Always read Author's note.

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Third Person POV

Heat was just around the corner and each house was preparing in various ways. Every house was making different use of the stadium. The stadium was pretty big so it was easy to do that without getting distracted.

Blue house was practicing their track events. Green house was on the field in between the stadium warming up. Red house was at a corner, practicing their discus and shot put throw. Yellow house was practicing their high and long jump at another corner as well.

Blue house and green house were the greatest rivals of all time due to the fact that they were always dragging medals. So, when Blue house started to get ready for their two by two mock race, every athlete in green house was on their toes, watching and looking for weaknesses.

"Why is every one so bent on watching blue house run?" Elyon asked Vanessa who was seated beside her on the green grass drinking from her water bottle.

"It's like tradition here already so it's no surprise. Blue and Green house are always at war every inter house sport year. Because inter house sport is every three years, I wasn't in this school for the last one, but everyone knows about it. Somadina gave me the gist. The greatest rivalry of all time." Vanessa explained and Elyon widened her eyes.

"Med o. That's pretty intense. Who is the fastest senior boy and girl in Blue house?" She asked Vanessa again.

"That would be Mateo and Skye. That's why they are being paired to run together. It helps them get better. Look." Nessa pointed to the starting line where Mateo and Skye were standing and talking to their coach.

Elyon looked around and saw that every green house athlete had their eyes on those two. Skye and Mateo were at the beginning of the track as they turned around and began to do a steady warm up as they got ready for the race.

"On your mark." Blue house coach hollered and the duo got on their knees. Everyone kept watching, even other houses had stopped their training to watch.

"Set..." He placed the whistle on the tip of his lips and the duo went up a bit. In a second the whistle went and the duo took off, raising dusts.

Skye and Mateo were the fastest in the school. When they were both in junior school as at the last inter house sport, they were just the fastest in Junior school but due to all the training and inter school competitions, they now the fastest in the entire school.

Everyone looked at them till they got to the finish line and it was a draw. Elyon let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.

"That was intense. Damn, I doubt I can top that I know I'm very fast." Elyon said and Vanessa chuckled with an hint of mockery.

"It's all of you that want to kill yourself on top inter house sport. Me, I cannur stress. That's why I'm on water and glucose duty." Vanessa teased and Elyon shot her a mock glare.

"Shut your trap. Lazy thing." She rolled her eyes.

"Everyone gather around." They heard coach Adesola holler and every athlete came together. Someone plopped down beside Elyon and she turned to see Jamal, who flashed her a smile. They have barely spoken all day because he was assigned to train all senior athletes, both track and field.

"Did you see that?!" Coach yelled and the front row seat had to lean back with the amount of saliva that splashed from his mouth.

"They are getting faster every sports year. They look unbeatable, which means we have more work to do. Jamal, this is not the time for you to be slacking." He pointed to Jamal.

Jamal was the second fastest athlete in the school, dragging with Mateo big time but Mateo was still a second faster. Since junior school, everyone had always looked forward to their races.

"I can take him coach." He stated.

"You keep saying you can take him, yet he almost beat you at the last 800 meters race. If not for the replay, they could have given him that gold because it was too close. This year, I want at least a five meter distance." Adesola instructed and Jamal nodded.

"Yes coach." Jamal said. Adesola looked through his clipboard and faced Elyon next.

"Elyon, after last week's practice, you seem to be the fastest girl in this house and you are dragging with Skye. Her timing is 25 seconds, yours is 25.5 seconds." He announced and she widened her eyes.

Honestly didn't expect that. She thought.

"Really?" She had to ask because she was shocked. Jamal looked at her with admiration, a lopsided grin playing on his lips. Someone scoffed and Elyon looked to see Tolani with a bored look. Yes, unfortunately she was also in green house.

"I'm faster than that Coach. I've always been the fastest in this house." She said.

"Not anymore. She beat your record. Deal with it." Vanessa rolled her eyes and the rest of the house snickered. Elyon looked at Vanessa appreciatively.

"Settle down everyone. Tolani, Vanessa is right. Elyon is leading you with 2.4 seconds. But you will run 200 meters and relay." Coach said and then faced Elyon.

"...and yes really, Elyon. Now, I need all senior girl athletes, especially you..." He pointed at Elyon. "...to train with the senior boys. Most especially the relay team. I need you guys practicing your relay races together. Coach Tammy will see to that one." He said and Elyon nodded. He looked at his clip board again.

