“Senior girls, line up!” I hear someone shout. I numbly approach the starting line barely noticing Kale slapping me on the back. I feel suddenly self-conscience of my lack of clothing. Scuffing my shoe against the track I take position on the inside of the track. I hear some of the girls from the other school complain that I get to run the inner lane. I straighten up and walk to the outside where a girl with short blonde hair sneers at me.
''Take my lane.”
“What?”
I jerk my thumb in the direction of the inner lane.
“Take it, that way when I beat you, you can’t complain about it.” She gritted her teeth, but went over to the lane anyways. I rolled my shoulders and bent down to take my position. I breathed slowly and waited for the gun to pop. Clearing my mind of everything and focussing on one soul thought; run. The gun sounded and I sprang forward. Pumping my arms and concentrating on my breathing I sprinted the 50 meter. I pushed hard the last 10 meters leaving the other girls behind me. Running straight through finish line I begin to let up. I gulped a breath of air and turned around to the face the blonde. She came in 4th she nodded her head in my direction, conceding. I heard some cheering from my team, but I didn’t care. My gaze swung toward Tristan, his gaze burned back at me. He wore a cocky grin that made him seem; impressed. I walked back to my team and singled Kale out.
“Cocky much?” he asked me, but he was smiling.
“I’m the best girl on the team. You know it, I know it, the team knows it and now she knows it.” I shrugged it off and squirted some water in my mouth.
“Senior boys, line up!” Kale made his way to the track, so did Tristan. Kale was the best, won All-State last year. I was curious to say the least, to see how Tristan measured up. They lined up and took position in front of the starting line. I looked back to Courtney; she had her hands clasped in her lap watching Kale anxiously. The gun sounded and the boys pushed off and bolted. 50 meters only takes a few seconds to sprint so even a millisecond can cost you. Kale and Tristan were close, too close. I waited for timers to compare times and waited for Kale. Then I saw something I didn’t expect. Kale slapped Tristan on the back and shook hands with him. You could’ve heard a pin drop as The Field became silent. Kale came back and picked up his water bottle. I approached him and crossed my arms.
“What?” he asked.
“You know what.” He smirked and looked back at Tristan then turned to me.
“We tied.”
“Tied?”
“Yeah, down to the last bloody millisecond!” He laughed. I blinked at him in utter shock. He walked over to the fence where Courtney sat and told her of his success and his loss. The juniors were next then I’d run the 300.
“So, does that mean you’re not the best anymore?” I heard Courtney ask. I couldn’t help it, I laughed.
The rest of practice went on the same way. I won all my races. Kale and Tristan took turns winning. At the end of the day they had the same number of wins and loss’.
“Okay, that’s it for today, pack up and head home. Next practice will be next week, so train this weekend.” Coach instructed us. I put on a sweater as the wind picked up, but didn’t bother with pants. Courtney came out from behind the fence and came over to me and Kale.
“I didn’t think you were that fast El. You were like zooming.”
“Zooming?” Kale teased. She shoved him playfully.
“Not like you would know Kale.” She joked. His cheeks puffed out,
“You wanna test that theory?” Kale started chasing her around the track. I looked around to find everyone had cleared out already. I heard Courtney squeal and saw that Kale tackled her to ground.
“Those two should get a room.” I whipped around to find Tristan. He was still wearing the muscle shirt, but had sweats on now. I glanced back at Kale and Courtney, he was tickling her now.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were on the track team?” He shrugged his shoulders and looked at me.
“You didn’t ask.” I crossed my arms and started tapping my foot. He began laughing,
“You look like a mad rabbit.” I scrunched up nose making him laugh harder. He bent his head so his breath brushed my ear.
"You were amazing today," he whispered.
"You were the amazing one, with your times-"
"That's not what I meant." I looked at him confused, but he only smiled. I wanted to be alone with him, to talk to him about something besides track. I almost did when I heard Courtney's laughter.
"I'll see you later, right?" He asked with hopeful eyes. I hastily nodded my head which made him laugh some more. He bent his head once more and brushed his lips against my ear,
"See you later then little kitten." I watched as he climbed onto his bike with his sports bag tied to his back. Then he was gone, like he wasn't even here to begin with.
"Okay, you two can stop groping now." I instructed Courtney and Kale who were lying on the ground. Courntey flushed and sprang upward like a healthy weed.
"I should get going, see you tomorrow." She practically ran to her car and sped off. Kale came up beside me a little out of breath.
"So, you gotta thing for that guy?" he asked me.
"So, you gotta thing for Courtney?" We exchanged a look. He let out a shaky laugh,
"We should probably get going."
"Yeah, wouldn't want you tickle attacking me too." I said as we walked to his truck.
"Too much?" He asked with an embarressed look.
"You can't play around forever Kale." He sighed deeply and pouted until he dropped me off at my house. Sitting down at one of the chairs in the kitchen I rubbed the back of my neck. Why does he keep calling me kitten? Why can't Kale and Courtney just tell each other how they feel?
"Fuck."
You said it.
Shut up Mao.
YOU ARE READING
Deadly Secrets
Teen FictionEleanor Bast was just your run of the mill teen, until her parents died and left her and Leo, her younger brother orphaned. On her 18th birthday her family's secrets begin to unravel themselves before her very eyes. Told to be a direct descendant of...
