Chapter 602

The moment she spoke, every head turned. Confused glances flickered across the group as everyone tried to get a better look at Charlotte.
She wore a camouflage cap, brim pulled low so it shaded most of her face. Even so, you couldn’t miss her. Tall, slim, and graceful, Charlotte stood out in the shapeless camo uniform, drawing attention without even trying.
“She’s gorgeous. No doubt about it.”
“Does anyone know who she is?”
“Just her vibe and figure… unreal.”
A buzz of whispers spread through the crowd. The physical training had just started, and most people didn’t know each other’s names yet. Everyone was used to calling each other by their numbers.
Eileen, Alvina, and Emma exchanged nervous looks. Their hearts pounded. Charlotte wasn’t just anyone-she was the top scorer on the entrance exam. Usually, whoever landed that spot was instantly famous, followed everywhere by eager interviewers and nosy classmates.
But Charlotte was different. After the results came out, she refused every interview. Once training started, she kept her head down and stayed out of the spotlight. She clearly wanted to be left alone.
The three friends understood, so they kept quiet.
Charlotte made her way to the track, eyes lowered. Sunlight caught her rolled-up sleeves and those pale, elegant wrists. In that moment, she looked almost unreal, a little bit out of reach.
Nearby, Team 4’s coach, Leland, watched her. He glanced from Charlotte’s delicate arms and legs to the girls on his own team-broad-shouldered and solid. He chuckled, shaking his head. “Cotton, don’t push yourself. Our best time is two and a half minutes. You know what that means. This last round doesn’t matter.”
Cotton’s face darkened. He frowned hard. “Just stop talking.”
He turned to Charlotte. He didn’t want to treat her differently, but he had his orders. Girls like her, he figured, would raise hell over a scraped knee, and he really didn’t want the drama.
She looked back at him, cool and steady. Her lips curled up, just a bit. There was a cold glint in her eyes and her words came out calm, almost cocky. “I know what I’m doing.”
Cotton couldn’t even respond. So full of herself. She’d learn fast how much it hurt to fall.
The starter pistol cracked through
the air. Both teams erupted in
cheers as Team 4’s runner bounded
onto the first obstacle, a narrow balance beam. She dodged
sprinted, and raced ahead,
determined to be the first one across.
Team 1 watched in disbelief as their rival shot ahead. They hadn’t even started and it already felt like the
Some was set.
Team 4 went wild, shouting and jumping.
Seeing Charlotte lag behind, Janie burst out laughing. “Charlotte is so clueless.”
Olivia smiled softly but stayed quiet, her eyes giving nothing away.
“Come on, Charlotte! You’ve got this!” Andrew jumped up, waving his hat wildly and yelling until his voice cracked.
“Let’s go, Charlotte!” Shirley joined in, shouting even louder.
She’d seen what Charlotte could do. There was no way she’d get stuck on the first obstacle.
“You can do it, Charlotte!” Stella cheered, her excitement catching on.
Charlotte.
The name hung in the air. Both teams went quiet. All eyes darted between Shirley and the girl on the course.
Did they just call Number 91 ‘Charlotte’?
Most of Team 1 were from
Kingswood University. The name Charlotte had been on everyone’s lips since the day the exam results dropped Charlette, from Kingswood, majoring in Clinical Medicine…