Chapter Four
The next event was tug of war. Two teams would take opposite ends of a rope, attempting to pull the opposing team over a line marked in the sand. As with the first event, the winning team would move on to face a new team, till only the top two remained.
Once again, Team Starlight and Team Victoria were the leading competitors.
"You ready to lose, Beck-face?" Victoria taunted as both teams awaited the starting signal.
"Are you?" Becky replied.
"That's cute. She thinks she can win. Isn't she cute?" Victoria mocked.
Hunter sighed, having no desire to be involved in the exchange.
With that, the buzzer sounded, signaling the start of the match. Both teams started to pull, tugging back and forth, gaining and losing ground.
"You should just quit right now, Beck-face. You can't beat the best." Victoria said.
"Funny, I seem to recall you losing that seashell hunt." Becky replied, not bothering to debate Victoria's so called victories.
"Well it's not like you actually beat me. I can't help it if this dead weight was holding me back." Victoria argued, referring to Hunter.
Her teammate briefly loosened his grip on the rope, causing Victoria to stagger forward several steps under the sudden increase in pressure.
"What do you think you're doing back there?!" She snapped once Hunter had renewed his grip.
"I'm dead weight. I though you could use a little break." He replied sarcastically.
Victoria growled in irritation, but knew better than to press the issue. She instead returned her attention to Becky.
"You still can't win Beck-face. I'm the best athlete in the whole school. The best in any school! Or anywhere!" Victoria exclaimed, regaining some of the ground she'd lost.
"I sincerely doubt that Victoria. And stop me calling that!" Becky replied, feeling sorely tempted to use her super strength.
"What? Beck-face? You don't like a name like Beck-face, Beck-face? You're really a little too sensitive, aren't you, Beck-face?" Victoria teased, picking at Becky's last nerve.
Hunter groaned.
"Do you ever shut up?" He remarked.
"What?!" Victoria snapped, completely losing her focus on the match.
Her furious shout distracted Hunter as well, leaving very little resistance on their end of the rope. With one final tug from Team Starlight, they both came tumbling over the line, landing in a heap.
Victoria roared in frustration as Team Starlight was declared the winner, shoving Hunter off her back in the process.
"You! You stupid! I can't believe!" Victoria fumed, too enraged to form complete sentences. "You… This one really was your fault!" She finally managed, pointing an accusing finger.
Hunter winced at the volume of her outburst, but dared to speak.
"And here I thought the other one was my fault too." He said.
Victoria seethed in frustration, but said nothing in return. It was as she turned and walked off in a huff that Hunter realized she'd actually been on the verge of tears. He sighed.
Now why'd he have to go and feel bad about that one?