Someday

The clasp on her helmet made a satisfying clicking sound as Shay clipped it under her chin, preparing for her largest mountain biking race yet. A double marathon relay. 52 miles, 13 each under the hot August sun, with Shay's entire future hanging on it. "Shay! Hurry up and get over here!" their teams coach screamed over the helmeted heads of their competitors, loud enough for everyone present to hear. Her cheeks flamed, and she hurriedly finished strapping her two water bottles to her bike, then wheeled it over, shoes slapping on the pavement to where most of her team mates stood. Most, she noticed. Not all. "Where is Jordan?" she asked. AJ nodded to their left, where Jordan was still filling his bottles under the faucet. Shay frowned. It was not the first time she had noticed through the years that her male team mates tended to get the better end of the deal. The coaches would show the preferential treatment, giving them extra attention during practice and making the 'slower' girls go to the back of the line up. But she could not let the coaches racism get in her way today, not when her future lay on the line. Jordan finished filling his bottles, slowly strapped them onto his bike, and wheeled it over. Their coach checked his watch, then gathered them together and leaned in. Speaking fast and quietly he said," We have five minutes till the starter, that's you AJ, just as a quick reminder, needs to be at the staring line. Then the rest of us will load up the bikes into the van and drive to the next point before AJ gets there, to get Jordan ready. Jordan, as soon as AJ crosses the line, you take off. AJ will get in the van where we will drive to the next place, and do the whole thing over again, this time with Fred. Then we drive to the second to last spot and Fred will switch with Shay, who will carry us to the finish line, hopefully in first second or third place. Boys, try to gain some ground, since Shay is slower than you," am not! she thought but did not say, "It will hopefully be enough to get us in first-second-or-third place. You have 4 other teams to compete against. I got it from the orginisers that there are 13 other boys, and three girls." A whistle blew somwere, "Okay-that's-the-whistle-AJ-get-up-there-you-have-two-minutes-the-rest-of-you-to-the-truck-now." he finished in one long breath. They scurried to do what we were told and as Shay sat in the van, driving away from the start, a feeling of panic overtook her. The two boys were sitting together, laughing about something on their phones. Shay sat in the back, by her self as it had always been. None of the boys really wanted to be friends with a girl biker. The morning and some of the afternoon passed in a blur, and before she knew it, Shay was sitting on her bike at the line, craning her head over my shoulder trying to see were Fred was. She knew that we were currently in third, not good enough if they wanted to win that scholarship to collage, the one that all her hopes and dreams rested on. Fred zipped across the line, panting hard and she was off. Years of practice kicked in, and Shay bounced over stones and dirt hardly thinking about what she was doing, only one word occupying her brain. Faster. 10 miles, then 5, then 2 then 1. Her heart rate increased even higher, and her legs beged for a break but she would not let them. Faser. She. Must. Go. Faster. The finish line was in sight, and she keept on going, closer and closer untill she skidded across it and mercifully came to a stop. She tried to climb off of her bike and stand, but her legs felt like Jell-O. She closed her eyes, savoring the few minutes of peace before her future was decided. If they had come in first, they would get a ful scholarship, second would be half, and third a third. "Shay! Get over here right now!" (though thats not exactly what he said) Groaning, she got to her feet and headed over to see the rest of the team. "Okay everyone, great work today. Jordan, you laged a little bit half way in, nex time try pacing yourself a little more. AJ, you almost got us DQ, you need to wait untill he has fully passed the line before youb start. Fred..." It was like this after every race. Shay thought. She got a, "Good job Shay" at most, that was all. The boys normally got the credit. Another whistle blew, signifying the end of the race and summoning everyone to the stands for the awards. "In third place, the team of Henry, Lilly, Brandon and Sophia." a bunch of chearing. "In sevond place, Issac, Steven, Peter, and Calvin!" another burst of chearing. "And in first place the team of... drum roll please," the crowd complied, "Jordan, AJ, Fred and Shay!" another burst of screaming and chearing. Shay was pulled in for a group hug, then was left out again as the guys congratulate themselves on what a splendid job they had done. It did not matter that Shay was the one who had moved them from third to first, no. She was the one who could be cast off like an old toy. She felt like sinking down on the hot ground and crying. She had gotten her scholarship, but somehow felt even more let down than if she had lost. Shay suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning, she saw one of the other female competitors. Surprisingly, she was smiling. "I am so glad a team with a girl won, you did spectacular by the way." she said Shay gave a little snort of laughter. The girl gave her a look. "Does your team act like you barly exist?" she question shrewdly. Shay nodded. "Well don't let that get you down." the other said. " they wil appreciate you someday, just wait and see."