His Melanin Addiction

16

Trinity Carter

"All right, last lap Carter. Finish strong!" I heard coach yell. I quickly nodded as I sprinted faster than my current pace. I hated the way our new practice track gave us a perfect view of the practice football field. I saw all them in their off season putting in extra work. Of course Josiah was out there. With his shirt off. Which was idiotic to me cause it was getting a little chilly.

"TIME!" I heard coach yell as soon as my lap way over. He looked at me and shook his head.

"Carter, in order for me to put you through I need you to beat your time. Whatever is on your mind you need to take care of it... or I'll have no choice but to swap you out for someone else." he said not even giving me a chance to speak let alone catch my breath. I stood up with my hands on my head trying to catch as much air as I can. This wasn't what I was used to. I could run multiple laps on my own pace. Running full out was tiring.

"Aye, Carter. Don't worry you'll make the cut." One of my teammates, Dawn said.

"Dawn, can I tell you something?" I asked. She took her gym bag down and nodded.

"Sure."

"I'm not really here to run. I couldn't care less about this track meet." I said, her eyes bugged open.

"You don't mean that. You're probably just frustrated." she said.

"I do mean it. All of this, I don't care about. I mean I love to run but not competitively. I run to clear my mind. And get my frustration out." I said. She nodded.

"Let me guess, you're not frustrated anymore?" she asked. I looked at her and shook my head no.

"Okay, then what's the issue? If you're more frustrated about this then maybe you should take it all out on the track." she said as she picked her bag back up, touched my shoulder then walked away. I looked down at my feet then towards the track, I glance over to practice field to see Josiah catching with his back facing the track.

I looked around to see if anyone stayed behind and saw that no one did. I walked over to my gym bag that hung on the fence. I took my phone out along with it's armband case. I placed it on my arm and walked out onto the track and looked over towards the football team's practice field I grew angry and sad, I listened to Dawn and was going to put my frustration into this lap. I stood on my start and set myself up and as soon as I took off I timed myself timed myself.

My mind kept telling me how much of a mistake it was of me to practically break up with him before we even gave it another try but. I didn't want to be dumb twice. He's the one that cheated on me and that was still caught up on his ex. Now he's pretty much doing that to this Imani girl with me. And that's unfair for her.

As soon as I stopped my lap, I heard a slow clap. I looked over and it was coach with a large goofy smile on his face.

"You beat your time. I knew Dawn could speak some sense into you." he said before tapping my shoulder and walking away. I was gasping for air before I grabbed my water bottle and bag. I pulled on my sweat pants and began to make my way to my dorm. I was glad the practice areas had different exits now. It was convenient for our situation. I walked all the way to my dorm and went straight to the bathroom. Alina has been doing a slight hustle on the side and that between her athletic medicine career and my track practice we haven't seen each other. I got in the shower and thought. I thought hard. Was I too hard on him. Did I follow my heart.

"HEY TRINITY, I KNOW YOU'RE ALL SWEATY AND SHIT BUT CAN YOU HURRY UP!" Alina yelled interrupting my thoughts. I quickly washed my face with her organic black soap. I reached for my towel and wrapped it around my body. I rinsed water through my hair and grabbed a smaller towel and wrapped my head. I was about to walk  out when I heard his voice. I snatched Alina's pink robe and wrapped it around myself after hanging up my towel.