The Devil loves sports day (And gym shorts)

Part one- The practice

Arthur stared at the track. There was no way he was gonna make that. Not without collapsing or having an asthma attack. Absolutely no way. The track ran the whole length around his school's playing field, however long that was, and sports day was coming up. Everyone was expected to take part and without consent, he'd been signed up for the long distance race.

He sighed and looked down at his chubby legs. They seemed to shake as he stepped gingerly towards the starting line, but that happened anyway- he wasn't exactly skinny. Today was the practice, where he could at least try and run the race. It's not like they were timing it or anything. The only thing putting him off where the other kids who were training. Big tall muscly guys and slim energetic girls who would all easily out run him. He could feel their eyes burning into him as he joined the line, putting his water bottle down next to theirs. A girl sniggered. Her name was Ella, and for the last 3 years, she'd won the girls long distance AND sprint miles ahead of any of the other contestants. Thank god he didn't have to race her on the actual day, only train with her now. The actual people he would be racing were 7 of the fittest and in shape boys the year had to offer. Why had his teacher signed him up for this?

"You didn't do any events last year, Arthur," She had said "It will be good for you,"

There was a reason he didn't participate last year. He would've lost.

And he was going to lose this year too. It was obvious.

The P.E teacher runs over to the group and tells them to go at their own pace, but to also stretch themselves. Arthur clutched his inhaler tightly in his right hand, so much so that he could feel in digging into his palm. He didn't let go, though. It was somewhat of a comforting method. The teacher held up a flag, telling the kids to get ready. All of them except Arthur got down into the sprint start position. He felt his face go red as the teacher raised his eyebrows.

"GO!" The flag swished through the air as everybody took off, leaving a slightly dazed and confused Arthur Williams at the starting line.

"Come on Arth!" The teacher called, unenthusiastically encouraging him. He reluctantly agreed and started slowly jogging, not taking it seriously. It was so obvious he was gonna lose. He was gonna lose now and he was gonna lose on the day. What was the point in trying?

The teacher ran alongside him "You can go faster than this!" Shut up you grated seagull cake, he thought to himself, ignoring the man. Shut up you blunt force trauma rotten mushroom impact to the head cactus munching facial reconstructing spazoid head holocaust denier. Making up strange insults like this calmed him down. Only slightly. He felt as if he were on fire and he could hear his heart thumping loudly under his sweaty blue gym shirt. Nearly half way round the track.. this was his personal best.

Just as Arthur started to think that maybe he would make it, his vision began failing and he was breathing rapidly. Not again...