It’s race day! I can’t believe I’m doing it. If you’d told me six months ago I would be fit enough to run a 5k race, let alone want to do it, I would’ve laughed in your face. Then probably would’ve strained a muscle with the exertion of my shock and disbelief.
However, contrary to my past self, I am here, and very much looking forward to it. Not only have I smashed the app sessions, but I’ve also managed to run 6k without dying. I also learned my lesson from the fitness game I played and am now much better at pacing myself. My body has never looked healthier, and I have actual ab muscles. Notlike Sloane or anything, but the little buggers are there and trying to make themselves known to the world.
I don’t think I’ll ever be a person whoadoresall fitness, but I’m okay with the regimen I’ve got going on. I’ll be continuing after today, that’s for sure. I think I’ll even continue to participate in gym class. Mr Porter has given me an out next semester, and there are plenty of other people who would jump at the chance to dump running for extra time on more exhaustive subjects like math. I, however, am not one of those people. I’m lucky the other subjects aren’t giving me any grief. Or it’s that I’m not sweating the grades. I want to paint for a living, not become an accountant. If I get less than stellar marks in some of my tests, I’m not going to cry about it.
Knowing that, I now understand why Sloane has been so out of sorts. She is one of those people who needs everything to be perfect. She wants to be perfect, which we all know is impossible. Hopefully, the school counsellor she’s been seeing every day is giving her some perspective. Her mood is certainly better, and she feels present when we are together.
Back to today, though, and the race. I was a little butt hurt at first when Sloane worked with Kiera to organise it, but seeing everything they achieved and the amount ofpeople willing to participate I can’t hold a grudge. Even if my gut feeling about Kiera being a snake proved true.
Whatever. Sloane knows the score with her now and has made her own mind up. Her decision to keep her distance from Kiera made me feel better. I just wanted her to make the choice based on her own feelings, and not mine. I’m pretty sure that’s the case.
Anyway. It’s possible eighty percent of the student body is waiting in the starting line, numbers pinned to their chests. I’m flabbergasted, really. After I announced the money raised would be split between the local animal shelter and the community centre, I sort of expected people to grumble and drop out. A few families in the area only see charities that help fund cancer research or some other equally awful disease as a worthy cause.
My bad for being presumptuous, because everyone here is totally on board. Bryce has even dressed up like a dog, alongside some of his football bros. In fact, there are plenty of costumes adding to the spectacle. I’m not-so-secretly over the bloody moon that I’m not the centre of attention. Before the charity race idea struck me, I had nightmares of being the only one running with the whole school watching me. Ugh, I still shudder at the thought.
I’m not sure how much money we’ve already raised, but it’s significant. A nice little legacy to leave behind, I think.
Laughter pierces my thoughts. Everyone is already having a blast. I wonder if they’ll feel the same after the race. I’m not the only person at Holcroft who doesn’t exactly scream “fit.”
Music is blaring from the sound system, and a stage has been erected on the main field. It’s the starting point and where the principal will make a speech. He tried to get me up there, but lost that fight. Not a fucking chance I’m making a tit of myself in front of everyone. I’m not exactly a natural born speaker.
There are water stands and other stalls lining the field. The day has turned out to be a real spectacle, and we all have Sloane and… ugh,Kierato thank.
My mum and dad took the day off to get involved. They’re working with Sloane’s parents to sell food to other parents, faculty members, and the public. All proceeds will go into the money pot.
Hearing Pia, I turn and catch a glimpse of my best friend. She’s dressed in a purple tutu and rave party bangles. Her tank top is mesh and her hair is massive. I’m not sure why she chose to look like an 80s party reject, but whatevermakes her happy, right? Plus, it provides me with lots of entertainment. Especially with Todd looking like he wants to crawl inside a hole. How the hell did Pia get his hair to stand up like that?
Becca and Bella jog over and pull me towards Pia. We’ve decided we’ll run the course together as a group. No person left behind and all that. Like me, Becca and Bella are simply wearing sports gear. Mum bought me new sneakers last week, and I’ve spent every day breaking them in. They’re a bit too fancy for a school charity run, but I’ll get plenty of use out of them next semester.
The only person we’re missing is Sloane. She’s been running around like a headless chicken all morning trying to get everything set up. Which it already was last night, so this is just her being a perfectionist. I’ll give it another five minutes before I go and drag her away from whichever poor soul she’s bugging.
“I can’t believe I’m going to say this,” Pia begins and I instantly know she’s going to insult me somehow. “But I never thoughtI’dbe the one to worry about in a race. I’m pretty sure Eden’s going to smoke the lot of us.”
Okay, not an insult. She’s not wrong.
“Nah, Bella’s going to be the one to watch. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her run. She’s not far off how Eden used to be.”
Bella shrugs. “True. Sports aren’t my thing. But I do yoga and spin on the weekends.”
We all round on her with wide eyes. Little firecracker Bella does yoga and spin?
Becca laughs. “She’s full of surprises.”
“So Pia, then,” I say. “Todd, you’re going to be on piggyback duty if she falls.”
Flexing his arms, Todd puffs out his chest. “I got you, babe.”
Pia rolls her eyes. “And who the fuck is going to piggyback him? Does it look like either of us do regular exercise outside of gym class?”
Pointing in her face, she swats my finger. “I offered to train with you.”
“My parents were away, E. A house to ourselves. As if we were going to give that up for some jogging.”
Knowing how potent sex with Sloane is, I fully understand them now. I too missed out on a training session to stay in bed with her. No regrets.
Speaking of my girlfriend, it’s time to find her. Telling my friends to stay put, I push through the crowd. Receivingfar too many high-fives and fist bumps, I make it through to where my parents are. Mum looks at me, laughs and points to the left, where Sloane is animatedly talking at Mr Porter. The poor guy looks totally harassed. A not so small part of me thinks it’s his karmic reckoning for being up my arse about exercising for the past three-and-a-half years.
Making my way over, I unashamedly check out Sloane in her running gear. Tiny running shorts and a lightweight top covering her sports bra. Hair up in a high ponytail and sweat bands on both wrists. She looks ready to run a full marathon, not a measly 5k.
