Early Morning Jog (Avinea)

[Ashton Harper]

Early. Very early. Unless you're Ash. It was five in the morning, the sun wasn't out and Ash was already on his third lap around the track. He preferred the cool morning instead of the late afternoon. It was usually not very crowded this early. Ash had told his best friend Avinea to meet him out on the field early, but he didn't expect her for a few more hours. Very few people got up this early.

Ash was in his usual running attire. He had a white wife-beater and black athletic shorts. He was plugged into his ipod listening to classical piano music. He didn't have the music blasting, so he could still hear the birds just beginning to chirp. He had a small smile on his face as he rounded the track to make it his fourth lap.

He and Avinea had made plans to race again. They had raced once before and both of them were too stubborn to admit that it was a tie. Ash suggested a rematch, so here he was running and warming up before the big match. He was determined to win. Running was one of the things he was best at. She may be good, but he wanted to be better. Losing to a girl wasn't an option.

He wasn't saying that a girl wasn't good at running. It was just that he was a guy, guys were supposed to beat girls all the time. They were supposed to be better at everything except academics. Ash didn't want to ruin his rep.

[Avinea Jale]

Avi was up. And it was early. Since today was the big rematch between her and Ash her nerves were fried and she wanted to make sure that she had all her practice in. If she didn’t then she wouldn’t be ready for whatever tricks he would pull. She knew him. He would want to pull as many tricks as possible. He still thought that He had won last time. This time she would prove to him that she had won that time and she was going to win this time. To make it official Avi had taken the video camera up at the finish line and had set it up so it would record exactly who had won.

Avi was dressed in light blue running shorts and a snug tank top. She had been running around the school for a while now taking the various paths, but avoiding the track. She knew of course that Ash would be there. He normally did get up at this ungodly hour and Avi just could not see how this was going to be beneficial to him. She wanted him to wear himself out for their match. Yet again it would be his loss, and he could do nothing but see the proof. Smiling Avi made her way up to the track looking to set the camera up.

When she got there she skillfully avoided Ash setting the Camera up. There would be no doubting the outcome now. Smiling she made her way over to him. “ Ready to lose Ash?” Yes she was baiting him. It would be more fun when he lost. Smiling she began to stretch. Why shouldn’t she let him think she had only just gotten up? That is what he got for underestimating her.

Now don’t get Avi wrong, she liked Ash, but he was so darn frustrating sometimes. He always had this mentality that boys were better then girls. It was sort of annoying and Avi was dying to make him see that girls were just as good as boys sometimes better. No Avi was not bias, she just wanted him to have a better view on gender equality. And a loss in the track would prove that to him. Hopefully.

[Ashton Harper]

Ash was oblivious to Avi running around the school. He didn't think she'd ever get up. He'd be here for hours upon hours waiting for her. He didn't care if she didn't come. If she didn't he wouldn't have to race her and he wouldn't have to risk losing. He knew she hated the way he thought, but he couldn't help it. That was the mindset he had grown up with. His father had pushed it into his mind and he just went with it.

Ash saw Avi walking up and he slowed down to a stop. "For you to lose...again...yes. I'm sorry Avi, but my rep is on the line here." He said with a smirk. Ash loved getting under her skin. It was so fun, her reaction was priceless.

"So let's get this show on the road princess. I know you want to get your lose over with. Don't worry, I'll make it as painful as possible." He laughed and stretched out a bit. He wasn't tired...yet. He was going to be though, and soon.

[Avinea Jale]

Avi blinked when he started talking about how she was going to lose. God why couldn’t he get it through his head that she was going to win and he was going to lose. Smirking at he silent plan she just looked at him. “ Who cares about your reputation? Ash is Ash. I honestly don’t give a flying whoop about it. You really shouldn’t either.” Avi looked at him. Maybe beating him would knock some sense into him.

“ Oh and I won last time just like I’m going to win this time. I do agree. Let us get the race on. Just so I can win.” Avi watched content as he began stretching giving a yawn. “ God why in the hell did you have to get me up this early? I normally sleep for a couple more hours at least.” With those words Avi made sure that she was all stretched up and yawned amused at his lack of thinking things through.

