Today's Notes:

1. This chapter is in third-person (Trying to see if this is better)

2. Promise this is WE

3. Thank you very much to those who reviewed...you made me very happy

Chapter One

Sweat beaded down Elizabeth's face. Her legs burned as if they were metal placed into a furnace. To her this was heaven. Very few other activities instilled in her the same passion and freedom as running. The only time Elizabeth felt truly alive was while sprinting so fast it hurt. She drew in a breath- if she wanted she could run faster than this. A quick glance over her shoulder revealed that none of the other runners were anywhere close. Chances are she could have walked the rest of the way and still won. As she crossed the finish line, disappointment filled her heart. She wanted more- She wanted to run off the track, through the gate and onto the pavement. She could run until the light of dawn brought her fatigue.

Coach Marie weaved her way to Elizabeth through the hordes of observers to congratulate her on yet another victory

"What was the time?" Elizabeth cut off the praise. Elizabeth could tell she wasn't running as fast as she usually did that evening. She needed to hear the coach confirm this. Elizabeth groaned when she reluctantly answered. Almost five seconds slower than her best time, the one the large record board on the end of the field tormented her with everyday. Elizabeth did not want to upset herself now- those five second just meant more mileage she would run next practice.

"Elizabeth, that was still a spectacular performance. You should be very proud of yourself." Elizabeth shook her head. She didn't do her best therefore she had failed and she despised failure. She faked a smile as the rest of the girls found them. They were panting- the race obviously took everything out of them. Elizabeth stood there for a moment listening as the coach provided hints to the other girls.

"Nice work, Liz" A voice called through the crowd. Elizabeth looked over where the voice had come from to see her boyfriend James Norrington waving her over. He had his cell phone out and was texting someone. He pulled her into a hug with his free hand as soon as she was close enough. He quickly forgot about multi-tasking as their lips met. His hand was on the back of Elizabeth's head, pulling her closer. Elizabeth gasped though she had stellar lung capacity she still needed to breathe eventually.

"Are you hungry?" James asked as Elizabeth packed my schoolbooks into her bag.

"Sure, just let me get changed then we can leave." She slung the bag over her shoulder.

"Alright, I'll be hanging out with everyone until your ready- no rush." He walked off towards the crowd of our friends he had been with during the race. Elizabeth left the fenced in track and followed the lights back to the building.

"Where was the focus during that race?" Elizabeth jumped. This same scene played out after each meet, but she was never quiet ready for it. Her closest friend was not a huge fan of loud cheering and huge crowds so he lingered in the parking lot when she was not running.

"Will!"

"How's it going?" He handed Elizabeth her water bottle. He was leaning against the brick side of the school directly under a light fixture. His appearance was rather fascinating, like a detective waiting for his client in a back alley.

"Oh yeah thanks…" Will laughed, easing for of the tension that comes naturally when you startle someone. Elizabeth had accidentally left her water bottle in her locker after school. By the time, she had noticed its absence it was too late to run back and get it so during the break she had scouted Will out and sent him to retrieve it. Unfortunately, James and the gang snuck on the field to visit so she had not been able to see Will again until now. He shrugged it off.

"Gave me something to do other than watch people I don't know run around in circles." It was Elizabeth's turn to laugh.

"Is that all you think of track?" She raised her left eyebrow.

"I must be missing something then?" He was grinning.

"So honestly was I that bad?" Will would never lie. He knew next to nothing about the sport but she trusted his advice over most of her other friends.

"Of course not. Bad for you maybe, but that is still unbelievably good to anyone else."

"I'm not anyone else."

"Don't be so harsh on yourself. Your body is tired. You practice four hours a day. You can't expect to be in top shape after that kind of stress."

"Don't make excuses for me. I train to get better so I don't get tired. I need to get stronger."

"Elizabeth…"

"Will my friends are waiting I have to change. I will talk to you tomorrow."

He held his hands up. "Goodnight Elizabeth, take care of yourself."

Elizabeth tugged the door open with much more strength than the task required. She hated how Will thought he knew what was best for her. He didn't know what she was feeling- sometimes he completely overstepped his bounds.

The locker room was empty- most of the team didn't bother changing after meets so they never came back here. Elizabeth stripped the sweaty uniform from her body and shoved it into her bag. She'd have to remember to wash that before the next meet. She pulled on the jeans and purple lace top she had worn that day. The humidity and her sweat had ruined her hair beyond rescue so she contented in pulling it into a simple ponytail. She slipped her shoes back on, grabbed my bag and left the room, ensuring the light went out.

