Moonglass

over and nodded. Her eyes flicked sideways, but she didn’t acknowlledge me. The small snub was enough for me to decide I had to beat her. We leaned into the hill, at a pace that would be hard to hold the rest of the way. I picked it up ever so slightly and concentrated on controlling my breathing.
    When she matched me instantly, I started to regret the move.
    The two of us locked into a pace of hard resolve. My legs ached. My chest burned. I looked out of the corner of my eye, hoping to see a sign of the same fatigue in Jillian. She had her head down and seemed to be concentrating on the dirt directly in front of her, completely unaware of me. I forced myself to do the same, knowing it would take less energy. But then I felt her eyes on me, and all I wanted to do was look perfectly relaxed, perfectly at home on this hill that felt as if it stood up more vertical with each step. I glanced at the top and hoped that what I was about to do wouldn’t bite me in the ass. She was still looking at me, trying to determine how much I was hurting.
    I turned my head so that I was looking right at her, and forced my face to relax into a smile. “Hey. I heard you’re the fastest on the team.” She didn’t respond, except to focus her eyes straight ahead, on the peak, which was indicated by the final telephone pole.
    “So … you must have been running a long time.”
    No response.
    “Huh. well . I’m feeling pretty good, so I’m gonna go for it now. I’ll see ya up there.” Her head shot in my direction. I took advantage and put everything into a forward surge that moved me a few paces ahead of her. I heard an out-of-breath swear and then the quickening of her feet on the dirt. I was already at a pace I could barely hold, but pride took over, and the top of the hill was just within reach, so I gave it everything I had left and focused on keeping her out of my periphery.
    Then I saw her brown hair. The rest of her frame followed, and in a second she was a footfall in front of me. Jillian looked back and smiled, then full -out sprinted the last twenty-five yards. She was walking small circles when I crossed the chalked line at the top. I wanted to crumble to the ground, but I forced myself to stagger forward and walk it off.
    Coach Martin walked over slowly, his steps measured out by the slow claps of his hands. “Well done, ladies. That was quite a battle.” I bent over, hands propped on my knees, and didn’t say anything. My necklace swung out from under my top and dangled, shiny and red. I just watched it and tried not to heave up my oatmeal.
    “Anna, is it? I guess you should formally meet the senior who just handed you your ass.” He turned and put a hand out. “This … is Jillian.” He turned to her.
    “And, Jill, you should formally meet the new girl who almost handed you yours.” We looked at each other and breathed, expressionless, and waiting to see who would look down first. Then she stood up and stuck out a hand. “Good one. You run like something’s chasing you.”
    I grabbed it and managed a smile. “ You were, for a few seconds.” She smiled back, and we shook once before she turned her attention to the other runners, who stepped across the chalk line. She cheered for them, hands to her mouth. Some walked it out. Others bent over. One gave me a nod.
    Everyone looked like they hurt.
    Coach Martin clapped his hands again. “All right, ladies. Good effort up here this morning. Hope you saved some for this afternoon, though. We’ll be doing a long, slow distance run. Head on down, get a drink, and don’t let yourselves get too tight before the afternoon. Good job.” We all started down the hill.
    “Anna, you got a second?” He motioned for me to step over to him, then took his glasses off. I waited.
    “What you just did back there was pretty impressive—”
    “Thanks,” I breathed, still tired out.
    “I haven’t seen Jill run like that … well, for a while. You got her guts up, and that was good to see. Nicely done. We’d be happy to have you. Now go rest up for this afternoon.”
    “Okay. Thanks, coach.” I turned on shaky legs and made my way down the hill with a vague feeling that I knew what he meant about Jillian. I was still annoyed at getting beaten, but I entertained the possibility that maybe we’d even end up friends.
    When I got to the bottom, Ashley’s car was already idling in the parking lot. I peeked in the passenger window. She lay fully reclined in the