Euphoria

"COME ON MALLY!" Ray cheered from the side. Malakai looked to the left and saw Ray and Maria chanting for him. He looked ahead and saw Adam with the same straight face looking at him. He looked to his right and saw Nada, who looked like she was doing fine. Once again, it looked like he was letting the team down, just like in Finders Keepers.
"Think, think, think," Malakai thought, his eyes darting around. It looked like he had no options.
"How are you in 1-E?" he mumbled. Adam heard him mumble something but didn't hear what was said. In Adam's eyes, Malakai looked down and out, completely lost. But Adam knew Malakai wouldn't back down; something in his eyes showed he had something up his sleeve. After the dodgeball match, Adam knew he was going to try something, but to him, it was futile. Whatever he did, Adam would defend it.
"What should I do?" Malakai thought; he glanced at Nada one more time and
"Fuck it", he said out loud.
Malakai started walking backwards. He was moving back to the starting point. He was moving further away from the line so Adam could cross over, but Adam would still need to get past Malakai to beat him. Once Malakai reached the starting point, he took a deep breath and stared down at Adam.
"What's he doing? Does he think he can get past me with speed? Momentum won't help him", Adam thought.
Out of nowhere, Malakai was sprinting towards him, picking up pace. Malakai got closer and closer, charging at Adam. Once he was close enough, he feinted to his right. Adam didn't flinch; it was too obvious. Malakai then changed direction to his left. This tricked Adam a little as the pace he was going on made it look like he was definitely going towards Adam's right, but it was a feint. Malakai then ran towards Nada.Adam fell for the bait, not entirely, but just enough to give Malakai at least a split-second headstart.
Malakai sprinting at Nada, he called out, "Nada!"
Nada turned her head to the voice and saw Malakai running to her; she also saw Adam chasing him on the other side. Nada froze. She didn't understand what was happening. She didn't get any instructions, so she stood still. Malakai reached Nada and wrapped his arms around her stomach, picking her up. He pivoted on his left foot, turning 180 degrees while crossing over the line to the other side. Malakai and Nada were mainly on the other side. Adam and Kyle had to touch them to eliminate them. Adam and Kyle reached out to touch their opponent. Adam's stretched-out arm touched Nada's stomach, while Kyle's hand touched Malakai's back. They both touched someone but not the person they were defending. As Malakai picked up Nada and held her while they turned around, Nada faced Adam, and Malakai's back faced Kyle. Adam was close to touching Malakai's hands, which were wrapped around Nada's stomach, but he aimed too high and missed. Malakai and Nada successfully crossed to the other side without getting touched by their opponent. Malakai kept running with Nada in his arms, getting past Adam and Kyle. Adrenaline took over, and he kept going. He slowed down and let go of Nada, putting her down so she could walk on her own. Malakai continued to jog and eventually stopped; he slightly stretched out his arms in celebration, closed his eyes and lifted his head towards the sky. Euphoria. This feeling he had gave him flashbacks of when he was back in the UK, and he scored a last-minute winner in a football match; every time he proved someone wrong, every time he won a race, every time he won something, this feeling he had you could only feel it after special occasions. Euphoria. He felt like he won the whole thing. Malakai opened his eyes and came back to reality after seeing the ceiling. He turned around and saw Nada smiling at him. As soon as he fully turned, she pounced on him.
"YESSSS! YOU DID IT AGAIN!" She said in excitement while holding onto him.
"It was part of the plan", Malakai played it off.
"How the fuck did I pull that off?" He thought. Just like in Finders Keepers, Malakai thought he had lost. It looked like there was no way through Adam. In truth, the reason why they won was Nada. If that was anyone else, could Malakai pick them up like he did to Nada? Not to mention the fact that Nada had Kyle under control the whole time. Despite it looking like Malakai did everything, he knew Nada was the main reason they were in the final. He pulled out the hug and put a hand on her head, ruffling her hair; he smiled at her and said,
"You're cold, you know that?"

"WHAT DID I TELL YOU? IT'S MALLY. HE IS HIM!" William shouted, jumping up and down, happy to see his friend go through.
David was speechless; he didn't know what to say. What just happened?
"I don't know how he does it every time, but he always does", Benjamin said, smiling ear to ear.
"I don't think we should doubt him ever again", Lucas said, looking at the group, shaking his head, and smiling.
"I have to admit again, he is kinda incredible, isn't he?" Tanisha said, clapping at his performance.
"Yeah, it seems like every opportunity like this, he does something new that wows me", Delilah replied, also clapping.
"Even me and I've been his friend for three years—that idiot," David said, finally putting some words together. They weren't exaggerating either; the people around them reacted similarly to them, and they were even Malakai's friends. What Malakai pulled off looked cool, and their reactions were understandable.

