5. The Diary of Natasha Rogers

Instructions

⠀⠀⠀⠀At school, I shut my locker and locked it before heading outside to the track tryouts. I passed everyone in the hallway quickly. I didn't have any friends really, so I just tried to keep a low profile. ⠀⠀⠀⠀I slipped out the gym door to the parking lot where the coach had the tryouts set up. I felt so nervous, because in the past, the track team was always just boys. But Dad and Mum both said I should give it a try. So, that's what I was going to do. I'd even worn jeans that day. A track suit would have just attracted unwanted attention from the girls. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Excuse me," the coach stepped in front of me after I laid my bag down and approached the track. "What are you doing?" ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Trying out for track," I answered. "That's today, right?" ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Yes," he said gruffly. "Do you think you got what it takes?" ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Yes, sir, I do," I said and brushed past him. The boys trying out were warming up on the field, and they gave me curious looks. "Morning, boys," I greeted them casually. "Nice day for a run." ⠀⠀⠀⠀Some nodded, looking confused, while most just ignored me. That was okay. I'd be hard to ignore when I'd be in the lead. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Gentlemen," the coach began, then cleared his throat, "and ladies, get to your positions." ⠀⠀⠀⠀I walked up to an empty spot near the back and took a deep breath. The boys all leaned down into their start positions. ⠀⠀⠀⠀When the g^n fired, I didn't hesitate, but just ran, passing the boys in back easily. We only had to do five laps, and I still felt great after the second one. There were only three boys ahead, and I could hear the crowd of students as they watched. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"On your left," I said to an older boy as I passed him. He looked at me in disbelief. ⠀⠀⠀⠀I kept my head clear as I ran, thinking about Dad and Mum and Tony, and all the memories. I closed my eyes, smiling as I did. I counted the laps in my head, breathing evenly. ⠀⠀⠀⠀When I opened them, I ran across the finish, the first person to do so. There was loud cheering from the bleachers, and I smiled and waved at the kids gathered there. The coach stood with his arms folded as I walked over to the bleachers. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Not bad, kid, not bad," he said, his lips twitching as though he wanted to smile. I didn't answer, but grabbed my bag and headed inside, feeling exhilarated. ⠀⠀⠀⠀At recess, I climbed the bleachers and looked over the track before laying down. Tony and I used to do that when we were both in elementary school and study the clouds. A group of students, girls and boys, were huddled near the front rows. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Who was that girl?" A boy asked. "I still don't know everybody." ⠀⠀⠀⠀"That was Natasha Rogers," a snobby girl answered. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Rogers?" The boy asked in disbelief. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Yes." ⠀⠀⠀⠀"As in the Steve Rogers?" ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Yeah. Was born right after he disappeared," a different girl answered. "Now just lives with her mom." ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Peggy Carter?" The boy asked. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"I guess. How am I supposed to know? And why are you such a Captain America nerd?" I could tell the girl was disappointed. I assumed the boy was c^te. Girls didn't like nerds. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"I'm not," he said defensively. "I'm just curious." ⠀⠀⠀⠀I sighed and waited til they left before climbing down the bleachers. The questioning confused me. That boy did seem like a Captain America nerd. I shrugged and pushed it out of my mind. ⠀⠀⠀⠀Since the bus stop was five blocks from my house, I had to walk a bit. I didn't mind, because I usually passed Tony. ⠀⠀⠀⠀Sure enough, he walked down the opposite street, talking to some girl. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Hey, Tony!" I called out and waved. He looked up and waved back before talking to the girl again. I sighed, he really didn't seem to care about my existence anymore. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Hey," I heard someone call me. I turned around to see a boy around my age run up to me. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Yeah?" ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Are you Natasha Rogers?" He asked. Suddenly, I recognized his voice. The Captain America nerd. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Yes," I nodded. "And does that matter?" ⠀⠀⠀⠀He nodded, "Because your dad and my dad were friends," he said. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Oh?" ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Yeah," he looked down. "My dad d^ed while on a mission. I feel your loss." ⠀⠀⠀⠀"I'm sorry, but what's your name?" I asked. ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Charles," he said, smiling, "but you call me Charlie." ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Okay, Charlie," I smiled, "what's your last name?" ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Barnes," he answered. "Sound familiar?" ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Yes! My...my mum talks about your dad a bit." ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Does she? My dad wrote about her sometimes. Said that your dad was head over heels for her." ⠀⠀⠀⠀I laughed, "You could say that." ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Well, I've got to get home. See you around?" ⠀⠀⠀⠀I stopped and stared at Charlie. That sounded so friendly. Had I just made a friend? ⠀⠀⠀⠀"Yeah," I nodded, "see you around."