running next. I was running first with little effort, and saw Henry wave to me, nodding as he recognised my lead in the race, expecting nothing less. I waved back and caught a glimpse of Leo, his piercing gaze watching my every move. The excitement of seeing him watch me made me run even faster. I could see the finish line and ran over it before slowing down. I stood stationary with my hands on my hips and began walking around in a small circle as I caught my breath and slowed my breathing. The other girls passed the finish line and we patted one another on the shoulder telling each other we had done a good job.
I knew Henry would win the boys’ race hands down. He had been the fastest timed runner at our school ever, breaking the school record and also the record at last year’s regional race.
The girls cleared the track and congregated at the sideline. The boys stood in a group at the starting line, the gun fired and the boys took off. This was an easy run for Henry, who certainly had a career in running if he wanted to. He looked at ease, his legs striding fast. Leo ran up behind Henry in second place and also looked incredibly at ease. He was about two metres behind Henry and maintained his position and pace. Was Leo also good at running? Leo caught my eye as he ran past, and I could have sworn he gave me a brief wink. As they approached the last hundred metres, Leo took off, like lightening. Henry noticed but it was too late, he had thought the race would be an easy win and hadn’t prepared himself for the final sprint. Leo went over the finish line about three metres in the lead and Henry didn’t look happy about it.
“Did you see Leo win the race? He actually beat Henry.” Emily announced.
“Leo’s mine... I bags him,” Rach said playfully, jumping up like a cheerleader. “Yay, Leo,” she joked. But I didn’t like it.
“You can’t bags someone,” I said.
“I can,” she said playfully, wondering why I was bothered.
“He’s not a toy,” I said realising I was defending an innocent comment.
“OK. Don’t get your knickers in a twist. Just because he beat Henry!”
Phew... I got off lightly. “Sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it.”
*****
Our last period of the day was for study and as it was the first day of term, we hadn’t been given anything substantial. I walked out of the girls’ changing room and saw Henry leaning on the fence waiting for me. He walked over to meet me.
“I can’t believe I didn’t win that race. Did you see Leo? He completely surprised me.”
“It’s not your fault, you didn’t expect it. You’ll probably win next time.”
“I’ve never had to really compete to win. Leo’s really fast, he kept that one in the bag. He should have told me.”
“Did you tell him you were the regional champion?”
“No, I didn’t,” he said thinking about it.
“So don’t be annoyed. It might be good for you to have a worthy contender.”
He nodded. “You might be right.”
“Are you being picked up tonight?”
“No, I’m going home tomorrow night. Casual boarding on Monday and Fridays,” he smiled.
Henry took my hand and we walked together towards the common room. I immediately felt self-conscious and hoped Leo wouldn’t see me with Henry. I wondered if I should tell Henry I wanted to break up, or would that be too harsh for the first day of school? Would he question why? Would he suspect Leo as the reason for me wanting to break off our relationship? If I left it too long would it make it worse? I reasoned that it would be best to do it now given the holidays were over. For all Henry knew, I might have met someone.
“Um... Henry, listen, I...” I gulped.
He stared and looked at me. “What? What is it?” He sensed my hesitation.
“Henry, there’s no easy way of doing this, but I... Well I, just want to be friends,” I said it quickly, afraid I might not get the words out if I procrastinated.
He stopped in his stride and I stopped too. “Why?
I knew Henry would win the boys’ race hands down. He had been the fastest timed runner at our school ever, breaking the school record and also the record at last year’s regional race.
The girls cleared the track and congregated at the sideline. The boys stood in a group at the starting line, the gun fired and the boys took off. This was an easy run for Henry, who certainly had a career in running if he wanted to. He looked at ease, his legs striding fast. Leo ran up behind Henry in second place and also looked incredibly at ease. He was about two metres behind Henry and maintained his position and pace. Was Leo also good at running? Leo caught my eye as he ran past, and I could have sworn he gave me a brief wink. As they approached the last hundred metres, Leo took off, like lightening. Henry noticed but it was too late, he had thought the race would be an easy win and hadn’t prepared himself for the final sprint. Leo went over the finish line about three metres in the lead and Henry didn’t look happy about it.
“Did you see Leo win the race? He actually beat Henry.” Emily announced.
“Leo’s mine... I bags him,” Rach said playfully, jumping up like a cheerleader. “Yay, Leo,” she joked. But I didn’t like it.
“You can’t bags someone,” I said.
“I can,” she said playfully, wondering why I was bothered.
“He’s not a toy,” I said realising I was defending an innocent comment.
“OK. Don’t get your knickers in a twist. Just because he beat Henry!”
Phew... I got off lightly. “Sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it.”
*****
Our last period of the day was for study and as it was the first day of term, we hadn’t been given anything substantial. I walked out of the girls’ changing room and saw Henry leaning on the fence waiting for me. He walked over to meet me.
“I can’t believe I didn’t win that race. Did you see Leo? He completely surprised me.”
“It’s not your fault, you didn’t expect it. You’ll probably win next time.”
“I’ve never had to really compete to win. Leo’s really fast, he kept that one in the bag. He should have told me.”
“Did you tell him you were the regional champion?”
“No, I didn’t,” he said thinking about it.
“So don’t be annoyed. It might be good for you to have a worthy contender.”
He nodded. “You might be right.”
“Are you being picked up tonight?”
“No, I’m going home tomorrow night. Casual boarding on Monday and Fridays,” he smiled.
Henry took my hand and we walked together towards the common room. I immediately felt self-conscious and hoped Leo wouldn’t see me with Henry. I wondered if I should tell Henry I wanted to break up, or would that be too harsh for the first day of school? Would he question why? Would he suspect Leo as the reason for me wanting to break off our relationship? If I left it too long would it make it worse? I reasoned that it would be best to do it now given the holidays were over. For all Henry knew, I might have met someone.
“Um... Henry, listen, I...” I gulped.
He stared and looked at me. “What? What is it?” He sensed my hesitation.
“Henry, there’s no easy way of doing this, but I... Well I, just want to be friends,” I said it quickly, afraid I might not get the words out if I procrastinated.
He stopped in his stride and I stopped too. “Why?
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