March 2005
Leah ran from the bottom of the driveway to the top, pushing harder when moving up the steep incline to the house. Her thighs burned, the back of her heels chaffing on the new sneakers her daddy had brought her. Sweat dribbled down her forehead, rolling to her chin, as she pushed harder, swinging her arms for extra momentum.
After thirty continuous laps she collapsed on the grass next to her parent's letterbox, breathing hard like a fish out of water. The sun shone brightly over her, the large tree only providing little shade as she panted and covered her eyes from the sun.
"Why the hell are you running suicides?" A deep voice asked as footsteps stomped closer.
Peeking up she saw Jacob Black carrying a garbage bag.
"Because I thought to myself - oh hey, why not, it is Saturday morning after all. What better way to start the day than run suicides." She snapped back, wiping a hand over her sweat covered face.
She watched as Jacob dumped the garbage into the bin and stepped through the low-lying shrubs. "I'm not even sure if you're being serious right now or not." He answered with a raised brow and lazy smirk. She couldn't help but follow the movement of his hand as he scratched his bare chest, wearing only grey sweatpants. Glorious russet coloured washboard abs stared back at her.
Leah rolled her eyes. "Of course I'm not being serious. We play regionals next month and I need to be on point." Crushing her abdomen, she moved herself into a sitting position. "Twenty-six points and twelve assists aren't good enough to catch the eye of a scout. I need a higher average."
Jacob gave her a funny look and stretched out a hand. "You do realise those stats are better than half the guys on boys' team, right?"
"Still not good enough," she muttered, slapping his hand away and getting to her feet herself.
Jacob shook his head as he watched her walk back toward the house and disappear out of sight.