My New Favourite Song

I quite like P.E.
You’d think that because I’m so weak, and bad at it, that I’d detest it with a passion. But I’m weird. And I like it, because… it’s a break… you know?
Physical Education actually does solve a lot of life’s problems. Or at the very least, it provides you a time to actually think
Too bad that SOME P.E teachers have to ruin everything and be so horrible.

March 25, 2008 was a gloomy sort of day. I guess I was kind of hoping it would rain, just so it would mirror my mood. Rico and Julian both had identical slightly serious, slightly nervous expressions, warped up in their own muttered conversation. It was almost as if they were deliberately distancing themselves from us. This annoyed me.
“What’s with them?” I ranted at no one in particular, “First they complain that we’re too shy, and now they exclude us altogether!”
My best friend, Betty quietly replied, “I think they’re hiding something from us.”
“Really?” I asked, now curious. “Can you hear what they’re saying?”
Betty made a pained face.
“Nope.” She sighed, “They’re too far away.”

The wind suddenly became fiercer then, whipping my long strands of black hair away from my face. I bore a cold, hard expression. Nothing seemed to be going right today.
As if on cue, Julian looked up. His gaze was followed by Rico’s. He stared at me sadly, and slowly turned away. Hot tears pricked behind my eyes, as heart break threatened to overwhelm me. I wasn’t used to seeing him like this. I wasn’t used to seeing him in so much pain. I desperately wanted to help him, but knew that deep down inside, I was too much of a coward. I was the freak who was paranoid about getting hurt. I knew that the last person he wanted to talk to, was me.

Choking back a sob, I led Betty to the changing rooms.
She glanced at me worriedly, unsure of what to do.
“I think we better take our jumpers today,” I whispered eventually, “It looks kinda cold out there.”
She just nodded in agreement.
Cross country training is a waste of time, really. The actual event wasn’t even compulsory. Yet we were still being forced to run all over the place. It was utter torture.
But I do like P.E, because it provides you time to think.
The lady in charge was absolutely horrible. If there was ever a P.E lesson from hell, this was it.
Our lesson was supposed to consist of warm up exercises, a single run through the junior course, and then evaluation. I knew. I had read the criteria. What we did instead was get forced into doing the senior course. Even though we were juniors. Let me tell you something though. That course was not smooth and even. Nor was I familiar with it.

I never knew that cross country involved so much mud.

I wasn’t being completely honest before, there were actually two senior cross country courses, which intersected at one point. Because of this, the lady split us into two teams and set us off at different times so that we would not run into each other. Or in other words; have any friends.

I was separated from the others. But that wouldn’t stop me.

By this time the rain was pouring down generously. Before we even started, I was saturated and began shivering. Betty looked at me worriedly.
“Are you alright Amy? You look kinda pale.”
I just grimaced. It was only running after all.
Rico patted my head, “Be careful Amy,” He warned.
I sighed again, and looked at Julian. He wouldn’t meet my eyes.

I was about to break down again when the Lady’s screech signalled my group to start.
I waved one last time, and ran.
**
It was slippery. I never thought there would be so much bush involved either.

I took a deep breath, pulled myself together and ran. It would only take half an hour max if I put my absolute best into the “training”. I could barely see what was ahead of me. The rain had blinded us all that much. No one said anything. They were either puffed out already, or just as irritated as I was.
It wasn’t until I was fifteen minutes into the run when I realised that I wasn’t with the group anymore. It was almost as if they had all just disappeared. But I knew in reality, it was probably me who had gotten lost.

Damnit! I thought.

Unsure of what to do, I kept running. Maybe I was only slightly behind. Maybe I’d catch up to them.
But somehow, I knew that it wouldn’t be that easy.

Defeated now, the tears started streaming down my face uncontrollably, and yet, I still kept running. If I was blinded by the rain before, this was ten times worse as the chill from the cruel weather finally hit me.
Can’t get any worse than this, I kept trying to tell myself.
Irony. I should have known what was going to happen next.
The horrid weather which we had to endure during this specific training really made everything along the course a lot more dangerous. Ditches which I had never even been warned about before would appear out of nowhere. Already, I had scratches along my arms from the trees, and my legs had already been bruised silly. But for once, I wasn’t complaining. I deserved this. I deserved this for making Julian suffer.
I had already survived many of the ditches. But this one was deeper than I thought. And of course, being the weakling I am, I had completely forgotten everything except how terrible I was feeling at that moment. Served me right I guess.

I fell. I screamed. Something snapped and pain shot up my left leg like bolts.

It was so pathetic.

Eventually, someone will realise you’re gone, and come look for you.
I kept trying to tell myself.
I really hoped that someone would realise soon.
“HELP!!” I shouted, willing someone to hear. “BETTY!!! RICO!! JULIAN!!”

My echo was the only response.
I had no idea how much time had passed, but I did know that I was becoming lethargic. I used my pain as a stimulant to keep me awake. I knew it was a bad idea, but if I fell asleep, they might never find me.
I looked around at my surroundings. The ditch wasn’t actually that deep. Just enough to trap me.
“SOME BODY HELP!!” I tried again.
“JULIAN!!! 你在哪里???!!” I was desperate now.

“救命啊！！！”
I know it was stupid, but I’d heard somewhere that mandarin carries out further than English. In sound waves. Some random physics theory.

***

Julian stopped running and listened, short of breath. Someone was calling his name.
Each syllable was like a knife to his heart.
Only one person could have that effect on him.
“Amy!” He gasped, and sprinted back the way he’d come.
“Amy!!!” He shouted, his voice breaking from lack of energy. “Amy where are you?”
Only his echoes answered back.

Dripping with sweat and rain, Julian slumped to the muddy floor, head in hands.
I have to think. He thought to himself. Amy’s in trouble… I have to think.
Eventually he pulled himself together to hear a faint cry of need.

Julian!!! 你在哪里啊？

“Amy!! 我来了! " He answered back and began to race in the direction of the voice.
Branches scratched at him, as he slipped and fell towards the heart of the voice, all the while, calling her name, to check if he was heading in the right direction.
He could feel her panic and his heart desperately longed to hold her in his arms.
But he was getting close, he could feel it.

***

After what felt like hours, I heard a response. It was Julian’s voice!!
My heart soared with hope, in more than one way.
“Amy!” He whispered, above me, extending a hand. “Amy, quick, give me your hand.”
I obeyed, never looking away from his eyes.
“Can you stand?” He asked, as soon as he had pulled me out.
“I think so,” I muttered, slightly embarrassed.

He supported my waist as I made a couple of steps. Pain still shot up my leg, as brutal as before. I gasped quietly, not wanting to show him how weak I actually was.

“Liar” He said. And scooped me up.
I was about to protest, but then I realised how safe I felt. And how much I needed more of this “safe harbour.” I sighed, and closed my eyes.
“还好你没事...” he whispered, pulling me closer.