Page 74 of I Blame the Rival

Despite the inevitable outcome, I pump my arms and drive my legs as hard as possible. The tree flies by my line of sight as I hit the finish line, and I wait for Vector’s celebratory shout to hit me.

The heavy fall of footsteps echo behind me and I whip my head around. Vector slows to a jog, offering a modest shrug when he catches me staring.

“You looked like you needed the win today.”

My face crumples at the same time my body does and I collapse to the ground. Lungs seizing with the need for air, I gasp and choke as my muscles scold me for the extreme exertion.

“If you hit the gym on a regular basis, this wouldn’t be so embarrassing.”

Vector steps into my line of sight and I can’t even lift my hand to flip him off.

“Fuck…you.” I wheeze out the words, refusing to acknowledge the truth in his words. He barks out a laugh before offering me his hand.

“You better get up before the neighbours start talking about your lack of stamina.”

“Just go. I’m going to be here a while.”

Vector heaves a sigh before plopping down beside me. Stretching out a long leg, he starts doing cool down stretches while I struggle to remember how to breathe.

“You didn’t have to do that.” I gasp, feeling the lactic acid set in, “We both know you would have won. You’ve always been faster.”

“True.” Vector shifts, switching which leg is extended, “But that wouldn’t have made you feel any better.”

Swallowing the bile rising in my throat, I rest my head against the grass and stare at the sky. It’s turning pink with the afterglow of the sunset and the bright colours make me think of Lacey.

I shouldn’t have run out on her today. It was cowardly and selfish, especially after she opened up to me about her past. Hearing what her ex-boyfriend did to her though… I couldn’thelp it. The anger detonated inside of me, and like always, I panicked.

But the anger isn’t here anymore.

Shock washes over me when I register the rage controlling every thought is gone. My control is safely locked in place, and even though it hurts to breathe, I feel like myself again.

I look over and find Vector watching me with a satisfied smile.

“How did you know that would work?”

He shrugs, “Because I’m brilliant.”

“You’re a lot of things, Vec, but brilliant isn’t one of them.”

Vector bursts out laughing and the crack in my chest splinters.

Before I met Lacey, my brother was one of the few people who understood my sense of humour. He was one of the few people who could see past the boy who didn’t use his face to smile.

He wipes the sweat off his brow and flicks it at me.

“You’re such a little asshole, Sky.”

“I know.”

I stare at him, seeing the piece of my heart that has been missing for too long.

“Do I need to buy bleach and a body bag?” He raises a brow, “Those were some fucked up drawings even for you.”

Shame heats my cheeks and I quickly look away.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Good. I didn’t want to hear about it.”

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