Chapter 24: Flatulence and backfired plans
"Why is he always so perfect?!" James muttered under his breath, pacing the dark hallway after school. His frustration had grown over the past few weeks, watching Adrian charm everyone, dominate on the football pitch, and—worst of all—get close to Tessa. James clenched his fists as he remembered how Adrian had brushed him aside so casually, like he was a nobody.
"Today's the day I finally get back at him," James thought, pulling a small vial from his pocket. Inside was a harmless but humiliating laxative. The plan was simple: slip it into Adrian's water bottle during gym class and wait for the magic to happen.
With a smirk, James snuck into the locker room, located Adrian's bottle, and carefully poured in the laxative. He shook the bottle gently, making sure it mixed in thoroughly, then slid back into the shadows to wait for his moment.
---
Gym class began as usual. Adrian, with his easy confidence, seemed to glide through every drill. Adrien, always focused, caught the ball effortlessly during the drills. James couldn't help but fume every time he saw Adrian's calm expression or heard Tessa laugh at something he said.
"Just drink it, already…" James muttered, watching from the sidelines as Adrian reached for his water bottle. Adrian paused for a moment, then, without warning, swapped his bottle with James' as if it was the most natural thing in the world. James blinked, unsure of what had just happened.
"Wait... what?" he whispered to himself, watching as Adrian walked off without so much as glancing in his direction. Too late to stop it now, James took a swig from what he thought was his drink, completely unaware that the tables had been turned.
---
The gym was packed later that day for a school assembly. Students filled the bleachers, talking about the upcoming football final and the regional track event. James sat quietly, his stomach starting to feel a little unsettled, but he brushed it off. He had more important things to focus on—like finally finding a way to humiliate Adrian in front of everyone.
But as the assembly dragged on, the rumbling in James' stomach grew louder, more ominous. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, sweating slightly as the pressure built. His hands clutched his abdomen as a loud, unmistakable gurgle echoed from his belly.
Then it happened.
In the middle of a crowded gym, with the entire school watching, James let out the loudest, most embarrassing flatulence anyone had ever heard. The noise reverberated through the bleachers like a sonic boom. Laughter erupted from every corner of the gym, students clutching their sides, tears streaming down their faces.
Even Ms. Caldwell, sitting on the stage, had to cover her mouth to stop from laughing out loud. Tessa was trying her best not to laugh but failed, her giggles slipping out despite herself.
James' face turned crimson as he bolted from the gym, hands covering his rear. From across the room, Adrian watched calmly, a slight smirk playing on his lips.
"Classic," he muttered under his breath.
---
The final showdown of the Football Championship was only days away, and Riverdale Academy had to prepare for their most challenging opponent yet: Vikings Minor Academy. The Vikings were infamous for their systematic team movements and long ball tactics.
Every coach in the league feared them, and Mr. Thompson, Riverdale's football coach, was no different. He had been working tirelessly to craft a strategy that could counter the Vikings' attack.
With the Peri Inter-Region Competition looming and the final football match against Vikings Minor Academy just days away, tensions were running high. Riverdale Academy had a lot riding on these events, and so did Tessa and Adrian. But even as they prepared for the battles ahead, the storm of jealousy, rivalry, and hidden alien powers swirled beneath the surface.
And somewhere, in the dark recesses of his lair, Mr. Rudbick was watching. He had yet to pinpoint Tessa's exact origin, but his obsession was growing. Soon, he'd have the proof he needed.
But for now, Riverdale Academy stood at the edge of something far greater than just school competitions. They were on the brink of a war they didn't even know was coming.
...
The buildup to the track competition took Riverdale by storm. Everywhere you went, from the grocery store to the town square, people were talking about it.
Fliers with Bridget and Tessa's faces were plastered on every street corner, fence, and bus stop. In some spots, the posters were so thick that if you peeled one off, you'd find three more underneath. The town was buzzing, and everyone had something to say.
In the cafeteria, the students of Riverdale were in rare form, their banter thick in the air like the smell of fried food.
"Look at this," one student snorted, holding up a flyer with Bridget Mills' face plastered on it. "Fiver Academy thinks they got a chance with this 'track queen.' What a joke."
Oxlade, a broad-shouldered guy with a voice louder than a megaphone, pounded the table. "Track queen? More like track...okay, I got nothing, but still! Bridget's just a cheetah, man. Tessa's a freakin' beast. We don't call her the Beast of Riverdale for nothing. She runs faster than sound!"
"Yeah, if Bridget's a cheetah, then Tessa's the entire jungle," another guy added, laughing.
"Please, they're just trying to hype her up. It's all they got," a girl chimed in. "Everyone knows when Tessa steps on that track, the only thing left of Bridget will be her pride—and maybe her shoes."
