Run Of Embarrassment

                                    

                                          
Keep running.
Don't think about the heat. 
Run. 
It's early. I'm out on the track, just running. I need to keep in shape even though I'm not on Cheerios. 
It's only seven in the morning, but it's hot as hell. I'm sweating through my gym shirt. It's pretty gross. 
But I can't stop running. 
My legs are numb. I've probably run over four miles by now. I feel like hurling. 
But I'm also extremely calm. 
Running helps me relax. I can just think about anything. I don't have my phone around to distract me. It's just me, my thoughts, and the pavement. 
I turn the corner sharply, my shoes slapping against the ground and making a sound I love. 
I see her. 
Ms. Pierce is by the sidewalk, talking to Coach Sue. Ms. Pierce looks mad. I wonder what they're talking about. 
Suddenly I'm on the ground, wondering how the hell I got there. I'm in serious pain. I must've tripped on a rock when I was daydreaming. My ankle feels like fire. 
I look up, hoping no one noticed. 
But Ms. Pierce did. I feel myself growing red. Coach Sue is cracking up. 
I stand up slowly and try to run again, but I just end up back on the ground. I can't move my ankle. I cringe at the tingling feeling running up my leg. 
Ms. Pierce is trying to run towards me, but her heels make it difficult. 
She kneels beside me and gently touches my baseball sized ankle. 
And just like that my pain is gone. It seems to fade as all I can think about is her soft and cold hands. 
"Does it hurt?" She asks as I am sent back to reality. 
"A little," I say. 
But it hurts like hell. 
"Don't lie. You look like you want to cry," Ms. Pierce says. 
I'm mortified. 
"I guess it hurts pretty bad," I say. 
"If we can get you up, you can lean on me as we walk to the nurses office," she says. I nod. 
I slowly stand. Ms. Pierce puts one of my arms over her shoulder. She's really skinny. 
"I was trying to get Sue to let you back on Cheerios. Sports look good to colleges." 
She was trying to help me?
She laughs. "Don't look so shocked. I told you I would help." 
"Well what'd she say?" I ask. 
"She said no. She said that last year she got a lot of heat for having a, uh...gay kid on the team." 
I feel my ears burning. 
I can't believe Coach Sue told her that. 
I'm hobbling as best as I can. It's quiet. I don't really know what to say now. She's my teacher. 
We make it to the nurses office. The nurse tells me to lie down. Ms. Pierce leaves without saying anything. 
I sigh as I watch her go.