Part 11: Unfinished Business

The air buzzed with excitement and anticipation as the team gathered for the big meet at the home turf. Athletes from all over the state milled about, some going through their pre-race rituals, other chatting casually, but all of them focused on the competition ahead. It was one of those days where everything felt charged, like anything could happen.

Raylynn sat at a table in the dining hall, picking at her lunch while her mind was already on the track. Paige was across from her, scrolling through her phone, while Ya'haree, their teammate and a distance runner, was finishing up her meal. 

"Coach wants us sprinters to meet after lunch," Raylynn said, breaking the silence. "He doesn't want anyone late for warm-ups."

"Good idea," Ya'haree nodded, pushing her plate aside. "It's going to be a tough day. Better to be ready."

Paige didn't say much, just nodded as she glanced up. But Raylynn noticed her attention was elsewhere. She was watching the entrance, her eyes narrowing as Imani's team walked in. Raylynn kept her gaze on her food, refusing to be distracted.

"Imani's here," Paige said quietly, as if Raylynn needed reminding.

Raylynn didn't respond. She knew Imani was there. She could feel her presence, a tension in the air that had nothing to do with the meet. It was more than just rivalry; it was unfinished business that had followed them from high school all the way to college.

They finished their meals in silence, each of them lost in their own thoughts. Raylynn was already thinking about her warm-ups, the drills she needed to run through before her first event. As they headed to the indoor track, the sounds of athletes warming up followed the air, a symphony of movement and focus.

Raylynn quickly feel into her routine, jogging lightly around the track before moving on to stretches and drills. It was her way of tuning out the world, focusing solely on the races ahead. Zephaniah joined her, the two of them working through their warm-ups  together.

"You good?" Zephaniah asked as they finished a set of sprints.

"Always," Raylynn replied, her tone as steady as ever. But just as they were about to move on, someone bumped into her--hard.

Raylynn stumbled but caught herself before she fell. Zephaniah was at her side in an instant, his expression concerned. "You okay?"

Raylynn nodded, irritation bubbling beneath her calm exterior. They both turned to see who had bumped into her so harshly, and her heart sank  when she recognized the culprit: Emanuel, Imani's boyfrien. The same guy who had been a thorn in her side since high school.

Emanuel didn't apologize, just sneered as he looked at Raylynn. The old animosity flared up, memories of their last fight flashing in Raylynn's mind. She had tried to leave that part of herself behind, the anger and the fights, but seeing Emanuel brought it all back.

"Watch were you going," Zephaniah snapped, stepping forward. Raylynn grabbed his arm, a silent warning, but it was too late. Emanuel heard him and turned back, eyes narrowing.

"What did you say?" Emmanuel's voice was low, dangerous.

Zephaniah didn't back down. "I said you're rude. You bumped into her and didn't even apologize."

Raylynn could feel the tension rising, the situation spiraling out of control. She didn't like Emanuel, never had. He always felt threatened by her, by her closeness to Imani, and now here they were, ready to go at it again.

The anger simmered in her, her pulse quickening. Emanuel's words were like gasoline to a fire. "You think you're so tough," he sneered. "But you're just pathetic. Couldn't even get Imani, could you?"

Raylynn's vision blurred with rage. She wanted to swing at him, to wipe that smug look off his face, but she held herself back, fists clenched at her sides. She was seeing red, barely holding onto her self-control. The words hit hard because they carried the weight of the past, of everything that had happened with Imani.

Paige rushed over, sensing the danger, and stepped between them. "Enough," she said sharply, pushing Emanuel back. "We're not doing this here."

But Emanuel wasn't done. "You should give up, Raylynn. You're nothing. You'll always be nothing."

Raylynn's breath hitched, the words cutting deep. She wanted to retaliate, to fight back, but Paige's hand on her shoulder kept her grounded. The tension between them was palpable, drawing the attention of nearby athletes, coaches, and staff.

Emanuel smirked one last time before turning away, leaving Raylynn seething. Paige kept her hand on Raylynn's shoulder, grounded her, keeping her from doing something she might regret.

"Let it go, Ray," Paige said softly, her voice firm but understanding. "He's not worth it."

Raylynn took a deep breath, forcing the anger down. She nodded, though it took everything in her not to chase after Emanuel and finish what he had started. But she couldn't let him get to her, not today. Not when she has so much more to focus on.

The tension from the altercation lingered as the meet continued but Raylynn tried to push it to the back of her mind. Her team had some strong finishes in their events, but the real test came during the 400 meters. Raylynn lined up, her focus entirely on the race blocking out the noise and the memory of Emanuel's taunts.

The race started, and Raylynn shot out of the blocks, her legs pumping with power and precision. She was ahead, feeling the adrenaline surge as she pushed herself harder, faster. But as she rounded the final curve, something happened. From the corner of her eye, she saw a figure int he audience make a sudden move, and then she felt it--a sharp pain in her ankle as she was tripped, sending her crashing to the track.

The collision was brutal, taking down the runners behind her as well. Pain shot through her leg as she hit the ground, her momentum gone, her race over. The stadium erupted in gasps and shouts, the chaos of the moment overwhelming.

Raylynn looked up, dazed and in pain, to see Imani watching from the sidelines. Their eyes met, and Raylynn saw the shock in Imani's expression. But she also saw something else--anger, concern, and maybe even regret. 

Zephaniah was at her side in an instant, helping her up, checking if she was okay. Paige was there too, looking furious and scared. This wasn't just a race anymore; it was something darker, something more personal.

As the officials gathered to assess the situation, the realization hit Raylynn like a ton of bricks. Someone had done this on purpose. Someone had wanted to take her out of the race. And the worse part? It had worked. The entire heat was disqualified, and Raylynn's chance of victory was stolen from her.

Paige looked at Raylynn with a mixture of sympathy and anger. "Ray, we need to figure out who did this. This wasn't an accident."

But Raylynn's mind was elsewhere, replaying the moment over and over. Her body hurt, but it was nothing compared to the frustration boiling inside her. The meet wasn't over, but for Raylynn, it felt like it was.

Imani's tam had a hand in this, Raylynn was sure of it. But who? And why? The questions would haunt her long after the meet ended, long after the pain in her ankle subsided.

As she limped off the track, supported by her friends, Raylynn knew one thing for sure: this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

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