Waking up Friday morning, Kevin still had the warm feeling from Janis. He was hoping that it would stay and grow, but as he went down stairs a vision of Chase entered his mind. Then, the painful sting returned, but, the feeling he got from Janis stayed. Entering the Kitchen, His mother saw him."morning dear, sleep well?" His mom asked.

"I guess" Kevin mumbled. He then thought about it for a second. He did get more sleep than he had been, even though thoughts of Janis did flash through his mind. He then gave a slight smile.

"I don't believe it, Your smiling." His mom laughed. She then gave him a bowl and a box of cereal. "Well, Have a good day dear. She then left. Knowing that she was gone, Kevin returned the bowl to the cabinet and got ready. He then made him self a fresh lunch.He then grabbed his stuff, put his sweat shirt on and headed out the door.

As the bus came up to the stop where the kids were. Kevin hid. As He saw Jonny and ed step on, He put his hood up and snuck in behind them. He then grabbed a front seat and waited until he could moved further back. He then heard the Kids laughter. He wish he could be apart of their chatter. Felling the sting he looked away. His mind then went back to Janis. He couldn't wait to see her. Getting off the bus, he quickly rushed to his locker. For some strange reason He felt good. He quickly got his locker and shoved his lunch in. On his way to home room, Chase pushed him down and laughed."Whats the hurry Hairs?" Chase hollered across the hall. Kevin only trembled for a minute, then got up and went on.

Through out that whole morning, His mind was filled with thoughts of Janis! He kept and eye on the clock . It seemed to "tick" by slowly. The bell rang and Kevin's heart skipped a beat, He then raced out of class and down the hall. Unfortunately, Chase had tripped him. "Watch it Hairs?!" Chase yelled as he laugh. Kevin laid there for a minute trembling until the halls cleared. He then rushed to the back bench.

"Sorry!... I Chase tripped me." Kevin muttered as he sat down...

"You don't look too Shook up" Janis said as she put her arm on his shoulder.

"He's not really bothering right know. ... When will you pick me up tomorrow?" Kevin voice came stronger. He then looked at her. Her hair was pulled back by a hair band. Her eyes were deep , like always. Kevin then felt the warm feeling and smiled.

"So, Is it alright if I pick you up around 7ish?" Janis asked as she put her drink down. Kevin then gave her a strange look. He had almost had forgotten about their plans. A vision of chase crept into his mind. He Scooted back away from Janis. "Chase won't be there! I promise!"

"What about the coach? Or any one else! If they see me..."Kevin started to worry.

"They won't! The coach won't be the same one. Your coach never goes! Chase won't find out. Besides, I invited you to this. so, chase doesn't have a say. I have to be there around eight thirty. I'll swing by your house between seven thirty and seven forty five. I promise everything will be OK." Janis said as Kevin stared at her.. "Your eye looks better to day " she said as she tipped his head up and his hood fell off.

"Thanks" Kevin sighed as he smiled. He then ate his last bite as the bell rang.He then slipped sighed as he slipped his hood. He wished it was the last bell. The rest of the afternoon was a blur..Kevin just wanted the day to be over. He successfully avoided Chase as he left school. Departing from the bus,he rushed home.

As he dashed up to his bathroom he thought about Janis. He then looked in the mirror, noticing how disheveled he was. He started to wash his face. He then looked at his shower. He rarely shower after the trauma he endure during camp. He didn't see the point to shower since he was a "nobody". He then thought about Janis. "Just a quick one" he thought as he started to pull his sweatshirt!

After getting out of the shower, Kevin realizes that he felt better. He then got dress and went down stairs. Walking in to the kitchen he heard his mother come in. "You look.. different" His mom said shockingly.

"I just took a quick shower." Kevin mumbled. He then went back into the living room. He then crashed on the couch. He soon dozed of thinking about Janis.

He had woken for dinner a few ours later. Halfway through the meal, his mother watch him as he moved his food around his plate. "Is everything alright,Kevin?" she asked as he took a bite.

"I'm fine.", He mutter as he swallowed. He then realized that his dinner was half eaten. He hadn't eaten that much since the beginning of school He then realized that he ate half of his sandwich at lunch. He hadn't felt the familiar sting all after noon. "I'm just full." He said as he got up from the table hoping the sting wouldn't return. "Night mom, Dad.". He yelled as he headed up the stairs.

Lying in bed he thought about Janis, He couldn't wait until the morning . As he tossed and turn, the sting return along with a slight nauseated feeling. "I ate to much." He thought as he tried to get comfortable. As he started to fall a sleep he thought he heard a "crinkle". Immediately, he jumped out of his bed and broke into a cold sweat. "It just a dream." He thought , turning on the light to reassured himself that it was in his head. The thought of Chase entered his mind as he shutter slightly. As he sat on the edge of his bed,. Janis's voice entered his mind.

" No matter what Chase does to you, He can't stop us from being friends". Her voice echoed. The warm feeling returned as he calmed down. He then started to look forward to the morning. He wished that time would speed up. Soon he dosed off.

As Kevin slowly started to wake up, he looked at his clock. "6:50". It was morning. He jumped out of bed, knowing that he would see Janis. He then raced down stars and got a bite for breakfast. It was his first real high school event. Chase then quickly popped into his mind. He gagged at the thought of being seen. The thought of backing out crossed his mind. Just then the door bell rang. He knew it was Janis. As he open the door, he saw her warm smile.

