Jeremiah accidentally stepped on the back of his heels as they ran around the university and the city for the end of their morning practice. At least Angel thought it was an accident until it happened again. And again. And then again.

          "Dude, stop fucking around"

          He only grinned, ignoring him and pretending to be training, "What?"

          And then again.

          "Why are you running behind me anyway?" Angel moved next to him but the other swerved to stay behind him.

          "Jeremiah. What're you doing?"

          "Trying to get you to run faster. Race me"

          He internally groaned, "Just go around me. I don't need a chaperone. Just 'cause I'm runnin' slow ain't mean you need to, too"

          And then he clipped his heels again nearly taking his shoe off.

          "Jeremiah, quit it"

          "Then go faster"

          "Pass me"

          "Fine, I'll just do something else then" Quickly he lifted the back of Angel's athletic long sleeve just enough to stick his hands in and jabbed his sides with his fingers. It drew out a yelp and involuntary laughter from Angel, and made him go a little faster to escape him.

          Through breaths and laughing, Angel forced out, "I'm gonna fuckin' kill you when we're done"

          He didn't stop until Angel had enough and decided to give it more steam. They got odd stares from their teammates as they watched Jeremiah try to grab Angel.

          Caught back up to the front, Angel was too busy avoiding Jeremiah's arms to notice how fast and far he'd gone.

          "Dude, stop!"

          As they closed in on the school's football track, Jeremiah struggled to reach him anymore with neither his arms or his shoes. Exactly what he wanted. It never hurt him to know Angel was a little better than him. It hurt him knowing Angel didn't want to show people that.

          When they rejoin the coach, he still doesn't quit. Jeremiah wrapped his arms around Angels torso tightly, picked him up and playfully shook him around. "Yeahhhh, let's go!"

          Coach Brian slapped his shoulder once the other let him back down and gave him a compliment, "Nice work, Angel. That's what I like to see"

           Angel glared at the other, although happy to receive recognition.

          "Alright, relax" said the coach tossing styrofoam rollers out as the rest of the team finished and gathered in front of him on the ground, "This is important. The student government body is helping us meet our community service requirement with the annual Valentine's Day charity race. Reminder for the new boys that I'm not going to require all of you to do it. Just ten"

          There are synchronized, disapproving complaints and whines from all of them.

          "It'll be a short race. Quick one and done. There'll be a bake sale, gift baskets n' shit. All you have to do is participate. Either help set up, run, or be there. Invite friends, family, whoever. Volunteers?"

          Jeremiah wrapped an arm around Angel and pulled him close, "We'll do it"

          "Two. Eight more" Angel jabbed him in the stomach for signing him up for something he didn't know about.

          A few more volunteers and the coach finished writing down all the names of the runners to give to the Student Council President.

          "Why are people hesitatin'?" He muttered quietly to Jeremiah.

          "Cause people bet money on the winner. And if they guess right, they win a date with one of us. And it's just a lotta of work"

          Angel's lips parted open. But then he realized that no one would pick him. He was safe. He was new so not too many people knew who he was. Surely no one would pick a stranger just based on looks alone. One of their girlfriends would probably win the draw.

          In the locker room Jeremiah changed next to him. He pulled his shirt off and leaned closer to Angel to talk to his ear, "Will you try in this race?"

          He shied away and pulled his t-shirt over his head to shield it, "Maybe"

          "It's not because it's the Valentine's Day race?"

          "No. Nothin' to do with it"

          "Then give it a go. It's not even a real competition. Just us and some volunteers. How funny would it be if they bet on whatever prick and you win? You have an easy shot"

          "No"

          "Please, man. What do I have to do to get you to show them?"

          Jeremiah had dimples that made him look kind of like Prince Naveen. He smiled hopefully, showing themselves in the way that hit Angel's boiling point and Angel grimaced trying to stop himself from just spitting out yes, "We'll see"

          "Progress. Okay. I'll take it. But I ain't droppin' the subject" Jeremiah pulled his hoodie on and when his head popped out of the hood he was grinning again like he was proud of him, "I'll get you to race me, Ángel"