Victory and Reconciliation

The car ride home was quieter than the ride to the beach, but in a peaceful way. The scent of salt and sunscreen lingered in the air, and the distant sound of crashing waves still echoed in Jess’s mind. The trials were in two days, and she knew she needed to get her head straight.

She glanced around at her friends, who were all relaxed and tired from the long day. Kevin was snoring softly in the backseat, Olivia was scrolling through her phone, and Hannah was humming along with the radio. Ryan sat beside her, his hand resting comfortably on the console between them.

Jess took a deep breath. "Hey, guys?"

Leanna turned her head slightly, looking at her with an arched brow. "Yeah?"

"I just… I just wanted to say I’m sorry." Jess fidgeted with the stuffed Snoopy Ryan had won for her, holding it close to her chest. "I’ve been a total mess these past few weeks. I shut you all out, and that wasn’t fair. Especially you, Ryan. I barely even spent time with you."

Ryan gave her a soft smile, shaking his head. "It’s okay, Jess. We knew you had a lot going on."

"Yeah, but that’s no excuse," Jess admitted. "Leanna was right. Taking a break was the best thing I could have done. I needed this day more than I realized."

Leanna smirked. "Told you so."

Jess chuckled, then let out a sigh of relief. She felt lighter, as if she had finally let go of some invisible weight she’d been carrying. She rested her head against Ryan’s shoulder, clutching Snoopy tightly as her eyelids grew heavy. The rhythmic sound of the tires on the highway lulled her to sleep.

**********************************

The stadium buzzed with anticipation. The trials were finally here, and Jess stood at the starting line, heart pounding, adrenaline coursing through her veins. She stole a glance at Emma, who was stretching a few lanes down.

They had both been training for this moment, pushing each other to their limits. Now, it was time to prove who would take the final spot for the Penn Relays.

The competition was fierce. Each event tested her strength, speed, and endurance. Emma wasn’t making it easy, but Jess fought for every second, every jump, every throw. The crowd’s cheers blurred into white noise as she focused on her final event—the pole vault.

Jess inhaled sharply, gripping the pole tightly. She had spent so many nights struggling with this. Now was her moment to trust herself.

She sprinted forward, planted the pole, and felt herself soar. She cleared the bar flawlessly, landing with a triumphant breath as the crowd erupted in cheers. Emma’s attempt followed, but it wasn’t enough. Jess had won.

As she stepped off the mat, Emma approached her, hands on her hips, still catching her breath. For a moment, Jess expected the usual smug remark, but instead, Emma let out a small, exhausted laugh.

"Guess that day off really did help you," Emma admitted.

Jess grinned. "Yeah, Leanna would never let me hear the end of it if I said otherwise."

Emma sighed, shaking her head. "Well, you earned it. But don’t get too comfortable. We’ve got the 4x400 relay to win, and I’m not slowing down for you."

Jess extended her hand. "Then let’s make sure we take first together."

Emma hesitated for just a second before clasping Jess’s hand in a firm shake. "Let’s do it."

For the first time, Jess felt like the rivalry wasn’t about beating each other—it was about pushing each other to be better. And as she walked toward her friends, who were waiting to celebrate, she realized something else.

She was exactly where she was meant to be.