The corridors once happy and cheerful are now trapped in a tense atmosphere. Students who are normally chatting excitedly are frantically trying to get to their next class in hopes of avoiding the tense atmosphere created by Liam and Camila. They broke up, as I heard before. I don't necessarily appreciate the atmosphere left behind but I do get a weird sense of satisfaction knowing Camila was the one to dump him. It's also satisfying to know this happened the week before the final football game, which happens to be the day before prom... Which also means the annual running competition is this Saturday. 

Wow I actually forgot about that due to the stress, at least that explains why Mr Bowman is ushering me to his room as if his life depends on it.

"Hello Mr Bowman?"

He smiles apologetically, "Hello Raven, sorry for the rush. I needed someone to help me count the money raised from the bake sale and considering you're the next captain..."

"I'm the what?"

"You're the next captain. I wasn't meant to let you know but after the last few months I thought you could use a confidence boost."

"Giving me an A on that latest maths paper would give me a real confidence boost."

He laughs and says, "Nice try Raven, nice try."

                                                                                   ***

Stepping out of Issac's car, where most people are freaking out, I decide to calmly walk over with Issac and dad.

"Raven I thought you would be late!"

Dad looks around puzzled before turning to Mr Bowman, "Why is everyone running around like mad?"

"Because everyones' stressed... Except for Raven apparently."

Issac chuckles, "Just give everyone a job to do, they won't have time to think."

"Thank you, I now understand where Raven's calm nature comes from."

As Mr Bowman barks out orders, making sure to catch those who are most nervous first, dad and Issac turn to me.

"I know we won't be able to speak to you until after so just know that Issac and I are so proud of you... We will also be in the crowd trying to be as embarrassing as possible."

"Thanks dad... Please don't do that." Dad and Issac just laugh and go to their car.

As I help some freshman load gear onto the bus I feel eyes on me. Not the warm gaze that Noah used to give me but an icy glare in which I can't help but shiver under. Turning around I see a person hiding behind the walls of the school. I am absolutely scared to go there - I haven't been there since that day - but of course I fall under the spell main characters fall under:

They get a weird urge to get into danger.

So I of course sneak away from everyone else to follow the hooded figure. Peering around I go towards the figure. They notice me and remove their hood.

Samuel.

"Hello?"

"Look how far you've fallen Raven."

"Excuse me?"

It's only now that I take a proper look at Samuel. Purple bags hang under his pale blue eyes. He speaks sluggishly and almost maliciously while fiddling with his bony hands.

"If you dated me this all wouldn't have happened... Now you're pathetic."

I shiver slightly at the words before replying, "So I should've dated you even though you made me feel so uncomfortable then?"

"I never made you feel uncomfortable!"

"I think you're mistaken. If he says he was uncomfortable then he was uncomfortable." A familiar voice says.

As a hand lays on my shoulder I turn my head, "Noah?"

"As if you can say anything. You believed that random sophomore over someone as amazing as Raven?"

"Don't you mean 'pathetic'?" I question.

Noah takes my hand and I can't bring myself to let go, "Unlike you I realise that I made a mistake and I was going to apologise. Imagine my surprise to see him being harassed."

"Harassed!"

I say, "Let's go, we need to leave soon."

Not allowing either of them to say anything in retort I tighten my hand in Noah's and drag him with me. As we go back to the others I release his hand and begin to step onto the bus. A hand holds onto mine.

"Raven Avery Winters. I love you." He says and when I turn back to him in surprise I can see tears gathering in his eyes, "I haven't treated you like you deserve to be treated and for that I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive myself. I'm so sorry. Will you take me back?"

"It took you long enough." I say while jumping into his arms. As we kiss the cheers of the other runners fades into the background. As if its just us against the world just like before. Quietly so that the others don't hear I say, "I love you to but that was very cliché."

He chuckles and guides me to two empty seats on the bus, "Yes but you loved it, just admit it."

