Chapter 28: Storms and Struggles
The minutes after Tessa's earth-shattering victory, the town of Riverdale was buzzing like never before.
The streets, cafes, and even classrooms were filled with non-stop chatter about the race.
Posters of Tessa and Bridget had flooded the town, covering every available surface. They were on street poles, shop windows, and even people's car bumpers, all proclaiming one simple truth: Tessa was faster than sound.
The event had become the topic of every conversation, the news spreading like wildfire.
At the heart of Riverdale Academy, a group of students sat in the lunch hall, still high on the excitement from the race. Karl, as usual, was in the middle of it all, basking in the afterglow of Riverdale's triumph.
"I'm telling you, that was a once-in-a-lifetime race. Did you see how she just left them in the dust?" Karl shouted, waving his hands wildly as he mimicked Tessa's acceleration. "It's like she just pressed 'fast-forward' on herself in the midst of everyone!"
"I don't think the rest of them even finished the race," another student chimed in. "They're probably still out there trying to figure out what happened."
The laughter that followed was contagious, spilling across the lunchroom as students made jokes and exaggerated their retellings of the race.
It wasn't just about Tessa anymore; it was the whole energy surrounding the Peri inter-region competition.
--
Over at one of the far tables, a group of students was locked in debate about the next event. Bridget Mills, despite her bruised pride, was still being talked about, though the tone was much different now.
"Bridget is fast, but let's be honest, she didn't stand a chance against Tessa," one student said, scrolling through comments on his phone.
"Yeah, but she's not backing down," his friend replied, pointing to a new post from Bridget herself. The bold caption read: "The race was nothing. Wait till you see what I do next."
A murmur spread through the table as they read Bridget's words. Confidence wasn't lacking on her end. Some even called it arrogance, but one thing was for sure—Bridget wasn't about to fade quietly.
"Is she for real? After that beating?" Karl laughed as he looked over his shoulder. "Maybe someone should tell her that Tessa didn't even use her full speed."
"That's because no one survives Tessa's full speed," one of the girls added with a grin. "She's like a superhero or something!"
--
Even more students from other schools had also started trickling into Riverdale for the coming Relay, their own athletes were getting ready for the next round of competitions.
Each school had its superstar, and the rivalry was only growing more intense by the day. Fliers of the top athletes, including Bridget, were spreading through the town like a hurricane.
As they fluttered in the wind, some found it impossible not to get caught up in the madness.
One flier depicted a towering runner from Hazelwood High, a boy known for his incredible endurance.
Another showed Ivy Rivers from Crescent Heights Academy, a mecurial sprinter and long-jumper whose leap had shattered the previous regional record.
Then there was Vincent Storm from Oakridge high, known for his deadly sprint in the 200m, his photo plastered across various sports blogs.
--
In the local cafes and bus stops, the older folks were deep in conversation as well.
"I've never seen anything like that race. The way Tessa moved—like she had rocket boosters strapped to her feet."
"I'm telling you, that girl is going places. But mark my words, it won't be easy. That Bridget kid from Fiver Academy isn't going to let her take the spotlight."
"Pffft. Spotlight? Bridget couldn't even catch a glimpse of her yesterday!"
--
But even amid all the buzz and excitement, not everyone was content. James, standing with his father, Mr. Rudbick, was seething inside.
He couldn't bear to see Tessa getting all the glory, and the jealousy he harbored toward Adrian was beginning to eat him alive.
The two of them stood by the track field, a quiet tension between them as Mr. Rudbick's sharp eyes followed Tessa. The students had begun to clear the field for the next round of competition.
"You're running out of time, James," Mr. Rudbick said coolly, his gaze fixed on the girl. "She's becoming more than just a local star. Soon, everyone will want a piece of her. If you don't act now, you'll be left behind."
James clenched his fists, his jaw tight as he watched Tessa talking to Adrian from a distance. "I know, Dad. I'm working on it."
Mr. Rudbick's lips curled into a thin smile, one filled with malice. "Then work faster. We need her gone before the finals."
--
Across the field, a small group of girls passed by, giggling amongst themselves as they caught sight of Adrian..
"Do you think he'll ever run for Riverdale?" one of them whispered.
"I wish! Can you imagine? He'd break the track, let alone the records," another said dreamily.
"Why's he always standing on the sidelines, though?" one asked. "I mean, we know he's good at football, but surely he could—"
Ms. Caldwell's voice cut through their conversation as she approached. "Because Adrian doesn't need to be the center of attention all the time," she said with a wink, though her tone was serious.
"He knows when to step back and let others shine."
The girls nodded, slightly embarrassed, before hurrying off, leaving Ms. Caldwell to smile to herself.
