Chapter 58: Chapter 58

It's time for the main race and so far the Starling high students have won the 400-meter relay race and 1000 meter race from the information I got from Josh and now it is time for the last which is the 1500 meter race which Jack is participating in her. I notice that Jack other runners are bigger and taller (not that Jack's not tall if you get what I mean.) They look fit and as well as terrifying to me, more terrifying than Jack is on the field I think.

Jack run over to us, grinning from ears to ear as his eyes meet Phoebe. Coming as close as he can so the only demarcation between them is the pole set around the audience seat so they don't get to step onto the field. He takes her hand and says a prayer which Phoebe answers 'Amen' before he brings her hands to his lips and kisses them from the stand. Phoebe smiles encouragingly at her boyfriend and nods her head, biting her lower lip as he lowers her hand.

"I love you, Phoebe, so very much it hurts most times." He confesses, his eyes not for one second betraying the words coming out of his mouth as he stares into her eyes. "I just want you to know that. I don't have the right words to make it sound good, but I'm in love with you and I'm going to run this race with you in my mind, heart and soul."

Come on! Can it be more perfect?

A tear slips Phoebe's face and he wipes it off. She shakes her head smiling and trying to fight off the tears off to no avail.

Justine smacks Jake who is staring conspicuously at the couple before him in the arm and frown. "You never say those type of things to me, and I thought you were the romantic one."

He groans lowly more at himself than at the fact. "We'll get there honey." He promised.

"You go make me and the rest of your families proud then." Phoebe cups his face and kisses his lips passionately.

He smiles into the kiss before pulling away. "I will!" He vows, waving at us one last time before running back to the field.

"Welcome to the final race in the 23 annual state race." The commentator begins to introduce the race to the rest of the audience and we all settled in.

Not feeling the presence of Keenan for quite a while I look over at him. He there, silently watching everything that's happening "You're okay?"

"Why would you care to know?" He barks out with a hiss.

I squint my eyes dismissively at him. "I don't care, I'm just worried."

His blue eyes meet mine suddenly and I take a quick breath from how hurt they are. "Don't be worried for me, cupcake, worry for your brother."

I glare at him, reading these words over with two meaning. "Why would I? He can take care of himself and his girl."

Figuring that I read into his words and understood what he meant, he smirks. "Wish I had a sister who watches over me like that."

"You should be contented with what you have."

"I don't want to be." He replies stubbornly.

"Then that'll be the death of you."

"Then I'll die smiling knowing I went after what I wanted."

"A friendly advice, stay away from Phoebe. She isn't yours anymore."

"I'm not interested in Phoebe, I have my eyes on someone else and I think she knows this too."

Instantly Mycole's vision gloom my mind and forces its exact words into my memory.

Your futures are entwined together.

I do not want a future with him, I want a future with Rory, I see us having one together.

"What if she belongs to someone else? Are you always gonna choose to ignore that too?"

He clenches his teeth and looks away from me. "I shouldn't be here. I don't even know why I came." He gets up and began to walk away.

A part of me wants to call him back, yet another part of me thinks this is better, the further away he is, the better chance of escaping the prophecy.

"On your mark runners," they all go down with their hands on the line on the ground,m.

"Ready?" they all rise a little.

"Set?"

The gun goes off and the race begins and the 8 best runners of the state take to their heels each looking determined, giving in the best they've got.

The race particularly at the first level, turn into slow, strategic races, with the pace quickening at every round. The first round is done and although some ran with full force, some like Jack retain their pace and they continued into the second lap which becomes a little slower for those who had begun with full speed as some began to lose their strength while others are trying to save up the little strength for the last lap. I spot Jack at the seventh position among eleven runners as he runs to finish up the second round and go for the third lap, which brings them all closer to the last lap.

The third lap ends and the runners kick in full speed in the fourth and final lap to finish up. Some include Jack who gradually moved from the seventh position to the third and then moved to draw with the second and slowly overtake the second runner.

At this point, we are all standing watching with the eyes of expectation. Phoebe takes a cardboard paper up and begins to yell. "Go, Jack!" In a high pitch, I know Jack wouldn't even be able to hear.

Justine passes me a cardboard paper as she stands up to raise hers as well. I get up, lifting my cardboard and chanting, "go, Jack" at the top of my voice with the others.

Jack soon race up to the first runner and figuring that Jack is close, the first runner increased the pace and I fear Jack may not get to him on time but does Jack, getting my hope and faith back in the place they both hold a draw for the next ten second. I notice the finish point is only a few seconds away and I chant louder, jumping up and down in anticipation.

"Go, Jack!!"

As the two struggle to the finish line with all their might, we increased our voice louder. And Jack goes headfirst into the finish line and the flag is raised.

The stadium turns into a chaotic ground as arguments about the winner makes the voice of the fans and audience's murmur.

"Jack went in first, right?" Josh ask rhetorically, seeing that Lucas name is being chanted over the name of Jack. "It isn't a draw."

We know what we saw.

The dispute goes on for the next five minute before it's announced over the microphone.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this race isn't a draw, and so the winner for the twenty-third annual state race is Jack Snowfall."

"Oh, God!! Jack did it!" I squeal unconsciously, jumping up and down and hugging Jake before I can stop myself.