When he yawned Avi just smiled. He was going to wear himself out during the middle of the race. She had been friends with him long enough to know he was a sprinter, not an endurance person. Yet like the stubborn person he was he just would not recognize this. Sighing Avi looked up at him. “ My name is Avi, you should know this by now”

[Ashton Harper]

You'd think this girl would learn! Ash's whole life was about his reputation. He couldn't not think about it. He was supposed to be cool. He was supposed to be better than most. He had a big reputation to fill. She just didn't understand. His dad was the one who told him to keep his rep up. If anyone tore it down, he'd be a goner. It was important to Ash too. He liked having a good reputation. This girl was just bound and determined to kill his rep.

"I care about my rep Avi. It's all I have. It's all I am. I can't ruin my rep or else...I'll die of social embarrassment." Ash said in a semi-dramatic tone. He honestly was afraid of killing his rep. He already had like no friends, if he messed up the one good thing in his life, he'd never get anymore friends...or a girlfriend for that matter. He was supposedly a manho and yet he had never had an actual girlfriend! What was with that?!

"And you so didn't win last time! Damn woman! You're killing me here. Why can't you just get over the fact that I won then and I'll win now." He said with a nod. He was starting to feel the fatigue. It was making his eyelids droop and his muscles give out, but he bulked up and smirked, "Because I'm using it to my advantage. I'm used to getting up early."

"Sorry Avi," He said with emphasis on her name. Ash laughed and stretched once more. "Okay let's line up. Don't try cheating again. I might have to call you out on it this time." He laughed again.

[Avinea Jale]

That was one thing that really bugged Avi about Ash. He only really cared about his reputation. Avi contemplated why he cared about it so much and realized, for the most part it was family influence. But really, who would want a reputation as a manho? Shaking her head she really did hope that this race would knock some sense into him.

“ Ash you should start caring more about your friends then your reputation. And for all sakes you wont die. If anything you will just have a few more days to build it back up again.” In the two years that she had known him she had never met anyone more serious about his reputation then Ash. Also in the two years that she had known him she was the only one who was /trying/ to knock some sense into him. She watched as he had his normal mini freak out and waited for it to pass. “ And excuse me but I’ve been your friend for two years and I don’t give a flying whoop about your supposed reputation.”

Avi just chuckled when Ash denied it even further. “ I cant get over it because I obviously won.” Avi couldn’t help teasing him. She really did win. The fact that he was still denying it made it even funnier to her. Especially when he got so worked up about it. She had already made up her mind that she had won. Even if he wouldn’t admit that she knew she was right. She watched as he drooped a bit. Yup this was going to be an easy race. Stupid here had already tired himself out from all the running this morning. “ Still too dang early.”


Avi nodded and walked over to the line. She just rolled her eyes at him exaggerating her name. “ Ok Ashy, lets get this race started.” Avi smirked. He hated it when she called him Ashy. “I’m waiting Ashy. And I don’t cheat. You should know by now cheating is something I don’t tolerate. I will beat you fair and square.”

[Ashton Harper]

Ash sighed. She didn't get it. He was done arguing about it. She believed one thing, he believed another. That's how things always went. He was trying to get over the reputation thing. He knew it was killing his chance at making friends. No one liked hanging out with a guy who only cared what people thought of him. It was a problem.

"Avi it's not a matter of not caring about my friends. I care plenty about the few friends that I have. It's just how I was brought up. Reputation is like everything to my dad. He doesn't want me to be some loser. And I don't want to be that way either. I know you don't care about my rep, but other people might." He shrugged and looked down. "And I'm working on getting over it."

Ash didn't want to argue anymore. He was stubborn, but he wasn't one to continue a pointless argument. "Okay okay whatever. Just hurry up and get ready so we can finish this." He said with a smile. It was early, but Ash liked running when it was early. "You can sleep after we race. Then whoever loses has to buy the other either ice cream or coffee, it's the winner's choice." He laughed.

Ash rolled his eyes at the nickname she had given him only shortly after they had started being friends. She only got away with it because they were best friends. Anyone else who tried calling him that was either ignored or grunted at. "Alright, on go..." He knew she didn't cheat, he just liked irritating her. He started lining up.

