Weights & Whips

Chapter 8

9am, Sunday morning I awoke to banging on my door, only Sandra knows my new address so I didn't feel the need to change out of my pyjamas before letting her in. I flung the door open announcing "I'm going to get you a key if you keep turning up so early in the morning" before I realised it was firebird stood on my doorstep. "What do you want? And how do you know where I live?" I asked while folding my strong arms across my chest. "My Captain gave it to me, well, kind of, I found it on a note at his house. Listen, I know this is weird me just turning up here, but I have some stuff to say and if I tried at the club you would ignore me. Can we please go inside your neighbours are watching us through their curtain" she responded. "Fine, take a seat, let's get whatever this is over with" I said as I took a seat on the sofa.

We spent almost half an hour talking, firebird explained she was sorry for her outburst and how badly she reacted, told me about how she met The Captain and that their romance slowly built over time. Firebird had convinced herself she would be the one The Captain settled down with, she was his soulmate.

It's competition week, I don't have time to deal with who's angry at who and why, I need to be prepared. I need to show the world that this newcomer is here to take over. I went about my week resting as much as I could and forcing in extra calories, storing as much energy as I could for the competition to come.

I arrived early at the compete grounds and chose a quiet corner by myself to prepare in, mentally psyching myself up and warming up. I didn't notice the rest of the competitors arrive but soon it was time to start the first event, Deadlifts. I felt optimistic, we were deadlifting for max weight and I was aiming for a new personal best. I finished the event with a lift of 205kg, which secured me second place, Zoe came first beating me by 2.5kg. I returned to my corner beating myself up mentally that I was so close to winning, I have to get my head back in the game.

The next few events went well, I placed 1st in farmers walk beating second place by 3 seconds, 1st in log press beating second place by 2 reps and 3rd in weight toss for height, which I was happy about because it was the event I was most likely to do badly in. As it stood the next event would be the podium decider. Zoe had placed second in all events bar the deadlift which she won, meaning we were almost neck and neck on points so it all came down to atlas stones for reps. Me, new to the sport with something to prove, Zoe a seasoned competitor with titles and records to match, it had only been a few weeks since she gave me an atlas stone masterclass.

I stood to watch the other competitors, noting what worked and where they struggled hoping it would help me when I come head to head with Zoe. I realised I hadn't been watching the competition unfold, I hadn't watched the men's events at all, I had no idea who on the team had a chance to qualify. "For the final time today, please welcome Zoe Jenkins! Current UKS Strongest Woman and World Atlas Stone Record holder! I'm sure Zoe plans to put on a show for us once again" the commentator announced as Zoe pranced onto stage flipping her hair as she walked, "Competing versus Zoe for the win today is Team Asylums newcomer, Sab Blue! This is Sabs first time competing, but she's already blown the competition away!" This was it, win or die was my mantra, and I repeated it in my head as I strolled onto the stage with every ounce of confidence I could muster. "You know the rules, we want a clean fight for the win, it comes down to who can lift these 100kg atlas stones over the bar the most, you have 60 seconds to show us what your made of! On my whistle, ready, set" and the whistle sounded.

I slapped the Tacky covering my arms and flew through my first lift, our stones passed over the bar at the same moment. There was no time to think, I had to keep the pace up if I hoped to beat Zoe, the next few reps there was barely half a second behind us, there's no way I can win this, I have 5 seconds left, I have to try to throw this stone over one last time! Stood back and waved knowing she didn't have enough time to do another, but I'm going for it anyway. I wrap my arms around the stone and allow the Tacky to weld my arms to the stone, without wasting a second I rip it of the ground onto my lap, the crowd silenced, watching me try to beat the clock, I stood legs shaking from exhaustion, pulling the stone as high as I can and rest it on the edge of the bar. With one final push it falls over..

I spin the the clock, did I make it? Did I win? 0.5 seconds. The crowd erupts in cheers and chants my name as I drop to my knees letting out my best war cry "WIN OR DIE!" I screamed.

I basked in my glory, people came to congratulate me, I stood on the podium to accept my winnings, Zoe beside me in 2nd place. The competition came to an end, the spectators and competitors filed out in hoards, but I stayed. I don't know what to do next, do I celebrate? Do I go home to a lovely hot bath? Before I could decide I received a text from Sandra "We are exited to hear how the competition went! Did you qualify? We are waiting for you at Leather Rose". Decision made, home for a shower, get changed and then meet Sandra at the club.

I didn't know the bouncers on the door, so had to find my membership card and ID to give them, this is the first time I've had to do this, Harry or Axel were always inside, they handed back my cards and nodded me through. Sandra was waiting for me at the bar "I heard I have some fans waiting" I said as I sat along side her "Yes! Tell me everything, no, wait, the others have a table, you should tell us all at once" she responded pulling me away. "Everyone shut up, she's here" Sandra exclaimed as she sat. I looked around the table at my friends, Sandra, Sugar, Axel, Spice, Harry, just Leo was missing, but ofcourse he was there he knows how it went. I took a deep breathe, schooling my face into a neutral expression, "I CAME FIRST, I QUALIFIED, I CANT BELIEVE I ACTUALLY WON" I screamed as my friends jumped to their feet cheering and hugging me, Axel whispered in my ear "I'm proud of you" as he hugged me tightly, Sandra peppered kisses all over my face while muttering "This is legendary", Sugar and Spice hugged me at the same time sandwiching me between them giggling, Harry hugged me then held my face with both hands, stared into my eyes and whispered "I knew you would, I never doubted you for a moment, this puts you one step closer to winning worlds" my heart leapt, It had been so long since I felt this supported and loved, the last time I can remember feeling like this was in the beginning of my relationship with Tom.

A voice inturupred us "Celebrating without me? Doesn't anyone want to know how I placed? I placed 2nd, I qualified." I spun on the spot, he was here. The Captain.