As they had suggested, there was plenty of time for a repeat of what they had discovered earlier.
The next weekend arrived, and, true to his word, Jack drove the one hundred twenty miles to the Meet of Champions, Linda holding his hand tightly the whole way. She knew many of the runners and accepted both the congratulations and the condolences from many of them. When the race started, Jack could see the dejection on her face as she watched the others doing what she couldn’t do. She leaned back against his chest, clinging to her crutches.
“If I see a tear, I’ll kiss you right here in front of everyone.”
She chuckled. “It’s just depressing, watching them run.”
“How many of those runners are state champions?”
She looked at jack. “Probably six or seven.”
“Suppose any of the others would trade places with you?”
She kissed him on the cheek. “There. No tears, and you still got a kiss. And, thank you.”
“Let’s head to the finish line so you can watch the girls you’d probably have beaten.”
She snorted and headed off, operating her crutches much more successfully after a week of practice.
***
Back home, the ankle healed faster than expected, and Linda began running again with cautions from Jack and her parents to BE CAREFUL. She did her best, but they weren’t there when she was running, so she was in control. Despite the joy of running again, she was sneaking naps and confiding in Jack.
“We need to figure this out, Linda. It isn’t the way things should be.”
“You’re right, I know. It’s just depressing to keep going through this.”
Jack was silent for a moment. “What did you just say?”
“What, that you’re right?”
“After that.”
“That it’s depressing?”
“Yeah. I wonder if that could be it.”
“You think I’m depressed? Except for the sprained ankle, nothing has happened to make me depressed.”
“I’ve got an uncle I’ve heard Mom and Dad talk about. He has depression, and it has a name … it’s, crap … it’s clinical, that’s it, clinical depression.”
“What’s that mean?”
“Dad says your body works through chemical reactions and electrical impulses and circuits. I’m not sure what that means or how it works, but I guess if any of that gets screwed up, it causes problems.”
“You think I’m screwed up?”
Jack gave her a big hug. “What did I tell you the day after you hurt your ankle?”
“That you love me. I’m not going to forget that”
“I still do, and I worry about you. See a doctor. I’ll go with you if you want.”
“I don’t know, Jack. It just seems…weird.”
It took two more weeks, but Linda talked with her mother, and they went to see Dr. Highdecker, who suggested she see a psychiatrist. Lots of questions that Linda answered, most of them honestly, and she was diagnosed, as Jack had suggested, with mild depression. They picked up the prescribed medication, and Linda began taking it.
She made Jack swear he’d keep it secret, which was his plan anyway.
“Share,” he said. “How are you feeling?” They were on the way to school, and Jack had been giving her space, not pressing her about her new meds.
“You want the truth?” She asked casually.
“Linda!”
“Just poking you,” she laughed. “What do you see?”
“You seem, well, normal.”
“Not my favorite word, but it fits. I feel great. Running is fun, and I can’t wait to do it every day. Everything is good, even school.”
“So, you think it’s the–”
“Meds?” she interrupted. “Yeah, I’m sure of it. All of my ‘doldrums’ have just disappeared.” Her smile was electric.
Jack was sure his happiness and excitement matched Linda’s.
***
On the Saturday of the Tri-State Invitational, Linda was as excited as Jack had ever seen her. She always looked forward to racing against new competition, and this was a chance to do just that. She breezed to an easy victory in the 1600 but knew her competition would come in the 3200 meters since the outstanding runner from the adjacent state had skipped the 1600 to concentrate on upsetting Linda. It wasn’t going to happen, though, as Linda raced to a new personal record by over four seconds.
Later, sitting in the grandstand with Jack, her face was beaming.
“No one can beat me,” she whispered to him, kissing his ear as she did. “If I don’t want them to,” she added.
Jack flinched, then chuckled. “When would you ever want them to?”
“Never,” she growled, grabbing hold of his arm. “Let’s celebrate my PR tonight when we get home.”
Jack looked at her. What he saw was a look he’d never seen before, the smile, the eyes, the subtle nudge of his shoulder. He wasn’t sure what to expect, but knowing Linda, it would be more than just interesting.
It was dusk when Jack got to Linda’s house, excited and anticipating he didn’t know what. It was almost fifteen minutes later when she and her parents arrived, and Linda jumped out of the car and waved at Jack.
“Hey, Mom. I’m still so wound up I need to work off some energy.”
“Ok, honey. We’ll see you later,” Molly called.
Linda grabbed Jack’s hand, giving the palm a kiss and a lick.
“Linda, what the heck’s going on?”
“New PR, and you want me to put my tongue somewhere else?” She asked, licking her lips.
“Yes,” Jack answered. If she could play, so could he.
“Let’s walk to the park, and I’ll do more than that.”
Jack’s body was tingling by the time they got to the park, greatly enhanced by Linda’s restless hands. It was dark when they went through the gate, the park poorly lit by a few dim lamps. She was still in her running gear, her sweat clothes protecting her from the mild chill. She stopped and spun him around. He’d had lots of kisses from Linda, but never like the one he got just inside the park entrance. Now her hands were behind his head, pulling him against her, Tongues caressing each other frantically, Jack could barely breathe.
“Let’s get over to the trees,” she gasped, tugging on his arm.
“Linda, what the heck?” Jack was lost, not sure what she wanted to happen.
“I want you,” she said loud enough for anyone close to hear, but thankfully, there was no one else around.
“Linda, we can’t … I don’t have … ”
She stopped and lifted her sweatshirt, reaching inside the back waistband of her running shorts and finally holding up a small packet.
“These shorts have a little pocket inside the waistband for money or whatever. This ‘whatever’ went 4800 meters with me today, and it’s going to go a little further now.”
If she’d carried a condom with her the entire day, this wasn’t just happening; she had planned it all along. This Linda was way more than the one he’d known the last two or three years, and now she was ready to have sex in the park. Jack couldn’t help but look around, checking to see if there were any others in the park, at least close enough to see them.
“If someone sees us, they’ll see us,” she said as she began pulling him along once more. In seconds they were in the trees and behind the bushes, a place that people didn’t go even in the daylight. She was pulling her sweat clothes off, grunting as she fought with them.
“Linda, it’s cold out here.”
“Are you kidding?” she said. “I’m burning up, and get your clothes off.”
Jack wasn’t going to question her any further and was undressing, his body heated as well, but still feeling the chill.