Hey guys, sorry for such a long wait… exams really suck! So this is chapter two just in time for Jeyna Ship Week! I'm also now on tumblr: my url is .com. You guys are welcome to message me and send me prompts for jeyna week. Anyway hope you enjoy! please R&R!
A New Light
Reyna winced slightly as she stretched out her unnaturally tight calves. Maybe she had overdone it a little on the running during summer break. Reyna had started running track back in middle school, after her shrink suggested it.
While at the time Reyna had been completely against the idea, but after being on Jupiter High's track team Reyna actually found running track quite therapeutic. Not that she'd ever admit that. After two long weeks the track season had finally started up again. However this season was different. Reyna let out a small sigh as she glanced around Jupiter High's extensive track and field area. The emerald fields had just been mown with gold and purple banners sticking out of it proudly. Reyna felt the maroon track under her fingers, warmed by the sun.
"You're not still annoyed over Coach Woodmass leaving, are you?
Reyna looked over her shoulder and playfully glared at the boy stretching next to her.
"No." Reyna pouted, shoving the boys tanned shoulder.
"You so are" Bobby chuckled, his deep-set grey eyes twinkling with laughter.
"Maybe a little" Reyna admitted looking down at her purple and black running shoes, to hide the blush creeping across her cheeks. She and Bobby had been on the track team together since freshmen year and had become good friends. He understood what it was like to have a… different family situation. The two of them had been Coach Woodmass's running prodigies, until she announced she was pregnant and had her little girl Julia, earlier this year. Julia was really cute and Reyna adored her, but at the same time she wasn't particularly happy with her coach leaving her.
A lot of things had changed this year and Reyna didn't like it, especially her new history teacher, Mr Grace. Professor Lupa had been Reyna's history teacher since freshman year and every year they would do a unit on Ancient History, and every year Lupa would agree with Reyna. Rome is better. For this new teacher to come in and convince everyone else otherwise, well despite being so unimportant, it infuriated Reyna. She stood up and brushed off her favourite black running leggings and purple tank top and cleared her throat.
"Well it looks like we don't have a coach yet," Reyna announced to the seven other teens stretching around her. "Let's just go."
"Wait!" a voice behind Reyna shouted. She jumped slightly and turned around and found herself looking into the electric blue eyes of Mr Grace.
"Sorry I'm late" Mr Grace said puffing slightly. It looked like he'd run from the other side of the school. His orange running singlet looked odd and out of place compared to the rest of the track team who were wearing the purple Jupiter High track tops.
"I got a little lost" Mr Grace smirked slightly, showing his bright white teeth. Reyna could practically feel the other girls on the team swooning as they assured him that it was totally okay and that everyone gets lost sometimes. She scoffed and rolled her eyes. Mr Grace had been the topic of gossip in the girl's locker rooms ever since he started this year, much to Reyna's annoyance.
"So you're our new coach?" Reyna inquired, raising one eyebrow and crossing her arms, hoping he got the message she was less than impressed.
"Indeed, I hope that is to your satisfaction your Highness" he quipped dropping into a mock bow. Reyna narrowed her eyes, while the other members of the team, Bobby included burst out laughing. Reyna looked away, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. That was… unexpected.
"Oh my God, Mr Grace you are so funny!" one of the girls cooed, looking him up and down flirtatiously.
"Oh please, it's outside school hours you all can call me Jason" Jason chuckled.
Reyna stood aside from him with her arms crossed, glaring at the track.
"I thought you'd have something to say, especially after that speech you gave in my class" Jason said cheekily, grinning at her.
Reyna squared her shoulders and met his eyes. He wasn't going to beat her this easily. "Well, Mr Grace, if you had any knowledge of the medieval period, you would know that it is beneath the dignity of a queen to reply to the words of a peasant." Reyna replied, unable to stop a ghost of a smile dancing across her lips as the other girls on the team gasped at Reyna's snarky reply.
The blonde teacher appeared shocked just as he had on the first day, after she shared her opinion on Rome. His eyes widened and his mouth hung open for a few seconds before he quickly composed himself.
"Well, all joking aside," Jason muttered, as he picked up his clipboard and began searching through the papers attached to it.
Bobby leaned across and threw his arm across Reyna's shoulders and whispered "Well you got him all flustered."
Reyna smirked slightly at his remark, and slipped her shoulders out from under Bobby's arm. Bobby and pouted at this, and raised his eyebrows.
"Oh so Malcolm can do it, but not the rest of us?" Bobby said with mock suspicion. Reyna shoved him and ruffled his brown curls to stop him talking. Jason had apparently found his page because he, along with was looking at the two of them, waiting for them to stop talking. Reyna tilted her head slightly and smiled sheepishly as an apology. He apparently accepted because he looked out to the rest of the team
"Today I just want you all to run around the track as many times as you can so I can assess your running styles" Jason said confidently. "Believe it or not I ran track in high school so I do know a thing or two" he said pointedly, his eyes flicking over to Reyna for a moment. Reyna smirked down at the track. Men, always defending her their pride she thought wryly, as she turned started to run.
