———————
"This better not be my shirt, Austin!" I yell, as I throw the new track team shirt he handed me, back at him. On the back of the shirt, in big bold letters, read the word,
'GOPHER'
Austin caught the shirt, as he read the back, a small smirk appeared on his face.
"Nope, that's yours, Gopher." He snorted, tossing the shirt back at me.
I furrow my brows, my face turning red.
"My last name is not gopher!" I yell, as I throw the shirt on the ground, stepping on it.
"Watch it! That shirt costs money." He would say, his stupid little smirk still sitting on his face.
I balled up my fist, as I walked over to him.
"You know what else costs money?" I ask, tilting my head. "Your hospital bill after I beat you shitless!" I yell, as I punch his face with all my might.
He made a small groan, falling onto the grass beneath him. Students around me began to hold me back as I squirmed, trying to get out of their grasps.
"Jared calm down!"
"Jared stop!" Students yelled around me.
Austin looked at me with that stupid little face he makes, before he looked away, holding his face where I had hit him.
"He hit me for no reason!" He whined. "I didn't even do anything! I think he broke my cheekbone!"
He does that, ALL THE TIME.
I manage to push everyone off of me, my mind filled with anger. Austin always played victim. Students around me backed up, unsure of what I was about to do.
I sigh, picking up my team shirt, and walking away from the track team.
I HATE AUSTIN.
———————
L'Austin Space, is what I called him. I couldn't stand him. No matter what, he was always better than me.
During races, he would be the first to pass the finish line. During tests, he would always get the higher score. No matter what, he always ended up a step ahead of me. And he knew it. He rubbed it into my face like cake on somebody's birthday. The more I think of him, the more I hate him.
"Hey Jared."
Sometimes he makes me want to break every bone in his body.
"Jared?"
He doesn't deserve all of the stuff that-
"Jared!" Someone would yell, as I finally snapped out of my thoughts.
I glance over, to see my childhood friend. Cheryl. We've been friends since middle school, and recently started dating about a month ago. I give her a soft smile, taking my headphones off.
"Oh, hey Cheryl." I respond. "Sorry, I was listening to music."
Cheryl would punch me in the arm jokingly. "You're always listening to music. You're gonna go deaf by age 30!" She laughs.
I couldn't help but smile. She was always so pretty, her laugh, her smile. But every time I called her pretty, she would deny, deny, deny. Or punch me, whichever one she feels like doing that day.
"Yeah, you're probably right, huh?" I chuckle softly, as I admire her beautiful face.
She gave me a soft smile. "Hey, did you finally get your shirt fixed? You know.. about the Gopher thingy." Cheryl asks.
I nod. "Ah, yeah I had to talk to coach after I punched Austin last week .. so I think I've got everything fixed."
"Have you talked to Austin since you've punched him?" Cheryl would ask.
"No, but I'll probably seem him today during track." I groaned.
Cheryl laughs softly. "Ha, well good luck with that." She would tease. "I'm gonna head to class alright? I'll see you later, Jared." She says, giving me a small kiss on my cheek. And with that, she walked off, lightly caressing my shoulder as she walked away.
I turn to look at her as she walked off. I watch her walk away, before I felt a hand smack the back of my head.
"Hey, Gopher." I hear a voice behind me.
I immediately recognize the voice, as I quickly glance over in the direction the slap came from.
Austin.
"Woah, don't punch me again." He added on, sarcastically, putting his hands up slightly.
I roll my eyes. "What do you want, L'Austin?"
"Hey man, I just wanted to apologize for putting 'Gopher' on your shirt." He would shrug. "It was a horrible thing to do, and I'll make sure it won't happen again." He smirked, as his sentence was filled with sarcasm.
"Let me guess. Coach is making you apologize to me?" I raise a brow, as I cross my arms.
Austin would shrug. "Maybe." He would nudge my shoulder. "Or, maybe im just being nice for once."
I roll my eyes. "I must be dreaming then." I say, my voice dripping in sarcasm.
Austin chuckled softly. "I'll see you at track later on then?" He raised a brow. "Don't punch me again." Austin pokes me playfully.
Him saying that, made me want to punch him more.
"Yeah. You'll see me." I say, bluntly, as he pats me on my shoulder.
"That's the spirit, gopher." He added. "See you later then. Bye gopher." He would wink at me, as he walked off.
"Gopher." I would mumble under my breath, as I watch him walk away.
I flinch, hearing the bell ring.
I'm late for class.
"Damn it." I mumble, as I run through the halls, making my way to my class.
As I enter, the teacher raises a brow.
"You're late, Jared." She says. "I'll let it slide just this once. Have a seat."
I nod slightly. "Thank you." I say, as I make my way to sit in the back of the class. I sigh softly.
I really don't want to go to track today.