"Ready to Go?" Janis said as she stood there in her warm up outfit. It was the schools colors blue and white. Kevin took a slight step back, "Don't tell me, you're ..."

"I don't want anyone to recognize me! Or see me for that matter." Kevin mumbled.

"Then wear something different! If you don't wear your orange sweat shirt. No one will think it's... you." Janis said as she put her hand on his shoulder,"I really want to hang out with you afterwords."

"Kevin then looked in Janis's eyes. The fear soon faded. He then turn around and headed up stairs."I'll be back. He shouted. He then grabbed a green shirt and his reds hat. He felt a little strange being in his old clothes. They seem to fill looser than before. For a brief minute, he wanted to change back. He then went back down stairs.

"WOW!" Janis said as she smiled,":That's sure is different.. you won't be recognize for sure. Kevin then smiled and left his house.They then started.Kevin's excitement grew as they left.

"So, How long is the meet?" Kevin ask.

"A few hours .The trail is a few miles long." Janis stated while she concentrated on her driving.

"You mean. I won't see you" Kevin said as he got nervous," Until your back?"

"You'll be OK, If you want to come back to the car.. I can leave it unlock?" Janis said as she stop at a stoplight.

"Thanks." Kevin mumble, "Janis." Kevin looked directly at her,

"Yeah" Janis answered him.

"I..I...I like you." Kevin blurted out,"I'm glad we're friends."

"I'm we're friends too!" Janis laugh. As it had been the first time that Kevin actually stated it. He then smiled back. For the rest of the drive, they said nothing. Kevin started to dozed off right before they got there. The heat of the son blanket him. He started to relaxed.

"KEVIN!" Janis said making Kevin jump awake. "We're here."

"Oh," Kevin said as he rubbed his eyes. He then gave a small yawn.

"Sleepy?" Janis laugh as she got out and started to stretch.

"A little" Kevin said as he drug out of the car.

"Why don't you come back here after I take off." Janis said as they started to walk.

"OK" Kevin said as he rubbed his eyes. Janis stretch a bit more. Kevin couldn't help but watch. Janis notice him and smiled. He then leaned up against a tree.

"I gotta go check in. do you want to come?" Janis said as she got up and held out her hand.Kevin nodded and connected his hand with hers. As they walk towards the table, Kevin notice the excitement in the air.He watch as different racer prepared for their run. He never knew that much about cross country. He then looked at Janis and squeezed her hand as they got close to the table.

"Name?" The woman sitting at the table said.

"Janis, B. For Peach Creek high school." Janis mention as she unzipped her windbreaker.Kevin then looked around to making sure No one saw him. Janis then turned around.

"Well, it's almost time." Janis said as she pin her number on. She then hugged Kevin.He then pecked her on the cheek.

"For good luck." He said in one breath. She smiled and the walked to the starting line. Kevin then stood behind a tree and watched from there. As the starting gun was shot, Kevin jumped. He then fallowed Janis with his eyes as she ran out of site. "Go Janis!" He said under his breath. Minutes later he went back to her car and laid down in the back. The sun that came into the back window blanked him once again he then dozed off.

Kevin was later altered by tapping on the window. He quickly Jumped up and saw Janis. She then open the door as he sat up. " You were really out, Weren't you" Janis laughed as he looked at Kevin.

"Is it over?" Kevin said with a worried voice,"I'm sorry if..."

"It's OK." Janis said as she looked at his face. "Sleep is important." She then climbed in the back seat with him.

"Did you win?"Kevin asked eagerly.

"I did OK. It really doesn't matter to me."Janis sighed. "So now what to you want to do?"

"Eat?" Kevin said . He really just wanted to look at Janis.

"I'm pretty hungry myself.. OK Do you want to go to the diner?" Janis asked. Kevin nodded slightly. Memories of the first time they went, flash through. His stomach sting slightly as he vision his torn up face and Chase flash through his mind. He then looked at Janis. Again , her brown eyes caught his. Janis then opened the door and went into the Drivers seat. Kevin then fallowed suit. The then took off.

After eating lunch/breakfast. Since Kevin order a waffle. The two went to the city park. When Janis parked her car. Kevin looked at her.

"What?" Janis asked as she started to open her door.

"Can we just...sit here and talk."Kevin said nervously

"Sure." Janis shrugged. The two stared at each other waiting for the other one to start. Kevin then looked at his feet. He started to feel a new rush, that he couldn't control or explain."I'm glad you didn't back out." Janis said as she touch his cheek. "Your face is healing up"

"I know." Kevin muttered,"I'm glad I came. I've been doing nothing since..."Kevin trembled a little a bit,"Chase started this whole thing."

"You shouldn't care about him." Janis said.

"I... I.." Kevin started as he looked at her. "It's just something I got use too I guess... I really don't want to talk about it. ...Your sport looked cool"

"Thanks! I love to run!... Have you ever tried it?" Janis asked.

"No, I use to be..."

"Maybe we could go running some time?" Janis propose. Kevin then looked at her he slowly nodded and then smiled.

The two continued to talk for an hour or so.On the way back to Kevin's house Kevin started to relax. Driving in to his drive way he saw the other kids in Janis review mirror. He then took a deep breath and looked at Janis.