AUTUMN. TRACK FIELD
CHILLY ☪ LATE AFTERNOON ☪ TRACK OUTFIT

[attr="class","gaelpost"]Goddamn f**king clothes. Fingers decked out in silver rings yanked the zipper of his red tracksuit jacket up to his collar, a scowl settling onto his face. Inside one of the guy’s changing rooms, he twisted and stretched, tugging at his under-clothes until they stopped crushing his ribcage.

Bursting out through the door, slinging his gym bag over one shoulder, he walked back into the locker room where a few other teammates were still getting dressed.

“Oi, well if it isn’t Gael!” One called out with a nasty smirk—the kind he wanted to punch right off his face.

Gael made a big show of stopping to size up the others.

“I heard you hit a new personal best yesterday.” The f**kers grin was too wide, too smug.

Gael cocked his head. “Oh yeah?” What f**king best? He scoffed, his thoughts wandering to the rancid smell after practice. Think of the money. Of the house. He reminded himself, like some damn mantra he chanted to get him through the day.

“Yeah, must’ve been tough—keeping up with the jogging group for the first time!” Whatever-His-Name-Was threw his head back and laughed, his two cronies joining in, howling like idiots.

Oh, right, he was supposed to be in on this bullshit guy humor, wasn’t he?

“Is that so?” He grinned, stalking forward, grabbing a towel, and snapping it against the guy with a sharp crack. “That’s f**king hilarious, coming from the guy who thinks sprinting means running to the snack table between sets.”

F**k you. He thought as he walked off, flipping them off on his way out.

The joke was on him, apparently, because good ol’ Gael seemed to be the topic of the day. Some chick he barely recognized, burgundy hair in a ponytail, came rushing over. “Hey, Gael right? I think we need to talk, can you follow me for a sec?”

Nothing he did at this school mattered. None of it made any difference. All he cared about were those rainbow-colored dollar bills waiting for him after graduation next year. But, sure, he’d humor the girl.

“Why not?” He drawled, fighting the urge to roll his eyes as he followed her away from the track and their teammates. He was in full rage mode, but with two years to get through, he’d have to get his pretty little act together. Lest dear old Daddy or the Wicked Witch of the West be called in.

Hmm. Chin up then, better put on a smile.

AUTUMN. TRACK FIELD
CHILLY ☪ LATE AFTERNOON ☪ TRACK OUTFIT

[attr="class","gaelpost"]With his hands shoved into the front pockets of his jacket, Gael trailed the girl around the side of the building, away from the curious eyes of the track team and teachers. Memories of similar incidents flashed through his mind, prompting a wicked, unsettling grin as he leaned his shoulder against the wall, musing over the harmlessness of females in this lifetime. Now, he just had to deal with the bigger ones. Out of the pot and into the frying pan, as they say.

Ponytail girl spun around to face him, glaring daggers into his retinas. “I just overheard some, to put it lightly, unsavory things about myself. That was said by,”—she air-quoted—,“some guy on the track team.”

The way she looked at him, caught somewhere between fury and distress, made it unclear whether she was accusing him or was seeking him out to spill her heart out. Either way, he didn’t really give a shit.

“Now, I’ve known everyone else on this team for the past year, AT LEAST.”

Confronting him as the villain, it was.

He folded his arms across his chest, giving her a dubious look as she went on about her unbreakable bonds with her frat-team and how he was the black sheep among the herd.

“If you think I’m annoying? Fine. Think I’m on track to be the center of attention? Fine. You don’t—,” She got about that far before he simply just covered her mouth to shut her up.

“I’ll stop you here,” He interrupted, fingers gripping her cheeks tightly. “It wasn’t me, alright? Either you got a bad source, or one of your so-called besties isn’t so bestie after all.”

Releasing her, he shook the perspiration from his hand.

AUTUMN. TRACK FIELD
CHILLY ☪ LATE AFTERNOON ☪ TRACK OUTFIT

[attr="class","gaelpost"]Ponytail made a show of trying to bite him, shoving his hand away as her face turned the same shade of red as her hair. “Don’t you ever touch me like that again,” She seethed, looking about two seconds from socking him one.

