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Digging in, I push off the ground harder and run faster I lengthen my stride My arms pump at my sides and I sprint as fast as I can across cayet there, I can’t breathe and there’s a stich running up both sides of o inside Holding my hands on my hips, I stop and suck in air I stay like that for a fewto catch my breath

When the cramp subsides, I walk down to the exercise room I don’t expect anyone to be here The halls are eo inside I find a tread the speed up to a full run I pound the crap out of the thing, sprinting as fast as I can

A few hts float away The only thing inof s That’s why he scares the shit out of me

"Sidney?" Mark’s voice co, and step on et launched off the end of the treadmill My back slaency stop key and the tread Then, he falls on his knees next to ht? Can youthat makes people really unco next to lances around "Awh shit I broke her" He runs his hand through his hair and pokes my shoulder "You okay, there? You sound a little bit nuts"

I take a deep breath and look over at him "I am a little bit nuts Why else would I be here at four in thein here in the dark"

Mark looks offended "I was not! I was back in the weight room when I heard someone I came out to see who it was, said your naet battered by the wall"

I laugh and realize that I do sound way past crazy--and way past tired I rubthat’s ever happened" When I pull my hand away, there’s a streak of blood "Damn it I cut my face?"

Mark stands and offers his hand I put my clean hand in his palm and he pulls me up "Nah, it’s just a little scrape on your cheek"

I dab it again with ers and walk over the mirrors It’s not that bad, but I look like hell My hair is a rat’s nest pulled into a ponytail It’s all bushy I didn’t bother brushing it before I left I just pulled it back and snapped the elastic ring around my hair There are dark circles under my eyes and I look beat

Mark hands me a hanky I look over at hi"

I take it and say, "Thanks, and that wasn’t what I was thinking at all" I take the white cotton and run it under the water fountain, getting it damp, and then blot my cheek "I don’t even knohat did this"

He points to my wrist "Your watch Your hands tried to cover your face when you fell The watch probably scratched you" I look at my wrist and then back up at hi at lance at hi?"

Mark puts his hands behind his back and shakes his head "Nah, it’s usually five by the tiet here I was early today As to the reason ell, I’m a bit of a freak I only need four hours of sleep"

I’ When says that, I look up at hienetic thing Mytiht hours to feel good Four or five, ht and then wake up at the butt crack of dawn

"Since there’s nothing to do at the dorm, and my roommate killsagainst the wall, watching uy I should be with He’s normal, nice, and , staring at his face, wondering what he would have done if I threwof the semester--if it was Mark at the table and not Peter Would he have done as much? Would he have stopped? What would that have done toIt ruined everything, so it makes sense, sort of

I don’t realize how ets a nervous s so else "Uhm, Sidney? Did I accidentally put you to sleep withstory?"

I smirk and blink I hurt so "

He grins "You really think so?"