But I can't, I'm too scared
Monday, March 1st, Friday
Its the start of the season, practice round. Even if it wasn’t a race, it was still nerve wracking. The pressure would now begin, there was no room for mistake and no room for error.
See most people who knew Evan, didn’t know about his nature on the track. He became selfish and arrogant, narccassistic, it was the only way you were garuanteed a place at the top. It was the only way to be first. The only way, to make it out.
So when it was time to step on stage.
“Listen Rosier, in todays practice round we need you to keep more on the down low, you both are a team, you need to help on another." It was their engineer.
Evan thought it was the 15th time he’d heard the speech this week alone. He understood though, he did. But on the track his mind wasnt as clear, hed get distracted, see a chance, take it.
It wasn’t that easy.
“We understand sir, but we can’t make any promises". It was Barty who spoke now, a faint smile on his face. He was somehow always able to ease the situation.
Evan loved that about him. What he lacked in Barty made up for, and what Barty lacked he-
“Yes Crouch, I know. However I’m afraid we cant afford any more…accidents.
“Yes, sir”- now they spoke in unison.
“Very well. Now, for the first half of todays race I want you both to...-”
The first thing Evan noticed was how hot it was in the room, they always had the meeting there, but today it felt more suffocating. It made his palms swesty and his skin itchy, he hated being in there most times, it was never a fun experience.
The sun was too bright that afternoon, it would seep in through the big windows, which were a horrible design idea, Evan thought. In a few years though, Evan would recall this moment not because of how hot it was that day, but because of Barty.
His eyes accidentally caught a look at him, but by now it was second nature, force of habit. And the bastard always looked good too, even when he it looked as though he was melting. Evan sort of dispised him for that. Also did he mention how hot it was toda-
“EVAN!” There was a shout, from Barty, an exsaperated look on his face.
“Yea?”
“Are you planning on staying here all day to admire the wall or what?”
“Oh yea, I’ve been fancying a nap here all this time actually.”
“Ha ha.”
And they walked back to their hotels.
He sometimes wished though, as much as he loved it all, the sport, the adreneline, his friend, that it would be easier.
That someone could make it all less painful. As much as it hurt phisically, it mostly just made his head hurt, even when he was on vacation, he was thinking about work. It had plagued his whole life.
And sometimes, when it was late at night, when Barty had fallen asleep, he’d wonder if all of this was worth it.
But life goes on, even when you wish it wouldn’t.