"Jamal and Elyon, I'm pairing you together for the mock race immediately blue house is done. You will race with the girl immediately after. Elyon, I need you to shed that extra 0.5 nanosecond. Can you do that for me?" Coach asked and Elyon looked unsure. Jamal nudged her and she looked at him

"Come on. I'll help you through it. Be confident." He smiled at her and she smiled back, facing the coach then nodding.

"Good, because you are a speed and endurance racer. Skye is just speed, so you have an upper hand on this one." He said and she nodded, stealing a glance at Jamal who in turn winked at her.

This is going to be fun. She thought with a smile.

"Esosa and Chike, you will help me train the juniors on their race. Vanessa, Tobi and Kamso, you guys are on water and glucose duty. Senior athletes, I need you guys on the track." Coach hollered and soon everyone was in their duty post, basically.

****

Elyon went to stand by the beginning of the track with other senior girls as the senior boys got ready for their race. Blue was house was also watching. She saw Mateo watching her and quickly looked away. She has noticed it since the beginning of the week. He was always watching her, looking at her and it was pretty creepy.

You are over thinking it. Maybe he's just...

He is just what?!!  Her subconscious chided her and she closed her mind. Unconsciously, she turned around and bumped into Tolani.

"Are you fucking blind?!" She snapped at Elyon who sighed and subtly rolled her eyes.

Here comes the drama.

"I'm sorry. It was a mistake." Elyon apologized but Tolani didn't hear of it. She pushed Elyon,  who staggered and nearly got knocked over.

"What the hell is your problem? Are you intentionally trying to rile me up?!" She snapped. Elyon looked so confused.

Now what is she going on about.

"Why would I want to intentionally rile you up? I bumped into you, I apologized. Now can we just go back to concentrating on our up coming race like normal people." Her voice was rising at every word she made because she was getting pretty annoyed.

Tolani had been on Elyon's case since her break up with Jamal. It started with her glaring at Elyon like she was the one who asked Jamal to break up with her. Heck, Elyon didn't even know about half of their story. Tolani would always bump into her as well, even poured bigi cola on her skirt at some point. If not for Skye and Vanessa, Elyon have lost her cool. Now, she was gradually loosing it.

"Oh, so now you have the mouth to talk about me, abi?" She smirked, folding her hands across her chest.

"I don't blame you. It's because Jamal has started banging you, that's what is giving you boldness." She deadpanned, loud enough for everyone close by to hear and there was a dead silence after her statement.

Elyon turned around and looked at Tolani, her blood hot with anger. Tolani saw the expression on Elyon's face and smirked in satisfaction as she got the reaction she wanted.

"I don't blame you though. He's pretty big. Has the ability to dickmatize any girl he fucks." She said sassily and that moment Elyon lost it.

A loud slap resounded through the stadium followed by a ear piercing scream, silencing everyone. It took Elyon a second to realize she was the one who gave the slap and Tolani was the one who screamed.

"You bitch!" She screamed and lounged at Elyon before she could react, pulling at her hair. "You slapped me. You will pay!" She screamed as she dragged Elyon with her hair. Elyon tried to pry Tolani hands off and they succeeded in falling to the ground.

Everyone gathered and the girls with us tried to get untangle us. Elyon wanted to push herself off as well but Tolani wasn't having it. She wrapped her legs around Elyon and used her long nails to scratch her face, eliciting a painful groan from her as she tried to hold Tolani's hands away. Her even nails missed Elyon's eyes by a breeze and succeeded in slashing just underneath her eyes.

"Elyon!"

Elyon heard her name being called differently but couldn't place from where exactly the voices were coming from. She was still trying to untangle herself from Tolani's deadly clutches but Tolani wasn't having that. She was bent on fighting.

Elyon felt someone wrap a hand around her waist, trying to lift her off Tolani, who didn't make it any easy as she was still hell bent on beating me. Thankfully she was successful pried off Elyon by Mateo who had a pretty tight grip on Tolani's waist as she was still screaming profanities at Elyon like a dog with rabbis.

Jamal held unto Elyon's waist and shifted her away from Tolani. Elyon was panting and holding her tummy which Tolani had succeeded in punching during the struggle. Jamal saw her struggle and quickly began to inspect her, concern written all over his

"Are you okay? Does anywhere hurt?" He asked frantically and Elyon kept pointing to her tummy.

"My tummy..." She chocked out.

