The Running Dream

Fiona complains to Jessica about the one teammate who didn’t show up for Jessica’s lunch: Merryl. Jessica advises Fiona to forget about Merryl, as she wasn’t missed anyway. Fiona is angry, though, that someone like Gavin, who both girls thought was smart and attractive, could fall for someone as shallow as Merryl. Jessica then notices Gavin and Merryl walking in their direction, with Merryl clinging to Gavin’s arm and looking adoringly at him. As soon as Gavin sees Jessica, he breaks away from Merryl to speak with her.

Jessica reluctantly admits that the chin scruff that Gavin has is quite attractive. The moment is ruined, however, when Merryl runs up next to him and clutches his arm again. Fiona remarks that almost the entire track team showed up for Jessica’s lunch, implying that Merryl purposefully skipped the party. Merryl dramatically apologizes and says that she forgot. Fiona looks pointedly at the large sign welcoming Jessica back and sarcastically states, “Easy to do, I suppose” (107). Fiona pushes Jessica’s wheelchair, and they leave the couple behind them.

In the car, Fiona asks how Jessica feels at the end of her first day back. On the ride home, Jessica thinks about Gavin and Merryl and realizes that their relationship doesn’t bother her.