Oxlade turned, voice swelling with passion. "Listen, the moment Tessa's shoes hit that track, it's game over. I bet Bridget's already at home, asking her mom to book a holiday somewhere far from the shame that's coming."
"Relax, Ox, we all know you've got a thing for Tessa," one of his friends teased, nudging him.
"Oh, shut it, mate," Oxlade shot back, grinning but turning a bit red. "But seriously, we're raising beasts here at Riverdale. Those other schools don't even know what's coming. They'll regret even signing up for this competition."
Meanwhile, in the hallways, students were passing around rumors like wildfire.
"Did you see the videos of Bridget training?" one girl whispered to her friend. "She looks fast, but Tessa's... different."
"Yeah, my brother saw Tessa run at last year's regionals. Said it was like watching a rocket with legs. Bridget doesn't stand a chance."
"I heard Tessa doesn't even use her full speed in practice. She doesn't want to embarrass everyone," someone else chimed in, eyes wide with gossip.
Even the local news was starting to take note, with reporters standing outside the school gates, interviewing students as they walked in.
"So, do you think Tessa has what it takes to win the Peri Inter-Region Competition?" one reporter asked a passing student.
The student didn't miss a beat. "Win? She's going to break records. They'll rename the competition after her when she's done."
...
Back at school, Mr. Joel, Riverdale's track instructor, was in full preparation mode, trying to keep up with the buzzing excitement. "Alright, people, focus! We've got two days until the regional track event, and I don't want any slip-ups. I don't care if you've heard about Bridget Mills or whoever else, this is about Riverdale. We train, we execute, we win."
Ms. Caldwell stood by, watching the scene unfold with a bemused smile on her face. Even she couldn't deny the energy that had gripped the town, but her focus was squarely on Tessa.
Tessa, on the other hand, was trying her best to blend into the background, cheeks flushing from the constant praise. Every time a teacher passed by, they either patted her on the back or whispered,
"We're counting on you, Tessa," with a grin.
At lunch, Ms. Caldwell caught her just as she was about to head outside. "Tessa, my dear, try not to let all of this get to your head. You've got this, but stay grounded."
Tessa smiled shyly. "I'll do my best, Ms. Caldwell."
But it wasn't just Riverdale buzzing about the competition. Over at Fiver Academy, their own camp was equally electric.
Bridget Mills sat confidently, surrounded by her teammates, as their coach, Mr. Henderson, read aloud from his phone. "I've been looking into Tessa's record, and... well, it's scary. She's fast. Unbelievably fast."
Bridget smirked, waving him off. "So what? They can post all the fliers they want. I'm still the fastest human alive. Whatever she's got, I've got more."
Her teammates nodded, but some of them exchanged uneasy glances. "I've heard she's... different," one of them muttered.
Bridget just laughed, tossing her hair back. "Please. She's just a girl. I've trained for this my whole life. She's not going to stop me."
As Bridget scrolled through her phone, her fingers hovered over the post she'd made earlier. It was a bold claim, but she didn't care.
"Watch me dominate the Peri Inter-Region. The rest of you better start stretching because you'll be eating my dust."
The comment section was already buzzing with reactions. Some cheered her on, while others mentioned Tessa, saying things like, "Better watch out for the Beast of Riverdale" or "You've got guts talking like that when Tessa's in the mix."
Bridget didn't care. She was ready to take on anyone.
...
Meanwhile, somewhere in the darker corners of Riverdale's campus, James was busy plotting. He met up with the guy he'd hired to record Tessa.
"Got the footage?" James asked, his voice low.
"Yeah," the guy replied, handing over a memory card. "But you're gonna need to pay me more if you want me to keep risking this."
James smirked, flipping him some cash. "Keep filming. I want everything. Don't worry, the payoff's coming."
The guy looks at James as if he had lost his mind before grabbing the cash and scurring off like an exposed rat.
...
Back at the school, Adrian had started to gather his own share of attention. In the halls, girls whispered and giggled as he walked by, his calm, confident aura drawing stares. Yet, he remained completely unfazed, a god-like indifference written across his face. His thoughts were elsewhere, focused entirely on Tessa.
That afternoon, as they walked to class, Adrian caught up to her, speaking softly. "Hey beautiful, do you know that when you smile, time seems to stop."
Tessa stopped, her cheeks flushing as she turned to him, unsure how to respond.
The words hit her deeply, and for a moment, she was lost in thought.
But before she could say anything, James appeared, frowning as he interrupted their moment. "Hey, what's going on here?"
Adrian just gave him a cool glance, unfazed. "Nothing you'd understand, James."
James narrowed his eyes, feeling the jealousy rise in his chest, but before he could respond, Ms. Caldwell's voice rang out, calling them to class.
The tension hung in the air, but one thing was clear—things were heating up in more ways than one.