"Alright guys, that enough!" Jason called. Reyna looked up at the sky as she forced her aching limbs toward the stands where Coach Jason stood. They had run continuously around the track, for about an hour while Coach Jason watched them and occasionally made notes on his clipboard. The brilliant cloudless day, had been cloaked by dark storm clouds, ready to dump on them at any minute.
Jason had obviously caught on to the impending weather as he looked up at the sky his eyebrows furrowed.
"I think we'd all better get out of here, before we drown." He remarked grinning at them. There were a few giggles from the girls at that. "I'll give you notes at the next training. Great job you guys!" The rest of the team nodded and headed off to their respective cars. Bobby clapped his hand to Reyna's shoulder and gave it a quick squeeze before sauntering off towards his car.
Reyna however began her general routine of stretching out her calves, again, or else she knew she'd pay for it in the morning.
"You don't have to stretch right now y'know" Reyna looked up and saw Jason smiling down at her.
"I do if I want to walk tomorrow" Reyna replied curtly, staring determinedly at her sneakers.
"Because of your calves right?" Jason questioned. Reyna's head shot up and stared at him in surprise. How could he have known? Reyna wasn't really one to share any sort of problem with anyone, except maybe with Malcolm and it would have to be a big one.
Jason took in her shocked expression and smiled slightly. "I figured you'd have sore claves after watching your running," he said chuckling. "Want to know how I know that?"
Reyna peered at him wondering how to respond. She looked at his blue eyes, sparkling with mischief. She realised this was a test. He wanted to see if she trusted him enough to take his advice. Reyna wanted to put him in his place, but in the end her curiosity won over her general indifference.
"Do tell" Reyna replied flatly. Jason opened his mouth to reply, when all of a sudden, the dark clouds that had been threatening to dump on them burst open and sheets of rain fell over the pair of them effectively cutting Jason off. Normally Reyna would have run for shelter, but instead she found herself tipping her head back and laughing. Jason furrowed his eyebrows, confused for a moment but soon joined her in laughing. His laugh was loud and booming and entirely contagious. Reyna found herself laughing even harder. After a few moments after their laughter had subsided and they were both entirely drenched Jason turned to her and with a cheeky wink whispered "Race you to the stands." He then turned and took off towards the bleachers.
Reyna raced after him, determined to beat him, but Jason's combined head start and stronger legs allowed him to beat her without too much trouble, although Reyna was close. Jason grinned at her for a moment, silently acknowledging his victory. Reyna rolled her eyes, but found herself smiling slightly.
Jason took his keys off his whistle and opened the doors to the locker room. He then pulled back the door, before turning up his nose and saying pompously "Your majesty." Looking at his haughty expression Reyna couldn't help but think how much he looked like Octavian. The thought gave her shudders. She nodded at Jason and headed inside towards the supply closet. She grabbed two towels and began drying off her sopping wet hair.
"I was just teasing y'know" Jason's voice said from behind her. "I didn't mean to offend you." Reyna turned and saw Jason looking at her apologetically.
"What?" Reyna asked confusedly.
"The whole 'Your Majesty' thing," Jason replied slowly "You looked a little… well pissed, when I said it and I wasn't trying to make you angry, its just in total honesty you remind me a bit of a queen y'know with you facial expression and whatnot and I was just trying to make a bit of a joke of it and, mph!"
Reyna cut of his rambling by throwing a towel at his face. Jason stared at her in shock. She smiled at that and said, "You talk too much." Jason picked the towel off the ground and rubbed at his wet hair with it.
"Tushe." Jason chuckled. After they were both sufficiently dried off they threw their towels in the hamper and headed through the locker room out into the car park. The heavy downpour had currently subsided to a light drizzle.
Jason turned and locked the doors behind them. His defined shoulder muscles bunched up as he fit the key into the lock. Reyna realised she was staring and quickly looked away before he noticed.
" Well, I'll see you tomorrow" Reyna said formally " Goodbye"
"Bye Reyna" Jason echoed. Reyna turned around to leave but the strap of her sports bag hit his hip and the weight of it nearly toppled Reyna over. Before she could fall Jason grabbed her hand and pulled her upright. Jason held onto her hand for another second making sure she was balanced. Then he looked down at their joint hands and freaking shook it. Reyna shot him an odd look and withdrew her hand before muttering her second goodbye and practically powerwalking towards her car, before he could se her cheeks turn bright red.
She unlocked her brand new BMW; a gift from mother dearest of course, climbed in and started the engine. She carefully backed out of the car park and drove onto the main road. But not before she caught a glimpse of Mr Grace, (she decided that what she going to call him, calling a teacher by their first name was just not normal) climbing into his car. Reyna shook her head quickly 'I must be under caffeinated' she thought to herself before turning left towards home.