Chapter 41
Archer-then
It’s my senior year of undergrad and I’m spending one of my only free Saturdays at a cross-country race. Coach Miller insists that we support the other teams so that’s how I find myself freezing my balls off at what I guess is an important race.
Soon the runners are at the starting line and the gun goes off signaling the start of the race. Logan and I aren’t all that interested in the race, so we wander around with hot chocolates from the concession stand.
We near the finish line and find the pack leaders following the gator through the course. One girl from a school I don’t recognize is ahead of everyone else. I see several of our runners, and two girls from my former university in the following pack.
“Let’s go Elle!” My head whips in the direction of the yell and then back to the racers.
“Pick them off one by one, baby girl!”
“It’s your last race! Make it count!”
That’s when I spot her.
Elle.
She’s in blue and gold, her spandex leaving nothing to the imagination.
Her hair is up in the ponytail she always sported in class, she’s focused in, eyes straight ahead, form impeccable.
She’s doing exactly what her cheerleaders are telling her to do.
She breaks her pace only to turn on the jets.
I toss my hot chocolate in a nearby trash can as I follow her to the finish line.
She leaves her teammate behind as she pushes herself toward the finish line.
Holy Shit.
She’s fast; I’m in awe. I falter as I contemplate how someone with such short legs covers that much ground. I watch as she closes the gap.
“Go Ellie! GO!” I yell, I’m not sure if she hears me.
She isn’t able to catch the leader but snags second place. The announcer’s voice booms over the course.
“And your Division I NCAA National Champion, from Clearwater University, with an official time of 19 minutes, 47.2 seconds; Jenna Brooks!”
The announcer pauses, then continues.
“And in second place, representing Ridgecrest State University, with a time of 19 minutes, 52.3 seconds; Elle Taylor!”
I find myself making my way over to her. However, I force myself to stop. She’s surrounded by her teammates and family. She may not even remember me, and I can’t make this moment about me.
I watch from afar like a creep. Her chest is heaving and her coach is handing her water, encouraging her to drink. Her skin is flushed from exertion and cold.
I can’t tell what they’re saying but I think Elle is crying. She’s wiping her eyes but smiling. It must be bittersweet, it’s her last race and she managed a second-place finish. That’s pretty impressive. Actually that’s incredibly impressive.
“Way to go Ellie. Way to go.” I smile. Almost as she hears me, I see her look in my direction but nothing in her face suggests that she sees me.
I go to wave, but her attention is taken by another teammate who comes up and hugs her.
I turn to go find Logan once more.
Now
It’s Thanksgiving and we’re playing against the Chimeras once again.
Hopefully we can pull out a win. Elle is back home with her family since we’re away at the Chimeras.
I roll out of the hotel bed to see a picture message from her.
Her face is flushed and she’s in a racing bib.
She’s wearing leggings and a tight racing shirt.
Her dad and brother on either side of her in their racing attire.
Apparently, her family is one of those that races the morning of Thanksgiving. Following the picture is a message that reads:
Ellie: I’m dying. Everything jiggled. I almost puked at mile 4. Easton convinced me to do shots last night. But 6.2 miles later, I finished. How the hell did I do this regularly in college?
Ellie: Can’t wait to watch you later. Your ass always looks fantastic in the grey pants.
Archer: Thanks, I try, never skip the squats. Can I ask what your time was? Or is the wanting to puke a sign that I shouldn’t ask. Ellie: 49 minutes.
I roll my eyes and chuckle. I should be more understanding, since I have no idea what it’s like to stop and try to pick my sport back up, but 49 minutes for a 10k is decent, especially for someone who barely trained. Sure, she works out but she didn’t actively train for this race.
I grab my bags and head to the hotel lobby where I meet the team in preparation for the game.