"Go!" The referee shouted followed by the shoot of a gun in the air. 

Runners drenched in neon colors ran like their legs were on fire, electricity coursing through their every bone. I knew we were all feeling the same as we set our gaze on the finish line and were desperate enough to get there faster than everybody else. But another thing we all knew despite the separation of teams- only one team would win.

I pushed up like a spring off the ground and ran, letting every annoyance, every anger, every fear shoveled deep in my chest out. 

Every thing from the sophomore who cut in front of me in line for lunch a few weeks ago to the party freshman year. From that party, I wasn't mad at Parker; what's done was done. I was more so annoyed at myself for being so dumb. But I'm working on that. Slowly but surely. I may not be ready for some things now like parties or sex, but I will be. I know I will.

We had already finished the other races, so this was our last one and the easiest one- the 400 meter run. My times during practice were always 51 seconds for a 400 meter since they've increased tremendously from last year, so why did I feel that I would let myself and the team down?

-Ah, I forgot, my fear of imperfection, right.

Things seemed to move in slow motion. I had 8 seconds to finish accordingly to my usual times. I had to.

I checked the sides in my peripheral vision quickly for our competition clad in neon yellow.

7 seconds.

 I was barely in the lead. It was between me and some the guy dressed as a highlighter only a foot behind me.

6 seconds.

My heart thumped in my chest, in perfect rhythm with my footsteps stomping across the ground as sound clouded out.

5 seconds.

My legs and core combusted in fire.

4 seconds.

I leaned forward, but not too much where I'd fall. I had made that mistake in sophomore year, never again though.

3 seconds.

The only thing important in that moment was getting to that finish line first. Not anything else could stop me from fueling myself to blast to that finish line.

2 seconds.

My brain became mush and my senses became slowed.

1 second.

My feet carried me over the line. Yells and hoots could be heard from the bleachers, specifically Olivia's. Even when we fought, we both knew we'd support each other.

"You did it, White!" Coach Segal shouted, rushing over to me from the sidelines.

I met him halfway, giving him a bearhug. "I did it, Segal!"

A blur of our neon blue and neon yellow shirts came into view as they all crossed the line. All I could make out was that the neon blue shirts were toward the front.

"Well wouldya' look at that," our coach said before throwing his baseball hat behind him and blowing his whistle to celebrate our victory.

I jogged over to where the team surrounded him, the Canyon Shore team and coach sending eyes of lasers to try to dim our cheers, but we'd continue to cheer and hoot louder than them pouting on the sidelines. 

We finally made it to state. After years of waiting and reaching, we finally grabbed it.

"We fricken did it, guys!"

"It only took three years."

"We're going to state, bitches!"

"I'm so sweaty, it's disgusting!" I heard a nasally voice say. Mckenna, of course.

"Shut up, Mckenna!" The team shouted at her in unison, including coach.

"What team?"

"Southridge, Southridge, we may not win, but this time we did!"

***

"I still can't believe it. We made it to state!" Cooper said as I put my head on his shoulder.

"Can I give a speech real quick?" We heard from the front of the bus on the ride home as conversation stopped; everybody's attention was focused on coach's deep yet humorous voice.

He was struggling as he was trying to take the speaker from the bus driver's hands. He was putting up a fight, grasping and clutching at the speaker with his dear life.

"No, give me-"

"Sorry, sir," the driver said. "I can't give you the-"

"Hey, team!" Coach said through the speaker he won over, cutting off the driver who looked fairly pissed. "I'd just like to congratulate everyone here! Not only did we make it to state, but we showed those snobby kids who Southridge is!"

The team exploded in applause and hoots, mainly Joey's.

"On a more serious note, we haven't made it to state in a few years." Coach pretended to wipe tears from his eyes and fan his face which earned him a couple hearty laughs. "We've had our downs, a lot of them actually. We've been outta the game for a while now, but I'm happy to announce that-"

"You're pregnant?" Joey shouted from the back of the bus. Again, laughter erupted from teammates and even coach too.

"Well, that too, but," Coach said dryly, "I'm more excited to announce that training is going to be rigorous. We will work our asses off starting with 2-hour long practices in the morning before classes and 3-hour long practices after classes! We are going to win states, that you can believe!"

Eruptions of cheers were heard throughout the bus, even Mckenna had a smile on her face. My teammates were slung on the bus chairs, hands over their mouthes to amplify their hoots.

That was probably the only time I've seen us actually have excitement for more practice.

***

"Okay, I know I have explaining to do-"

"Explaining?" Olivia sternly said as she rose from her seat at our table. "You haven't talked to me or Sabrina or Michael or Cooper in days!"

"Well, Cooper and I made up two days ago at the track meet," I pointed out.

It was lunch and with the stress off my chest about Xander or track, I finally was prepared to face the wrath of my best friend.

"And," Cooper said, shoving a chicken wing from the school's cafeteria in his mouth, "Aurora and Xander already made up a while ago." He told her with a wink.

Sabrina smirked from her spot on Michael's lap. "Took long enough."

"Anyways, I'm sorry," I said, sighing and leaning my head on Xander's shoulder next to me. "I'm sorry for being stupid and ignoring you guys."

"I still showed up to your track meet, you know," Olivia told me, leaning forward in her seat.

I smiled. "I saw. Thank you for that."

"We did too!" Michael said, raising his hand. Sabrina nodded in agreement.

"Shut up!" Xander joked. "You guys only went to see me!"

We erupted into fits of laughter.

"We went to see you and Rory and Cooper!" Sabrina said with creased brows, making sure nobody's feelings got hurt.

Thank God I've never been as oblivious as Sabrina, I thought to myself with a smile and small shake of my head.

***

"I love you, you know," I said to the messy-haired boy in front of me.

His wide eyes stared back at me, waiting for me to continue.

"Thanks for being there for me all the time."

"Go on," Cooper said with a joking smile.

"No!" I scoffed, reaching over the chemistry lab table to hit the back of his neck. "That's all the sappiness you're getting from me!"

"Sorry, I forgot- the only person you're sappy for is 'Xandy.'"

I rolled my eyes playfully. "Shut up, Coop! Let's just-"

The teacher 'shh-ed' us from across the room, sending us a warning.

I smiled back in silent apology, even though it was Cooper's loud talking I was apologizing for.

"Let's just finish this assignment, idiot," I whispered to Cooper, sending him my best beady eyes.

He raised his hands in faux-surrender with a goofy smile.

Oh, would he ever grow up?

***

hi, guys. I'm sorry that I've been gone for about 2 months now. I felt so so guilty, but I couldn't get over my writers block, and especially with vacations and school starting again soon, it was impossible to fit in time to try to get over it. I'm sorry, guys, I seriously am so much.

on a better note, I hope you guys liked this chapter and if you did, don't forget to vote! :)

comment if you have any questions or concerns and I'll get back to ya asap!

love you guys so so much,

-sophia