7. Lightning
"Mitchell, you're up," Coach told me.
"Ready?" Val asked me.
"I'm always ready to run Valeria," I smirked.
She nodded. "I'll allow your cockiness because ego boosters are good for competitions."
I laughed, and then remembered something.
"My wristband," I said in alarm, reaching into my bag.
I searched and found it before putting it on in relief. It was superstitious, but I never ran a race without it. It was my lucky wristband. Chase had given it to me before my very first track meet in freshman year. He used to wear it whenever he played soccer but after seeing me come close to my nervous breakdown he let me wear it, and I've kept it ever since.
***
"I'm going to puke," I said nervously.
"Lee, relax, you're pretty fast," Chase consoled.
"Well what if the other girls are faster?" I asked. "What if I come in last? Or worse, fall flat on my face and not even make it past the finish line?"
"Stop that," he told me. "Leslie Mitchell, you're lightning. Just clear your head and run. Besides, I highly doubt everyone's going to expect you to outshine everyone else on your first race. You definitely can, but no one expects above and beyond from you. Just go do what you love."
I smiled, thankful for him and his pep talks.
"In fact," he said, pulling something out of a small compartment in his backpack.
"What? Chase, no," I declined as he handed it to me. "That's your good luck charm."
"And now it's yours," he chuckled, sliding it down my fingers and onto my wrist. "Besides, I don't need it anymore. I already made the team remember?"
"Leslie, we've got to go," Val called, poking her head through the door of the girls' locker room.
I nodded at her, turning back to Chase.
"You'll do great," he said.
I hugged him. "You're the best."
"I know," he laughed. "Now go kick ass."
I flashed him a thumbs up and turned to leave.
"Oh, and get out of here before someone walks in and thinks you're a creep," I told him.
He flashed me a quick smile and I left the room to well...go do what I love.
***
I took my position in the fourth lane, recounting my first time running for the school. I came in third that race, partly thanks to Chase's pep talk. I ran ever race with the wristband since then, allowing his calming words to ease my nerves.
"Lightning," I whispered to myself, right before the gun blew and I took to my heels.
A fifteen hundred meter race meant that I had to run almost four laps around the track. I had to do that before competing in the five thousand meter race later. It really wasn't the easiest thing, but to be honest it was my favorite category to participate in. I liked that I could test my limits. When I felt my body start to give out, it only reminded me to push myself harder till I crossed the finish line. In some strange way, I guess you could say that the pain was my fuel.
I started to feel tired after my fourth lap on the longer races, which was usually the point at which my body started to crave rest. So a fifteen hundred meter race was easier to pull through. Like I tell myself though, all I have to do was push myself a little more. Pain is power.
I was currently in the third position, out of eight runners. I passed by my team, but I didn't react to them. When I ran I basically blocked out everything around me. My only focus was finishing the race.
I slowed down a bit, to catch my breath, but not too slow that I'd be passed by the other athletes. I finished my first and second lap, and then I had a little over one and a half more to go.
This was it Leslie, give it your all now.
My brain sent signals and my legs began to move faster than ever. I caught up with the girl in second place and increased my speed. I passed her with ease, and then then proceeded to close in the gap with the girl in first place. She was ahead of me when we were done with the third lap. I was almost done, so I put my all into it and moved as fast as I could.
Lightning.
When I came toe to toe with her, I saw her glance at me through the corner of my eye. I smirked, knowing very well that mistake was enough to throw her off.
I gave it everything and pushed myself, passing her. I didn't bother slowing down, even though I was at a safe distance. All I could see was the finish line, and all that mattered was that I got there first.
And I did.
It was as if the whole world opened up again to me. As soon as I crossed it and slowed down to a stop I could hear the other girls cheer me on, Val the loudest. I looked up to find my family's and Chase's faces, and I grinned when I saw them. Chase winked and then gave me a thumbs up.
"You were amazing!" Val said as she hugged me.
I laughed, using my towel to wipe the beads of sweat running down my face. "Thanks."
"That was amazing Mitchell," Raven said and I smiled. She was basically the fastest on the team and a compliment from her meant everything.
"Okay, time for hurdles!" Coach Gibbs yelled. "Where are my people?"