"Oh, the boyfriend is here to rescue you now uhn?! Bitch!" Tolani spat at them but they didn't pay her any heed. Skye was about to snap at Tolani when coach beat her to it.

"Shut up!" Coach snapped and everywhere became quiet. "What's the matter with both of you? Tolani, must you always be violent!" He snapped at her.

"Sir, but she started..." Tolani started but the glare coach shot her way shut her up immediately. Jamal, held unto Elyon who leaned on him and spat out the water Vanessa had given to to use rinse off the little blood in her mouth.

"Will you keep quiet?! It must always be you and someone else in a fight..." Coach hissed.

"Coach, I need to take Elyon to the health centre to get her face cleaned." Jamal said and coach nodded.

"Of course, go take care of her because she's always the one that matter right." Tolani sardonic voice rang out again   but before anyone could reply her, another loud slap echoed through the field and an unexpected gasp.

Coach had slapped her.

"Coach..." Tolani gasped, her hands on her cheek. Mateo had left her alone this time and had rushed over to where Elyon and the others were.

"I told you to keep quiet! It's like all the attention is loosening your screws little by little and I won't hesitate to put you in your place. One one mess up and I'd bench you for heat. You know I don't bluff." Coach growled and walked away.

"Everyone, clear out! Nothing to see here. Go about minding your business." Somadina ordered and everyone dispersed, murmuring and grumbling about the event that just unfolded. Somadina turned back to where the guys were gathered around Elyon who had taken her seat on a chair Skye brought for her.

"Do we need to take you to the health centre." Skye asked her and she shook her head.

"I'm fine. I just need to sit down for a bit." Elyon mumbled out.

"No. You need to go and receive treatment. Your face is bruised up." Jamal countered with concern written all over his face. Mateo rolled his eyes and muttered something incoherent.

"Jamal, I'm fine, really." Elyon tried to assure him but he shook his head, taking no for an answer.

"At least go and take some painkillers." Vanessa chipped in, supporting Jamal.

"She said she's not going. Must you force her?" Mateo's voice came out as insensitive and his tone was totally off. Jamal shot him a look.

"Are you serious? You can see her face. She's in need of medical attention." Jamal said.

"Guys, I'm right here." Elyon mentioned but they didn't acknowledge her as Mateo turned to glare at Jamal.

"She's the owner of her body. If she doesn't want to go and treat herself then leave her. It's not my force." Mateo shrugged and everyone looked at him with a surprised expression. Elyon looked away, feeling pained.

Why was he acting this way? Is it because I said no? I thought we were cool. She thought.

"Mateo, that was very insensitive." Skye said, disappointment written all over her face.

"No, it's cool." Elyon spoke up. "Please take me to the health centre." She told Jamal who nodded but not before noticing the glare Mateo shot him. He ignored and helped Elyon up, leading her away with Skye and Vanessa following behind, leaving Soma and Mateo together.

"Guy, what the fuck? What you said was so low." Somadina chided and Mateo shot him a look.

"Please don't act all saintly with me. You think I don't know what you are doing? Trying to be closer to Jamal, acting like a best friend. Giving him ideas on how to turn against me, abi?" Mateo said in a rush, his nose flared. Somadina on the other hand looked pretty confused.

"What the hell are you talking about? Are you seriously accusing me of something so Petty?" Somadina had to chuckle but that only fueled Mateo's anger.

"Ohh, so now you are calling me petty. Look, you might be smart but I'm smarter than you. Remember, you came into this group late and I know things that you don't know. So whatever you think you are trying to protect Jamal from, you don't know half of it." Mateo growled out and Somadina folded his hands across his chest, watching him.

"Somadina, stay in your lane, don't come to mine. Or you will be sorry." Mateo whispered, his tone threatening and then walked away. Somadina stood on that spot, looking confused as ever but having a pretty good idea what Mateo meant.

A/N

Okay, another update.

I have a feeling you might not enjoy this one as much as the others. I didn't really enjoy writing it so much as well because I was trying to get the POV that would be best but ended up getting confused. You'd notice as well that there might be one or two in between switches in POV, that's as a result of trying to get the right POV.

Tolani and Elyon fought. This might not be the only fight though.

Mateo is being an asshole, a complete jackass.

The next chapter two start with Jamal POV in an health centre scene. Trust me, I'd make sure the next chapter blows you away. And no, they are not kissing yet. 😂😂😂😂

Don't forget to vote, comment and share this book. Thank you for the almost 3k views. Y'all are the best.

Kisses