A Racer's Heart

19: Because of You

Mattie's POV:

After an uneventful Sunday, I went home and back to school Monday.
I couldn't find Sasha in the morning so I excitedly anticipated chorus, but she wasn't there.
However, Dalia and Star were.
"Fuckin' bitch," Star muttered when I sat down. Dalia smiled at me and flicked Star off as I sat between them, helpless and worried for Sasha.
We were supposed to go shopping after track but now that she wasn't there, I didn't have a way home because my mom was going to be out and the bus would be long gone once track ended.
"Hey, slut!"
Star shoved past me and glared as the bell ring.
I sadly headed to track, scared of Star.
-.-.-

I got changed and went outside with no trouble but as we began jogging around the track, Star purposefully rammed into my side and nearly knocked me over.

"Whoops, sorry. Cow tipper. Tip 'em when I see 'em."

I glared and ran back into her.

"Takes one to know one."

I somehow ran ahead of her and when I finally finished, I gasped for air and fell to my knees. The girls high-fived each other and one of them helped me up and handed me a water bottle. Star was crying crocodile tears and whining to the coach, pointing this way.

"Oswald!"

The coach was glaring at me.
I slowly walked over there. Star was smirking at me but frowning every time she looked toward coach.

"Yea, coach?"

"Oswald, did you kick Star's leg?"

I shook my head and looked at Star as she faked a convincing limp and sniffled.

"Yes you did! Don't lie. You kicked me because I'm faster than you!"

"No, I didn't! You aren't faster than me so why would I kick you?"

She glared.

"You're just mad that Sasha had sex with me!"

The coach blew her whistle.

"Girls, that's enough! Work out whatever the hell you got goin' on and get back to your running."

Star harrumphed and ran back to the girls, to gossip about me probably, and I went straight to the track again. While they waited for the next assigned practice, I ran.

They're all gonna hate you.

I increased my speed.

Sasha had sex with Star.

My legs burned.

She's ruining your life again and now Sasha's because of you.

My eyes stung as tears rolled down.

Where's Sasha? Is she okay?

I stopped running so abruptly that I tripped on myself and almost face-planted onto the ground.

Sasha!

I ran back to the girls and tried to catch my breath before asking if any of them knew what had happened. They all shook their heads and said that she was probably just sick.

What if it's him?

I froze.
She never told me what happened with him but leaving it up to my mind was worse than not knowing.

She was raped.
Tortured.
Hurt.
All because you couldn't help her.

I shook my head to dismiss the thoughts and held back the tears that threatened to fall.

Once practice ended, I went back to the locker room to change. I had trouble with my lock again so I took longer than usual and ended up being alone in the locker room with Star.