"We lost," Adam thought as he watched Malakai and Nada celebrate together. Did he beat me?" He then looked at Kyle, who was upset that they had been eliminated. "No, he didn't. One-on-one, he didn't beat me. He beat me because he trusted his teammate. Did I even trust Kyle? No, I expected him to cross the line at some point, but he didn't," he thought, returning his gaze to Malakai. "It's fine. I got to see Malakai up close and gauge his ability. He's good, but nothing I should worry about. As long as he is alone, he's nothing special. I can handle him easily". Adam walked off towards the teacher. "Can I leave?" He asked the teacher.
"Yeah, you're free to leave", the teacher replied. "Congratulations to these two for coming third; they will both get 80 points", the teacher announced. With that, Adam left without seeing anymore; Kyle saw him leaving and went to follow. Adam got let down by his teammate, or did he get outplayed by Malakai?
"You made it!" Ray said, handshaking Malakai and bringing him into a hug.
"I told you I would. Did you doubt me?" Malakai joked.
"Yeah, the guy you were versing looked good", Ray honestly replied.
"He was, I'm not gonna lie", Malakai said, looking around to find him, but he had already left.
"Congratulations," Maria said half-heartedly. She was happy Malakai made it, but seeing how he made it—holding Nada close and even in the celebrations. She couldn't help but think, why couldn't it be her? But at the same time, could Malakai do what he did with Nada if it was her? Maria couldn't sort her feelings out, but there was no time for that, as,
"CAN THE LAST TWO PAIRS STEP FORWARD. THE FINAL WILL START NOW!"
The crowd got hyped up after hearing that announcement. No time was wasted; they were getting straight to the final.
The four of them walked towards the teacher. "You both know the rules?" the teacher asked. All of them nodded. "Okay, who is defending who?"
"I'm defending him", Malakai said, smiling and pointing at Ray.
"Of course you are", Ray replied, mirroring Malakai's smile.
"Okay, that's settled. Can you and your pair go to your own sides, please?"
"Good luck", Malakai said, offering his hand.
"Good luck. Make sure you give it your all", Ray replied, squeezing Malakai's hand and shaking it firmly.

"Who do you think is going to win?" Delilah asked the group, looking at the finalists taking their positions.
"Ray", all the boys said in synchrony.
"Really? "Delilah couldn't believe it. "What about you?" Delilah asked Tanisha.
"Obviously, I'm going to say my girl Maria," Tanisha answered with conviction, believing 100 per cent in Maria and Ray.
Delilah thought Malakai would walk this, but now she wondered if Ray was that good. Or did they all say Ray because they wanted him to win? Was she the crazy one?

"What are we going to do?" Maria questioned Ray, thinking there was no hope.
"I'm not too sure. Do you think you can get past Nada?" He asked, looking at her.
"I think I can", she doubtfully answered. Honestly, she didn't think she could but lied to give Ray hope.
"Me too. I think I can get past Mally," Ray replied. They both looked at each other and giggled, seeing each other's faces clearly showing they were lying to one another.
"Let's just do our best and see what happens", Maria smiled.
"Yeah".
"IS EVERYONE READY?!" The teacher shouted.
Everyone readied themselves.
FFWEETTT!!!
They all ran to the centre where they would meet each other. Ray was in front of Malakai, and Nada was in front of Maria.
"This is harder than it looks", Ray thought, looking at Malakai and trying to figure out where to go. He kept shifting left and right, but Malakai was there to stop it and block wherever he went. It didn't help that Malakai was more agile and nimble than him.
"What's wrong, Ray? Can't get past me?" Malakai teased, smiling in his face and trying to make eye contact with him.
"Shut up", Ray replied, trying to concentrate.
"This is the first time we've versed each other in something in real life." Malakai kept talking, trying to distract Ray, but Ray didn't talk back. Malakai was good at trash-talking, so he was trying to piss Ray off.
Randomly, Malakai feinted to the right, which caught Ray off guard. He may have gotten through if Malakai hadn't feinted and committed to going. That's how low Ray's guard was,
"Woah, I forgot I have to defend him as well", Ray thought. Ray's eyes were all over Malakai's body, looking at every slight movement.
"Why is this guy good at everything?" Ray thought. He looked at Malakai's face, saw his usual smile, and finally met his eyes.
"Ray chat to me. How's life?" Malakai joked, trying to get him to talk. "I'm your friend, talk to me-"
"MALAKAI!" A voice shouted. Malakai quickly looked to his right and saw Maria running on his side; she got past Nada.
"Huh?"
Suddenly, Ray looked like he was running to Malakai's right. Malakai saw it from the corner of his eye and went for it, but Ray faked him out. Ray changed direction and ran to Malakai's left. Malakai swung out an arm to reach him but missed. Ray ran past him. Ray and Maria won. They were on the other side; they looked at each other, they couldn't believe it. They both ran to one another and embraced. The crowd cheered loudly; no one in the crowd expected that. Someone other than Malakai won.
"Ha. Damn".