Page 2 of Racing Hearts

“But here’s the thing,” Ellie lowered her voice since there was no way of knowing if this girl had family or friends who were sitting around them. “We don’t actually know if Sierra is a bitch. All we know about her is that she’s fast.”

Juniper groaned as if Ellie’s reasoning didn’t make perfect sense. “She’s a bitch, because she’s coming toourschool and fucking withoursenior year. We can’t allow this to happen.”

Ellie laughed once again. “And what do you suggest we do about it? Tonya Harding her kneecaps or something?”

Juniper stared at Ellie with furrowed eyebrows for a few seconds without saying anything. “I have no idea what that means, but if it involves making sure she transfers before the season starts, I’m all in.”

“I wasjoking.I’m not going to bully this girl out of college just because she can run as fast as me. That’s ridiculous.”

“Fine, but do you have to welcome her with open arms like you do with the new recruits each year?”

“I’ll make you a deal. I promise to not bequiteas welcoming if you promise not to be rude.”

“I can work with those terms.” Juniper nodded and stuck out her hand for Ellie to shake. “But once this girl proves me right and is a complete bitch, I get to sayI told you so.”

Ellie accepted Juniper's hand and shook it firmly. “Deal.”

She let her eyes wander back toward the track where Sierra was now stretching. Only time would tell what this girl’s personality was like, but at least, no matter what, she was certainly nice to look at.

Chapter 1

“Senior year, baby!” Juniper shouted as she and Ellie walked out of their apartment to head to their first track meeting of the year.

“Our year!” Ellie added with a whoop.

“Hell yeah. Sierra What’s-Her-Fuck can eat shit.”

Ellie put her arm around Juniper and pulled her

close, the two of them walking the short

distance from their apartment to the indoor track in tandem. “Be nice,” she whispered as if she was a mom walking with her daughter

“Whatever. I’m always nice.” Juniper smirked at Ellie. “Until someone gives me a reason not to be. Then all bets are off.”

It wasn’t a lie. Juniper was the type of person you wanted on your side. If she liked you, she would honestly lay down her life for you in the blink of an eye. On the other hand, if you got on her bad side, she could take you down with one look.

“Innocent until proven guilty, remember? We don’t even know Sierra. Let’s give her a chance. Plus, all you have to do is be the fourth fastest runner this year, and you’re in.” Ellie pulled away from Juniper and poked her in the side. “Come to the optional practices with me, and you can easily make that happen.”

Every year, the team had optional practices that ran from the beginning of the school year, until mid-October when official practice began. Unfortunately, most of the team took advantage of the fact that they were optional and skipped out on them. Juniper was one of those people, even though Ellie had beentrying to convince her to go since they were placed as roommates their freshman year.

“And waste my month and a half of freedom that I get for thewholeyear?” Juniper scoffed. “As if.”

Ellie sighed. She loved her best friend, but their work ethics were on completely different levels. “Well, it was worth a try.”

Juniper put her arm back around Ellie and pulled her close as they reached the door of the indoor track. “For what it’s worth, it means a lot that you’ve never given up on me. Even if it is a lost fucking cause.”

Ellie opened her mouth to respond, but as soon as Juniper opened the door, the words got caught in her throat. Standing just a few feet from the door was Sierra, whose last name was escaping her right now thanks to Juniper’s habit of calling her What’s-Her-Fuck.

The state track meet wasn’t just a fluke. Sierra really was fucking gorgeous. It was actually unfair how good looking she was, especially since she was off-limits to Ellie for multiple reasons (one being the fact that she was most likely straight).

“Ugh, look at her over there, standing against the bleachers as if she owns this team already.”

Ellie looked over at Juniper then followed her line of sight right back to Sierra, the blonde’s eyebrows furrowed as she stared down at her phone. Nothing about her appeared like the villain Juniper was making her out to be. “Oh my god. Come on. Give the girl a break.”

“We’ll see if you’re saying the same thing after this meeting. I’m good at reading people, and I have a bad feeling about that one.”

Ellie didn’t want to point out that her best friend’sbad feelingwas nothing more than jealousy over this girl most likely taking her spot on the relay team. She understood. It sucked. Shewasn’t happy about it either. But that wasn’t Sierra’s fault. She had no way of knowing that she was ruining their plans for their senior year. Her only fault was being really freaking fast, and seeing as how she was part oftheir team,that wasn’t much of a fault at all.

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