Outcasts

Chapter 2: Part 1

Saturday Afternoon. Marissa's House.

        Marissa sits on her bed reading a book titled "The Art of Deception," her phone is lying next to her when suddenly it vibrates and lights up with a text from her boyfriend Jared.

Jared: R u coming to the meet today?

Marissa smiles at the text and quickly replies

Marissa: Of course! I can't miss my baby become a state champion.

She places the phone back down beside her and tries to continue reading, but now she is distracted and keeps looking back down at her phone to see if he has replied. A few minutes go by and the phone lights up again.

Jared: Babe you know i'm probably not even gonna run, I'm just an alternate in case someone gets hurt.

Within seconds her response is typed and ready to be sent,

Marissa: Well no matter what happens, you'll always be my champion.

She keeps the phone in hand as she sees three dots appear at the bottom of the screen letting her know that he is typing.

Jared: That's why i luv you. You're always by my side. I know we'll be together forever. Hey i gtg coach is here, luv u bye.

Marissa smiles and reads the text a couple times over then looks at the clock, and starts to get dressed.

Later that day, around sunset. State Track Meet

        Marissa arrives at the meet just before the last event, which is unusual as she is big on punctuality. She stands on the outside of the fence rather then going and sitting in the stands with everyone else, because she knows she'll get picked on and laughed at. She looks around and then spots Jared talking to Samantha. Suddenly a feeling of uneasiness comes over her.

Jared sees her and starts to jog over to her. Time begins to slow down in her mind and the feeling of uneasiness leaves her as quickly as it came. She ponders how lucky she is as she examines her boyfriend on his approach. He is handsome, with dark blue eyes and thick brown hair that's long at the top and shaved on the sides. She looks at his muscular build and the heat has painted a thin coat of sweat on his body making him shine in the California sun.

She often wonders why out of all the girls in the school, why did he pick her. He was the only guy who ever treated her with respect. She felt lucky because of this, also she wondered about the age difference. She is 15 and he just turned 18. But because of her intellect, they're both finishing up junior year about to be seniors.

Marissa can't help but try to put an equation together for why he is with her. Is it because he's not very popular? He's not a star athlete nor is he very outgoing. Or is the reason he is not popular because of his being with her?

        But ultimately she doesn't care, she loves him and he's loved her and done her right and that's all that matters to her.

Finally Jared reaches the fence and she smiles and speaks. "Hey babe!" she says "Oh hey.." he replies as he catches his breath. "I thought you weren't gonna make it." Marissa smiles as she feels that what she is about to say is going to impress him. "I know it took me forever to find your warmup shirt that you left at my house last week. I thought i'd wear it to show my support for you. See, Go Chameleons!" She steps back to let him see that she is wearing an oversized green shirt with a silver chamelon on the front and his last name on the back.

A faint smile appears on his face, then he looks behind him to see Samantha waving at him. Suddenly his smile disapears "I dont know why you wore that, it doesn't fit you." Marissa's smile turns into a frown.