CHAPTER 14

ARIENNE CALLOWAY

The moment the whistle blew, my heart leapt into my throat.

Fay and Blair took off, their sneakers pounding against the track as they raced toward the finish line. I was on the edge of my seat, my hands clenched into fists as I silently screamed for them.

"Come on, come on, come on!" I muttered under my breath, bouncing slightly where I stood.

Beside me, Cole was equally invested, leaning forward as if that would somehow make Fay run faster. Zayn, on the other hand? He was standing with his hands stuffed in his varsity jacket, watching way too calmly for the level of chaos happening around us.

"Blair's taking the lead," Cole murmured.

"But Fay's right there," I shot back.

The final stretch was insane. The crowd was roaring, people on their feet as Blair and Fay fought for first place. My heart was pounding, my fingers gripping my hoodie as I held my breath.

And then—

Blair crossed the finish line first.

Fay was right behind her.

For a solid second, my brain didn't process it.

Then, the moment reality hit me—

I RAN.

I ran faster than anyone on that damn track, sprinting towards them like my life depended on it.

"YOU GUYS DID IT!!" I screamed, not even caring how loud I was.

Blair and Fay were gasping for air, bent over slightly, but when they saw me barreling toward them, their faces lit up.

"ARI—" Fay barely got my name out before I crashed into her.

I practically tackled her and Blair into a hug, squeezing them so tight they might've lost more air.

"YOU GUYS WERE INSANE!!" I shouted, still holding onto them.

Fay was wheezing between laughs. "I—CAN'T—BREATHE—"

"GOOD!" I yelled back. "YOU DESERVE TO SUFFER AFTER THAT WIN!"

Blair, still catching her breath, smirked. "I told you we'd win."

I shook them both, absolutely buzzing with excitement. My heart felt like it was gonna explode from pride.

And then—

In my rush of excitement—

I turned—

And hugged Zayn.

...ZAYN.

The moment my arms wrapped around him, my brain short-circuited.

Oh.

OH.

I froze.

Zayn?

ZAYN CARTER?

The guy who barely reacted to anything?

I had just HUGGED HIM?!

My hands jerked back like I had touched a live wire.

Zayn? He just stood there. Completely rigid. His hands had hovered awkwardly in the air, like he was debating whether or not to shove me off.

Cole?

Dying of laughter.

"Did that just happen?" he grinned, looking between us.

I threw my hands up in pure panic. "I—THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT!!"

Zayn blinked, his expression unreadable. "Huh."

I wanted to disappear.

Fay, still catching her breath, looked at me with pure amusement. "Ari. Babe. Are you hugging random people now?"

Oh my god.

To save myself from further embarrassment, I whipped around and—

Hugged two random people from the medical tent.

"EVERYONE GETS HUGS!" I declared, my voice a little too high.

Fay wheezed. "I LOVE EXCITED ARI."

Blair smirked. "This is officially the best day ever."

Cole was still dying. "Zayn, man. You got a free hug. How's it feel?"

Zayn just... stared at me.

And the worst part?

I couldn't tell if he was amused or completely done with me.

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