“Hey!” I shouted, catching up for a second only to be left in the dust again as she sprinted farther away from me. Flicking my gaze back to the chaos taking place up the field I saw Tasha rip Candace’s belt off before she’d made it more than a few yards. I jogged back up to the line of scrimmage as we re-set ourselves for the next play. Panting, I stood in front of her again, trying to see through her helmet.

“HUT!” Jessica called out again and we were right back at it, a slow lion after a speedy gazelle. My pulse pounding in my ears I tried to steady my ragged breathing, trying to remember anything Jerry the jock caretaker had ever told me about running.

“First down!!” One of the Leche’s shouted, Tasha shoving Candace out of bounds a few seconds later, and I was seriously dying as I power walked back up to the line. Sucking in deep breaths I decided I’d have to cheat or I was going to pass out before I ever got to her. Carmen was still refusing to look at me, and all the other girls were completely focused on their marks, so I inched forward. As Jessica got in shotgun position I stepped further and further over the imaginary line. When the ball was finally snapped I shot forward, this time keeping pace with her. We ran down the side of the field and for a few precious seconds I was close enough to touch her. I stuck my hand out, hell bent on getting on her attention, when my foot sank into a rabbit hole and I tripped.

“Fuck!” I rolled forward, colliding with Carmen, and both of our helmets flew off as we hit the dirt.

The earth felt like a carousel under me, rising and spinning and falling and spinning. With a groan I turned over, right onto Carmen, who was breathing hard, and placed my palms against the moving dirt. Pushing myself up slowly I shook my head, trying to clear it, and felt the tip of my nose touch hers. My eyes whipped open.  

“Interception!” A tiny voice from far away floated through my ears then just as quickly faded away, all I could concentrate on was the girl lying still underneath me. Our eyes locked, and I could feel her heartbeat tapping out a drum beat against my own, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

“Carmen…” I murmured and that seemed to bring her out of her reverie. She violently pushed me off her, grabbing her helmet before ripping off her belt and throwing both at the feet of La Leche’s substitute. Forcing myself up I fought the dizziness to run after her.

“Shane we scored a goal! Yay!” Alice was cheering and bouncing up and down but I brushed past her. My wobbly legs took me back into the dorm building, following the once-clean white shirt that was trying to escape me. I walked into a wall as the steps turned into a spiral staircase, deceiving my feet, but I kept going, catching up to her just as she shoved through the second floor double doors. Tumbling into the light brown, pink, and purple painted hallway I looked around, dazed, waiting for Charlie to pop up and offer me a Gobstopper or something.

“What is wrong with you?” Carmen demanded, taking two fistfuls of my shirt and holding me up against a wall.

“…why are you…running away from me?” I managed; surprised I got the words out in the right order.

“Because I can’t be near you.” She replied quietly.

“Why not?” A minute passed, two, then she reached for my hand and took it in hers, pressing it against her heart. It was racing faster than mine.

“I can’t feel this.” She whispered and I let go of her hand to put both of mine around her waist, flipping our position.

“…why not?” Her eyes filled up with water instantly and yet again I lost my nerve. She slipped away from and into her room, closing the door. The ‘click’ that sounded when it was locked reverberated in the empty hall and echoed in my ears.

tbc

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