Gael considered pointing out the fact that she’d been the one to drag him over here to go on a spiel about his alleged crimes, but honestly, he didn’t care enough to waste his breath.

The girl managed to reign in her temper and apparently came up with Plan B. “If it wasn’t you, let’s clear it up then.” She quickly launged into a plan—with him involved, of course—to prove his innocence, which involved him pulling a fast one over her so-called besties.

“We finish practice, I leave a little early—to go hide somewhere,” Ponytail practically gleamed with excitement over her own concocted scheme. “And you can see if you can get the other boys to say something.”

Gael straight up laughed at this girl’s naïve assumption that he gave a rat’s ass about proving his innocence. Still, he wasn’t opposed to a little extra fun. He’d been so f**ked up recently, and what better way to blow off a little steam? The poor girl had no idea what kind of trouble she was inviting in.

“Sounds like a plan, Ponytail.” He replied with a grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes—more sinister than amused, like a guy with almost nothing left to lose.

AUTUMN. TRACK FIELD
CHILLY ☪ LATE AFTERNOON ☪ TRACK OUTFIT

[attr="class","gaelpost"]“My name is Adara, by the way.” Ponytail introduced herself, sparing him a last glance before making determined strides back onto the track field. Gael leaned against the side of the building, hands shoved in his pockets, watching her retreat. The kid was really too ignorant, too confident for her own good, but he figured he’d be fixing that soon enough.

Gael Honora wasn’t exactly winning any popularity contest with the boys on the team. Ponytail had nailed it—he was the black sheep of the group, and long-distance running hardly required him to take one for the team.

Toward the end of practice, he felt Ponytail’s crimson eyes boring a hole into his thick skull, silently demanding he give her the attention she was apparently craving. He finally met her gaze, a slow smile spreading across his face. And there it was again—that fire of determination blazing across her expression. She tilted her head toward the locker rooms, a subtle signal of where she’d chosen this little game to go down.

Gael outright laughed at the girl’s guts. Damn, she reminded him a little of himself, if he hadn’t been f**ked over in every which way in life. But rather than finding it endearing, he found it to be a slow, simmering irritant. In fact, it made him want to break her in more ways than one.

He watched as Adara darted toward the locker rooms, clearly confident in her own plan. After a minute, his lazy form followed. Sure enough, Miss Innocent slipped right into the boys’ side, thinking herself clever, hiding out in the lion’s den. Gael followed, hanging back just enough to watch where she chose to tuck herself away to.

Well, this was bound to get interesting.

Because, you see, Ponytail had made the mistake of trusting him—Gael Honora, the self-centered prick who’d never found a reason to look out for anyone but himself. As long as he could keep living his cushy, easy lifestyle, he was content to drag everyone else down with his own sinking ship. Daddy’s little boy to the bitter end.

As practice came to its end, Gael loitered at the entrance to the boy’s locker room, leaning against the wall with a casual, almost bored look. Panacea’s small track team poured in, sweaty and panting, their conversations loud.

A couple of them stopped short, surprised to find him standing there, leaning against the doorframe like he’d been waiting for something—or someone.

“Woah, thought you ditched us, man!” One of them joked with a grin. Another slapped him on the back as they passed. He’d get him back another time.

Gael shrugged, pushing away from the wall to follow them inside. “Just needed a break from all your ugly faces,” He replied dryly, making his way toward the benches where the group had gathered. Some tossed their shirts aside, their sweat-drenched hair plastered to their forehead.

Gael’s gaze flickered across the room, catching the faint hint of movement from one of the empty lockers. He knew exactly where she was hiding, waiting to catch every word.

And so, he chose the locker right beside hers, leaning against it with his arms crossed, his gaze slowly drifting over the guys on the team until the room’s energy began to shift.

Their lively chatter died down, a few of them trading curious glances. “Alright, man, what’s up?” Derek, the self-declared captain, broke the silence.

Gael’s fingers drummed lazily against his arm, a dark grin spreading across his features. “I’ve got a little announcement for all of you.”

They looked at each other, a few eyebrows raised. “An announcement?” One laughed, “What is this, a team meeting?”

Gael hummed, playing up the moment. “Sort of. Except, I’m not the one who called it.”

“Oh yeah? Then who?”

