Ashes and Ice by Rochelle Maya Callen Read Free Book Online

peripheral vision, but I don’t look at her even though she moved back to her seat in front of me.
    Third period comes. Coach is on the field and we are about to do some more running. My face aches remembering the last P.E. session. The last couple of days have felt like molasses slowly oozing by. By last night, the video count of my humiliation was up to 25,453 views. I stand in line as Coach Edmund arranges the groups for another run. Dom pushes me as he strides by and pivots around, “Ready for another run, Champ?”
    I say nothing.
    “You too,” Coach Edmund points his finger at the new girl sitting on the bleachers. I found out her name. Jade. I don’t look up, but it doesn’t stop me from seeing her small shape fall into the line and for a very brief moment I think she pauses to look at me.
    That’s stupid. She’s not looking at me. I narrow my vision to a small speck of paint on the pavement. It is time to run.
    “Ready, set, go!” Coach shouts before his high-pitched whistle rings out in the humid air.
    We all propel forward at varying speeds—some slower than snails. I let Jared and Dominic sail past me. I don’t want to repeat my face-in-the-gravel fiasco. I fall into a relaxed stride bordering on absolute boredom. People pant beside me, a few glide past me. Oh, the pool of mediocrity. I feel like I am destined to wade in its waters for eternity. Part of me is waiting though. Maybe Jade will catch up to me. The thought makes me want to slow down and speed up at the same time. I didn’t want to be so interested in her. I even try to convince myself I am not interested. I suck at lying, though.
    A rock rolls under the ball of my foot setting me off balance, propelling me forward. I can sense a face-pavement moment coming on. Oh God, not again. My front foot slaps the ground and attempts to even out my stride, but I can see the ground getting closer to my face. Here we go…
    A hand laces around my bicep, yanks me up hard, and drags me forward, forcing my feet to find and maintain the rhythm.
    I didn’t fall!
    I look to my left as the person releases my arm. Her black hair whips back and forth as she passes me steadily.
    Jade.
    My heart skips a beat. I nearly lose balance again. She stopped me from falling. She touched me . My eyes fixate on her as her delicate frame paces swiftly past the stragglers. Perfect form, perfect carriage, perfect stride. Perfect, perfect, perfect. I can’t pull my eyes away from her.
    With swift grace, she gains speed and falls nearly in stride with the two monstrosities of human beings: Jared and Dominic. Is she actually going to try to beat them? I propel myself forward so I can get an unobstructed view of the three of them and the finish line. She pulls between them. Jared looks down at her. A flicker of tension grasps his muscles, making each one more pronounced. He pumps his arms faster, pulls ahead slightly. Dominic glances to his side and smirks. Smirks? What is he smirking about? Jade runs faster and pulls ahead of him. He tilts his head to the side, staring at her backside with so much intent and interest, a ripple of disgust and anger rattles my insides. That perv .
    Jared is in the lead. Jade in center. Dominic lingers slightly behind, intentionally. Jade’s strides pick up pace and she pulls past Jared. He glares at her, horrified.
    “Don’t let her win, Dom!” Jared shouts.
    “I don’t know. I kinda like the view.” Dominic points directly at Jade’s rear.
    She doesn’t look to her sides; she keeps staring forward toward the finish line.
    It happens so fast. She raises her arms straight out to her sides, fists clenched and stops abruptly. Jared and Dominic didn’t see it coming. Her fists hit their guts and they stumble a step backward before tumbling to the ground with loud grunts.
    “Dammit!” Jared doesn’t hold back how pissed off he is. He finds his feet and tries to catch up with Jade, but she sails past the finish line, alone and victorious.
    I