Focusing on his breathing as he has already been out here for a while. Not that getting tired would stop him. He is a freak of nature with what felt like and endless pit of energy. But in order to not get benched during the season he has to pace himself. And for Conor that was hard. Especially after baseball season. Where bursts of energy were used at 100%. Basketball was controlled, calculated in the way of using energy. Especially for him being the point guard who touched the ball probably the most to set up plays for everyone else. So his minimum for today was around eight. A couple days later nine. Until he could get to ten without being winded. His stamina truly was freakish. 

Conor's shaggy brown hair flowing as he rounded the long corner when he hears the sound of someone catching up to him. As he glanced back to see the girl in a full sprint. A moment early she was far behind. Now she was right on his ass. As he got a glimpse of her face. Was she angry?? Do people usually look angry when running? Like she was trying to pass him? Or was she imagining she was in a competition? Like how boxers would shadow box. Training her mind. Though it was kinda scary how truly fast she was as she had caught up with him. 

He glanced over at her as she was now shoulder to shoulder coming out of the rounded corner. As he looked over at her just as she misses her footing and started to fall. Her arms outstretch. As she pretty much tackles him into the ground. Instinct took over for the brown haired boy. As he instantly wrapped his arms around her. Like the multiple times his sister fell into him. Protecting her first. 

As they slammed on the rubbery track. His back slamming into the ground. As he just winces in pain. As not only his body weight but hers landed fully in the ground. "Ow." Was all he could say as his arms fell right to his side as he just stared up at the girl. "Yea yea. I'm good. But your knee is kinda digging into my gut." He chuckled out. As his glasses were skewed diagonal on his face. Not even trying to fix them yet. As he just looked at the girl that was now on top of him. Into her crimson eyes. As he just couldn't hold it in much more as he just started to laugh so hard. If anyone saw them. It probably looked like something right out of movie or something. 

Luckily other than the pain his gut from her knee. It seemed like nothing else was hurt too bad. His shoulder blades and back might hurt the  rest of the  day. But that was the price he was willing to pay for saving the track and field star. It was Conor after all, he knew of most people that played a sport. Especially the ones who were super good. He always did want to talk to her about running. As maybe some pointers could help him in basketball. But he never could. One cause he was too busy with practice, and two despite all of his confidence he still has trouble talking to really cute girls. Nothing bad but the dude is just a buffoon and acts an idiot in from of them. 

As she rolled off of him and just sat there legs outstretched. As he just looked over to her right as she started to laugh really hard along with him. Even though after a bit he was just laughing at her laughing. How can someone that looks like her have such a great laugh. Conor loved it. The man respects people more when they are just themselves and not hiding anything. And with her laugh? He knew she was a genuine person. 

He finally sat up himself after the laughing started to subside. Fixing his glasses as he then just rested his arms on his bent knees. "Conor" was all he responded to her saying her name. "And don't worry about it. totally fine" he said raising his hand and in a waving motion back in forth. Really hammering home that it was no big deal. Things happen sometime. 

"I mean if you wanted to race all you had to do was yell. I would have gladly picked up my pace." he responded to her a bit cheekily. Implying he wasn't going full out in the first place. 

But before she could respond to that. He looked at his breath that was being turned into mist from the cool morning air. As he looked back at her. "But seriously you are soooo freakin fast. I had no idea you had caught up until you know, you full tilt tackled me." he chuckled. As he was also teasing her and complimenting her at the same time somehow. He is special like that. Years of practice with his younger siblings. Able to throw out disses and compliments in the same breath. 

"You really are amazing." his voice so innocent and full of excitement. Like I said he is stupid and doesn't know how to talk to girls that well. Nor know how to just act chill. As his eyes almost had a spark to them as he got to see how fast she really was up close. 

Conor chuckled as she spoke. "Luckily for you, I am built like a rock." he jokingly said back as he knocked on his head. "Plus there is nothing up there too so double lucky." he chuckled. Knowing full well that he was not the smartest light bulb in the shed. Nor did he try to hide it. He was dumb innocent jock. That the gods gifted him with just an abundant amount of natural talent. But they did put all of his stats into physical instead of smarts. 

He sighed to himself as he was on such a good pace going almost full energy. Baseball did come in handy to pace yourself when you on the field running down ground balls. But man was his stamina was in need of some work for coming basketball season. At least in Conor's mind. The man had an endless pool of energy. Or at least that is what others thought. If he could he would be out from sunrise to sunset being active as hell. 

But maybe she can match his energy? After all she was out here in the wee hours of the morning. No one else is like him. At least in the way of getting up early and staying out late just to practice. So maybe she could be that friend that matches his energy. 

He took her hand as a wave of a exciment washed over him as a big grin was seen on his face. As once he stood up, he started to stretch his legs and jump up and down. "You sure you want this?" he said as they started to walk over to the starting line of the rubber. "Took you everything just to catch up to me right?" he teased as he started to crack his neck. The popping being heard was a comfort to him. One of his many little quirks he does when he tries to get into the zone. 

Just cause he wasn't on the track and field team didn't mean he couldn't sprint at a decent pace. Conor lead his team in steals in baseball. Granted it was only 90ft between the bases. But he did hit second most in triples. So pretty close to a 100m dash. "So when I win, I want extra bacon on my sandwich." he cheekily said as he assumed they would go to the cafe to grab something. Plus their breakfast sandwiches are just so good. 

Conor tried to get himself into the zone. Into that mindset of this being a real competition. Yes there was a bet on the line. But as they took their marks after she ran over to put her phone at their finish line. But he just couldn't. It wasn't a rare thing for him to go into that mode. But it happened randomly or when a match was on the line. 

But this girl next to him. As he glanced over at her. He could feel the scary talent coming from her. As she got back, he noticed her eyes. And man were they dead set on winning this match. Guess he couldn't be nice and just let her win. As the gun shot was heard as they both took off. Conor not getting the best of starts. But that short burst of speed he used so many times stealing bases during the season played into a huge advantage as he got into his top speed right away catching up to Adara who had a fantastic start. 

HIs hair flowing in the wind with a grin on his face. He knew he couldn't get into his zone, but that didn't mean he couldn't at least put in 100% effort. But it was all for not as the race was over in a flash. As he just knelt down. Hands on his knees. Before walking over over to her as she was checking her phone for the results. As he just fell onto the grass this time instead of the rubbery substance. 

His back getting soaked with the damp grass from the dew in the morning. But man did it feel good. "No need." he breathed heavily. "You won." more heavy breathing. He might have bad vision for things far away. But he noticed the smallest details in this type of environment. So he didn't miss that she had crossed first. As he started to get his breathing under control. As he just shouted "DAMNIT" with a bunch of laughter. It was good to have a race to be honest. He wondered why he never got into track and field in the first place. It was exhilarating to be honest. 

He finally sat up as he looked at her. "So where is this biggest coffee place?" he hummed as loosing didn't seem to affect him at all. Yea he was mad at himself for getting such a poor start. But lack of focus will do that. As he just looked at her with a smile on his face. After all failing was part of sports. If you can't learn from your mistakes how would you improve? In this case, if he was on the track and field team the next day if not later that day he would start working on his take offs. That was Conor's whole mentality after all, which was embracing failure as a teaching moment. Probably why he never gets discouraged. 

"I'm assuming you don't want to go all sweaty. So why don't you just text me I'll meet you there. Plus having before school is the best." he said holding out his hand implying that he would enter his phone number so she could just text him when she was ready. As this was more than enough for him on this mornings exercise.