"Oh no," Jules said.
I looked over to her. "You'll do fine."
She smiled weakly and walked over to Coach Gibbs.
"Did you mean that?" Val snickered beside me.
"Yes, I did," I said, elbowing her slightly in her arm. "Still not fond of her but she's nervous, and I really do hope she wins."
She won alright.
When it was time for the 400 meter hurdle we all watched as she took her position. We'd seen her during practice, but this was her first competition with us. And believe me, I was shocked by the way she carried herself. The girl had no problem jumping over those things. And she did it faster than I've ever seen too. My jaw literally dropped when she crossed the finish line.
"Well well well," Val mused as she walked back to where we were sitting. "Guess you had no reason to be nervous huh? You were amazing."
She smiled sheepishly. "I guess, but you guys helped too."
"You are a freaking gazelle!" Camille squealed as she sat down.
"You're really good," I told her. "Like...really good."
She chuckled. "Coming from a runner like you, that means a lot. Thanks."
"Okay, show's not over yet," Raven reminded us.
Right, we still had a couple more races to go. The day ended pretty well with us doing great in all the events.
"Somebody call the Olympics," Chase said as he walked over to me. "Stat."
I laughed and threw my arms around him.
"Ew, get off me," he said. "You're sweaty and you stink."
I rolled my eyes. "Can't you be nice to me for more than a second?"
"I can, but I try my best not to," he shrugged and I shook my head, a smile on my face nevertheless.
"Chase!" I heard Jules call as she jogged over to us.
I mentally rolled my eyes.
"Wow," he said when she caught up. "You were amazing. I didn't know you could run like that."
"I was nervous, trust me," she laughed. "But Leslie here helped me."
All I did was say you'll do fine, calm down girl.
"She did?" Chase asked, sounding a little surprised.
I shrugged. "You know me, happy to help."
"Right," he chuckled.
"So...are we still on for this weekend? I was thinking Friday night." she asked and I rose my eyebrows.
Friday night was Lee and Chase time. I knew that, Chase knew that, our parents knew that, everyone who had been around us knew that. We were together a lot, but it was just a tradition we'd kept going for so long.
"Oh um...about that," Chase said as he glanced at me. "I uh...kind of have plans with Lee."
"Oh," she said, a hint of disappointment lacing her tone.
God help me.
I was probably going to regret it but...
"It's fine," I told them. "You two go on your date."
"Really?" she beamed with excitement.
"Really?" Chase asked rather shocked.
I nodded, faking a smile. "Yeah, I mean Chase and I can always hang out another time. Right Chase?"
"Oh uh...right," he answered slowly. "I um...I guess I'll see you Friday night."
"Can't wait," she replied. "I'll see you around Leslie!"
And with that she left.
Chase turned to me. "Are you sure about this?"
I nodded. "Yeah, we hang out basically everyday anyway. So you get a night off from me, I know I can be exhausting. Besides, I know you'll miss me."
I managed to joke about it and he chuckled.
"Okay, then," he said. "Um, see you later then?"
"See ya," I responded.
He smiled, run his fingers quickly through his hair, and then left.
I watched him walk away before Val ran up to me.
"Uh oh, what now?" she asked.
I shook it off. "Chase has a date Friday night."
"Wait, a date? With Jules?"
"Did I not mention that?"
"But Friday night is your time," she said.
I shrugged. "Not this Friday I guess."
She nodded. "Well, I could come over if you're lonely and we could have our own fun."
"Yeah," I chuckled.
"Wait, does this mean we're still hanging out on Sunday?" she asked. "Because there's only so much time with you that I can take."
We were a weird group who always made time for one another I guess.
I rolled my eyes. "Please, you love me."
She laughed and took my hand. "Come on, our parents are waiting to take us home."
I smiled, trying not to think of Chase as she pulled me along with her. It was just one date.
That he asked her on.
I hated that I was annoyed, and I hated that it bothered me.
Come on Lee, he's your best friend. Be happy for him.
Be happy for him.
A/N
Well well well, looks like someone's starting to get a little jealous.
I'll try my best to update every couple of days. For now, can I get some votes and comments?
- amani