He let the question hang in the air, wondering if the tension was making Ponytail squirm. What was his play? Was he going to blow her cover? Had she made a mistake in trusting him?

“A little birdie told me one of you fine boys have been running your mouth behind their back, talking shit about them.” His grin widened as he caught a few expressions shifting from amusement to mild unease. He pushed off the locker, taking a few steps to the side. “And that little birdie? Turns out they’re hiding in here right now, hoping to find out which one of you done f**ked up.”

AUTUMN. TRACK FIELD
CHILLY ☪ LATE AFTERNOON ☪ TRACK OUTFIT

[attr="class","gaelpost"]Gael leaned back, letting the scene unfold as Derek, Leo, and Ryan exchanged shocked glances, their chatter full of disbelief. But it was Luke who dragged everyone’s attention.

Forcing a laugh, Luke stood from the bench and began yanking open locker doors, one by one. “Well, does little birdie wanna come out or what?” The kid had guilty practically written across his face. “Or are you makin’ shit up for fun?”

Gael raised an eyebrow as Luke continued to rattle the lockers, each slam echoing off the walls like a gunshot. The expressions on the other three boys shifted from confusion to caution as Luke’s outburst escalated.

Derek exchanged a quick look with Leo, both clearly confused by Luke’s intensity. Ryan, the youngest, shuffled uneasily on his feet, glancing between Luke and Gael, as though pleading for him to step in.

However, Derek beat him to it. “Hey, Luke, chill out, man.” His voice was a mix of nervous laughter and genuine concern. “Gael’s just messing around with us.”

Gael propped himself against one of the low equipment drawers, his expression calm, almost bored, as he watched things unfold.

Luke wasn’t having it, slamming another locker shut with a bang. “If she’s in here accusing people, then she better show her face.” His gaze darted to Gael, uncertainty flashing briefly. “Is she really in here, Gael, or are you just trying to stir shit up?”

Gael met Luke’s gaze with an arched brow. “Oh, she’s definitely in here. But if you’ve got nothing to hide, why you getting all worked up, bestie?”

Ryan cleared his throat, trying to diffuse the tension. “C’mon, man, maybe she heard wrong, okay? No need to go nuclear over it. We all talk sometimes.”

AUTUMN. TRACK FIELD
CHILLY ☪ LATE AFTERNOON ☪ TRACK OUTFIT

[attr="class","gaelpost"]Not even a second passed before Ponytail burst from her hiding spot, the metal door crashing into the neighboring locker with a loud clang, grabbing everyone’s attention. She stormed out like a firestorm, eyes blazing.

Gael leaned back against the desk, arms crossed, watching the scene with a detached amusement. Poor thing, she’d trusted the wrong guy—and now she was livid. Her eyes flashed with vengeance as they landed on him, but he simply tilted his head, having done exactly what she’d asked for in the first place.

Luke’s reaction was a mix of mockery and anger. “Oh, you’ve got to be shittin’ me. What do you possibly have to cry about, Addie?” He was pushing his luck, but Gael knew nothing serious would come of it. The boys had each other’s backs—especially when it was something as petty as a girl’s hurt feelings.

Gael’s thoughts turned dark for a moment, memories flashing behind his gaze, but he shrugged off the itch. Life wasn’t always so cruel, especially not for Gael. No, the worst thing to happen to good ol’ Gael was a scuff on his perfectly polished shoes.

“Well, since I’m always super loud and trying to be the center of attention. I figured I’d take it up a notch!” Ponytail seethed, her voice laced with sarcasm. She stepped right into Skywalker’s space, her head barely reaching his chest. “You know, really live up to your view of me.”

Skywalker scoffed. “Addie, you’re crossing the line here. Why do you need to make everything such a big f**king deal?” He spread his arms in mock exasperation. “Maybe you should switch from track to theater, right?”

He cast a glance around the room, his gaze landing on Gael, expecting him to chim in.

But Gael wasn’t interested in playing along. In a slow motion, he pushed off the desk, grabbed his bag, and slung it over his shoulder. As he strolled past, he spared the two a brief glance.

“I’m not here to make friends,” He said lazily, locking eyes with Ponytail. “And I’m not here to prove my innocence.” With a pointed look, he walked out of the locker room without another word.