The Running Dream

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2011

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Part 3, Chapters 13-15Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 3, Chapter 13 Summary

Surprised by the incident with the Steeles, Jessica goes in search of Fiona to share the experience with her. However, she is stopped along the way by Gavin, who is enthusiastically cheering for Merryl and the team. Jessica asks Gavin if he’s ever considered running, but he says his family isn’t athletic enough. When Merryl comes over, Jessica leaves to find Fiona. She tells Fiona about Ms. Steele and her comment about Vanessa, and Fiona says she can’t wait to spread the information around. Jessica objects, saying, “You can’t tell other people!” (168). When Fiona opposes this stance, Jessica insists that Ms. Steele was kind and earnest, and it would be wrong to humiliate Vanessa because her mother was a nice person. Fiona agrees, and the two girls head over to the track to support the hurdlers in their upcoming dash.

Part 3, Chapter 14 Summary

In the high jump, Fiona is battling for the top spot against a Langston jumper, but she doesn’t want to miss the 400-meter hurdles and become distracted. The field judge gives her permission to wait until the race ends for her next jump attempt. At the 200-meter mark, Jessica and Fiona wait for their teammates to run. As the race starts, Vanessa Steele jumps out to the lead, but Jessica’s teammate, Annie, is gaining on her. Jessica begins to scream her support: “YOU CAN CATCH HER!” (171).

Then, to the girls’ disbelief, Vanessa’s foot catches a hurdle, and she falls to the ground. Liberty ends up winning all of the top three positions in the event. Angry, Vanessa jumps to her feet and storms off. Fiona then adds to Langston’s humiliation by winning the high jump event and setting a new personal record. Coach Kyro then comes over to tell them that Langston have complained to the officials that Jessica was purposefully at the 200-meter mark to distract Vanessa when she ran past.

Jessica insists that she was yelling in support of Annie, not in ridicule at Vanessa, and Fiona backs her up. On her crutch, Jessica goes to speak to the officials and finally demands that Vanessa come and talk directly to her. Jessica apologizes if her support of Annie distracted Vanessa, and then she tries to joke about her situation: “I guess I’m probably a distraction to everybody” (173). Vanessa responds by asking why Jessica is even here, and Kyro says she is part of the team. But at that moment, Jessica realizes that she isn’t anymore.

Part 3, Chapter 15 Summary

In math class the next day, Jessica is in a bad mood. Ms. Rucker asks her when she is moving back to her regular seat. Defiantly, Jessica says she wants to remain seated next to Rosa. The teacher stares at her and says that isn’t a good idea, but Rosa speaks up and says she wants Jessica there. Ms. Rucker reluctantly agrees but says the note-passing must stop. Jessica points out that Rosa is helping her because “Rosa’s a math genius, you know” (175). Ms. Rucker says that math lab would be a sufficient place for Jessica to get assistance.

Rosa quickly passes Jessica a note that says, “Thanks” (175), and Jessica feels good, better than she did after the track meet.

Part 3, Chapters 13-15 Analysis

At the track meet, Jessica is still puzzled over the Steele meeting, trying to avoid Gavin and Merryl, and finding Fiona to fill her in on the news. While Fiona wants to spread gossip about Vanessa all over the school, Jessica tells her not to because it wouldn’t be fair to Ms. Steele, who was genuinely kind to her.

The girls go to the side of the track to cheer for their teammates in the 400-meter hurdles. Jessica yells in support of Annie who is trying to catch Vanessa. Then, Vanessa trips over a hurdle and loses the race to the Liberty team. Furious, she complains to the officials about Jessica, saying that Jessica deliberately shouted at and distracted her. Jessica defends herself to the judges and confronts Vanessa, who makes her feel like she is no longer a part of the team after all.

In math class, Jessica defies Ms. Rucker’s request that she sit in her usual seat. She decides that she will sit with Rosa the rest of the year. Ms. Rucker agrees, as long as the girls stop passing notes to each other. As soon as she turns her back, the girls share a note where Rosa thanks Jessica for staying with her.