That's Life

Bang!

I take off at the head of the pack. Neji will stick with me for the first mile, but I know I'll start to pull ahead. I always do, but it's not really what I strive to do. I could care less what place I get. My only goal, no dream, is to beat Itachi's legendary time. It's rare to break fifteen minutes, but Itachi pulled it off easily by getting a 14:27 his Senior year.

I just remember when I was a freshman. Itachi was a sophomore at college and had injured his Achilles tendon last cross country season. The doctor had told him he would never be able to run competitively again. He had been depressed for a bit, but who wouldn't if they had made the Olympic tryouts. He was supposed to go that year, but he was forced to drop off. I just remember being so determined to go in and beat his time right off the bat. I got a 15:36 that year an I've never seen my dad so disappointed. My sophomore year he expected it when I again didn't quite break 15. My junior year he wasn't even waiting with my mom at the finish line.

We reach the mile marker, and as I predicted, I start to pull ahead of Neji. I feel hope flare in me when I see my time is at 4:43, just three seconds off of Itachi's winning pace. I'm tired, but I only have a little over two miles left, and I need to beat Itachi. I don't care if I pass out, or if it isn't state meet, I need to beat that time.

It's the half mile, and I can barely breathe. I push through it though. When I passed my father, I could see shock in his eyes. That must mean I'm on the right track. The four hundred appears, and I push myself past the limit. If I was at a 110% before, I'm at 200% now. I don't think I've ever sprinted like this, not once.

I pass the finish line, and there's a flash of pink, and the next thing I know, Sakura has my arm thrown over her shoulder and she's supporting most of my weight. The edges of my vision are going black, and Sakura has to set me down because she was basically carrying me. I can see pride mixed with worry on her face. Itachi's blurry face pops up next to her with a smirk on his face. I can see the emotions in his eye though, and I feel a smile spread across my face. "You idiot." are the last words I hear before everything goes black.

"Teme's coming around! Everyone stare at him and don't say a word!"

"Naruto shut up! Why the fuck would we do that?"

"Hidan watch your language! We're in a hospital!"

"Sorry Mrs. Uchiha."

I blink open my eyes, to have everything slowly come into focus. The first thing I see is Naruto staring at me with his stupid face. If I didn't feel so weak right now, I would be strangling him. Next I see Sakura sitting next to me, still in her uniform. Kiba and Suigetsu are messing with the TV, while Neji is sitting in a chair reading a book. Ino and Karin are sharing the chair next to him. Hinata and Tenten are standing by them. Itachi, Hidan, Kisame, Shisui, and Deidara are standing in the corner. My mom runs over to me when she sees my eyes open and swoops down on me to engulf my face in kisses. I fight her off eventually and she stands there wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Good job, son."

The words vibrate through my body and come to rest in my heart. I look around everyone, to find my dad standing in the door. I would be crying right now, that is if Uchiha's cried. I'm shaking though. No one seems to notice though, because they're almost as stunned as I am.

"Dad…" I croak out.

He gives me a nod, and comes over to sit on the edge of the bed, opposite of Sakura. "You set a new state record today."

"By how much?" I ask.

"Fourteen seconds." He answers, patting my shoulder.

I lay my head back on the pillow. 14:13... No wonder I passed out. I've never heard of anything like it. It doesn't seem like it's me, although I sure am sore enough.

"Thanks." I mutter, suddenly overcome by a wave of exhaustion. I hear Naruto say, "haven't you slept enough yet?".

I ignore him. I'm too tired to come up with a witty comeback.