"What the hell is he doing here?!"

Kevin had told Michael not to aggravate her so he was currently giving Kevin his best "she's starting it" look.

Kevin chuckled, turning to Willow. "Well, he asked to come and I doubt your coach has seen him. He could be like the guy in the spy movies that checks if the coast is clear first."

Willow didn't look convinced but she couldn't resist a jab. "He does seem expendable."

"That's funny because I was thinking the same thing about you on the way over," he shot back.

"Guys," Kevin hissed. 

Their rising tones were attracting unwanted attention from curious Woodlane High students. They currently stood right outside of the school and getting caught before even stepping foot inside of it would be an embarrassing failure of their little mission.

Michael wore his usual colorful t-shirt and jeans combo with the words 'Made for this' sprawled across the middle while Kevin, wary of being recognized sported shades, a hat, and some uncharacteristic baggy jeans instead of his usual sweatpants.

Kevin often laughed at the simple costumes people came up with in movies but he had to admit, just a simple wardrobe change had him feeling like an entirely different person.

"Right, let's get you guys inside before this dunderhead attracts questions," Willow said.

"Such are the struggles of being attractive," Michael said in a sing-song voice before following Kevin and Willow.

Michael had asked Kevin to tag along though he didn't understand what Kevin meant about watching her train and was convinced Kevin was simply trying to spend more time with her. Although Kevin vehemently denied that was the reason he had to admit it was a great added bonus.

Willow led them down the school's corridor which didn't look much different than Eastwood's. The atmosphere did feel more festive than the average Eastwood morning, however, with a lot of students talking animatedly with their friends. Willow had suggested that they come in the morning rather than in the evening when it would be harder to go unnoticed. 

Of course, Michael didn't know how to keep a low profile as he blatantly eyed any semi good-looking girl they passed and quite a few girls' eyes lingered in response. 

Finally, Willow led them to an unpopulated room that resembled a small classroom but judging by the many boxes and bags was now used as a storage room.

"This is where you guys will stay until lunchtime. No one comes in here and even if a janitor does they'll just think that you're skipping class and it's not their business."

"I wish our janitors were like that," Michael commented.

"Not like you ever skip class anyway," Kevin pointed out.

"Don't remind me. This mission is making me wish I started doing it sooner."

"Stop calling this a mission," Willow said. "I still hardly get the point of this anyway."

Michael wagged an eyebrow in Kevin's direction. "Oh really? It seems obvious to me."

"We'll be fine here," Kevin said quickly before Michael's big mouth gave Willow the wrong idea.

She nodded. "Alright. I'll come back and carry you guys to the track after lunch is over."

Kevin and Michael held up thumbs up and Willow cast them one last look before leaving with the school bell's shrill ringing punctuating her departure. Kevin realized that it was the first time he had seen Willow not in some sort of track outfit. She wore a sports jacket with a crop top poking out paired with a modest sweatpants.

Michael gave Kevin a sly look. "That's oughta be the longest stare you've ever given a girl."

Kevin rolled his eyes. "Shut up, man."

Kevin had to admit, Michael's ability to never run out of topics to talk about came in handy when you were staking out in a storage room for a few hours. Had he been alone he would've been bound to die of boredom after catching up with his Youtube feed. Instead, he found himself talking about topics that stretched as far as the show Bojack Horseman to books like the Dark Tower Saga and gossip like Ana De Armas' dating life. 

In what felt like no time at all, Willow was once again coming through the door as he and Michael snacked on their lunch. Michael had brought an unhealthy-looking box of loaded fries which enticed Kevin's eyes with its greasy temptations. Sadly, Kevin had to pry his eyes from the calorie nuke and instead focus on his neatly packed salad and tuna wrap, which was tasty in its own right but it certainly didn't pack a punch like cheese fries.

Willow sighed, her eyes betraying fatigue. "Hurry up so we can get out there before the PE group."

"Have you never heard not a rush a dainty eater," Michael, who was anything but one, said.

"You ok?" Kevin asked her as they both ignored Michael's comment. "You seem tired."

"My social battery is blinking red."

Kevin blinked. 

"Woah," Michael said in between a large mouthful.

It was something that Kevin had said countless times before himself. Michael always laughed and said that he was only making excuses but it felt real. The feeling of being around so many personalities, some clearly faked to come across as cooler and the like took a toll on his mind when trapped in such a situation like school did.

And it seemed like it was the same for Willow.

"What?" She asked as the two stared at her.

"Nothing," Kevin said quickly before taking the last bite of his lunch. "I'm ready."

They looked to Michael who wolfed down the remainder of his lunch impressively fast. 

"If only you could run as fast as you eat you wouldn't be getting kicked out of the athlete areas," Willow said, turning away and walking out of the room before Michael could respond.

"My face really seems to be a target for her," Michael said as the door shut behind her.

