In The Long Run

In The Long Run (16)

I'm sorry I took so long to update. Please don't send an angry mob after me...

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It was hot and the heat was killing me. It felt like someone kicked me in the back, but apparently those pains are normal. Apparently the pains in my legs are normal too, which is making me realize that I would have never been able to do any form of athletics while being pregnant. It was weird though, because I was okay with it. I've spotted a few scouts on the bleachers around us, all eyes on the field obviously. I just sighed. I still had next year and since the baby is coming around September, I had enough time to bounce back and recover before the running season. They'll see. Nothing's going to stop me from getting that scholarship. Wayne and Curly came back from the concession stands and sat down on either side of me. Wayne handed me a hotdog, while Curly handed me a bottle of water. It was weird having everyone cater for your every need. I spotted Courtney walking around near the bleachers. It looked like she was warming up, but I could see she was nervous. Everyone was. The senior's were obviously more nervous than the younger athletes, because it was their last chance. My eyes flicked back to Courtney. I never really liked her, but it wasn't that she ever did anything to me, except occasionally being bitchy. I let out a heavy sigh and stood up.

"Where are you going?" Curly asked up at me.

"I'm going down there to talk to Courtney."

"I don't think that's such a good idea." Wayne said, standing up and taking me by the elbow, but I shook him off. 

"I'm not going down there to cause any trouble. I just want to give her some pointers." 

"Why would you do that?" Wayne asked with a frown. 

I sighed. "Because even though she's a little slutty and doesn't have a lot of fans, she's still a fellow athlete and I want to help her. It looks like she's freaking out down there." 

Wayne shot her a glance, before nodding and sitting back down. "I'll be here if you need me." he said assuring.  

I gave him a quick peck. "I'll be fine." I could feel him and Curly watching me as I made my way down, but it wasn't just them. Almost everyone else was watching me too. This was the biggest downside to being a pregnant teenager. I approached Courtney, but her back was turned to me. I tapped her on her shoulder and she turned around slowly. Her brow furrowed when she saw it was me. 

"What do you want?" she asked snappily.  

"To help you." 

Her eyes narrowed at me, but I just crossed my arms over my stomach, which triggered her to glance down at me quickly. "Why?" 

"Because not only do you represent me and the school, I can see you're nervous and that could really throw you off your game." 

"Well, what do you propose I do, because I'm not you? I'm not that good of a runner." 

I was flattered, but I ignored it. "Just close your eyes for a second." 

She looked a little skeptical, but she did it nonetheless. 

"Okay, I want you take deep breaths. In through your nose and out through your mouth. Keep doing this until I tell you otherwise." 

She breathed in and out in slowly, I think it calmed me down more than it did her. "Okay, picture the track in front of you, buy keep your eyes closed. Picture yourself running down it alone, because the second you start focusing on your competitors, it's over. You lose your focus and you completely lose your momentum. When you're on that track, keep your focus ahead of you and nowhere else."