Fatal Redemption | J.J.K.

XVI

PAIGE;
I ran back into the field, arriving before everyone else. Xavier made me leave him behind, he didn't want to be a burden.

I didn't mind being with him but he made me, so I ran my normal pace which was ten times faster than the speed he was going.

I saw coach waiting beside what seemed to be the finish line. I ran through and stopped to catch my breath.

"Good job Paige, you got a few minutes off your time from last year" he smiled and patted my back with his clipboard.

I smiled and straightened up, "Thanks Coach"

He nodded as I walked up to my duffel bag and pulled out my water bottle.

I opened it and took a couple gulps to satisfy my thirst. I looked towards the field and saw the tryouts for football going on.

I saw Jungkook in a team huddle, he looked like a normal football player. I watched as they broke apart after a break and got into formation.

They were playing defense on the ball, I looked on offense and saw Gavin as the quarterback.

"Hut!" I heard Gavin yell, the ball was hiked to him as he ran it in.

I kept my eyes on Jungkook, he ran through the offensive line and tackled Gavin.

I widened my eyes in amazement and smiled, he was really fast and strong.

"That's more like it Jeon!" I heard the head varsity coach, Yoast yell.

No one dared to touch Gavin in practice because he was a baby. Almost similar to LeBron James.

They would both complain and make the biggest deal out of the littlest things. They really were the biggest babies on earth.

I smiled once Jungkook stood up from the tackle. He helped Gavin up and walked away as the defense team cheered him on.

I loved when guys showed good sportsmanship.

I watched them practice a few more times as Jungkook kept intercepting the ball or tackling the offense men. He had to make the team for sure.

There were a couple of times I would think he saw me or heard me cheering for him but I shrugged it off, impossible.

I finally saw more runners coming in, I walked up to the makeshift finish line and stood next to it with a couple of finishers.

I stood there and saw that Xavier was last, he looked like he was dying. I chuckled to myself as I saw him staggering.

He ran like a zombie, he was lopsided and gasping for air.

Meanwhile Coach was beside me as he criticized the runners that ran through.

"Horrible"

"Terrifying"

"Terrible"

"My grandmother could run faster than you"

"Is that everyone?" Coach Elmore finished on the 'last' runner as he looked towards us.

Xavier finally passed the line as I walked over to him. I smiled at his state, he was on the brink of death.

He was bent over and gasping for breath as if he were dying. He fell on his side landing on the field

"Yeah that's everyone" Elmore said as he rolled his eyes.

I rushed over to Xavier and tried to lift him up but he was as heavy as a boulder. I still managed to have him stand as I held him up.

"This is your fault" Xavier said in between pants as I rolled my eyes with a smile.

"You're the one who promised" I retorted as he chuckled breathlessly.

I smiled at his reaction.

"I'm gonna puke take me somewhere" he said after a bit of silence.

I turned around with him leaning on my shoulders, "Ok let's go"

I took him to a bush as he let everything we had from lunch out. I chuckled, he was such a baby. But I loved him with all my heart.

He finished as we made our way back to where everyone was.

"Ok everyone this was just the first day, tomorrow we're kicking it up a notch. So get some rest and come prepared for tomorrow" Elmore said as we put our hands in the middle.

"Lead it off Paige" he said as I widened my eyes at him.

"Really?" I asked with hopeful eyes as he smiled and nodded.

"Silverton on 3, one, two, three!" I yelled out for everyone to hear since it was a big circle.

"SILVERTON!" Everyone yelled as coach and I wore a satisfied smile.

"Alright, go home you punks" he smiled as we walked off.

Xavier and I walked to where our bags were and sat down. "See? That wasn't so bad" I said as I untied my shoes.

"Wasn't?!" He shrieked.

"It'll only get harder from there but most days are like this" I explained hoping he would see the brighter side of the situation.

"And if that isn't enough, we're traveling more this year" I added with a smirk.

He stopped what he was doing, "Traveling?"

I nodded and smiled, "We don't know where but I was told it was farther than just down the street"

"Ok, I'll stay on the team but if I die I put the blame on you" he said giving me a warning look.

"Seems fair" I said giving in as I changed my shoes.

I stood up and grabbed my bags putting them on, "Hurry up let's go. I want to take a shower"

"Ok ok ok" Xavier said as he threw his shoes in his bag and stood up with me.

We walked down the track to the gate that led to the parking lot. We looked at the field and saw the football boys in a huddle.

"Do you think he will really make the team?" Xavier asked

I nodded, "Yeah of course. He has a good arm, he seems strong and fast. He'll probably be a starter"

"You have such big hopes for him" he smiled and bumped into me.

"Well... he's my friend now, I hope for the best of the people I like" I smiled but regretted my choice of words.

"Oh! So you like him?" He smirked.

"You know what I meant" I said as his smirk was still visible.

"Oh yeah, I know what you meant" he joked and wiggled his eyebrows at me.

"Do you want to walk home?" I asked him as he smiled and stopped.

"No don't make me, I'm sorry" he said as I smiled.

"Just get in, I want to go home" I said as we got to my Jeep.