16. The race

ASTRID

“On your mark, get set, go!”

The PE teacher blew the whistle and the race began. I and the other girls raced to reach the boys where they were waiting for us.

I was someone who easily ran out of breath and I didn’t know why the PE teacher didn’t let us race normally but wanted us to race with a sack.

I was behind. The other girls seem to do well. Damien was glaring at me from afar and even if he wasn’t close, I couldn’t tell he was fuming. I was trying my best.

I looked in front of me and there were like five girls ahead of me. Somehow they were doing far better than I was and Adriana was one of them.

Chris wasn’t going to let me be if I didn’t get to him on time. I was already tired. My heart was beating too fast and I was sweating.

“Keep going. You can’t stop here. Keep going.” I said to myself as I kept racing to reach him. The more I pushed myself, the closer I was but my heart was starting to ache because of it.

I was never a person with physical strength or a heart that could take on heart news. It was affecting me but I was more scared of the aftermath than what would happen to me at that moment and then I heard screams.

I looked up to see that Adriana had already gotten to Noah and he was already racing.

“Move faster! Come on! Faster!” Damien shouted.

I was getting closer to him. Another girl reached her partner. I was close, I kept saying to myself an atlas I reached him.

He didn’t even give me enough time as he took the sack from me, got in, and went after Noah.

I could barely breathe. I moved to the side to catch my breath while following Damien’s movement. He was fast. He was able to surpass two people in front of him and was only behind Noah who was at a distance.

If he doesn’t win then it is over for me and Noah doesn’t seem to want to lose either. He was running fast.

“You are such a sloth.” Adriana pushed me out of the way and I fell to the ground.

I needed to take some glucose or I might faint. Just as I tried to stand up to my feet, I realized that I sprained my ankle, an impact of getting pushed to the side by Adriana.

“Go Noah! Yes! Go!” Girls cheered for Noah and I looked in his direction to see that he was close to the finish line and Damien was still far away.

My heart raced faster than normal. Damien wasn’t supposed to let it go.

“Go Noah! Go Damien!” People cheered.

I didn’t mind Noah winning. I wanted him to win because I disliked Damien but I didn’t want Damien hurting me.

I went under the canopy to get some glucose. I heard a loud cheer afterwards and I knew that Noah had already won.

“Yes!” I looked at the finish line to see everyone around Noah, cheering for him. My eyes locked with his for some seconds before he looked away.

I didn’t know what I did to him but he wouldn't speak to me and even when I asked, he didn't seem to want to reply. I was trying so hard not to be affected by it but I couldn’t help it.

“Here you are, standing under the canopy as if you didn’t cause me to fucking lose.” Damien snarled.

I was intimidated by his presence because his height towered over my small frame and it looked like he was going to break me.

If looks could kill, I would be six feet under the ground. As much as I wanted to apologize to him for the race, I didn’t.

Why? Because he also hurt me and she never apologized to him but unlike him, I didn’t have the guts to tell him to his face that he should go to hell.

“And I’m certain that I’m talking to you.” He said, his tone void of any emotion.

“I tried my best,” I said almost inaudibly.

“Well, your best wasn’t enough!” He said through gritted teeth.

I decided to walk away from him but was pulled back so forcefully that I ended up falling on my butt again.

I let out a yelp. My ankle was hurting and now my butt is too.

“What’s going on here?” The PE teacher interjected.

“It's nothing,” Damien lied to him.

The PE teacher stretched his arms for me to take and I did that but could barely stand on my feet.

“Are you alright?” He asked and I nodded my head even when I wasn’t.

“Are you sure?” He asked again and I nodded my head.

The other students came gathering.

“She’s just pretending. She’s fine. Why don’t we continue with our race? She’s an attention-seeking bitch!” Adriana spat.

“Watch your language.” The PE teacher chastised.

“I was only speaking facts.” She shrugged before walking away.

Her friends and minions followed behind her and I let out a deep sigh.

“This isn’t over Astrid,” Damien said to me before walking away.

I mentally screamed. There has always been drama surrounding me every day in this school. I couldn’t help but wonder when I’d finally be free.

“It seems like you sprained your ankle. Maybe I should go to the school nurse.” The PE teacher said.

“You don’t have to worry, I will go myself,” I said to him.

“No. You can’t go yourself. I will find someone to go with you,” he replied, leaving no room for discussion.

No one was going to volunteer to go with me because I’m an omega and I’m unloved.

“I will go with her.”

I heard the familiar voice of Noah.

Now he wants to go with me? After he wouldn’t speak to me in the morning?

“That’s good to hear. Make sure that the nurse looks after all and you can also tell me how it went.” The PE teacher said to Noah before walking away, after leaving me in Noah’s care.