Whisper

~My Life~

                                                                                  Chapter 4:

  After breakfast I obviously made my way to school. I usually walk there to warm up before practice. I also had no other choice; Nana didn't own a car and I didn't own a bike, so truly there was no other way for me to get to school. 

As a routine I jogged through the woods to get to my destination; taking in the peaceful atmosphere, embracing nature, feeling at ease. Today I walked due to my still injured foot.

The town I lived in was pretty isolated. Not much moved around in this area. 

   I won't bore you with the details of my day at school. It's high school, not much to say. Boring classes that teach you nothing useful for the real world, obnoxious teenagers, prideful girls that act like brats, horny and absent-minded guys, cliques, dull teachers, the list goes on. You get it; I'm sure you go to school too.

The only exciting thing that happens in my high school is the athletics program. A program sent from heaven above for the gifted and skilled students who enjoyed sports. To bring some life into this school! For me at least. 

My chance to do the thing I love most in this world; run.

 Track has taught me many things. How to stretch my capacity, time/pace myself, move forward, sprint/jogun full speed. I've learned how to manage my breathing, body, and speed. I've learned how to take care of my body, what to eat and what not to eat. Drink tons of water. Constantly being active during the day; the main reason I would walk and sometimes jog to school in the mornings. I've participated in many races, even won a couple. This track team has been great for my life; I'll be forever grateful. 

Observation: After-school activities were more useful than actual school, can you believe that!?

Walking over to my coach I watch as my teammates warm up by stretching and jogging in place. Group laps around the turf were up next. I walk a bit faster, finally approaching my coach. She stares down at a clipboard in her hand, and holds a timer in the other.

 "Coach". I try to grab her attention. "Armstrong!" She greets without looking up. 

 "I'll cut to it; I'm slightly injured." I inform sticking out my foot for her to notice my carefully wrapped ankle. She throws a glance at my foot and resumes to looking at her clipboard.

 "You're dismissed. Come back in a week. Let that baby rest, we need you for the upcoming race Armstrong! You're one of our fastest." She reminds loudly. A smile tugs its way up to my lips. "Yes coach!" I match her energy and slowly walk to the benches to watch the rest of the practice.

"Whisper!" a sweet voice chirps my name. I turn to the side and notice Shelby Ash. Shelby was a bit shorter than me; I was around 5'4 while she was 5'2. She wore big black glasses that made her green eyes look bigger than they actually were. Her red strands were in tight curls, and they hung near her back as she walked awkwardly towards me. A gray beanie covered the top of her head. She sits next to me and offers me a big smile. 

I didn't like labels but she has claimed me as her best friend ever since sophomore year and I have never opposed against it. We spent time together frequently and she would go to my house over the weekends. Nana loved Shelby. In fact, Nana only loved Shelby. Anybody else she despised and or usually didn't trust. She was a very suspicious lady. 

"How was your day?" I ask. "Pretty normal. What happened?" She answers then immediately questions afterwards. My eyes follow her eyes that rested on my foot. "Oh. I fell.." I retort.

"You fell?" Her eyebrows rise. I slowly nod. She squints her eyes at me. "Shelby stop." I order in annoyance. "Why are you lying?" She challenges. I chuckle, "I am not lying. What business do I have lying to you?" I question.

"Babe!" A familiar male voice interrupts. Steven Abner comes into view from behind me. He pulls me into a quick hug and I smile. 

"What happened to your foot?" He quickly notices. I roll my eyes. "She fell." Shelby answers for me. I scold her. "You're clearly lying!" She snaps. Shelby is really shy and quiet. She only speaks to me in that form. I have never seen Shelby snap, shout, or yell at anybody else. That is how comfortable she was around me.

"Is that true?" He questions awaiting a confirmation. 

Steve was a few inches taller than me. A reasonable amount. He had short brown straight hair, that rested on his head and forehead like bangs. His eyes were a beautiful light brown. His body was muscular and fit. Our relationship came about by him (like Shelby) claiming me. As I said I hate labels. When he began calling me his girlfriend I did not oppose. We started at the end of junior year. He was also an athlete; baseball and football. 

Our relationship was not any typical relationship. I kept to myself mostly. I did not speak to him about my feelings or confess my thoughts to him on a daily basis. We did not kiss. We did not hold hands. We did not text or speak every single day. None of that. We only hugged and that was it. I hated all that couples' stuff so I avoided it. Steve knew this very well and did not mind. He only wanted me with him because he didn't stand the sight of seeing me with anybody else.

"No!" I dismiss swatting my hand around. "Look guys I get it, you're protective of me. And it warms my heart that you don't fully hate me. I don't fully hate you either. In fact I am very fond of you both. I fell and sprung my ankle, it's no big deal, cool?" I try to clear up. 

"Whatever." Shelby mumbles. Steve shrugs and replies, "If you say so." "Great!" I pipe. "See you guys at lunch?" I question. They nod.