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Seth gasps next to me. Everyone is trailing behind us. I can hear Coach shouting, but I can’t quite make out the words. It echoes around us in the gym. “Give it up, Garcia,” I spit while facing forward, a smirk curling my lips.
I don’t expect him to say anything, but my heart flutters when I hear Seth grumble, “No way in hell, Goode.”
What was that?
I push that thought away and with the last of my energy, I explode forward, leaving Seth in my dust. I cross the finish line, my hands lifting with triumph. Seth isn’t far behind, a dark scowl marring his good looks. I laugh while glancing at him, waiting to hear his insults, but he swallows them and stalks towards the bench. My laughter dissipates and something akin to loneliness seeps through me. Why can’t we return to what we once were?
I watch him pick up his towel and wipe the sweat from his brow. My eyes linger on his hands, his pulsing biceps, and a dark whisper claws at the back of my head:what would it feel like to have those hands on me?
The thought rattles me and I force myself to look anywhere, but at Seth. The floor seems like a suitable place to look, but even as I stare at the black scuff marks and the dirt, I can still see Seth’s large hands, his sweat listing skin. I don’t think I’ve thought about a guy this way before. There was that time in track camp in high school, when I experimented for a bit, but it didn’t last long and it was only jerking off. I assumed I was straight after that. Maybe things aren’t so black and white.
“Gather around everyone,” Coach calls after everyone has had a chance to wipe the sweat from themselves and have a drink of water.
As I trudge forward, Mike slings an arm around Seth and I, pulling us close together. “Ready to party it up tonight?” Mike asks, which only makes me grimace.
I‘ve been trying to avoid Mike and his parties since Rachel’s friend had a falling out with him. Seth’s face mirrors my own and we don’t say anything as we allow Mike to pull us toward the semi-circle forming around Coach. It’ not that I think Mike is a bad guy, I just like having sex with Rachel, and she dislikes no one. Except for that four-eyed guy who was drunk outside her friend’s apartment, but no one likes him. If Rachel has decided she doesn’t like Mike, then it’s probably for a good reason.
“Our last few meets are upon us,” Coach begins, “and although May is still a few months away, I am still sad to know that we will be losing our best track members.” Coach gestures towards Seth and I. Mike’s arms slip from our shoulders while several pairs of eyes turn towards us. “It truly has been a pleasure having both Seth Garcia and Alex Goode on our team. I expect to see the both of you either in a sports magazine or on TV. I’ve never had such talent to work with.”
Coach begins clapping and the others join in. Seth and I look at each other for a brief moment. He looks as shocked as I feel. It really puts this last semester into perspective. We will be graduating, going on to start our careers. Unlike Hunter, I do intend on getting into the Olympics, winning the gold medal, and making a name for myself. It hasn’t been my dream since I was a child. I was supposed to get to med school, become a doctor like Dad, and work alongside him. I even changed schools, but now I am graduating on time. And, though, I am excited to be graduating and moving on, it makes me worried about the future. What will happen to Rachel and I? Will we be forced to break up? Will my career take me overseas?
And what about Seth?
I clench my jaw and force my gaze away from Seth for the hundredth time today. I shouldn’t be considering Seth at all in my future. He wasn’t a friend. I shared Rachel with him. He’s a roommate. That’s all. He isn’t special in the slightest. At least, so I keep telling myself. The applause dies down and Coach goes on, giving us details about how this Saturday’s meet will go and what each athlete needs to focus on in order to make their end of the year goals.
I don’t hear a word. All I can think about is why I keep focusing on Seth, and we I even care. He doesn’t, so why should I? I guess I’ve always been the sensitive one out of the both of us. That’s what Rachel has always liked about me, however, it tends to drive me crazy from time to time.
“Alex, Seth,” Coach calls after dismissing the team. Several members pass me as they head towards the locker, giving me a slight nod as they go. “A moment of your time, please?”
Seth and I step towards Coach and my body flinches the moment I feel my hand brushing against his. Did I do that? Did he? I inwardly grimace, telling myself it shouldn’t matter. It was a mistake. Yet, somehow something flutters inside me.
“I wanted to speak with you both about training over the summer,” Coach says while looking between us. “I found another team that is looking for members to join them in the Olympics. They have a training program during the summer near Boulder. You have to compete in order to get into their program.”
“And what?” Seth asks with a shrug, his voice uncaring. “After the program, you’re in?”
I stifle my grimace as I stare at him. How can he not care? This is epic for us. This is another chance for me. I thought I would have to wait longer, but there’s another chance. How is that even possible? If Seth won’t go for it, I will. As I stare at him, I recall the major fuck-up I suffered last year. I had been so worried about Seth and his eating disorder I allowed myself to lose focus, and my place on the American team. I won’t do that this time.
Coach shakes his head. “They will make you compete again and choose the best. It’s an intense program.”
“But I thought applications were closed?” I ask.
Coach turns to me and smiles. “You didn’t hear this from me, but there was some gossip that at least five of the contestants were taking steroids, which means, they have to redo the whole application process.”
Lucky me.
“So, I suggest, you make sure your pee is clean boys, if it’s not already.” Coach pats my shoulder and I give him a look. I’m clean. Except for that one time at my high school senior graduation, but that was long ago and definitely out of my system by now. “If you’re interested, come by my office next week and I will give you the application as well as the brochure.”
Oh, I’m interested all right. I watch Coach head out of the gym, the door swinging shut behind him. I’m tempted to follow him and take the papers now, but if he suggested next week, then that means he doesn’t have the application on hand now. This I probably all by word of mouth and he’s merely passing on his knowledge to the two best track athletes he has on his team.
I glance at Seth, my heart stopping as I meet Seth’s hard gaze. “What?” I ask, wiping a hand over my face, wondering if I have something sticking to me. I wouldn’t doubt it. This room is so stuffy, I still feel like I’m sweating even though I am hardly moving.
“You’re going to apply, aren’t you?”
“Yeah.” Why wouldn’t I? “Of course. Why?”
Seth’s lips curl into a defiant smirk and he stalks past me, leading the way towards the locker. “Great. It will be the perfect opportunity for me to run you over and leave you in the dust.”
My eyes widen and I chase after him towards the lockers, chuckling as I follow him. Are we going back to normal now? And why now, out of the last couple months? Maybe he’s decided that that being rivals is more fun than ignoring me? Whatever it is, I’m not going to ruin it.
