bestfriends {nh au}

pt. 12

I stand behind the blocks at the starting line, taking deep breaths. 100 meters. 10 hurdles. I can do this. I can do this. I need to do this. If I blow this race, state is out the window.

I glance at Niall in the stands. Amongst the sea of faces, his is still so easy to spot. He just stands out from everyone, with his blond hair and dazzling smile. And don't even get me started on those damn blue eyes....

We lock eyes and he blows be a kiss. I smile at him before the man blows his whistle.

"Runners, take your marks!"

I do my two box jumps, slapping my thighs, before stepping into the blocks.

"Get set!"

I extend my legs.

"Go!"

And I'm off.

I go over each hurdle with ease, pleased at how I can tell how little space is between me and the hurdle. I lean forward, adding momentum. My lead leg is perfectly straight. I refrain from looking around me. That's what messes you up, gets in your head. You have to focus on your lane. Your hurdles.

The sounds of the crowd cheering are muffled until I cross the finish line. I glance around and see I came in first. I put my hands on my knees, breathing heavily. Now all that's left is 300's.

I tell all the other hurdles good job before walking to where I set my bag. I untie my spikes, putting on my regular tennis shoes. I throw a t-shirt on over my track uniform, adding a pair of regular track shorts of the short spandex we race in.

I'm over the moon as Niall meets me at the bottom of the bleachers. He crush me in a hug and I can't keep the smile off my face.

"Holy shit!" He says, "Babe, you have to watch the video I took, you were fucking flying out there." He pulls out his phone and goes to his photo album, clicking on a video. I'm impressed myself at how well the race went.

"Dang, I did pretty well." I comment.

"Pretty well?" Niall questions. "May, that's the best I've ever seen you race! Keep that up and you're going to fucking nationals or whatever the hell it is. Damn, my girlfriend is the best hurdler ever. Honestly, I absolutely love watching you race. I makes me so proud. You make me so proud. I love you so much."

My smile grows, which up until that point I didn't think that was possible. "I love you too, Niall." He kisses me and I could not be happier right now.

Despite my parents' problems, despite the fact I have a D in my history class, despite not having played the drums in weeks, despite breaking my ankle. Despite everything, I'm so entirely, incurably, intensely, foolishly happy.

I mean, when I really think about it: yeah, I broke my ankle, but it really only made me stronger. It made me work harder and really earn this win.

And really, why shouldn't I be happy? My parents still love me, even if they don't necessarily love each other. I have the best boyfriend anyone could ever have, whom I am ridiculously in love with. I just won 100-meter hurdles at districts. My friends still support and love me, even if we aren't as close anymore.

Life is good.

It really is.

No matter what happens to you, overall, it's a good life.

Yes, things happen, bad things.

But, you just have to take a moment and think about all the good things. And they'll outweigh all the bad.

I eat a protein bar and talk to Niall as I wait for the 300's to start. The most important thing to remember is not to get cocky. Once you think "Oh, I have this in the bag" you're screwed.

When they do first call for the race Niall and I stand up. He gives me a hug and a peck on the lips. "I love you." I say.

"I love you too. Now go kill it, baby. I'll be here cheering the entire time." He replies.

This race goes very similar to the first. It was a little closer race, the girl in second place crossing the finish line literally 0.07 seconds after me.

Niall congratulates me again and I get the approval to leave with him. The drive back home consists of listening to all kinds of different music, us deciding that we'd put my Spotify on shuffle and not skip any songs the whole way back. A three and a half hour drive.

Therefore, we listen to everything from Childish Gambino to the High School Musical soundtrack. Literally. At one point, the song went from IV. Sweatpants to Getcha Head in the Game.

I'm just so glad Niall could be there to support me.