Storms in Our Veins

I was literally running on fumes. Track practice had been dragging forever, and I could feel myself fading while everyone else was still going strong.

Maya passed me for like the third time, looking effortless as always. 'You good, Chlo?' she called without even breathless.

'Yeah,' I lied, wiping sweat from my forehead. 'Just saving energy for... something.'

She laughed and kept going. I slowed to a walk, hands on my knees. This is what happens when you're mediocre at everything - not enough talent to be naturally good, not enough dedication to actually grind.

Coach blew the whistle early. 'Storm coming! Everyone hit the locker rooms!'

The sky was turning that weird purple-green color that means weather is about to get chaotic. Most people sprinted for the building, but I grabbed my phone and headed for the old oak tree behind the field.

'Running from the rain or toward it?'

I jumped. Liam was sitting against the tree, doodling in his sketchbook like he hadn't just scared the crap out of me. Since when did the quiet art kid from my history class hang out at the track?

'Neither,' I said, sitting down anyway because my legs were dead. 'Just... existing.'

He raised an eyebrow. 'During a tornado warning? Bold choice.'

The first drops started falling. Then the sky literally flashed white - lightning striking so close I could feel it in my teeth.

'That's our cue,' Liam said, packing up his stuff.

'Wait.' I fished around in my backpack and pulled out the gummy vitamins my mom still packed for me every morning. 'You want one? They're shaped like dinosaurs.'

Liam looked at me like I was crazy, then he smiled. 'Only if it's the T-Rex.'

I handed him the red one. We sat there eating dinosaur vitamins while rain poured down around us, thunder cracking overhead like the sky was ripping apart.

'I suck at track,' I said suddenly. It was the first time I'd admitted it out loud.

Liam nodded. 'I know.'

I started to get defensive, but he continued: 'You run like you're punishing yourself. But sometimes... maybe you run toward the things that scare you instead?' Another lightning flash, illuminating everything weird and sharp. 'Like storms.'

I looked at him, really looked at him, and felt something spark in my chest that had nothing to do with the weather.

'Yeah,' I said, smiling for what felt like the first time all season. 'I think I'm starting to get that.'