Summer Wind

Disclaimer: I own nothing pertaining to Sky High.

Summer Wind (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)

Chapter 3 – Puck

It was a hot day to begin with, being on the high school track field only made it worse. Try outs for the team should have been earlier in the morning before the day had begun to heat up, but that time had been reserved for the football team to practice. So, now, the track team had to endure the heat at the worst part of the day.

Coach Traywick called Jameson over to the oval track for her first trial. Jameson lined up with three other students at the starting line. Scanning the other runners, she was surprised to see Keith Alsbrook getting into position beside her. “What are you doing her?” she questioned. “Track and the football season overlap. You can’t be on both teams.”

Shouldering her aside, he replied, “They don’t overlap that much, besides I’ve heard the track team is in serious need of some fresh blood. Last season didn’t look too good for you guys.”

Stung by his criticism of the Panthers’ past performance, Jameson retorted cruelly, “I guess, you’re right. It is time for you to branch out, since you really aren’t in the league to play college ball next year. You should expand your options.”

Jameson saw the hurt and anger in Keith’s eyes as the coach blew the starting whistle. Easily pulling ahead, she decided it would be best not to overshadow the other runners. Concentrating on pacing herself so that she wouldn’t finish with too big of a lead, she was caught unaware when a runner brushed past her, knocking her off of her stride and out of her lane.

Furiously, she looked up to see Keith nearing the finish line. Quickly recovering, Jameson fell in to step in the lane behind him. Crossing the finish line on his heels, she didn’t slow down at the race’s end. Instead she tackled Keith pushing them both into the grass at the edge of the track. Jumping up quickly she kicked him twice in the ribs before Coach Traywick had a chance to pull her back.

“Office,” he shouted at her retreating back. “Lot of good, it’ll do,” she heard him complain as she headed across the senior parking lot to the school.

Despite the fact that it was still a week until school started, she knew the office would be full. The secretary, counselor, vice principal and, of course, principal would all be preparing for next week’s onslaught of students.

Luckily, it was Vice Principal Caldwell who noticed her first when she entered the crowded waiting area. She saw he was already listening to Traywick’s complaints over the handheld walkie-talkie as he motioned her into his office. Jameson slouched down on one of the hard back chairs angled in front of his desk.

“What happened?” he asked, taking the seat behind his desk.

“Alsbrook assaulted me and I was just defending myself.” Jameson explained looking over the vice-principal’s head towards the pictures of past graduating classes hanging on the wall.

“Traywick makes it sound as if events took place a little differently. In fact, he’s concerned that Alsbrook may have a bruised kidney.” He watched for her reaction.

“Pansy,” she muttered under her breath.

When no other response was forth coming, he sighed and got to his feet. “I’m going to have to tell your father about this when he comes back to the school. He’s at central office right now. You’ve got a few hours reprieve. Use it wisely.”

Jameson stalked out of the office, furious at herself that she had allowed Alsbrook to goad her into such a reaction in front of witnesses.

Deep in thought, she rounded the corner at the end of the hallway, planning to head out the back way to the park. Before she realized what was happening she ran face first into Keith’s elbow. It connected squarely with her nose and lip. Her eyes watered from the pain, and she felt a gush of blood as she sank to her knees.

“You need to be more careful about who you’re messing with, freak!” Keith spat at her before heading back to the front of the school.

Man, didn’t see that one coming. Maybe Warren’s right. I need to be more aware of my surroundings, she thought. Heading for the cafeteria for some ice, Jameson decided she would need to wait until this evening to finish things. For now she wanted to go to the park.

Not feeling in the mood to run now, she kept the ice on her lip until she reached the grove of trees at the center of the park. She wanted the swelling to go down before she saw Warren. She tossed the damp plastic bag in a container as she approached. Luckily, he had his back to her, flipping through the paperback book she had given him the night before.

Jameson sat down under one of the larger trees near him, letting her hair down from its pony tail. Between the long lengths of her fly away hair, and the shadows of the trees, her face was mostly concealed, but only if Warren kept his distance.

Hearing her behind him Warren turned and walked over. He lowered himself to the grass beside of her. With his back against the tree, he held out the book to her. “I finished it this morning. Pretty good. Which character do you see yourself as? Puck?”

She smiled despite herself. “Puck’s a fairy, a figment of William Shakespeare’s imagination. Besides, everyone wants to be Puck.”

“Then who?” Warren tried to angle himself so he could see her better, but she turned her head.

“Some time’s a book is just a book,” Distracted Jameson patted him on the leg, but withdrew her hand when she felt the muscles in his thigh tightening under the black denim.

“Then why did you give it to me?” Warren reached out and swept the hair back from her face, tucking the wayward strands behind her ear.

Jameson looked down, hiding the split in her lip. “I told you, it’s a summer assignment. Some say the play is a light-hearted romance, others say it speaks to the darker, seamier aspects of human nature. What do you think?”

“I see, trying to get me to do your homework for you. That is a new one. Usually, it’s the other way around.” He rested his arms on his knees. “Sorry, you’ll have to do your own work.”

“I’ve already finished,” She looked over at him, forgetting for a moment about her face. “I just wanted your opinion.”

“And what did you decide about the book,” he asked, studying her face.

“At the moment, I can certainly relate to Puck’s lack of remorse for the mischief he creates.” She watched his face, for a reaction.

Moving so that he was kneeling in front of her, Warren reached out to touch the damage Keith’s elbow had worked on her face. “What happened,” he asked touching her lip gently with the tip of a finger.

“You were right; I need to pay more attention to my surroundings. I ran into something.” She rose up onto her knees so that they were on even footing. Reaching out to touch the side of his face, she preferred to distract him, instead of continuing the discussion.

She ran her fingers lightly down the side of his face, watching his eyes for the reaction she knew she would get. He leaned into her. Placing his hands on either side of her, he had her neatly trapped against the tree behind her. Tilting his face, and touching his lips gently to hers, Warren tasted a trace of the blood that was still on her lips. He licked his tongue gently along her closed mouth, and she parted her lips willingly. Darting his tongue inside, he felt her meet him tentatively. Flicking his tongue along the edge of her tongue, he fought for control of his senses. He gripped the tree behind her with his fingertips to keep from slipping his hands in side of her shirt.. His fingers raked the bark, as he attempted to keep command of the warmth that ached to be released.

When she ran her hand down his chest, rubbing his nipples until they were taunt and hard, he thought he would explode. But, when she pushed him back, he was furious.

“I have to go,” she breathed, raggedly.

“Prick tease,” he hissed. He watched her eyes for a reaction.

But surprisingly, she didn’t rise to the bait. Instead she smiled, “No, a tease doesn’t intend to follow through. But we will finish this…later. Right now, however, I have some unfinished business to attend to.

She stood and offered her hand to pull him up beside of her. He accepted and when standing, he reached out to push her hair back from her face again.

“Something you need help with, “he asked, standing close, touching her lip again gingerly.

“No, this is something I need to do myself.” Jameson grinned. “Don’t worry. I can take of it.” She started to walk away, but then stopped and turned back. “I almost forgot. You didn’t tell me what you thought of the book.”

Brows furrowed, he replied, “At the moment, I’d say I can see how it could be a pretty dark play.” He watched her start to back away.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” She waved and turned to walk back up the path.

Warren let her get a good head start and then he followed.

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