The Running Dream

Chloe enthusiastically greets Jessica and her friends at Hank’s office and asks if they want to go in the patient room with Jessica. They say they want to, but things become awkward when Jessica removes her pipe prosthetic and socks and feel exposed to her friends’ gazes. Suddenly, Jessica “is mortified” (259) and wants to leave as fast as possible. Gavin asks Hank if he can paint art onto prosthetics, and he replies that he can do fabric, which is then embedded into the socket. Jessica doesn’t want that for her regular leg, but the thought of getting flames on her running leg excites her.

Fiona drops Jessica off first, before taking Gavin to his house. Jessica is left with conflicted feelings about him: he has a girlfriend, so why did he want to come to her doctor’s appointment? 

When Jessica ponders this question more, she thinks she hits on the answer: Gavin must be interested in Fiona. She believes she has all the proof: Gavin helping Fiona with the “Welcome Back Jessica” sign, his showing up at track meets to cheer for her, and seemingly always being at Fiona’s side.