Elizabeth jogged back to the track. Only a few groups of stragglers remained. The floodlights were dimming. The coaches wanted everyone to go home.

"Hey Liz" Lindsay, another member of the team and one of Elizabeth's good friends, called.

"Hey," Elizabeth called back. James was fidgeting with his keys. Elizabeth's speed in running and changing differed greatly.

"You ready," James took my bag. She nodded.

"'Night coach," Elizabeth yelled behind her as James led her by the arm to the parking lot. His new bright red convertible was a pearl in a sea of cars, but when it was alone in the dark, it seemed less impressing. Elizabeth hopped into the passenger seat. Lindsay and her boyfriend Eric climbed into the back. James thrust the keys into the ignition and pulled away as quickly has he could without flipping the car. Elizabeth would not exactly say James was a dangerous driver, he just a habit of going twice the speed limit. She turned the radio on and blasted it until the volume maxed out. Leaning her head against the rest, Elizabeth let the wind blow through her hair. She loved the feeling of freedom that came with the open air.

"So where are we going?" James screamed though over the music it sounded like a whisper. Elizabeth looked to the backseat for answers.

"Eric's older brother is having a party why don't we drop over to his place for a while." Lindsay ran her hand through her boyfriend's dark hair. His eyes sparkled. Elizabeth turned back around to give them some company. James took his right hand off the wheel and slid his fingers through Elizabeth's. She leaned against his arms- repositioning her body until she was comfortable. James drove the rest of the way one-handed.

Cars packed the street in front of Eric's home. Elizabeth had been here a few times before for other such parties. His brother was on a "break" from college and his parents were living in their summer home on the other side of the country so this place was the perfect breeding ground for get-togethers. James parked in front of the neighbor's house. Upon turning the music off, the group could hear commotion coming from Eric's backyard.

"How do you guys manage to not have the cops called on you?" Lindsay asked, she had been to almost everyone one of his parties and from what she told Elizabeth they got rowdy.

"The brother is friends with all the local cops. Even if someone did complain, the cops would only come to have a drink. It has happened before and we are still here. Don't give it another thought."

The gate was jammed shut so the group had to jump the fence to get into the backyard. The vast majority of the crowd was too busy doing their own thing to notice their arrival. Elizabeth read the time off her watch. It was almost eleven. Everyone would be drunk by now.

"Looks like they're having a ball." Lindsay pointed to a couple dancing arms interlocked in circles on a table. Elizabeth couldn't help laughing for that was one of the more tame sites. A group of young men was playing leapfrog in the mud a few yards away from the shaking table. The CD skipped so someone climbed out of the pool and slapped in a few times.

"Eric, where were you? You missed Kris stri—." A hand –presumably Kris'- slapped the speaker. Eric rolled his eyes at his brother Marty.

"Track meet- you know how long those run…"

"Since when did you decide to follow in my footsteps?" Marty had been another star runner in his time. He had wanted his brother to continue the family fame, but Eric insisted upon football. Elizabeth saw this as a wise choice- Eric did not have the right body for running.

"Hell no. But Lizzy here had to kill some losers." Marty's ears perked at the sound of Elizabeth's name. It was widely known in the group that he had a crush on her. Elizabeth stood behind James. She usually tried to keep her mouth shut when James and Marty were both around as to not start anything.

"How's it going, Liz You're looking practically hot this evening?" Marty asked glaring as James tightened his hold on her hand.

"No complaints." Elizabeth would not meet Marty's eyes. James pulled her away.

"We're going to get something to drink." Lindsay followed them over to the cooler by the sliding doors.

"Marty is totally harmless, just ignore him." Lindsay opened a can and flung herself into a nearby lawn chair.

"He has a lot of balls coming on to her when I'm around." James crunched his already empty can. Elizabeth looked back to where the brothers were still talking. At school, Elizabeth had to deal with most of the male population either flirting or starring at her as she passed them in the halls. She had never been annoyed or offended. She loved the attention and popularity she achieved due to her success in track. She must be doing something right, if everyone loved her so much.

Lindsay grunted bored with the topic, she had not yet had enough to drink to having a good time. Elizabeth relaxed on James lap. Her muscle ached and piercing pain was developing in the top of her head. James finished another drink. The music was fading. She fought to keep focus on the shiny cans, but her eyelids were drooping…

"Elizabeth!" James shook the girl who was draped barely unconscious over him. Lindsay peeled her eyes away from the boy who had danced like chicken straight into the pool. She grabbed Elizabeth's wrist to test for a pulse.

