The Competition

Yelena

I enter the room and hear people chatting. The three of them are already sitting at their usual place, laughing together. I can't sit anywhere else because every seat is taken. I march over to them with heavy steps and take my seat next to Natalia. It's our usual seating arrangement: Natalia and I in the front, with Carson and Viktor sitting right behind us. As I sit down, the laughter stops abruptly. The silence is heavy and I can feel their eyes on me. My stomach clenches with anxiety. Natalia clears her throat, seemingly untroubled by my presence beside her, as usual.

"Hey, Yelena," she says, her voice tense but polite. I nod in greeting, not trusting myself to speak.

The geography teacher, Mr. Henderson, begins the lesson, rambling on about tectonic plates and volcanic activity. I try to concentrate on his words, but it's impossible with the palpable tension around me. My mind keeps wandering back to the past few weeks, the distance that has grown between us, and the secrets that are now too heavy to bear. I glance at Viktor from the corner of my eye.He's leaning back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the map projected on the board, but I know he's aware of every move I make. Carson is also unusually quiet, his usual joviality replaced by a deliberative silence. Natalia fidgets with her pen, her eyes darting between me and the teacher. I can feel her unease, and it only increases my own. I scribble notes mechanically, my mind elsewhere. From time to time, Viktor and Carson whisper to each other, but I can't make out their words. The isolation I feel is suffocating, but there's no escape. The hour drags on, every minute feels like an hour. All I can do is wait for the bell to ring, signaling the end of this agonizing class. When the bell rings, signaling the end of Geography, I quickly gather my things, eager to escape the tense classroom. I head out into the hallway, trying to get some distance between myself and the others, but before I get far, I hear Viktor calling my name.

"Yelena, wait," he says, catching up to me with Carson in tow.

I turn to face them, my heart pounding. Viktor offers a tentative smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes. "We have English next, right? Do you want to walk together?"

Surprised by his offer, I hesitate for a moment before nodding. "Sure," I say quietly, falling in step beside them.

The hallway is crowded with students rushing to their next classes, but for a moment it feels like it's just the three of us. Carson chats animatedly about some funny incident from earlier, trying to lighten the mood. His efforts are commendable, but the underlying tension remains..

Viktor walks close beside me, his presence both comforting and unnerving. I can't shake the memory of what he said in the cafeteria, and the hurt still lingers. Still, being near him feels right in a way I can't explain.

As we approach the English classroom, Viktor looks at me, his expression serious. "How have you been doing?" he asks quietly, his concern obvious.

I shrug and offer a small smile. "I'm fine," I answer, though we both know it's a lie. The weight of everything that's happened is too much to just manage.

Carson, sensing the gravity of our conversation, claps a hand on Viktor's shoulder. "Hey, let's grab a seat before they're all taken," he suggests, steering us toward the classroom door.

We find seats together in the back of the room. The usual student chatter fills the air, but for the first time in weeks, I feel a small sense of normalcy returning. As the teacher begins the lesson, I focus on the words, grateful for the distraction.

Sitting in front of Viktor and Carson, I realize that despite everything, they're still my friends. It's a small comfort, but in this moment, it's enough to get me through the day.