The Fight for Fame

Introduction

With sweat pouring down her face she collapsed on the ground and closed her eyes, a loose smile on her lips because it was finally over. A gruelling ten day challenge left Chloe's heart pounding and her muscles sore but she had qualified for the European competition, just like she wanted. "Just about qualified huh?" She opens her eyes to see a tall, blonde haired smirking guy leering over her, his hair dripping with cold sweat. "Yeah ye-" Chloe starts, the sentence cut off as a towel is thrown down onto her face, blocking her vision once again.

 Basking in the coolness of the towel Chloe lies there for a couple seconds before sitting up, resting the towel on her shoulders and grabbing onto his hand before using him as a lever to yank herself up. "I assume you qualified as well Cato?" He nods his head in return to the question but starts to grin at her "You qualified third of the women and I qualified second of men" He taunts, lifting the towel from her neck to wipe his own face. "Aw come on, haven't you guys been done for an hour now?" Through a slight groan and giggle Chloe looks around, seizing up those who had made it through to the next round. No one particularly surprising had made it through. Their mock tests they had been practising for the past two years lead to many of the weaker children to drop out months ago so there was only about thirty girls and fifty guys left. 

The chance at fame was one many children wanted but only the elite born with superior genes had a real chance at it. Standing at six feet tall Chloe was much taller than most her age but not in this competition as six feet was about average. The boys were much more spread out, some hitting puberty earlier than others with long, skinny bodies and others short but strong and stocky.  Cato was the latter kind, only about five foot five but with calves the size of his head. He would surely grow taller once he hit puberty but at fifteen he had time to grow. Chloe looks back to Cato as he responds "Yeah but they wanted to keep us around to see who qualified, for drama" He sighs softly before giving a small salute and walking off only for Chloe to turn around to have a taller, broader girl to walk up to her.

 "Surprised to see you made it through, surprised you even finished really" The girl smirks down at Chloe. "Mhm whatever" Chloe rolls her eyes back at the girl, she had come in first and although Chloe was jealous that she couldn't have that glory for herself, she was just glad to have made it through.  Coming first was a big deal because impressions were everything when it comes to the competition because the higher you rank the more sponsors will look at you. The more sponsors you get the better the chances you have of gaining fame and living an easier life after competing. Coming third would give Chloe some options but not her choice of sponsors. 

Despite this, Chloe doesn't make her jealously too well known as a bunch of cameras and microphones approach the two, looking for interviews. "Anna! Chloe! Can you tell us how you feel?" They yell, shoving their microphones into their faces as Anna's smirk turns into a sweet smile as she plays up for the cameras, slinking her arm behind Chloe's back and pulls her close. "We're both delighted to have made it through and I'm so happy that one of my closest friends is coming through to internationals with me." Anna's fake act for public support always shocked Chloe. How could someone present so different to the public even if it was for the sake of sponsors? Chloe's smile was slightly forced but still genuine, replying "I'm also so excited for the international rounds and I hope to do just as well there." She's careful not to mention the closest friends part, not wanting to play into Chloe's games but going against her would just make it more difficult. 

After several minutes of interviews it became clear that they wanted to talk to Anna over Chloe and Chloe was able to sneak away to the back room to get changed and eat. Already the competitors were being spilt up, the winners from the losers. Chloe turned to the right only to be directed to another room off the side with British flag up above the door. At the door are two security guards who check the tattoo on her neck before letting her in. Inside the room are five identical rooms each with the same tracksuit of blue and white hanging up on the wall with a shower to the side. The only difference between the suits were the large numbers plastered on the back from one to five. 

She is directed towards the middle cubicle with the outfit of number three on it. A soft sigh is released from her as she sits down in the cubicle, closing the door behind her. The adrenaline that she had felt before left her as exhaustion took over her body. A couple minutes passed and she pulls off her clothes and steps into the shower, the warmth of the shower helping to relax her muscles and the tension that was held in them begins to fade away. A loose smile appears on her lips as she relaxes in the shower, the realisation that she had gotten through making her feel proud and happy.

After showering and drying herself off she slips on the the sleek tracksuits, the sleeves being a little longer than her arms as she was slightly smaller than most of her competitors. This didn't bother her though as she'd rather it too big than too small. With the whole tracksuit on she closes her eyes, taking a deep breath before walking out of the cubicle. This time the security guard led her away from the arena, the athletes who hadn't made it glaring at her with others sitting down in heaps and sobbing. Walking past them she is lead towards a large bus, already able to see Cato chatting with the other guys inside. The guard left as she steps inside, the rest of the faces turning to look at her.

She smiles and waves over at Cato which he returns but doesn't move to talk to her. Looking around she could see that all five of the boys who got through were in the bus, having taken the back for themselves. Only two of the other girls were here, neither being Anna. Number four and two of the girls were sitting next to each other in the middle of the bus and both smiled back at Chloe as she sat down across from them. She was familiar with the two girls but they were much closer with each other than she was with either of them so she made light conversation until it became awkward and she moved to the window seat, staring out at the arena.