Pick yourself up, dust yourself off.

All good things must come to an end, you suppose. Lara offers you a wet-wipe to clean your face of her juices, as she gives the same treatment to herself. She's so practical and prepared, it's almost absurd.

You go to gather your shorts and put them back on, and as she does the same, you wonder whether you've just made another friend. No, a thought barges in and tells you. You simply can't call her a friend. She's just going to reveal a side of herself that you can't bring yourself to be near. Just like her. There's no way you and Lara can be called friends.

Especially since, as soon as you emerge from the bushes, you see two of Lara's real friends waiting side by side for her, both clad in sweatpants and loose-fitting tops.

"Whoa, we thought you were busy, but we didn't know you'd be getting busy!" One steps forward, laughing at her own joke. She's a strawberry blonde, fills out her top well, and seems to have a permanent smile on her face.

Lara laughs herself, putting her arm around you. "Hey Jenny, Elly. This is Rosie, and she'll be training with me every Saturday from now on." Wait, you didn't sign up to this, you think, but don't quite manage to say. "So, how goes the practice for the big game next month?"

The blonde speaks up again. "It's going great! We're working on a new move that's gonna be a total showstopper! It's gonna blow the East team's minds so much they just forget to play! And that's an Elly promise!" She seems to be amused by herself. It's really cute. Not the kind of cute that Lara and a certain other individual claimed you were. This is legitimately cute, and you supress a desire to be near her. You feel tense, as if denied something you need.

The other friend - Jenny, you presume? - steps forward, following her more hyperactive counterpart. Her dark skin glows just a little in the mid-morning sun, and she seems singularly focused on Lara as she twirls one of her braids. "You know, we keep offering you to sit in on our practice sessions, but you're always busy. I know the running's important to you, but I'd love you to see what we've got so far. I know Elly certainly would." In response Elly just nods, smiling brightly.

You turn to Lara, noticing she looks a little red. She probably wasn't expecting to be called out like this, you deduce, as she laughs nervously. "I'm sorry, I just... lose track sometimes. I get so into the runner's high that before I know it it's hours later."

"Bit of advice?" Jenny keeps her gaze locked on Lara, a smirk coming across her face. "Don't focus so much on the track. It keeps you alone. Between that and this pretty little thing" - she points her finger at you and gives a little boop to your nose, causing your face to heat up - "we're worried you might forget your old friends in the cheer squad. And that wouldn't be good, 'cause... where would we be without you?"

Jenny and Elly both take their leave, and you're not sure what to think of Lara's friends. One seems overly friendly, while the other is direct and a little mysterious. You're sure you wouldn't mind keeping track of one of their practice sessions, though.

"Well, Rosie," Lara seems glad to get that conversation over with, "I'm going back to my dorm to take an extra shower. You should too, unless you like sweat and sex clinging to you all day. By the way, you can keep the shorts."

You very much don't like those things clinging to you, so you give a little wave and take your leave.

After lunch, you're out in the front quad, enjoying what has been a decent day in terms of weather. Nothing too hot, but definitely short-sleeve climate. You notice most of the girls are sitting on benches in pairs, but you see one on her own. She doesn't seem much for conversation, with her face buried in a book, but you might as well fit in.