-I wrote the following novel nearly two decades ago. In the years between then and now I've honed my craft, and my perception of this world; my thoughts and ideas; have changed dramatically. However, I still enjoy the premise and have decided to do an overhaul of revisions and rewrites, though likely not until sometime next year. (Though I'm sure I'll do a little as I post chapters)
For now I hope you will enjoy a glimpse into my book writing beginnings...
They are the closest of friends though they have never met in waking life.
Prologue-PT1 Prologue-PT2 Chapter 1
Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10
Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13
Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16
Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19
Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22
Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25
Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28
Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31
Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34
Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37
Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40
Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43
Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46
Chapter 47 Chapter 48 Chapter 49
Chapter 50 Chapter 51 Chapter 52
Chapter 53 Chapter 54 Chapter 55 Chapter 56
Chapter Fifty Seven
Aliyah glanced out the window with surprise. It was the first weekend of November and snow had already made its way to her little town. She had a cross country meet, which she was in the middle of getting ready for, and she wondered what it would be like to run in the snow. Besides cold.
She was just getting her other sneaker on when Amy called.
“Do you think they're actually going to make us run in this?”
“Not sure...haven’t heard anything different. I guess we’ll find out when we get to school.”
Their meet was at a golf course in their town, the first and only home meet they would have. Her mom and dad were going to be there to cheer her on, as was Dave. It was Saturday and his games were generally on Fridays and Sundays so it worked out perfectly. He had a home game tomorrow that she would be attending.
Mrs. Schuyler dropped her off in the back parking lot of the school where most of her team mates were already gathered. They were alternately blowing into their gloved hands and stomping their feet.
Her coach came out of the building and smiled widely. “Okay guys, it’s not the first time it’s snowed on a race. It will be slippery so be careful and do your best.”
They boarded the bus and talked excitedly for the ten minute drive, than un-boarded and waited for instructions.
Gloved hands covered Aliyah’s eyes from behind. “Guess who!”
She turned around and grinned up at her boyfriend. “I was worried the snow would keep you away.”
“What? This little dusting? Nah, I love it. Besides, I didn’t want you to think you had an excuse to miss my game tomorrow.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
The coach called the modified girl's team over and Dave gave her a quick kiss for luck. She was glad the modified were going first, that meant she could spend the rest of the time on the sidelines cheering on her team mates with Dave. That also meant that her parents would leave and she wouldn’t have to hide being affectionate with him.
She and Amy walked over to the starting line and started stretching, deciding to forgo the ground stretching in favor of dry butts.
She felt the now familiar trill of butterflies dancing in her stomach that she'd had at the beginning of every race this season. Waiting for the gun to go off was nerve-wrecking and made her adrenaline pump.
“Runners, line up!” The gun guy shouted.
The gun went off and she sprinted away from the starting line. She always ran a little fast for the first hundred yards, then dropped back into a steadier pace.
She passed her parents who were yelling and waving and cheering loudly. Farther down the line was Dave, Greg, and a few other kids from school, also madly cheering. Next was a group of cross country team mates. They were spaced out along the trail so there was barely fifty yards where someone wasn’t yelling her name.
She crossed the finish line and the guy yelled out her time- nine minutes and thirteen seconds! That was the fastest she had ever run a mile and a half- apparently for her the snow was an asset. On top of which she was in second place, the first time she’d been in the top five!
Her parents ran up and hugged her. “Second place!” her dad exclaimed, “That’s my girl!”
Dave walked up shyly and waited until her parents were finished mauling her. “Good job Aliyah, that was awesome!”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you very much,” she did an exaggerated bow.
Her coach came up to her “That’s what I like to see Miss Schuyler, well done!”
“Thanks coach.”
Amy jogged over. “I just heard you got second place! That’s awesome!”
She beamed at her friend. “How did you do?”
“Eighth,” she made a face, “I slipped and slid ten feet in the snow or I would have been seventh.” She showed her leg which was wet and muddy.
“Oh no!” Aliyah tried to look sympathetic but cracked up laughing instead.
“Aliyah honey,” her mom broke in, “your dad and I are leaving.”
“Okay,” she gave them each a hug and waved them off.
“The boy’s modified are starting, we should go find a place to cheer.”
She, Dave, Amy, and Greg found a fairly secluded spot to wait. The boys grabbed snow and playfully tossed snowballs at the girls. It turned into a war, the end result being cold hands. They managed to cheer on their teammates before jogging over to the country club to get warmed up.
“So what are you doing tonight?” Dave asked.
“Oh, you know, the usual, nothing much. You?”
“Hanging out at Greg’s. I don’t suppose you could find a way to come over?”
Aliyah thought about it. She had come out physically unscathed from the party in the cornfield. Luckily someone had given her a tip-drink lots of water. So no physical hangover, but she had felt “off” anyway. Like a hangover of the soul. She had spent the day at Janie’s, reluctant to go home and see her parents. Even though they would have no reason to be suspicious she felt guilty that she was getting away with something that would get her grounded for a good long time.
She shook her head at Dave. “Sorry, I don’t think I can make it tonight.”
“Okay, I just wanted to offer.”
She nodded. Their honesty policy was working out so far. She knew that he was partying basically every weekend, and she didn’t care as long as it didn’t involve Carrie and Pamela Ann. She was worried though. If he kept this up they might end up on two completely different paths by the end of the year. She had decided that she really shouldn’t drink anymore, not for a long while. Even if she did go to any parties, she would just bring a soda. She wasn’t ready for it, and she knew that God as well as her parents didn’t approve.
“So, have you decided if you’re going out for basketball?” He asked.
She shook her head, “No, I’m joining ski club. My parents just gave the okay, Amy is too. I think it will be fun!”
“Oh good, I’ll join too! Think about that romantic setting, high above the tree tops in a ski lift built for two.”
“I thought you were going to wrestle, what happened?”
He shook his head, “It’s not for me. But skiing, that’s a sport I can get into.”
“This is gonna be awesome!” She clapped her gloved hands together grinning.
He put his arms around her grinning back. “I’m a lucky guy.”
“Yes you are!”
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