Well, posting before a wrestling tournament is certainly karmatic! I got third place and I was a sliver away from silver. That's golden for me. So here's today's chapter, enjoy and thank you for the reviews!

The Apples

Mel Ninon was nicknamed Mel Nincompoop because of his last name before, and oh boy he sure felt it now.

He'd just challenged Lani Adair to one of her races-for-a-date. Sure, he was a fast runner. He was on the football team, at least. But as fast as her? Mel knew he wasn't, and he didn't want public humiliation.

The worst part would be her reaction. He didn't want Lani to look at him like she looked at every other guy she'd raced. The 'I told you so, just go home' look. He wanted a 'wow, I'm impressed' look.

He didn't know how he'd get it though. But Mel had an idea.

He walked into the school paper's office and walked right over to the desk in the back, where a girl with crossed legs leaned over a stack of papers, a hand hovering above a laptop's keyboard. Her thick layers of deep red curls covered her face off but when Mel stopped, she looked up to reveal a beautiful face, with bright blue eyes like the sky. Safi Dite?

"You do the advice column?" He asked.

"Yes, that would be me," she said leaning back. "And you shouldn't know that. It's anonymous, genius. You're not supposed to be here- nobody can know that I do this."

"I need advice."

"Then drop your slip of paper in one of the boxes across the school, or just stick it here since you're right here."

"No, I mean, I need it quick. Like, before tonight."

Safi crossed her arms.

"Why?"

"I challenged Lani Adair to a race." Safi smiled sympathetically.

"That's your own fault." She said.

"Yeah, but, I really like her."

"So do a lot of guys, Mel."

"Come on Safi, you're beyond smart, and we all know you're a hopeless romantic. Please help me out. I really like her." Mel said.

"Hmm," Safi said. "First time a football player's begged me for help. But you're right, I do want someone to win, and that someone is you right now. So here's what you're going to do."

She looked around her papers for a bit and pulled out a letter in scribbles.

"This was last year. Lani's dad isn't around much, and when he is he doesn't help either her or the family. Her family's income is low. She can't work because she babysits her really young siblings a lot, and the practises for the racing team are so frequent. She wants to go to college too, so she's struggling with this right now. It's the one thing she wants really badly, apart from beating everyone in a race. And you're going to have to bet on the fact that she wants it more than she wants to stay single."

Lani pulled a leg behind her back, holding her balance on one foot. She stretched the other leg and Mel showed up with a few of his football pals.

Lani rolled her eyes.

Surprising people had turned up today. The usual crowd. Plus some football jocks. Plus Safi Dite and her girl friends.

Lani tied her laces tight as Mel took his place on the track. He was a strong guy- although he was built for tackling and throwing, not running as far as Lani could tell- and as far as she'd seen in the football games she had attended. He had windblown brown hair that curled a bit, and innocent, somewhat hypnotic, blue eyes. They were kind and hard to pull away from.

"Hey," he said.

"Hi." Lani said.

"Good luck, Lani." He said softly. Lani blinked impressed. He sounded honest and genuinely kind.

"Thank you. Good luck to you too." She babbled.

"At my whistle," Harry said, bringing to his lips.

TWEET!

Lani took off like an arrow shot from a bow.

Mel was keeping up.

Lani sped up. She wasn't going to lose this race after so many others, no matter how nice the other had been to her. He could've given her a college scholarship or a shinning new car -new smell and everything- but Lani was going to beat everyone that went against her. It was a competitive nature.

She was way out of his reach now. Seven feet… Eight feet…

But still within throwing distance. He took the first roll of cash from his pocket and threw it. It landed in front of Lani and she spotted it. Mel didn't see her face but he could tell.

She swooped down, and while running picked it up. But she'd slowed down her pace. Even in the lightest.

That tiny hope powered Mel. He sprinted more. Yeah, his legs would kill him, but he'd felt like that before after football and it'd never hurt him. That's how he became better. And he'd be better if Lani Adair would look at him seriously.

He threw another wad and this time Lani slowed down for it in advance.

Mel went all out and he was only four feet behind her.

Go, go, go, c'mon, c'mon!

He threw his last wad of cash and Lani slowed down let again.

He full powered on, like a train with no brakes. He even ran past the finish line a bit, Lani right at his heels.

But the heel after the one who'd passed the finish line.

Lani was leaning on the window of the booth at Sean's Smoothy Spot. After every race the six of them walked from school to Sean's and got smoothies. Her personal favourite was something called the Mango Banana Baluza- plain yogurt, mango, bananas with a spoonful of peanut butter, but even that didn't make her feel better today.

"I can't believe I fell for it." Lani said feeling pathetic. Yeah; she'd let herself get tricked. And she was infuriated.

Stupid Mel Nincon hadn't won the race fair and square by speed and ability. He'd just tricked her. How had he known that Lani needed money right now? Had he just taken a random guess? Either idea made Lani feel sick. At least with this one she wouldn't care if he got hurt.

No don't say that, you would.

Arty put an arm around her.

"It'll be okay, Lani. Everyone still knows you're quickest. They know Mel only won it because of that trick." Harry said.

"Thanks guys. But it's not helping." She said.

"You're still going on that date, right?" Terry asked.

"I don't have a choice, do I?" She said. "That was the deal. And I'm not going to even risk presenting myself as a liar."

"It'll be okay." Berry said comfortingly, putting her arm around Lani like Arty was.

She wondered who would put arms around Mel once he got hosppitalised after this. She wondered if maybe he'd have to stop playing sports like Teddy that. She wondered how he'd go- hit by a car, fire, hard hit during the next football game... She wondered how quickly he'd realise she was a poisoned apple.