falling for 13 || Johnny Kavanagh

Sprinter

J O H N N Y

Tuesday's rugby training was in full swing, and the pitch was alive with the sounds of shouts and the thud of boots against the ground. We were deep into our session, tackling, running drills, and giving it everything we had. Coach Mulcahy was relentless, as usual, pushing us to our limits. I was in the middle of a grueling set of scrums when I glanced over at the track.

There, warming up for a 100m sprint, was Grace Lynch. Her golden-brown hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail, and she was stretching with focused precision. I couldn't help but watch as she got into her stride. She was clearly serious about her training, and there was something impressive about the way she moved.

"Oi, Kav, you planning to join the athletics team or what?" Hughie's voice cut through my thoughts. I turned to see him smirking, clearly catching me staring.

"Shut it, Hughie," I said with a chuckle, trying to ignore the heat rising in my cheeks. "Just appreciating a bit of speed, that's all."

Feely, who was nearby, jumped in. "Appreciating speed or appreciating how her arse looks in those shorts?"

"Fuck off, lads," I said, rolling my eyes. "I'm just saying she's fast. It's not every day you see someone who can make a sprint look that.... smooth."

The whistle blew, signaling a short break. I grabbed a quick drink, my attention still drawn to Grace. She was about to start her sprint, and the way she prepared, crouched and focused, was something to behold.

Feely nudged me. "And are you going to make a move or just keep ogling from the sidelines?"

"Feely, give it a rest," I said, shaking my head. "I'm not trying to make a move."

The lads laughed as I walked over to the track where Grace was now stretching, catching her breath after her sprint. She looked up as I approached, a mix of surprise and curiosity on her face.

"Hi" she smiled awkwardly.

"Hi" I replied, girls were no obstacle in my world, they usually fell at my feet, but not her.

I scratched my head awkwardly, unsure of what to say next, sticking out my hand, I said, "I'm Johnny."

Grace nodded, shaking my hand firmly, "I know."

"Oh, right, yeah" I said, taken aback. "So you've heard about me, then?"

"Only a bit" she said with a shrug, smiling slightly, "Everyone in Ballylagin worships the ground you walk on."

"Yeah, I suppose," I said, trying to brush it off.

"Must be nice" she added, "It's different for girls."

"Yeah" I replied.

"Yeah."

Hughie, who had joined us, couldn't resist. "Johnny, are you recruiting Grace for the rugby team or just trying to impress her with your charming personality?"

"Shut it, Hughie," I said, laughing. "I'm just trying to be friendly."

Grace laughed, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear, "I appreciate it, Johnny. But I think I'll stick to my sprints for now. Rugby looks a bit too intense for me."

"You might be right," I agreed. "But if you ever change your mind, we'd be glad to have you."

"I'll keep that in mind," Grace said, smiling.

As Grace finished her stretches and started to head off, I felt a sense of satisfaction. The lads were still ribbing me as I walked back to the rugby pitch, but it was all in good fun. I was glad I'd taken the chance to talk to Grace. She seemed like a decent person, and I was looking forward to seeing where things might go.

Training resumed, and the lads were relentless with their teasing. "Johnny's got a soft spot for the sprinters now!" Feely shouted across the pitch, making everyone laugh.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," I said, rolling my eyes, but unable to stop myself from smiling.

The rest of the session went by quickly, filled with more drills and good-natured ribbing. As I left the pitch, I kept thinking about the conversation with Grace. Tommen College was full of surprises, and I was eager to see what other interesting encounters lay ahead.