Breaking the Grid

After training

Leah finished her training, feeling the familiar burn in her muscles. She stretched her arms over her head, rolling her shoulders as she walked beside Lotte and Katie toward the locker rooms. They were laughing about something ridiculous that happened during the session when Leah's attention was pulled by Kyra, who was hurrying out of the room, barely saying a word.

The three of them stopped in their tracks, all exchanging a look of confusion.

"Where's she running off to?" Lotte asked.

Katie shrugged, her eyes narrowing in curiosity as the door swung shut behind Kyra. Leah just chuckled. "I swear she's always up to something."

After a good shower and some fresh clothes, Katie's phone buzzed with a message. She glanced at the screen and smirked. "Caitlin says everyone's hanging in the chill room. Let's go."

Leah nodded, already thinking about how nice it would be to unwind for a bit. They made their way over, stepping into the room to find a group of teammates lounging around, some chatting, others playfully teasing each other. Beth, as usual, was up to her goofy antics, doing some ridiculous impression that had a few people giggling.

Leah settled onto the couch next to Lotte, enjoying the relaxed vibe, when Katie's gaze landed on Kyra. She was sitting off by herself, looking completely absorbed by whatever was on her phone.

Katie nudged Leah with a mischievous grin. "What's she doing, you think?"

Leah was about to respond when Steph, overhearing the conversation, chimed in. "She just showed up and told us all to shut up. Too calm today, if you ask me."

Katie's eyes sparkled with mischief, and Leah knew that look all too well. "Oh no," Leah muttered, watching as Katie got up and sauntered over to Kyra. She could sense trouble brewing.

Without warning, Katie snatched the phone right out of Kyra's hands.

"Hey, Katie! No, give that back!" Kyra jumped up from the couch, eyes wide with panic as she rushed toward her. But Katie, ever the tease, held the phone out of reach, inspecting the screen with a smirk. She noticed a sports channel and then, the unmistakable flash of an F1 car zooming across the screen.

Katie's grin widened. "You're so obsessed, you're watching her race?"

Alessia, overhearing from across the room, perked up. "Obsessed with who?"

Kyra, flustered and trying to grab her phone back, stammered, "No one, she's just li—"

"Blair Becks," Katie finished with a triumphant tone, her grin growing wider.

A few of the others in the room smiled knowingly, some even suppressing laughs. Kyra's crush on Blair was hardly a secret.

Before Kyra could protest further, Caitlin appeared from behind, giving Katie a light punch on the arm. "Leave the kid alone." With that, she snatched the phone out of Katie's hand and tossed it back to Kyra.

Leah, realizing what was going on, shot up from her seat. "Wait—Blair's already racing?" she asked, a pang of guilt hitting her for forgetting her friend was in a race today.

Kim, lounging on a bean bag nearby, raised her voice to address the whole room. "You know, Kyra, you could've just put the race on the TV. No need to squint at your phone."

With an exaggerated sigh, Kim got up, shaking her head like a mom dealing with a group of mischievous kids. She grabbed the remote and flipped the TV to the right channel, instantly filling the room with the sound of roaring engines and excited commentators.