CHAPTER 20 — The Race
Ava's POV
The world always changed for me at the starting line.
The noise seemed to fade away. The sunlight dimmed as I focused on the track innfront of me. The crowd blurred behind me, not distracting my attention.
Everything narrowed into a single thin thread — the track in front of me.
Just six lanes of red surface, just the familiar rubber under my spikes, just breath in, breath out, breath in—
But today was different.
Today felt heavy.
Too heavy.
Because today, Ethan was here.
I could feel him even without looking — this warm, steady presence somewhere behind me in the stands, quieter than the crowd, louder than anything else.
"Women's 200-meter heat one!" the announcer called out. "Runners, take your marks!"
My muscles tightened. My stomach seemed to flip.
This was it.
It wasn't even in the main event yet — this was just a pre heat run before the finals 5K — but my pulse hammered like gold was on the line.
He's here. He's watching. Don't mess up. Don't embarrass yourself.
I lowered into position.
My hands flat on the track. The spikes of my shoes digging into the blocks behind me.
I inhaled.
Hold it.
"Set—"
The world sharpened.
The field seemed to disappear. The air lightly brushed against my skin. The faint heat of sun-warmed rubber, below my hands. The pounding of my heart.
I pushed everything else away — my teammates, the noise, the coach yelling my name, my own nerves screaming in my chest —
Even him.
I exhaled.
Just run.
Just run.
Just—
BANG!
The gun snapped the world open.
I exploded forward.
My legs moved on instinct — perfect, strong, powerful. My breath synced to my pace. My arms swung with every breath, moving me faster. The ground pulsed beneath me.
I wasn't just running.
I was flying.
I pulled ahead of girl in lane three. I held even with opponent in lane four, around the corner then, I pressed harder during the straight shoot.
The crowd roared — a distant thunder, background noise, drowned in the sound of the wind in my ears.
The only thing I felt was freedom. Wind slicing past my cheeks, through my hair. The feeling of the heat burning up my lungs with every exhale. My muscles firing like coiled springs, as my feet pressed hard against the ground to push me farther.
This was where I lived.
At 120 meters, I realized something shocking:
I was first.
I was winning.
My chest tightened — pride and disbelief surging in a rush —
Just a little more—
140 meters.
160
Almost—
Then it happened.
A tiny misstep. A single stride landing half an inch too far left.
My spike caught the edge of the runner's lane— my ankle rolled.
Pain shot up my leg.
Before I could even gasp—
—the ground slammed into me.
The impact cracked across my palms, knees, hip. The air burst from my lungs. My mind immediately flashed back to that day— When I heard a noise and looked up only to feel someone push me out.
The next thing I knew I was on the ground in pain, dazed, and confused.
Gasps erupted across the field.
Somebody shouted my name.
I didn't hear anything else.
I lay there for half a second — dazed. At first my brain was still trying to understand what happened, Then it came back, I tripped and fell in the middle of my race— then came the humiliation, burning with pain and disbelief.
No. No. No. No—
Not like this.
Not in front of him.
I pushed myself up — my knees screaming, my left ankle throbbing — and forced myself into a limp-run.
The girl behind me sprinted past. The two before had already arrived at the finish line. Then the next one ran by. Then the next...
The humiliation flooded my face hot enough to burn.
I crossed the finish line last.
Last.
The scoreboard confirmed it — a bright, merciless red number beside my name.
I stared at it until my vision blurred.
Rushed footsteps came toward me — teammates, coaches, strangers.
"Oh my god, Ava—"
"That was a freak trip—"
"You were doing amazing before that—"
"You'll get them in finals—"
"Are you okay? Do you want some Ice? Do you need—"
Their voices swarmed me, trying to smother me in encouragement I didn't want.
I didn't want their pity or their sympathy. I didn't want anyone to touch me and coddle me, like an injured baby.
Not like this.
Not when humiliation was still crawling up my throat like bile.
So I shoved past everyone — forcing my legs to work through the pain — and headed straight for the tunnel.
Someone called after me.
I didn't look back.
My chest felt like it was caving in.
Because I hadn't just tripped.
I'd ruined it.
In front of him.
The boy who I wanted — needed — to see me at my best… saw me at my absolute worst instead.
I pushed through the locker room doors and collapsed onto the nearest bench, burying my face in my hands.
For a long moment, there was no sound except my breathing— ragged. I was angry and felt so humiliated.
I bit down on my lip hard enough to sting.
"Stupid," I whispered to myself. "Stupid, stupid—"
My ankle throbbed beneath me.
My hands shook and my elbow flared with a sharp pain.
I hated everything about myself in that moment.
What was supposed to be my big moment — the one I wanted him to see — turned into the biggest embarrassment of my life. I tried to be the protagonist for the day and end up falling face first.
And the worst part?
Even through the pain, even through the burning humiliation, even through the tears I refused to let fall—
There was only I place where I wanted to be.
Where I always went when the world felt too loud. Where the quiet made sense. Where I could breathe— ever since the day Ethan had taken me on our first 'date' soon the picnic.
The lake.
Our place.
****************************
Ethan's POV
I didn't go after her.
I wanted to. I really did. When I saw her fall my first reaction was to run to her. I almost did.
But the second I stepped forward, a wall of people swept around her — teammates clinging to her, coaches swarming her, strangers hovering with pity in their eyes.
Then I saw her face as she ran off to the locker room. I froze.
She didn't need more eyes, more noise filled with concern and pressure.
She just needed space.
So I stayed still, fists clenched, my heart aching as she limped off the track.
I waited until the field began to settle, until most eyes drifted elsewhere.
Then I picked up the picnic basket I'd brought — a stupid, hopeful thing that it was — and slipped away quietly.
My feet carried me toward the lake before I consciously decided.
Of course she'd be there.
She always went there when she was overwhelmed— she told me that she was really grateful that I showed her this place.
And somehow… I wanted her to find me already there waiting.
When I reached the grassy hill overlooking the water, the sunlight shimmered off the surface in soft silver waves.
And there she was.
Standing alone at the edge. Arms wrapped around herself. Head bowed, still trembling.
My chest cracked open.
I swallowed, stepped forward, and spoke gently — softly enough not to startle her, but loud enough to reach her heart:
"Hey," I said. "Surprise seeing you out here."