falling for 13 || Johnny Kavanagh

That's What You're Calling Me Now?

J O H N N Y

The sound of a whistle blowing interrupted my thoughts, very bad thoughts about Grace Lynch during Wednesday after school training. "Alright lads!" Ms Sheehan shouted across the pitch, she was the athletics coach, so god knows what she was doing on the rugby pitch. "Mr Mulcahy had.. personal matters to deal with this afternoon, so I'm training ye."

"The fuck does she know about rugby?" Feely muttered, nudging Gibs and I for an answer. Gibs and I just shrugged, lost for an answer.

"He wants ye to take a break from all the tackling, instead you'll be working on pace, and speed, with my athletics team" She gestured towards the group of athletes stretching on the tracks, which is exactly when I noticed Gracie Lynch.

The sight of her in tight, short, athletics shorts made it nearly impossible to focus on anything else. Her light brown hair was tied into a ponytail, which swished as she reached for her toes, and even though we'd kissed, I couldn't stop looking at her like a lovesick idiot— we weren't even official or anything.

Feely nudged me again, laughing, "You're drooling, Cap."

"Shut it" I muttered, but my eyes were still on her. Grace straightened up, locking eyes with me from across the pitch, and for a second, I could've swore she had a smirk plastered on her face, like she knew exactly what she was doing to me.

"We'll be doing relay drills, split into groups of four, and each group will have an athletics captain," Ms Sheehan called out, pulling me back to reality. "Kavanagh, since you're captain... I want your four lads with my captain" she called out, pointing to Grace.

As soon as Grace approached us, the lads started their usual shite. "Ah, there she is" Gibsie grinned, "The reason my handsome best friend is whipped."

Feely and Hughie started whistling, and I flipped them off with a laugh, not even bothering to deny it.

Grace just rolled her eyes. "Right" she said, hands on her hips, "You lot ready to get smoked?"

"Smoked? By you?" Gibsie asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You might be fast, Lynchy, but you're looking at Tommen's fastest rugby player" he said, pointing a thumb in my direction.

She glanced at me, raising an eyebrow, "Fastest rugby player? Thats cute."

I grinned, "You know I'm right behind you, Gracie."

"Yeah, right behind me" she teased, "Always trying to catch up, Kav."

Before I could respond, Ms Sheehan blew the whistle again, signaling the start of the drill. We lined up at the start of the track, the other groups already starting off. Grace stood beside me, the competitive glint in her eyes making my pulse quicken. "Don't embarrass yourself, Johnny" she whispered, grinning. "Wouldn't want your lads see you lose to a girl."

"Not just any girl, Gracie" I said, ready to throw her off as we got into position. "My girlfriend."

Grace got a late start, but still took off like a bullet. I was barely ahead, when she immediately matched my pace. Feely was huffing with in seconds, and I could hear Gibsie cursing under his breath. Hughie wasn't far behind me, but I was laser focused on Grace, pushing myself to keep pace. Right when I thought I had it in the bag, she got ahead, and crossed the finish line before me.