Kevin chuckled. "She just hasn't gotten to know you yet, but at the moment your appearance represents exactly the type of athletes she hates."

"Great."

Willow led them to the stands that overlooked the track and field. They got some questioning looks from passing teachers but none stopped them or bothered to follow through on their curiosity.

"Try to avoid sitting behind the caution tape section this time, hurdler," Willow said with a slight smirk.

"No promises."

"Practice starts about ten minutes after school finishes so you won't have to wait for long after you hear the final bell."

"Sounds good," Kevin replied.

Again Michael and Kevin found themselves waiting patiently but this time they had a PE class happening on the track to watch. Michael, ever the expert at not keeping a low profile, even managed to convince the gym teacher to let him participate in a race. 

It was hilarious to watch Michael compete in the 400 meters against quite a few athletes from the track team. Michael was by no means unfit despite his questionable diet and even still, by the 300-meter mark he was clearly gassed, his speed slipping with each stride as the track athletes pulled away. Still, he managed to beat the four nonathletes which Kevin guessed counted for something.

He rejoined Kevin in the stands huffing up a storm. "That just proved that my place is truly in the stands."

Soon after the bell rang signaling the end of classes and true to Willow's word, approximately ten minutes later the track team started arriving. Kevin pulled his hat lower and adjusted his shades, avoiding eye contact with any of them.

"Would you even actually get in trouble if you got caught?" Michael asked, watching his efforts with an amused smirk.

"Probably not, but it would mean I failed the stealth mission."

A big grin adorned Michael's face. "I like the way you're starting to think."

The practice surprisingly started punctually with the coaches and track team reporting to the middle of the field after a swift changing period. They then started with some traditional warmup laps which most people seemed to be horsing around in. Unsurprisingly, Willow stood out, not just because of her petite build, but also because of the seriousness in her demeanor as she ran.

Next came stretches, something that Kevin expected Willow to barely participate in due to their shared hate of it. Instead, she seemed particularly immersed in the stretching regime, even going the extra mile when everyone was finished and doing extra stretches. There was a whole different aura around her than before races.

Michael, having decided that watching the warmups had lost its excitement, left to do God knows what on the school grounds, leaving Kevin to observe alone.

Not that he was complaining. Someone less obsessed with track and field wasn't able to truly appreciate the artistry of training, where the blocks were built to succeed, and as Kevin inspected Willow it was obvious why she was able to achieve the speeds she did. 

The intensity she trained with was impressive, even to the hardworking Kevin who found himself impressed by the care she displayed. When she finally started her sprints after her long stretching session, she didn't go all out but instead seemed to focus on keeping her form.

As Kevin watched Willow's meticulous training he realized what he had subconsciously sought in coming here. 

Motivation.

It was crazy to think that he of all people could be lacking motivation, but the losses had hit him like a freight train, draining him more than he had realized. Now, he was willing to try Willow's way in hopes of not feeling that way ever again.

The practice finished an hour later, totaling two hours in total but Willow stayed after everyone left, running extra laps alone. Another person would've seemed lonely running around the track by their lonesome as she was, but not Willow. Rather, she seemed at her happiest. 

Convinced that her coach wouldn't be doubling back, Kevin made his way down from the stands and came down for a closer look.

"Wanna join me, hurdler?" Willow asked when she saw him at the finishing line.

Kevin scratched his head, surprised by the question. "You sure? I don't want to show you up on your home ground."

Willow rolled her eyes. "Everything isn't a race, Kevin. These are cooldown laps where you just enjoy the elements and being able to run freely. It's one of the greatest privileges, after all."

Kevin couldn't argue with that logic.

"Ok," Kevin said, prying off his baggy jeans and removing his hat. Though Kevin hadn't planned on running today, he had shorts under his jeans just in case.

He settled into a trot next to Willow, matching her cruising pace. At first, it felt completely odd running next to someone and not trying to gain the upper hand but it didn't take long for the evening breeze to sweep away Kevin's last thoughts of competition.

The sun lazily peeked out from the horizon, offering the last rays of its dimming sunshine before the time came to give way fully to the night, painting an auburn sheet on the track. Even when Kevin trained and allowed himself to appreciate the thrill of the run, he never coasted at such a low speed like this so the sensation he felt was new...and exhilarating.

It was like he had been forcing the wind to obey his command, beckoning it toward him under the will of his speed but now, the wind flowed toward him sweetly -- singing a lullaby against his skin.

The two continued in silence, the only proof of their existence in their light steps.

Kevin looked over at Willow next to him. The wind caught her hair just right so the sunlight streamed through it, creating an image of Willow against the sunset that would make Picasso proud.

Kevin drew in a breath. 

Surely, she was an ange-

"Race you to the finish line!"

She darted off as they reached the 100-meter mark leaving Kevin to collect his bearings before bolting after the speedster with a shake of his head.

Running had never been so fun.