[Avinea Jale]

Avi just watched as he sighed, frustrated with her. If he thought she didn’t get it he was in for something. She got it perfectly. “ I know that you were raised this way but slowly but surely I’m knocking some sense into you. Over the course of these two years you have learned. As shocking as that is I am not willing to give up. I know that you really don’t care but the world doesn’t. So until they do I will keep pestering you about it.” Avi smirked. Yes she was stubborn enough to keep at it. After all it had been two years and he had toned it down.

Avi listened to his argument but frowned anyway. “ I know that. I’m just helping you with it.” Smiling she looked over at him. Yes she believed that he was trying, did that stop her from busting his chops whenever possible? Of course not! They wouldn’t be such good friends unless she did. It was expected. Just like how she knew he teased her for the exact same reason.

Avi smirked as he stopped arguing with her. She knew that she was right in this matter. Deep down he knew it too. At the bet she smirked. “ Ill take you up on that. Just be ready to buy me coffee. Its too dang early to not have it. This time we will have proof of who exactly won. ” Avi smirked not yet revealing the video camera she had set up. It would be a surprise to him when she won and she had proof.

Smirking she looked at him again. She knew only a few people were allowed to call him that. She also knew how much he hated it. Mostly she did it just to get on his nerves. Avi full out laughed at the scrunched up look on his face as she stretched a few final times before she got into her running starting stance. “Ok Ash what do we start on? How bout three?”

Avi looked at him but then snapped back to focus on the racetrack ahead of her. “ 1...2...3!” Avi took off at a steady but fast speed, no use tiring herself out. She kept up her pace as Ash ran past her and started sprinting. Smirking she kept her pace muttering. “He will wear himself out third lap around. He always does, Then ill make my move.”

[Ashton Harper]

Ash sighed, "You are so damn stubborn I swear. I may have changed a little, but it won't go much more than that." He shrugged. This was one thing he knew he was right on. He was just as stubborn as she was and he didn't want to change. This was who he was. He cared about social status, he cared about appearance, he cared about reputations. He couldn't help himself. He had toned it down, but only minimally. She would realize soon enough he wasn't going to change his ways.

He knew she was just messing with him, but there was a hint of seriousness underneath the joke. He busted on her and she busted on him. That's how it had been for the past two years. That was why they got along. They were alike in so many ways.

"I need coffee anyway, whether it's free or not." He laughed at his slight addiction and then rolled his eyes. "Proof of me winning. Finally, now you won't keep claiming that nonsense about you beating me." He laughed again and rolled his eyes. There would be proof because he wasn't going to win by just a little. He was going to blow her away.

Ash cracked his neck and stretched his arms out a bit. Then he got into his stance and smirked, "Just count it off Avi." He rolled his eyes at her build up and then focused on readying himself. Little did he know...he was too tired to win.

As soon as she said three, Ash took off at top speed. He was a sprinter, not a distance man. He figured, the faster he went, the easier he'd win. Once he got a good lead he slowed down a bit. She couldn't catch up. He was just too far ahead. Or so he thought.

[Avinea Jale]

Avi just shrugged when he denied and called her stubborn. “ I never said I wasn’t stubborn. You will in time. That’s all. Besides,“ Avi smirked. “ I have blackmail. You’ll change when you want to. Plus a little incentive never hurt anyone.” Smirking she looked over at him. “ You like me stubborn. I don’t give into your silly antics.”

Avi smiled as he took in the joke, that in fact, did have a layer of seriousness underneath the exterior. They had to act like this. It was expected. It would just be awkward if they did not. They wouldn’t be friends if the other took the other seriously in some ways. It sometimes scared Avi how alike they were.

Avi smiled at Ash when he still went n about thinking he won. “ It’ll be free for me, not for you. Especially if your paying.” Smirking Avi looked at him again. “ We shall see.” Avi smirked. He really had no idea did he?

Avi was counting on him to be overconfident as she went running down the track. She knew his running patterns and she was right, by the third of the track he was slowing. Considerably. She smirked as she sprinted past him in a blur and approached the finish line. He was going to be let in the dust again. She knew he would be furious but the camera would prove the true winner. Aka, her.

Smirking she passed the finish line only a little bit ahead of him, just a smidgen, but that smidgen was all it took for her to win the race. She walked over to the benches and sat looking up at him after getting a drink. “ I totally won. Ready to go get some coffee?”