• Maggie Griffin •

The next day I had one of the most detested subjects in all American high schools : Gym. Well almost everyone.

Thomas College didn't give gym uniforms so everyone wore high end gym clothes that cost more than my workout clothes, three times over. I shared the gym period with Rikki and the notorious Amelia Murphy.

I was pulling on my pink t shirt when I heard someone beside me. "We haven't had the pleasure of meeting yet, Im Amelia" I turned and there she was Amelia Murphy holding out her hand for me to shake. I took it and shook it lightly all while hoping to maintain my composure.

"Maggie" she looked at me up and down and I stared at her straight back. She was very pretty looking I would give her that, she had curly brown hair and the natural type of curly too, olive skin and dark blue eyes which reflected my light green ones. "Just Maggie?" She asked cocking her head and I nodded "just Maggie" and she made a huh noise. "Alright then I'll see you out there" she gave a three fingered wave and walked off.

I felt like I'd seen her before but where?

Sighing I turned to Rikki. "Is she always like that?" Closing her locker Rikki turned to me "she was being civil to you then and I would avoid her at all costs, trust me, before she decides why she doesn't like you" I nodded and I felt like Thomas College was some sort of battle ground and you were going to be forced to choose sides.

Where the hell had my mother brought me?

---

Pulling my hair into a ponytail I followed Rikki out into the oval which I could everyone was congregating around. We were a blended group, males and females did gym together here. I only knew of a few schools who did this all the time and would only blend for a cruel game of dodgeball.

Look I love sports but I hate dodgeball.

As we all trudged down I could see Amelia walk over to a group of four guys who all looked like they all played sports regularly. I could see one of them and when Amelia wrapped her arms around his waist I recognised him: the boy from the diner and that's where I knew Amelia, the girl who told him to come back.

Small world but wait Rikki told me that Amelia was dating a guy named Will Collins and I assumed that was him. I guess I could put the name to the face now...well the face I already had seen before.

"Alright kids" we all turned to see a man strut towards us. "I'm Mr McCall and I'm going to be your PE teacher for this year - you probably noticed out senior Daredevil boys in the crowd and that's because for the next semester we are going to be doing... Athletics!" There was a collective groan amongst the class but I wasn't one of them.

This was my domain.

I saw Rikki roll her eyes and she leant in to me "eugh this sucks" and I shrugged at her, I didn't think so. "Okay so we are going to be dividing the teams into four and we will be doing a 100m relay" Mr McCall said and began to call out names. I was put into a team with Rikki and one of Wills friends...I think Rikki said his name was Nash?

A relay was simple. It was usually four sprinters who who ran a pre-set distance each and as two runners came into close proximity you'd pass a baton. The fastest runner trended to run first or last. I preferred to run last because 100m relay was one of my specialities. Yeah every athlete had something they were good at it, usually a distance or a discipline such as hurdles or relay.

I was versing Amelia and something told me she was a competitive person. "Just so you know, I run 3k every night" she said turning to me and I feigned fear. We were the last people to run and I could see Rikki jogging towards me, black baton in hand just as another girl was running towards Amelia, her own blue baton gripped tightly. 

I watched Amelia give me a look, a look that said I'm going to win. The spilt second where the baton touched my hands I felt the jolt of energy and turning on my heel, I ran. I could see Amelia keep pace with me for a few milliseconds but I shot ahead quicker than I think she expected.

I felt the freedom and the bliss while running, I felt the joy in it and I felt weightless. I couldn't describe how I felt when I ran, it was almost second nature...like driving or a dancing or just anything that felt tethered to you.

I had crossed the end line where Mr McCall was standing before Amelia had even hit half way. I watched her cross almost three seconds later and three seconds as an athlete was virtually a lifetime.

I watched Amelia pant for a few seconds before she stared at me "how-?" And I just shrugged "dumb luck?" I smirked and she looked relatively satisfied with my answer. I don't brag and the achievements in my field were not something I tended to flash around.

My father always taught me humility and modesty will get you along way and I wanted to honour his memory that way.

As the lesson progressed it finally ended after an hour and I as I walking away I saw coach who was talking to Will Collins, I could see him nod towards me and they both stared.

What the hell was that all about?

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Ohhh Maggie you legend!

Also...this book is past fifty reads? After just three chapters? It may not seem like a lot but to me that's amazing and thank you all so much xx

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