"Was she drugged?" Lindsay put her hand against Elizabeth's flushed face.

"I don't think she drank anything…"

"………….Ugh….stop yanking at me…." Elizabeth mumbled into James' chest.

"What is wrong? Liz…" James voice had risen in urgency.

"Oh….I'm fine…just tired…" Elizabeth pulled her head up and blinked the dryness from her eyes.

"Want me to take you home?"

"No need, I'm good." Elizabeth wobbled to her feet.

"Drink enough?" Elizabeth collapsed into Marty's arms. James jumped to his feet knocking the table next to him over.

"Don't touch her" James' eyes burned into Marty and he looked as if he were about to pounce and take back his prize. Marty's eyes widened as he peered down upon Elizabeth. He hadn't noticed the true beauty of her deep brown eyes until she was a few inches from him. His finger traced the outline of her lip and his other hand slid down her back. James shoved Marty against the wall. Elizabeth collapsed into a heap on her hands and knees. Even in her catatonic state, Elizabeth could hear the threat James growled at Marty. Eric offered her a hand.

"Come on I'll give you a ride home. Looks like Marty got a bit drunk again…" Eric took a final look at the boys fighting, threw Elizabeth's bag over his shoulder and led her to the driveway. Elizabeth stumbled down the porch steps. Lindsay trailed behind them, her features plague by worry.

Eric lifted Elizabeth into backseat of his green SUV.

"James…?" Elizabeth moaned.

"Lizzy, it's us we're taking you home." Lindsay sat in the seat next to Elizabeth and allowed her friend to lean on her shoulder.

"Hey, Liz?" Eric looked at them in the rearview mirror. "What did you eat today?"

"Don't be stupid, Eric. We've had enough of that today…"

Elizabeth pulled her knees to her chest. Lindsay nudged her.

"I…..can't….eat…before I run…I get sick and I was….in a…hu….rry…this….morning…so…I guess it's been a few days since…"

"What!" Eric and Lindsay's voice echoed through the car. Once past the initial horror, Lindsay was partially relieved. At least they knew why Elizabeth was so weak.

"I'll eat when I get home…"

"You better."

Every light in Elizabeth's home was off when they pulled into the driveway. Lindsay aided her out of the car and to the front door.

"You're not going to be alone right? Want me to stay with you?"

Elizabeth unlocked the door and hugged her friend goodbye. "I'm going to go right to sleep so there is no need for you to be concerned. We got practice in like six hours so get some rest yourself." Elizabeth tended to not like others coming over. Once inside she closed the door, checking twice to ensure the lock was working. She crept through the dark, silent home to her room and fainted on her bed fully clothed.

The wind awakened Elizabeth. She propped herself on her elbows, searching her memory for the reason to why she was lying sideways over her blankets with her shows still on. All she recalled was the darkness of her dreams. Elizabeth frowned- the room was pitch black and she never slept with the light out. Rubbing her temples, she dragged her body to her dresser to switch the light on. Outside the wind picked up again causing branches to collide with her windowpane. Elizabeth suppressed the urge to hide under her sheets. Her body quivered as she changed into a t-shirt. The time was only a little after three which left her with another three hours to sleep. She crawled back into bed, but lying down made her back hurt. She shifted hoping another section of her bed would not feel as lumpy, but the tossing and turning just produced dizziness. Sleep was a lost cause- two and a half hours would have to be enough rest. Elizabeth pressed her face into her pillow. Thoughts and wishes of sleep filled her mind, but it would not come. There was a gnawing pain in her stomach, maybe if she ate something her body would be content enough to rest.

The kitchen floor was cold and hard and for a moment, Elizabeth debated running back upstairs to put socks on. She was not thrilled with the idea of walking all that way when she was this tired. As she also did not have the energy to cook, Elizabeth settled upon cereal. She gathered a bowl from the dishwasher- she hardly had time to put them properly in the cabinet-, the box from above the stove and the milk from the back of the refrigerator and set them on the table. Eating didn't solve her problem. After a few spoonfuls, her stomach churned and she felt as if she was about to be sick. She pushed the bowl away and put her head in her hands. Her body was sore, tired, and hungry but she couldn't sleep or eat. She looked towards the window- the first signs of dawn were visible. She groaned. There was only one thing her body enjoyed. Elizabeth left her breakfast unfinished; she would shower, get dressed, grab her schoolbooks, and go for a run…before her morning practice.

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