A Mask in A Mirror

Chapter 4: The Shambles are Falling Apart

As Jordan and I grew closer together, hardening our relationship, Ann became more and more distant. She separated herself from us, her two best friends. Jordan insisted that Annie had a crush on me, that she was jealous. For my part I was simply confused. Ann and I had been best friends, of all the guys that she had been with, she didn't make passes at me. Our relationship and been strictly friend zoned, there was no way that she could really be this upset with me having a girlfriend. A part of me suspected that it was actually Jordan who was jealous and that Ann was keeping her distance out of respect for Jordan's concerns.

Whatever the case, I found myself devoid of my usual acquaintance at the throwing rings when our first track meet rolled around. Ann had been beside me before every competition since the beginning of our eighth grade season. Now it felt odd to be standing alone before I stepped into the ring.

We were at the Hallsville meet, and to my surprise, there really wasn't much competition. Despite being a small sophomore it was conceivable that I might have a chance at a medal if I could get off a decent throw. I fell out of the ring on my first throw. In discus that's called a scratch, and it voids the throw.

My Senior teammate Rob Donaldson was sitting in first place with a 148ft 11in throw at the end of the first round. I knew that was out of my reach, but third place was a short 113ft 8in. Taking deep breaths and trying not to think about the distance, I stepped into the ring for my second attempt. I payed close attention to my footwork as I spun, remembering my stumble on the first toss.

I stayed in the ring, but the disc came to earth after a mere 97ft. I had been entirely too focused on my feet. I shook my head as I stepped back into the huddle of throwers waiting for my next turn.

"You suck." A flat, bored female voice taunted from behind me.

Normally my reaction would have been nonexistent. I would ignore my spectator and use that aggressiveness in my next throw. But I knew that voice. "Everybody has an off day." I hid my grin, "Besides, I was missing my lucky charm." We left it at that. I waited silently for my final turn. No longer worrying about my poor performance up to that point, I was focused, I could see myself taking my first varsity medal.

"Clayton Appleson!" The ring judge called for my final throw. Stepping into the ring, everything felt just right. I knew it was going to be a phenomenal throw long before the disc flew out of my hand. And it was. It cleared the third place throw with ease.

The young boy running the long measuring tape hurried into the ring as another middle school boy back peddled to mark my throw. I felt like jumping for joy long before the measurement was official. "A hundred and twenty-eight feet and uh... four inches! The judge announced. A soft applause came from the small crowd. With the exception of Rob and Annie Mosey who both exploded into loud cheers. I puffed out my chest with pride as I strode over to them.

"Not bad for a stickman." Ann teased. I wasn't a stick anymore, but again, normal people look pretty small relative to shot-putters and discus throwers.

Rob clapped me on the shoulder, "Hey man, that makes for a Far Hills sweep!" He said.

Granted it was actually impossible for one school to sweep most varsity meets as there are only two athletes per event per school. So technically it was not feasible for us to sweep the medal stand, but I knew what he meant. In high school track a sweep is a one-two finish. He had won, so that meant that I must have overtaken second and third with that last throw.

"Sweet." I tried to play it cool. Pretending like I had known the whole time when in reality I hadn't been paying any attention to who was in second place.

Ann laughed at me and opened her arms up as if to hug me in celebration. Then the light dimmed in her eyes and she dropped one arm, turning sideways to give me a one-armed side hug.