Adrian's true strength was in his restraint. He was far more than the students realized, and while Tessa dominated the track, Adrian was content to let her have the spotlight—for now.
--
The Peri Inter-Region competition was buzzing louder than ever, with the 100 and 200-meter races already behind them. The time was now drawing near for the relay, and the tension in Riverdale's camp was palpable.
It was just after 10 a.m. when Tessa had left Bridget and the other stars in her dust, securing an easy victory in the 100 meters.
--
By 11 a.m., just as Riverdale fans began to gloat, tensions boiled over between the supporters of Riverdale and Fiver Academy. A group of Fiver fans, led by Bridget's loud-mouthed cousin, Josh, decided they'd had enough of Riverdale's smugness.
"Maybe if your beast was human, we could have a fair race," Josh sneered as he squared off against Oxlade.
Oxlade smirked, "Awww, is that jealousy I smell? Or is it the stench of another loss for Fiver Academy?"
Before anyone could blink, punches were thrown, and the entire stadium seemed to erupt into chaos. Fists, elbows, and insults flew like confetti.
It was supposed to be an easy beatdown for the Fiver fans, who outnumbered Oxlade, Karl, and the small Riverdale crew. But then something strange happened.
There was a blur, and In the blink of an eye, the tides turned.
One moment, Oxlade was about to take a fist to the face, and in the next, his attacker was sent sprawling to the ground. Then another, and another, all dispatched in rapid succession. Only Oxlade and Karl caught a glimpse of the blur—a streak of movement so fast it was almost impossible to see.
"Was that... Adrian?" Karl asked Oxlade in a low tone, blinking as he saw a figure disappearing into the distance.
Oxlade nodded, his eyes wide. "It was. The dude just saved our hides and vanished like the wind."
The other fans were clueless as to how the tables had turned so quickly, chalking it up to good luck or Oxlade's sudden burst of strength. But Karl and Oxlade knew better. Adrian was far more than he let on. They exchanged a silent glance, vowing to keep the incident between themselves.
---
By noon, just an hour after the fight, the skies began to darken. Heavy clouds rolled in, threatening to ruin the day. Riverdale's chemistry teacher, Mr. Hartwell, stood under the bleachers, watching the approaching storm with a smug grin. He turned to the football coach, Mr. Thompson, who was trying to juggle an umbrella and his clipboard.
"Rain got you scared, Thompson?" Mr. Hartwell teased. "Better make sure your hair doesn't frizz up."
Thompson, not one for witty comebacks, shrugged and opened his umbrella with a determined look. Just as he stepped out into the light drizzle, he spotted Ms. Caldwell standing nearby without any cover. Without thinking, he hurried over to her, shielding her from the rain with his umbrella.
Ms. Caldwell, taken aback by the gesture, smiled softly. "Thank you, Mr. Thompson."
Thompson's heart was racing faster than Tessa on the track, and before he could stop himself, he said, "No problem at all. Anything for you."
As the rain picked up, Ms. Caldwell, touched by his sudden chivalry, gave him a quick peck on the cheek. The warmth of it sent Thompson's heart soaring. He felt like he was floating on air, his legs barely able to keep up with the rest of his body. So much so that he almost slipped on the wet grass. He quickly righted himself, coughing to hide his embarrassment.
Ms. Caldwell chuckled, turning back to the track as she muttered, "You really should watch your step, Mr. Thompson."
But the coach hardly heard her, still lost in the dizzying joy of the moment. His mind replayed that kiss over and over, his cheeks flushed as if the sun had returned just for him.
---
By 1 p.m., the rain had mostly subsided, but the track was drenched, delaying the relay race by an hour. At 2 p.m., the competition was finally ready to resume, but Riverdale's team was in trouble. One of Tessa's teammates, Lana, had slipped on the wet ground during warmups and injured her ankle.
"We can't race like this," Mr. Joel, the track and field instructor, said grimly. "We need a replacement, and we need one fast."
Coach Thompson, still riding the high from his earlier moment with Ms. Caldwell, scratched his head. "We're running out of options... we could forfeit the race."
"No need," a calm voice said from behind. Adrian stepped forward, his gaze steady. "I'll run."
The team stared at him, unsure. Adrian, while known for his intellect and good looks, had never shown any interest in track. And yet here he was, offering to step in at the last minute.
"Tessa won't be overshadowed," he added, as if reading their minds. "This is her moment. I'm just here to help."
Ms. Caldwell, standing nearby, gave a subtle nod of approval. She was the only one who knew just how capable Adrian really was. His speed might not rival Tessa's, but it was more than enough to shock everyone else.
Coach Thompson hesitated before clapping him on the shoulder. "Alright, Adrian. You're in."
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