The Elites

Chapter 4

"Nash!" Caiden exclaimed, running towards him. "Finally! I found you."

Caiden slid to a stop in front of Nash and he bent over and held his knees. He heaved and Nash rolled his eyes. "Dude, the sports haven't even begun. Save your energy."

"I really need to go to the gym more," Caiden groaned.

Nash shook his head and soon, he spotted Chloe farther away. She stood with Sophia who chatted away with her wild gestures. Chloe listened attentively, her big, green eyes wide with wonder.

"Let's go to Chloe," Caiden said, amused. "Since you're so mesmerized by her."

Nash scowled at Caiden who laughed. He shook his head and together, they made their way to Chloe and Sophia.

"Sophia! Chloe!" Caiden called. "What's up?"

"Hey, Caiden," Sophia said.

Her eyes grew gentle on Caiden. Unlike on Nash, where they'd look as if they wanted to burn him alive with annoyance, Sophia's eyes were full of care on Caiden. Looking to Chloe then, Nash tensed when she smiled at him. His eyes darted away immediately.

"What should we do first?" Caiden asked.

"Let's do a race!" Sophia said. "All of us against each other."

"Perfect," Nash smirked. "I'm sure I can beat Chloe at that."

Sophia rolled her eyes. "Nash, you've been trying for two years now and you can't. You're going to lose."

Nash scoffed and Sophia narrowed her eyes at him. Sophia and Nash didn't have any bad blood necessarily, but Sophia was never scared to tell him off.

"We'll see." Nash looked to Chloe. "You ready?"

"Of course."

Nash let out a sigh and stalked off to the track and Chloe, Caiden and Sophia followed him. It was empty, other than a few students who stood off the track, and they all settled into spots along it. Nash stood in the middle, Chloe to his left, Caiden on his right, and next to Chloe was Sophia. They all stood straight, ready to race to the finish line that was guarded by one of the professors, Mr. Smith.

"Ready?" Mr. Smith yelled, meters away.

"Yes!" Nash shouted.

"Okay. Ready, set, go!"

They all bolted forward and ran towards the finish line. Nash pushed himself forward with all his might, forcing himself to go faster and faster; overextending his legs to use all their strength to beat Chloe. And for a moment, he was ahead of her. Meters ahead - his height an advantage. He grinned.

However, the closer he came to the finish line, the closer Chloe came to his side. Her blonde hair flew back, long and wavy, and her green eyes were full of life. Pushing himself harder, Nash tried his best to beat her, but slowly, she crept further and further in front of him, until it was too late. At the very last second, using her small legs to push herself faster, she crossed the finish line only a few inches ahead of Nash.

He scowled and stomped. How? How had he lost with only a few inches to spare.

"I don't get how you guys run so fast," Sophia said, panting heavily.

Sophia came last and she bent over to catch her breath. Caiden looked ready to pass out, but he came third and he was also bent over heaving. Nash scowled, unable to believe he lost to Chloe. It didn't make sense. She was like half his height.

"Told you," Sophia said, once she caught her breath.

She straightened up and smirked at Nash. He huffed. Lifting his head up, he marched off, but the rest of them followed closely behind.