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”
    â€œGreat.”
    How did he do that?
    Jake’s mom came through the kitchen. “ Chariots of Fire ? I love that movie. Mind if I watch it with you, Jake?”
    Twenty minutes into it, his dad came in too. Then Luke. Halfway through, they paused the disc and made popcorn. They hadn’t had a movie night in ages.
    â€œI just love that story,” Jake’s mom said with a sigh when it was over. She stood up to put the popcorn bowl and glasses on a tray. “And the music.” Jake’s dad was snoring in one of the La-Z-Boys. Luke was asleep and snoring too, sprawled over one end of the couch. “Not that kind of music,” she said as she threw a cushion at each of them. “Rise and shine, fellas!”
    â€œThat reminds me,” she said. “Jake, I got an email today from Mrs. Bradley. She says she’s caught you sleeping in class a couple of times in the last few weeks. She wonders if you’re getting enough sleep or if there’s something bothering you that’s keeping you awake at night.”
    â€œI get lots of sleep,” protested Jake. “I make sure I get lots of sleep.”
    â€œI know you do.”
    Jake’s dad stood up and stretched. “I know he does too. Cut out of the hockey game the other night before the second period was over to make sure he got to bed on time! He shoots, he snores!”
    â€œMaybe it’s those early-morning runs. Maybe you’re running too much. If it’s affecting your schoolwork…”
    â€œMom, it was probably during math class. Sam’s the mathamagician, not me.”
    â€œWho’s Sam?”
    â€œMy fr—” He stopped. “This guy I know from the running club. And maybe it happened once in grammar. I don’t mean to. Nouns and pronouns are just not that exciting, you know.”
    Luke looked up groggily. “It’s unavoidable,” he agreed. “It’s the number slumber.”
    â€œThe comma coma,” said Jake.
    Luke nodded. “I’ve been known to catch a few z’s in class myself.”
    Everyone laughed.

Chapter Fourteen
    It was the last of the city league’s regular Tuesday runs. Jake looked up and down the starting line, but there were no green spikes. Spencer wasn’t there. Jake saw a flash of red and guessed Simon was in the crowd. He didn’t go talk to him. He needed to focus. He would find Simon later.
    Jake was ready. He’d had a snack. He’d had a drink. He’d done lots of stretching. After resting the ankle last night, he had to admit it felt a lot better. This was it. He felt good. He took a few deep breaths and took his spot at the line. As he did, he felt a weight settle onto his shoulders. Stay loose, he thought. Shake it off. But he couldn’t. He took off right at the gun. He got out front early. He ducked the low-hanging branches in the woods. He tuned out the dull ache in his head, the burning in his lungs and the twisting in his stomach. He tuned out the shouts of the fans along the course. He tuned out everything and just ran without thinking, without feeling, one step in front of the other. Through the trees. Along the creek. One foot in front of the other, until he heard the crunch of his spikes on the gravel just before the bridge. Up the hill. Across the finish line. He was all alone. He had won, but without Spencer in the pack, it still felt like second.
    Jake didn’t wait for the results to be posted. He didn’t go look for Simon either. He just didn’t feel like waiting today. He pulled a sweatshirt over his head and was unlocking his bike when he heard someone call his name. “Hey, Jake!” He turned. It was Dave. “Great run!”
    Jake stood and shook the hand Dave was offering. “Uh, thanks. Recruiting again?”
    Dave smiled and clapped Jake on the shoulder. “No. I can do that over the phone. I came to see you.”
    â€œMe? Do you need to tell me