𝑾𝒆❜𝒗𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑭𝒂𝒓 - 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒔 𝑽𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒔

𝑬𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒖𝒆

The boys grinned as they ran off the bus, the rest of McFarland greeting them all with cheers, hugs, and promised revels. While the team would be happy to attend party after party, they were currently exhausted. The eight of them walked around the high school and sat around on the bleachers. Some took off their jackets, soaking in the sun.

Camila was about to sit down as she was picked up and thrown over the shoulder of one of her teammates. Thomas grinned, his arm keeping her snug against him. She squealed as she spun in the air, and the boys laughed.

"That was one hell of a victory celebration, Carter." Victor pointed out, eluding to Thomas and Camila's shared kiss at the meet.

"I didn't get a congratulations like that." Damacio stated, making the boys laugh.

"You want one?" Jose asked, leaning over and pursing his lips. Camila chuckled as Thomas put her down on the track.

"Maybe you didn't get one because you were too slow." Thomas speculated, smiling as he placed his chin on top of Camila's head. The boys jeered, elbowing Damacio with teasing remarks.

"Maybe you didn't get one because you weren't Thomas." Camila stated, turning and pressing a kiss to Thomas' jaw as he wrapped his arms around her waist. If the team knew now, they had no reason to hide. No reason to be apart. Johnny and Danny 'aww'ed at the statement and display, while Damacio rolled his eyes. He'd never admit it, but he might be a little jealous.

𝑺𝒊𝒙 𝒀𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝑳𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓

Camila shook hands with her latest client as he smiled, waved, and limped out of the room. It was a kid from the middle school, having torn his ACL during track practice. In fact, it was a kid being coached by Thomas, who worked at the middle school and allowed this kid to tear his ligaments. She now worked as a physiotherapist as well as owned the only gym in McFarland. She always had a lot of customers, which was good.

After six years, the 1987 State Champion Cross Country team had disbanded, and it made Camila sad to think she hadn't talked to any of them in a while. Back then, after their championship meet, Thomas had asked her to be his girlfriend. She'd said yes, of course, not realizing what the future held.

Camila, along with Victor, had received a scholarship to attend Cal Poly University. Thomas and Damacio had both gone to the College of Sequoias in Visalia. Not only were they both far from McFarland, but Thomas and Camila were 135 miles away from one another. They just... couldn't make it work. Danny and David both went to Fresno State, Johnny to Cal State Bakersfield, and Jose was actually a writer for the LA times.

It had been too long, she decided. They still called on birthdays, said hello a few times a year, but it was not the same. Apart from Jose, they lived in the same damn town. Why did the team have to stay apart?

"Jose?" Camila asked as she held her phone to her ear.

"Yeah? Camila?" He asked on the other line.

"Hey! I, uh, hope you're doing well. Listen, I wanted to get the team together for like a reunion, and I was wondering if you'd wanna make the trip up to see everybody." She asked. He was quiet for a moment before he burst.

"Yes, of course! I'll start packing tonight! Wait, when is it? I could come down for a whole week! I'll need to call my mother about-"

"Come whenever you want. We'll have it then." She replied.

"Is the week after next good?" He asked.

"Yep! I'll see you soon!"

"Bye!" He hung up, and Camila smiled. She quickly got to calling all her former teammates, all excited for their reunion and Jose's trip to visit. She was eager to see and chat with everyone, but she'd saved Thomas for last for a good reason. She stared at her phone in front of her for a while before deciding she'd do it in person. It just... felt better.