Page 32 of Forged Forever

Seb gets his emails during lunch. He was too hyper to read the fine print, but they were both full rides, including tuition, room, and a meal plan. He bounces around all afternoon, unable to contain his excitement. Jonathan also got offers from both schools, not full rides, but partial scholarships.

For the rest of the week, everyone we know gets acceptance or rejection letters. Bay receives his acceptance on Wednesday to Charleston University, and he and Alex accept an invitation to meet the diving team on Friday after school. They will miss the preseason meet but aren’t worried about it. We’re all hoping Bay gets some scholarship money for diving.

Holly gets a full scholarship to USC, UNC, and Clemson for track. Jaxon was accepted to the same schools but won’t hear about a scholarship until later in the track season.

I have to wait until Friday, but I also get accepted into Charleston University and USC. I call Dad, Sue, Mal, and Sarah right away. Dad is extremely proud of me, showing up after work with a bouquet of flowers and cupcakes. It’s pretty incredible to see everyone reaching their dreams.

Steven invites all of us to dinner at his house on Saturday evening to celebrate.

On Friday, Seb and E join me in visiting Jake after school, while Alex and Bay visit the dive team in the city.

“Hello!” I call as we enter the condo.

“Just a minute, I’m doing a handstand,” Jake yells back. “Meet you on the balcony.”

Smiling at Seb and E, I grab us water bottles, and Ray enters from his office, telling us he ordered pizzas for dinner. We take seats on the patio furniture to wait for Jake. It’s a cloudy but warm day today. We had a thunderstorm during afternoon classes, so there’s a little water at the edge of the deck.

I hear Jake’s patio door open as Will wheels him outside. “Hi handsome, Will,” I greet. Jake has a smirk on his face again. “Why ya smirking today?”

Will locks the wheels with a little smile on his face and steps back. Tilting my head, I wonder what’s going on. Jake stands on his own, which is outstanding, and brings a smile to my face, but then he walks towards me. He walks! My mouth drops open as Seb jumps up, moving his chair away. Jake takes the four steps to the sofa and drops beside me. “Oh my God, Jake! You walked. You can walk!” Leaning over, I wrap my arms around him. Tiny tremors are running through his muscles, but who cares? He walked. “I’m so, so proud of you. Congratulations handsome.”

Jake holds on to me for a few minutes until the trembling subsides. As we pull back, we are both grinning like fools with glassy eyes.

Seb comes in for a bro hug once we separate, with E offering a smile and congratulations too.

“I took a step Tuesday and two last night, but I wanted to walk to you when I showed you,” Jake tells me, still smiling at his accomplishment.

“I couldn’t be happier for you, truly. You’ll be dancing around in no time.” He’s come such a long way, and I can’t wait for the day he’s completely healed.

Ray brings several pizza boxes and paper plates out to the patio for us. After Jake is back in his wheelchair, we dig in. I tell them about my acceptance letters, and Seb tells us about the conditions of his scholarship offers. USC is paying all his tuition and textbook fees, as well as a meal plan. They’ll also cover a dorm room or the equivalent amount for housing. The basketball team provides workout clothes, training gear, and two pairs of sneakers each year. Charleston University is offering tuition, a meal plan, and a private dorm room. He said that since Charleston is a smaller school, he wasn’t expecting as many perks. Seb wants to attend the local school since it looks like we’ll all be here, but Troy is encouraging him to take his time in accepting. He has until graduation, so there’s no rush.

I’ve already decided to stay local unless something drastic happens. I’m not ready to leave Jake and Dad.

The night ends with ice cream and a basketball game. I spend a few minutes alone with Jake, kissing him, then Seb and E walk me to my Jeep. After a kiss and hug from Seb, we part ways until my first track meet in the morning.

Chapter 20

Saturday morning, Dad drives me to Charleston for the qualifying track meet. I don’t need to qualify for my races this year, but we have several freshmen who do, so Coach encouraged the entire team to attend.

Holly is pulling up with Jaxon when we arrive. Dad and I follow behind them to the back of the school where the track is located. This is one of the nicest tracks in the area, and organizers have set up canopies for athletes, officials, first aid, and water stations. Stands are across the track for spectators to sit.

We take seats in the stands on the bottom row as people trickle toward the track. Seb is the first to arrive with Bay, and Alex and E aren’t far behind. I need to join my team as Jake appears. Running over quickly, I say hi to him, Ray, and Will before meeting the team.

We have ten freshmen on our team competing in long distance, the 100m, the 400m, and the 200m. Jaxon immediately begins his stretches, knowing the distance runners always go first. He calls the four new distance runners over to him, encouraging them to stretch, too. Coach has asked us seniors to take anyone running our races under our wing. I have one girl running the 400m that I’ve been training with. She’s shy but nice, and a hard worker. Her time has improved over the past two months, so I’m hoping she qualifies today.

Coach grabs our attention with the usual announcements before handing out the schedule for today. I’m running the 800m first, right after the distance runners begin their race, followed by the 200m relay at 10:30am. My last race, the 400m, is at 1pm.

Snapping a pic, I text Dad and the guys, and then begin my stretches. When the distance runners are called onto the field, I follow to the middle of the track to jog around. I smile when I see Jake talking to Seb and give them a wave.

As the gun goes off and the distance runners start their first lap around the track, I cheer for Jaxon as he passes me, heading towards the road. I still don’t know why they circle the track once and then run on the sidewalks through the neighborhood instead of starting there. In Virginia, they always started on the road and finished in the same spot.

My race is announced next, so I stand with the coach beside me. “Take it easy today, Summer. Pace yourself. No need to push too hard today. Get a feel for the other runners.”

“Got it, Coach,” I nod. I’m a little nervous, but not bad. Being a senior and already qualified takes the pressure off.

When the gun goes off, I start at a quick but steady pace. As usual, some girls are full out sprinting, but they’ll run out of energy and fall behind. There are a few girls I recognize from last year, including the one I beat in the last meet. Using her as my guide, I increase my pace to match hers. We pull ahead during the last 200m, and I have to push myself to keep pace. She beats me by a small margin, which is okay. I’ll get her another time.

Coach and Holly praise me for a good run as I stop at the canopy to drink some electrolyte water. Holly is up soon with the 200m, so I keep her company as she warms up.