Kaeo awoke with a slight hang over from last night. Kaeo's head, emanating a low hum behind her ears. She slugged her way to the fridge, grabbing her jar of pickle juice and water. Chugging down half the pickle juice and a few sips of water, she hears the door to Maya's room open.
"Hey fresh-...oh" she stopped mid-sentence as she notices a blond guy sneaking out of Mays's room.
"Oh shit-uhh...carry on" he slid the dark blue button-up on and began to fasten his shirt on his way out of the dorm room. Not long after he left, Maya meekly appeared, hair disheveled, wearing; shorts and a shirt.
"Good Morning, Maya" She brushed her hair back behind an ear. A soft smiled overtook the frown that opened the door.
"Hey Kaeo,did you have fun at the party?"
"Yeah, maybe a little too much fun, but I see I wasn't the only one who had a good time"
Leaning against the counter, Kaeo took another sip of her water.
There was a pregnant pause in the air, the two looking at one another for a moment before Kaeo broke the silence.
"I don't want to pry, but if you wanna talk about it, I'm here." She offered meekly
She looked over Maya as she mulled the thought over in her mind. "Yeah, I'm not sure if I even liked it... Have you had sex with a man before?"
"Oh uh no, I knew I hated men long before I thought women were an option" she moved in quickly asking in a hushed tone
"So...what did it feel like?"
"Like a hot rod was shoved in me, it kinda burned a bit. I-"
She could see the red forming in her eyes and her nose turning red. Now she regretted asking
"Was it a consensual thing, Maya?"
"Huh? Yeah, I wanted it. I didn't realize how much I would hate it during it."
"Well we do have practice today, let's get ready and sweat off lasts night's regrets"
With a nod, Maya reached for Kaeo's water bottle, who happily extended her a drink.
The cool air was a welcome change from the sweltering heat of summer. Maya adjusted her ponytail and looked over at Kaeo, who was stretching her legs with the effortlessness that always left Maya in awe.
"Ready to go?" Kaeo asked, her voice light but with a hint of challenge.
Maya nodded, feeling a flutter of nerves in her stomach. "Yeah, let's do it."
They started with a warm-up lap, falling into an easy rhythm side by side. The steady sound of their footsteps on the track was almost meditative, and for a moment, Maya let herself get lost in the familiarity of it. Running had always been her escape, a way to clear her mind and find some peace.
Today was different, she was more aware of everything—her breathing, the stretch of her muscles, and especially Kaeo's presence beside her. They had been training together for weeks now, and Maya had come to look forward to these moments more than she cared to admit.
As they finished the warm-up lap, Kaeo slowed to a stop, turning to face Maya with a grin. "Alright, let's work on your cadence today. Remember, quick steps, small strides. Focus on landing your feet under your hips." she said in between breaths
Maya nodded, trying to shake off the distraction of Kaeo's smile. "Got it."
Kaeo demonstrated, her movements fluid and precise as she jogged in place. "See? Quick, light steps. It'll help you conserve energy during the longer runs."
Maya mimicked her, but she could tell her form wasn't as clean. Kaeo watched her closely, her expression serious now. "You're doing great, but remember to keep your shoulders loose. Don't tense up !"
Maya took a deep breath, focusing on relaxing her shoulders and letting her arms swing naturally at her sides. She started again, this time paying closer attention to her form. After a few steps, she felt Kaeo's hand gently touch her lower back, guiding her.
"Engage your core and hips more," Kaeo instructed, her voice soft but firm. "That's where your power comes from. Don't be afraid to really use them."
Maya nodded, trying to follow Kaeo's lead. She could feel the difference immediately, the movement becoming smoother, more controlled. The gentle pressure of her hand on her back, made it hard to focus entirely on running.
"Like this?" Maya asked, glancing over at Kaeo.
Kaeo's eyes lit up with approval. "Exactly. Keep that up, and you'll be unstoppable Freshmen."
They ran a few laps together, Kaeo offering tips and encouragement as they went. Maya could feel herself improving, her steps becoming quicker and efficient
After a particularly fast lap, they slowed to a walk, both breathing hard but smiling. "You're getting faster," Kaeo said, giving Maya a playful nudge with her shoulder.
"Thanks to you," Maya replied, her heart racing from more than just the run.
They walked in silence for a moment, the runner's high between them palpable. Kaeo broke the silence first, her tone turning more serious. "Maya, I've noticed something.... You're holding back a little, not just in running, but in everything. What's with that?"
Maya hesitated, surprised by the directness of the question. She looked down at the track, kicking at the asphalt with the toe of her shoe as she thought for a moment... "I guess... I'm just trying to figure everything out. It's a lot all at once, you know?"
Kaeo nodded, her expression softening. "I get that. College, the team, life—it's a lot to handle. You don't have to go through it alone. You've got me, and the team, even if some of them can be jerks." her expression turned to one of pure anger as she huffed before expelling the air out and replacing it with a soft sigh.
Maya smiled at that, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "Thanks, Kaeo. I appreciate it."
Kaeo gave her a reassuring look. "Anytime, Maya. You're stronger than you think, and whatever you're dealing with, you can handle it. if you ever need someone to talk to... I'm here." Kaeo gave her a soft punch on the shoulder.
They finished their cool-down lap in silence,as they reached the end of the track, Kaeo glanced over at Maya, a playful glint in her eye.
"Race you to the dorm?" she challenged, already starting to pick up the pace.
Maya grinned, the tension melting away. "You're on!"
They took off, sprinting toward the dormitory, their laughter echoing across the track. For a moment
YOU ARE READING
Race of Love
Short StoryMaya has recently graduated from high school and is packing up to leave for college far from home. During her first month of college, she goes to a party with other members of the track team and finds herself in a less than stellar situation. While...
