Last time I posted Atalanta was before a wrestling tournament that I got third place in. So assuming karma is real, here it is.

Disclaimer: I did not come up with the myth of Atalanta. Duh, much? I don't even think I need a disclaimer in this particular section.

The Suitors

3 Years Later

"Hey, Adair." Someone said from behind her. Lani shut her locker and turned around. It was Kyle Kynaston- a tall, strong, charming, sociable football player.

That said; all the girls were after him, and he had let it get to more than his ego, but also his attitude. He didn't care anymore, because the girls would keep gawking no matter what he did.

"How can I help you?" She asked.

"I have two tickets to see a movie tonight. I can't find anybody else to come with me, how about you?"

"Are you asking me out?" Lani asked.

"You better believe it," Kyle smiled like he was worth a million diamond-incrusted dollars.

"Then you know the drill," Lani said. "At the track, back of the school, 3:10 sharp."

"You like the fast ones, and the punctual ones, I see." Kyle said. He winked. "Well say hello to Mr Right."

"We'll have to wait until you prove it," Lani said before spinning around.

Berry and Arty were immediately flanking her.

"Again Lani?" Arty asked.

"Yup." She said. "He wants to try his luck."

"You know, maybe you should stop that." Arty asked precautious. Lani froze.

"No." She said.

"Lani, maybe that was just a coincidence. What happened to Flame could…"

"That was no coincidence!" Lani said. "He's incapacitated for life, let me remind you. He'll never walk again- much less run- and he can't concentrate for more than 10 minutes at a time without the crippling headaches! That's not a coincidence, guys. And Berry- weren't you the one who said there was a curse in the first place?"

"I don't believe in those anymore," Berry said. "You were right, they're not true. What happened to that, Lan? Maybe you can just, you know, go on a date, try to have fun…"

"No." Lani said. "I'm not doing it again and if I keep saying 'no' over and over, the rumours that I'm lesbian or scarred from my dad leaving me and my mom or whatever are going to take off again. So no."

Arty and Berry looked over at each other again. They'd been skirting around this discussion for two years. Since Teddy had been in a car crash, since guys had really started asking Lani out.

She never said yes. She said 'I like fast guys. Beat me in a race and then yes'.

Nobody ever beat Lani Adair in a race, but they kept trying. Why? Competition. Because Lani was a funny girl to be around when she wasn't haunted by what had happened to her first kiss- only minutes after it happened. Because Lani was pretty- tall and in shape, with strong legs from running, long brown hair to her mid-back, smooth skin, bright grey eyes… Because Lani was playing hard to get.

To all guys but 3, that was.

Whenever the discussion of the racing game came up, or whenever Lani needed a good, mindless laugh or any other time actually, Lani turned to the only 3 boys her age to ever get within an arm's reach of her without winning a race. Jace, Harry and Terry. Why those three? Berry and Arty still weren't sure. They were three average-Joe guys who didn't fit in with many, but always welcomed Lani along for whatever ride the day was.

She sat down next to the computer the three of them were huddled at.

"Why do guys keep asking me out?" She asked them.

"I don't know." Harry said. "We're not the ones asking you out, are we?"

Lani sighed in frustration.

"What's the use in having three guy friends if they don't give you a look at the complex stupidity that is the male brain?" She asked.

"Comic relief?" Terry said.

"Abs?" Harry offered.

"Someone to sit next to during girl/guy classroom plans?" Jace said.

"That was a rhetorical question," Lani said rolling her eyes.

"Then sarcasm," Terry said. Lani rolled her eyes, smiled, and marched out of the class.

As Lani walked down the corridor to her next class, Berry and Arty dropped by the computer lab, where the trio in question were hanging around after class.

"Guys, she's going for it again." Arty said. They looked up from their animation- a dragon eating popcorn.

"Again?" Jace asked.

"Afraid so," Berry nodded.

"So that's why she was here…" Terry said.

"Who's the idiot?" Harry asked them.

"Kyle Kynaston," Berry said.

"If it was anybody else, I'd feel sorry for him." Terry said.

"So she's going to need you guys at the track tonight after school. Can you manage?" Arty asked.

"Sure thing," Terry said. "But I'm not paying for smoothies this time."

Lani tied her shoe and took deep breaths. She could do this.

A bunch of people had come out to watch this race. They started to get more attention because nobody could figure out exactly what this was about. Except for the two girls near the racetrack, but they would be there no matter what.

"You can do it Lan," Arty said.

"I know I can." She said getting up. She wasn't part of the track team for no reason, and after Teddy had gotten hurt, she'd been training even more. She wanted to be the bullet he'd called her.

"Then I guess you're ready." Kyle Kynaston said, on the track as well. Lani had to give him props for one thing; he was ready. Usually the guy showed up wearing jeans and skateboarding shoes. He actually looked like he was ready to run.

Lani let her hair drop from its high ponytail and shook it back before pulling it into a ponytail again. Kyle watched her intently.

Sucker, she thought.

"Yes," she said.

"At the whistle," Harry (who was Lani's official ref for these things) said. Both of them were on the white line spray-painted on the track.

"Good luck," Kyle said. "You'll need it."

Lani didn't answer.

TWEET!

Lani didn't even have to think 'go'. Her feet took off on their own, like they'd developed an instinct, and she sprinted off.

She didn't look behind her to see where Kyle was at- she heard his footsteps, that was enough. And that was not good.

She pushed herself harder. Sure her muscles would hurt when it was over, but wouldn't her heart hurt more if he won? Besides, she liked the way it burned. And it would never burn as much as the Flame.

She instantly went faster. She was at the mid-way point of the track. She could still hear Kyle behind her, huffing and puffing like the Big bad wolf, footsteps heavy.

Lani pushed herself harder. She wanted him in her dust.

She passed the 3 pine trees and she could see where people were waiting. They cheered for both she and Kyle. Lani made a final sprint and she crossed the finish line and turned around, jogging backwards to ease it off. She watched as Kyle made the finish line. He just crumbled in the grass instead of walking it off.

"Nice try," Lani said. "You were faster than most of them."

"Rematch." He breathed. "Common, that wasn't my best."

"And it wasn't mine either," Lani said.

Her five friends joined her again, and Arty handed Lani her backpack, and a yellow and black gym bag with her clothes in it. 'Pick a fight' was writen on it.

Yeah; Lani definitely had.