4Race's point of view
I have a bad habit of when someone else is doing something, I have to do it. So when there's twenty something kids stretching, I need to do the same. I've never stretched before I ran, I just went. I was at the track tryouts and felt like vomiting. Of course, that was because these nicotine patches weren't really cutting it. I followed most of the instructions on the box and I can't have more than four a day. I was on my tenth. I was just finishing "Stretching" when the coach came over.
"Hello everyone. Welcome to tryouts. I'm Coach John. Let's get started."
He has five of us at a time line up and when he blows the whistle, we run. Two rounds later it's my turn. I don't get nervous, but something about this is making me, Scared.
I get into place, lunge and wait.
"Three, Two, one!"
And we're all off. I don't have a clue who I'm running with, all I know is I'm in the lead. I haven't ran in so long I forgot what it felt like. Just taking off. The feeling of happiness only lasts a couple seconds before I find myself struggling to breathe. You can't fail on me now lungs. I get overthrown by the kid on my left. We all stay in this position till the end. Once I hit the finish line I'm gasping for air. I look around and see the other runners barely sweating.
"Ok. That was a decent run, most of you have a chance for the team."
He side eyes me in my pathetic stance. It's been two minutes since the run and I'm still gasping.
The rest of tryouts are horrible for me. Everyone else is doing great and I can't keep running for more than five minutes. The ending 'speech' is the worst.
"Alright guys. That was a great tryout for some of you," Again with the side eye.
"There will be a team sheet up tomorrow. You can check there to see if you got on the team."
The group disbanded and I walked my way was gonna get me, then something came up. I was going to ask Jack, but he's been putting extra time at work. I was just walking home when a small pebble was thrown at my head.
"What the-"
"Ya know you oughta look around some more Race."
I look where the pebble came from to find Spot in a tree.
"Spot whatta ya doin'? Why are ya throwing rocks at my head?"
"It was one pebble and why not? I've got nothing better to do."
"Shouldn't you be home or something? Throwing 'pebbles' at someone else?"
"Nah, my mom brought her boyfriend over and-"
He stopped. Mouth wide open he looked shocked like I killed someone right in front of him.
"Hey Spot, are ya, uh good?"
"What? Yeah I'm fine. You best be getting on ya way before that Medda loses it."
He just went back to Spot within two seconds.
"Yeah. I'll see ya later Spot."
"Good to know."
"No more pebbles next time."
"No promises."
I continue walking home with terrifying thoughts in my head.
One, this nicotine patch isn't cutting it and two, Spot may be in real trouble.
Romeo's point of view
"Medda?"
"Yes honey?"
I've been known to shatter hearts, but I never thought I'd break Medda's. She had a lot going on, and today may not be the best timing. Davey has lost it, she can't get a hold of Jack, Crutchie's having surgery tomorrow and Al hasn't gotten out of bed. To be fair, I was even getting kinda scared. We never see Davey lose it. And today was supposed to be Jack's day to take Davey to see Les. I gotta teach him how to drive.
"Can I talk to you? It's serious."
She takes her glasses down and motions for me to sit.
"Is everything ok, Romeo?"
I sit and just bite the bullet.
"Did you see the papers on my bed from the doctors?"
"No? Was it something important?"
"My doctor wants me to start going to these meetings."
I handed her the paper Dr. Carl gave me.
She looks over then and looks me in the eye.
"Romeo why are you doing this honey? You don't need this. You said you were going to study with some friends!"
I hope you're so proud of the stone face you already have.
"I don't know, Medda I-. I don't know what happened. I was going to study, then one girl to another and I, can't stop. I want to get better, I really do. I'm sorry."
"Romeo you're going to need something more than these meetings."
"I was thinking I'd start with the meetings."
"I'll work out the details for those and till then you won't get the car."
"I understand and thank you Medda."
"I'm just doing my job Romeo."
I go to stand up when the most enraged voice to ever exist in this house.
"Where did Kelly go?"
The voice came from Davey, whose face was red. Medda got up and went to meet him.
"Davey what in the world got into you? You just don't around screaming like that."
"I need Kelly he was supposed to take me to Les!"
"Davey darling no one knows where Jack is."
"Did ya ask Katherine? You know he's always sneaking away to her! I swear if he's there I'm killing him I'm going to kill him!"
"Davey Jacobs, you need to calm down before you go anywhere to see anyone. Just take some time-"
"I don't have time, Medda, I have a brother who needs help."
Race, who has been on the floor since he got home, decides his two senses were needed.
"What you don't have is a driver's license."
"You need to shut up Anthony!"
"Who you calling by their full name David?"
"Oh you know after you 'quit' smoking all you've done is run your mouth. At least that still runs."
Race hopped off the floor and sucker punched Davey right in the gut. Davey follows this attack by punching him in the eye. This is when Medda gets in between them and they both seize their fire.
"Both of you in your rooms now!"
She follows then up the stairs.
Everyone has lost it.
Jack's point of view
It's after midnight when I get back home. There's no lights on in the house. I'll just explain everything when I see Medda next. I promised Katherine and myself next time I see Medda I'll tell her everything. The baby and the hours and everything. It's going to crush her, everything. I can't just hide this for nine months. I walk into the house and Medda turns the lamp on. I look around, avoiding her eyes. There's blood on the floor?
"Don't mind that Davey and Race got into a fight I haven't had the chance to clean."
"Wow, that's unlike Davey."
"Jack it's unlike you to stay out this late without calling or letting someone know."
"I started working all the hours I can get."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Something came up, something really big happened."
"What is it Jack?"
"I started working later because my plans changed after Sunday."
"What changed? You were supposed to have things planned with your parole officer."
You're avoiding the problem just tell her.
"Medda I have to get a bigger place because Katherine's pregnant."
She's stunned. Her mouth is wide open and her eyes fill up with tears.
"Jackie, no."
"Oh it's all true Medda."
"Are you keeping it?"
"Yes. We've planned it all out. She'll keep going to school extra time and I'll work over time and we'll do this together."
"Jack, I'm so, so, disappointed."
"I know Medda, I'm disappointed too. I'll fix it just, I've got this."
"Jackie I've got nothing to say except you are still leaving Sunday."
"You got it."
"Go to bed."
"Ok."
"Be careful about Davey, he's still upset."
Oh God I forgot about Davey.
"Ok."
I've disappointed two of the most important people in my life.
