Boot Camp

09: Old Version

My fellow trainees stand around in an uneven circle, some laughing and others looking disgruntled, like they'd rather be in a six-hour math class than here. I open my mouth in a wide yawn, wanting to curl under a tree and take a long nap. It's mid-afternoon on Saturday, and it's the day of the team challenge. Our hard work should be paying off right now, but I feel more tired than ever.

I look up from the small mound of dirt I was staring at to see Axel off in the corner, leaning against the back of the central building and staring straight ahead. He turns his head and sees me looking at him. He stares at me for a few seconds and gives me a nod of assurance before leaving.

Martina comes up to me and taps my shoulder, a wide smile on her face.

"Why are you so smiley?" I ask with a laugh.

"Because we get to compete in groups now, and I won't have to be stuck with all the people I already hate. Plus, you're in my group, which makes it better."

"I'm happy too," I respond. I look up and see Cheryl jogging towards us, clad in bright yellow workout clothes that could probably glow in the dark.

"Hello everyone, and welcome to your first team challenge," she begins. "I know you may not all know each other fully, but through these challenges you'll learn how to work together and compete for yourself." A wave of chatter runs through the girls, and a couple race to the front, as if that will earn them more points.

"Alright, for the first part of the challenge we'll start with a basic one-mile run. By now you should all be comfortable with running, so this shouldn't be mission impossible. We'll follow the same route as last time, only now we've divided the road into four lanes. Stay in the lanes with your teammates or else you will be asked to sit out. Let's go!"

Grumbles and groans sound through the group, but I remain quiet. I have no qualms about running, considering the marathon I ran this week with Axel. I am worried about the rest of this competition.

"On your marks, get set, run!" Cheryl calls, clicking the button on her stopwatch.

We dash from the starting point. I cruise in front of the other three girls in my team, but then I notice someone steadily creeping up to me.

Willow.

She strides ahead of me with her long, lean legs. Gritting my teeth, I press forward, finding the strength to close the gap and bolt past her. She whips her head to the side in shock.

Martina and Aspen are much farther back, panting and struggling to continue.

My lead is cut short when Willow darts in front of me. She turns briefly, with an almost pitying gaze before crossing the finish line. I'm there seconds later, my hands on my knees as I try to catch my breath.

Our eyes lock when I look up. "You're good at this," she says quietly before walking away to get water.

A compliment from her?

By now most of the girls have crossed the finish line, apart from a few stragglers who walked the last quarter.

I imagined before that would be me, only I would have forfeited running all together and took a nonchalant amble down the pathway.

Or back home. Either one.

"Is everyone here?" Cheryl asks and a chorus of yeses ensues. "Great. Now for the other half of the group challenge, you will need a partner."

She walks around and begins pairing us with other girls from our team. I pray Martina and I will be together, but instead she points to Willow and me with a disgustingly enthusiastic smile. I mutter to myself and walk over to her.