chapter 20- let the games begin (p3)

“Can you not insult me when I’m in pain.” Kate complained, as she rolled back around.

“I’m not calling you a pig, that’s honestly what it’s called.” Mia assured her, although Kate still looked skeptical.

“Why does it hurt so much?” Kate complained, as she eyed Mia’s trim waist with a certain jealousy.

“Did you stretch?” Mia judgingly questioned, while she put her hands on her hips like a disinterested parent.

“Yeah!” Kate responded quickly. She didn’t appreciate the superior tone Mia was taking with her.

“Did you stretch your HAMstring?” Mia teased, as she tauntingly slapped the back of her thigh. The noise produced quite a loud slap. Even Mia seemed a little surprised by how much thump her thigh had produced.

“I guess not…” Kate admitted, while she rolled her eyes. This was the fate she’d have to endure if she failed in the next two challenges. A sour feeling began to burn in her stomach. Kate relaxed on the ground, defeated, as she tried to banish the ache in her tummy.

“Then that’s why piggy!” Mia meanly joked, as she approached Kate, offered her an unexpected hand, and explained, “Stand up. Walk around. The movement will help.”

Biting her tongue, Kate grabbed Mia’s hand and allowed her to help her up. Mia grunted a bit exaggeratedly during the process to shame Kate even more, but Kate didn’t acknowledge it. She had more pressing issues to worry about. After taking a few steps to each side, she complained, “It still hurts.”

“But you’re walking fine. You just need to stretch.” Mia rationalized, as she impatiently started tapping her foot, “Now hurry, up I wanna play tennis before I cool down.”

Kate didn’t enjoy feeling like Mia was rushing her. Demanding with some force, Kate growled, “I need a break.”

“No. Stretch and then let’s finish this.” Mia disagreed. Unlike Kate who was wearing a long-sleeved sweat suit, Mia’s sports bra and short shorts combo hardly could protect her from the cool breeze that the day continued to produce. If she stood around doing nothing for ten minutes while Kate stretched, she’d be cold for tennis.

“I’m serious.” Kate firmly stood her ground.

In response to Kate’s defiance, Mia wanted to remind her how their little challenges worked and who was in charge, but a sudden and uncomfortable rumble from her tummy dissuaded her.

“Fine.” Mia relented, as she felt her stomach churning for nourishment. Not having breakfast before these physical competitions was clearly a mistake on her part. She needed food before playing tennis, and Kate needed a break to stretch her leg. Maybe they could agree to a mutually beneficial change of plans. Striking a bargaining tone, Mia asked, “If you want a break so bad, how about we head home do our ice cream eating contest next instead?”

“Ice cream before tennis? That’s a bad idea.” Kate commented, as she wondered if such an ordering of events could play to her advantage.

Kate certainly thought she held an edge in both tennis and eating. The only thing was that Kate wasn’t feeling all that hungry at the moment. She’d eaten the largest dinner of her life yesterday, and she’d felt so bloated this morning that the only breakfast she’d allowed herself to consume was a paltry banana that still made her feel like she was going to explode after eating it. She was kind of hoping on winning tennis before the ice cream contest so she could work up her appetite.

“Whatever, you want a break and I didn’t eat breakfast. We’ll kill two birds with one stone. Well actually… I guess three birds with one stone.” Mia corrected herself, while she remained determined to convince Kate.

Trying to follow along, but uncertain of what Mia was saying, Kate inquired, “What’s the third bird?”

“Well when I win the eating contest, we won’t even have to play tennis so your leg hurting would really be a moot point.” Mia rationalized in a totally serious manner.

There it was! That stupid smug confidence that drove Kate crazy! Mia thought she was so f*cking superior, didn’t she?? Kate couldn’t believe this snooty brat’s audacity.

If Mia had succeeded in one thing all semester, it had been in insuring that Kate had become a master at overeating. If Mia thought she’d have the edge in eating, she’d be in for a rude surprise! Kate didn’t want the title of being the heavier girl, but she currently was, so she’d use it as an advantage if she could. There was simply no way someone with Mia’s slim stomach, could compete with someone with a belly Kate’s size. It was just science. Even if Kate knew she wasn’t feeling that hungry, it didn’t matter. She could force the ice cream down just like she’d forced Mia’s dinner down last night. Lacking a better retort, Kate spat, “You’re a moot point. You’re on!”

“Ha! You sound just like my sister.” Mia laughed at Kate’s childish response.

“Do you torture her as much as you torture me?” Kate wondered, while she hardened her resolve.

“Of course not. She doesn’t deserve it. You do.” Mia emphasized with a firm poke to Kate’s soft gut. It didn’t feel as firm and full as it had last night, but it was still far too large for a young lady without a medical condition. Trying to sound as mean as possible Mia informed her corpulent competitor, “I’m jogging home. Try and hurry up. I don’t have all day to wait around for you tubby.”