My phone sang my favorite song as a sign that it was time to get up. I rolled over in my bed to grab it from the side table. I opened my eyes a bit to peer at my screen. It was 8am on the dot. I groaned and swiped my finger across the screen, silencing the voice coming from the small rectangular device. I nestled back under my covers, putting my phone under my pillow as I laid my head back down. Not even a minute later my phone buzzed twice signaling a text message. I took the phone from under my pillow, rolled onto my back and squinted my eyes at my screen.
Niall: Don’t you dare think about going back to bed.
I smirked at his text and typed back.
Ugh, how did you know?
I sat up in bed, kicking my covers off and throwing my legs over the edge, letting my feet hover over the floor. My phone buzzed again.
Niall: I know you.
Get up.
Be there in 15!
I sighed again as my feet finally met the floor. I left my phone on my bed as I roamed around my room, switching out my pajamas for knee length black tight running pants, a black zip-up track jacket over a grey t-shirt which was over a black sports bra. I sat back on my bed and pulled on a pair of socks and laced up my running shoes. I headed to the living room, putting my long brown hair into a high ponytail. A few moments later there was a knock at my door.
I opened it and Niall stood in front of me in black Nike shoes, black Adidas shorts, a grey hoodie, and a black snap back that hid his blond hair. He smiled at me, his hands in this front hoodie pocket. “Ready?” he asked enthusiastically as I walked out my door, closing it behind me.
“If we must,” I groaned, tightening my ponytail.
He laughed and said, “Hey you said you needed motivation to get up and run, so here I am!”
He bent down to touch his toes. I grabbed my left ankle to stretch the front of my leg, and switched to stretch the other leg. I hopped on the balls of my feet lightly, shaking out my arms, warming my body up. The sky was cloudy, and there was a slight chill in the air, but I had to admit it was my favorite running weather.
I sighed, and replied to his comment, “yeah, yeah. Well, let’s get going then.” He stood up and shook his legs out a bit. I smiled up at him and smacked his behind before taking off down the sidewalk.
“Hey!” he called out behind me.
I sprinted at first, but slowed down to a comfortable jog as I heard his footsteps coming behind me. He returned the smack on my butt has he came behind me and started to match my pace jogging beside me. I turned and poked my tongue out at him and smiled. He just smirked and bit his lip shaking his head.
Our feet fell into a steady rhythm as we traveled down the residential street, our breaths coming light and consistent. The streets around my house made a two-mile loop. We took a left turn to continue the path pass the edge of the houses and into a small forest that stood on the edge of it. We enjoyed the sounds of the birds in the trees and the sticks and leaves beneath our pounding feet. I pushed the sleeves of my jacket up my forearms as we neared the exit of the forest. We had a mile left until we reached my house again. Our feet met the cement of the sidewalk, making it a smoother path for our feet, and I began to pick up my pace, pulling a little ahead of Niall. I could sense he noticed this because I saw his legs move faster and he inched along up to me again. I smirked and ran harder, pulling a tad bit in front of him.
“Oh,” he said breathily, “it’s a game now.”
I managed a small chuckle. “Only if you can keep up,” I breathed, as we made another left turn to the straight a way to my house. I decided to just sprint the length of the sidewalk to my house. My arms pumped at my sides, and my feet hit the pavement at an increasing rate. I could hear Niall’s feet behind me also quicken, and his breath getting heavier. I sensed him right on my heels, but my front lawn was just in site. I managed a last burst of energy and my shoe reached the soft grass a half a second before his.