In response I just melt into him allowing myself to relax. He puts his arm around me and hands me an earphone. Guns and Roses. Looking out at the blurry trees and cars I know that everything is going to be ok.

                                                                                      ***

Stepping out of the bus Noah and I head over to Mr Bowman. Considering he took so long to apologise the least he can do is let me cling to him for awhile... I say that but he was the one to hook his arm around my waist when we got off.

"Ah it looks like you two have sorted everything out again." He says while smiling, "How are you feeling about today Raven."

"Calm."

"Would you mind speaking to the group of first years that you seem to have taken under your wing? They look like they may throw up."

"Sure thing." I say. Noah and I smile at Mr Bowman and we head over to the freshmen.

"Hey guys, excited?" Noah asks as if it isn't obvious they're extremely nervous.

Surprisingly it's Ryan who answers first, "More nervous." The others just simply nod in agreement, they must be full of nerves the poor things.

I put my arms around Ryan and Elias and say, "Fair enough, most in your position are extremely nervous. What's important to remember is that you do this pretty much everyday, we all know how serious Mr Bowman is about his schedule after all."

The freshman laugh and Noah continues, "It will all be fine. You lot are good at running. Just stay focused and enjoy it."

"Thanks guys. We're gonna win!" Levi shouts while putting his arms around Noah and Gabriel.

I laugh, "No problem." I take a second to look at our group. This year was surprisingly hard but we got through it. I said it at the start and I'll say it again: I got lucky with these people.

I just wish Camila was here to.

As Mr Bowman begins to call the freshman to warm up and get ready we say our goodbyes, Noah and I head over to our schools area to watch the races.

At the event there are different races and each school has two runners for each. For example I always do the 1500m which is the longest. The others are 100m, 200m and 800m. The only exception is the relay race where each school has four runners.

The 100m sprint is first and from our seats I can faintly see Levi and a sophomore preparing to run. As they line up at the starting line I can feel the anticipation in the stands. The reason why I never get scared is because of the anticipation and excitement which always graces the crowds as they watch.

The race begins and in a blur it ends.

Levi came second but our sophomore won.

As he comes back over to the stands I go over and wrap my arms around him, "How was that then?"

"That was the best thing I've ever done!" Levi shouts causing myself, Noah and the seniors around us to laugh.

I let him go and go back to Noah as Jason comes over with Oliver, "Well done Levi, second for a freshman is amazing."

"Thanks!" Levi says before joining us once again at our seats along with Elias, Adrian and Gabriel.

Ryan and I are similar in many ways which is why most were surprised when Ryan said he preferred sprinting. As he goes to the starting line for the 200m race with a senior the rest of us are on the edge of our seats... Quite literally considering Adrian had to catch Elias before he fell off the chair.

"So why were we not as tense for the 100m?" Noah asks.

Elias answers, "Because Ryan is the only one out of us who has never competed in one of these events."

"Wait really?" I question because most people have competed at least once before joining our team.

"He refused to before because he always got extremely anxious. This year he decided to do it no mater how nervous he was." Gabriel said.

The race starts as he finishes his response. Ryan ends up third. We congratulate him and and lift him in the air - much to his embarrassment. Then in the 800m race Elias comes third while one of our seniors comes first.

"Wow our school is doing extremely well. When Will was boasting I thought he was exaggerating." Noah says in surprise.

I smile, "There's a reason we all respect Mr Bowman. He knows what he's doing."

Speaking of Mr Bowman he calls me over, "You're up in five minutes so go on over. Good luck."

"Thanks Mr Bowman."

I head over to the starting line and begin to stretch. I then go over to the starting line... Only to see Atlas. I forgot he was doing the same race as me. Normally Mr Bowman would've told him that he wasn't allowed to race but he had already submitted the names, I also told Mr Bowman to let him race. After all I'm determined to win.

He looks over at me from his place beside me while I look forwards, no point letting him break my concentration.

The race then starts.