Tied Before the Start
Matthew had always been the quiet one on the track team, but his speed was starting to draw attention, especially from Ryan, the reigning sprinter everyone feared.

After practice, Matthew stayed behind to grab his things. That’s when it happened. A hand shoved him hard, the locker door swung, and before he could react, Ryan and two teammates had him wedged inside, wrists loosely bound with athletic tape.

“Look at the rising star,” Ryan chuckled, leaning close through the narrow crack in the metal door. “Fastest on the track, but not so quick in here, huh?”

Matthew struggled, the tape pulling against his skin, but the harder he fought, the more ridiculous he looked. Ryan tapped the door with a smirk.
“Careful, rookie. Don’t waste all that energy before the big meet. Wouldn’t want you tripping at the blocks.”

The laughter stung more than the tape. For Matthew, it wasn’t just a prank, it was a warning. Ryan wasn’t just challenging him on the track. He was trying to get inside his head, to keep him tied up before the race even began.

And Matthew swore, silently in that locker, that he would make Ryan eat those words on the track.