The fans and students in the stadium begin to chant Snowfall loudly and loudly and I'm about to go then I see Mom at the other side of the roll. She made it. Although Jack thought she wouldn't come, because they weren't really on the good term because of Phoebe, I hoped she'd come at least to see his struggle and hard work.

I run over to her and happily take her hand in mine. "Come, Mom, Jack won."

"I know too, I saw it. I'm so proud of him." She tells me joyfully.

"Well guess what? You can tell him that in person." I pull her down the steps of the roll and into the field where Jack is now standing. He sees me and mom and runs to us, grinning from ear to ear as he wraps his arms around my mom.

"You made it, you came!" The surprise is visible in his voice.

A tear of joy falls from Mom's eyes. "I'm proud of you."

They pull apart when we hear, "Jack snowfall, can we have you on the stand please where ever you are."

"I'm gonna go." He says and Mom nods understandingly and lets him go.

Jack runs back to where he needs and get up on the stand that is written 1st position. A man in a suit which is then announced as the mayor of the town shakes Jack's hand and adore his neck with the gold medal and the cameras flick and take pictures of them. The same gesture is repeated with the second and third medal is awarded to the two other runners and then the cup is presented to Jack and he lifts it proudly and triumphantly. He then proceeds to shake the other notable men who are present.

I notice Phoebe standing afar off and I signal her to come over. She walks over, slow and uncertain, but when Mom notices her, she smiles warmly and takes her hand into hers. "I know we haven't been that close, but I do hope that will change and we can be friends."

"Me too," Phoebe replies cheerfully.

We both walk towards where Jack is and his eyes land on Phoebe and his eyes glitz in delight. His eyes linger on her while he shakes the rest of the notable men. He finishes and walks over to us only to have three cheerleaders come his way. He breaks eye contact with Phoebe and begins to chat with the girls who are flirting with him. Phoebe makes a low pain-filled sound and drops her gaze and I take her hand, with a comforting smile. He walks over to us and takes Phoebe's hand, but she quickly draws it away from him.

He frowns, "What's wrong?" he asks.

"Why don't you go back to your friends over there uh?" She spits out angrily and crosses her arms over her chest.

His brow knits together in focus and the assimilation of what she just said. "There are not... Are you jealous?" that certainly is not a question because she is.

"Why shouldn't I be?" She foam and her cheek heat up at her admission. "They are prettier and younger ." I see her struggle to say the word and the pain sets in her voice.

Insecurity comes in many forms in a relationship, but you just have to believe in the one you have/love and who you are.

He shakes his head and chuckles unsure of Phoebe's reaction. "Sorry, is that suppose to be funny" she raised her brow.

"No it's not, but you're the reason I smile." He cups her face tenderly, beholding her with much admiration and something I place as love. "They might be younger and pretty," she growls when he admits along with her that they are pretty and Jack grins widely. "But you're beautiful and smart and reserved and I don't care how old you are, I love you and that's all that matters to me. Knowing you're mine is all that matters to m, not some girls who are only around now because I'm this year's state first runner."

He kisses her lips and she kisses back before she pulls away. "Does that convince you that I'm yours and yours alone?"

She nods, licking over her bottom lips and grinning. "Kiss me again."

.

"I miss you." I press the send message button on my phone and hold it close to my heart as I walk out of the night club where I just applied for a post as a cashier there.

The phone beeps a few moments later. "Miss you too, love. How was the race?"

My eyes narrow before typing. "Didn't you see it on the news?"

He doesn't reply, but instead, my phone begins to ring. I answer and place it to my ear."Yes, I did, Jack came first place in the 1500 meters main race, just wanted to hear it from your sexy little mouth." Comes his rich, deep and enchanting voice.

"Well, you won't." I'm about to stick my tongue out then realise he's not present.

"I knew all along." He sighs in defeat. "Can I see you tomorrow? I miss you"

"Maybe. I'm still going for a job hunt tomorrow." I remind him.

"Tell me again why you don't want me to help you?"

"Because I want to do things by myself." I tell him, "you might be in love with me and able you make the right connections, but that does not mean I'm going to let you do anything for me."

"Why not?!" He whines.

"Because I want to be an independent woman and work for my own things."

"Can't I spoil you sometimes as my woman?" My cheek warms up and I bite my lower lips at his new name for me.

I'm his woman.

"I guess you can."

"Good 'cause that's what I want to do. I want you to meet someone real close to me tomorrow."

"Do I get to ask who it is?"

"Yes you can ask, but that answer won't be given to you." He replies, sarcasm dripping from his voice.

"Haha, real classy, Mr Gate."

"Yes. Just like you love me, Ms Snowfall." I imagine him winking as he says this. "Got to go, I've got a business call. Later hun, love you."

I'm about to reply when someone stumbles past me, drunk. "Is everything okay?" Rory's voice lingers over the phone.

"Yes." I reply after recollecting myself "I love you too. Take care."

The phone line goes off and I put it back into my pocket and turn to the man who just brushed me.

"Hey! Are you okay?"

He moves his head from side to side indicating a negative reply before staggeringly turning to me, and losing his ground with every step.

"Taylor?!" He slurs out my name drunkenly.

"Keenan."