JUDE
"Guys! Are you ready?"
I can't look away. I can't move away until Miko says something. Does something. I don't like how he is looking at me. It is making it hard for me to breathe, to feel anything other than terror.
Afraid.
"Miko," I whisper. "Say something. Anything, please?"
"You are choosing this over me."
"I am," I look at my feet, steeling myself. I will not second-guess myself. I won't crumble. "I thought you understood how important this is for me."
"I fully understand," he nods. "I grasp the entirety of it all."
An arm is thrown above my shoulder, breaking the tension, and I startle.
"Are you okay? You are up in less than a minute. Why are you guys not in the hurdle?" Teri asks me, worriedly.
Sure enough, the boys are starting to form a circle, and I have to grab Miko's arm and pull him over there as I rush. Fortunately, Andre joins in just as we arrive there. Miko yanks his arm away from me and goes over to Andre.
