Chasing the Sun

Mateo's legs burned like they were on fire, each step on the dusty trail sending little explosions of effort up his calves. Running was supposed to be his thing—the one thing his dad actually bragged about to the relatives at those awkward Sunday dinners. But lately? It felt like performing tricks for a treat you didn't even want.

"You're running like a scared chicken, mijo," his father had yelled from the porch last week, holding that stupid vitamin supplement his coach swore would turn him into a track star. "Take your vitamins, train harder, beat those times."

Bull.

That's what Mateo wanted to scream. All of it. The supplements, the 5 AM practices, the way everyone looked at him like he was some kind of scholarship ticket out of their neighborhood. He was so done with being the "promising one" while his older brother dropped out and worked at the auto shop, and his little sister became the family's Instagram darling.

He slowed to a walk, chest heaving, and spotted Jasmine sitting on her usual rock by the creek. She had headphones in, sketching something in her notebook. The weird girl who wore combat boots with everything and never seemed to care what anyone thought.

"You're supposed to be training," she called out, not looking up. "State qualifiers are like, two weeks away."

"I know," Mateo flopped down beside her. "I just... I hate it."

Jasmine finally looked at him, really looked at him. "Then why do it?"

"Because my dad... because everyone expects..." He gestured helplessly. "Because I'm good at it?"

"That's bull," she said simply, closing her notebook. "You're allowed to quit things that make you miserable. Even if you're good at them. Even if people have expectations."

Something cracked open in his chest. "What would I even do? Running's literally my whole personality."

Jasmine laughed, pulling a bottle from her bag. "Take your vitamins. Go for a run. Find something else that makes your heart race in a good way." She paused. "Maybe start by drawing with me. My sketches suck. You could be terrible company."

Mateo smiled. For the first time in months, his legs weren't the only thing that felt like they could actually move.

"Deal."