.

"You shouldn't have scratched." I was still staring at the road but now Eli was looking at me.

"I didn't mean to."

"Then what happened?"

"I don't know. I just started running and all these thoughts were in my head and I don't know, I got lost in them and by the time I knew it I was on the other side of the pit."

"Eli I'm sorry."

"There's nothing for you to be sorry for. It's not your fault."

"I was a bitch to you. I'm sorry for that." I said.

"Oh yeah. I'll accept that apology." I smiled and nudged my shoulder into Eli's.

"But hey you ran through the pit." I cocked an eyebrow at Eli.

"So?"

"So that means you lost." Eli's smile widened into a devilish grin.

"So, what is it you want me to do?" I looked down at my shoes.

"I want you to keep loving me no matter what happens." Eli pulled me in to her so that I was pretty much sitting on her lap. I rested my head on her chest and she patted my head with her hand.

"I will always love you no matter what." I wrapped my arms around her and we sat there in the heat on the floor, hiding from my parents and the rest of the world.

                                                                    -------------------------------------

I bounced on my toes trying to pump myself up for this race. We had already run the 4x1 and we came in first. Lucy gave us a great lead and Eli finished it out like a champ. We are running the 2x4 now and I can't seem to get to where I need to be mentally. I watch as Lucy gets on her blocks and gets ready. As soon as the gun blows I started bouncing again. I get in my stance and get ready for my hand off. I wait for about 30 more seconds before I see Molly coming down the stretch. As she got closer I waited for her to pass the tape I'd set down. The second she passed it I took off. Five steps later and I threw my hand back, a second or two later I felt the cool metal hit my hand. I hugged the curve as much as I could. I could feel a girl coming up on my right. As I ran I started thinking about my parents and Eli and everything. I ran as hard as I could. The girl sort of faded away. I saw Eli at the end of the stretch and ran for her. I ran to get closer to her, to reach her. It was all I could do. As soon as I passed Eli's mark she took off. She threw her hand back and I put the baton in her hand. I watched as she ran the curve. I ran off of the track and through the field to the finish line. I ran into a couple of people on the way but I didn't care. When I got to the finish line Eli was already coming down the straight. There was a girl trying to catch up to her but it was in vain. Eli passed the finish line and picked her hands up above her head. Her jersey came up a bit and her spandex were hugging her ass. She looked so sexy. She put the baton under the left strap of her sports bra and started walking to me. Molly and Lucy came up behind me and said

"Damn Hale good fuckin run."

"Yeah that was a good 200." Lucy said.

"Thanks." Eli was still out of breath.

"You did amazing babe." I said as I kissed her on the cheek. Eli just smiled at me and slapped my ass. I gave her a smirk and then we all went our separate ways. No matter what, I haven't lost. I haven't lost Eli. I won't lose her. She is mine and there's no one who can take her away from me.