falling for 13 || Johnny Kavanagh

Fastest In The Year

G R A C E

First year at Tommen College had a kind of chaotic magic to it. The halls always buzzed with a mix of nerves and excitement, and everywhere you looked, people were either trying to figure out where they fit or pretending like they already knew. The uniforms were stiff, everyone's bags way too big for their backs, and the first few weeks had been a blur of classes, introductions, and getting hopelessly lost.

I stood by my locker, fumbling with the combination lock that I still hadn't mastered, when Clara, Aoibh, and Orlaith strolled over, all looking equally lost and amused.

"Are you still fighting with that thing?" Clara teased, flipping her long red hair over her shoulder.

"It's possessed," I muttered, giving it another twist. "Swear to God, this school has it out for me."

Aoibh laughed. "Tommen's not out to get you, Grace. It's just testing your patience."

I shot her a look but smiled, finally managing to open the cursed locker. "There, got it."

The sound of loud laughter echoed through the corridor, and we all glanced over as a group of boys strolled by, rugby balls tucked under their arms, and that familiar swagger of first-years who already thought they owned the place. Johnny Kavanagh, of course, was right in the middle of them, his dark hair falling messily over his forehead as he pushed Gibsie playfully. Gibsie, as usual, was shouting something outrageous, and Feely and Hughie were cackling like it was the funniest thing they'd ever heard.

"Look at them," Orlaith whispered, raising an eyebrow. "We've been here three weeks and they're already acting like they're God's gift to Tommen."

I shrugged, trying not to let my eyes linger on Johnny too long. "It's rugby. It does things to lads."

"They're ridiculous," Aoibh chimed in, shaking her head but with a small smile. "Not like they're going pro tomorrow."

We all laughed, but my gaze flickered back to Johnny, who was now tossing the ball to Feely. He had that easy confidence about him, the kind that made it look like nothing in the world could touch him. He wasn't even paying attention to who was around, just messing about with his friends, oblivious to the way people—especially girls—looked at him.

"So, Grace," Orlaith nudged me, bringing me back to reality. "You ready for athletics later?"

I nodded, feeling a flutter of nerves. "Yeah, but it's just tryouts. I don't even know if I'll get on the team."

"Are you mad? Of course you will," Clara said, rolling her eyes. "You're the fastest runner in the year."

"I wouldn't go that far," I said, trying to play it down, though a small smile tugged at my lips. "Besides, there's tons of people trying out."

"Yeah, but you're Grace Lynch," Aoibh said, giving me a playful nudge. "You're unstoppable."

I laughed, appreciating the confidence boost, but deep down, I wasn't so sure. Tommen was different from Ballylaggin, where everyone knew each other's business. Here, I was just another face in the crowd, and while I loved the anonymity of it, there was also a pressure that came with being in a school full of people who were the best at everything they did.

As we headed to the next class, passing the rugby lads again, I tried not to feel intimidated by the sheer size of the school. Everything felt bigger here—bigger teams, bigger reputations, and bigger expectations. And with Johnny Kavanagh already making his mark on the rugby scene, the boys were becoming something of a fixture around the school.

***

The field was buzzing with energy when I arrived for tryouts. The athletic team was a big deal at Tommen, not as big as rugby, but everyone was taking it seriously. Clara and Aoibh were on the bleachers, waving at me like my own personal cheer squad, while Orlaith had somehow convinced herself to give the long jump a try.