The crack of the starterâs pistol threw the stadium into a state of pandemonium as the 100 meter dash got under way. In the stands Jeff Mitchell watched with rapt fascination as Charlie Potter, his chief competition for the last remaining Olympic team slot, powered his way to a relatively easy victory over a very impressive field. Jeffâs heart sank as he saw 9.97 second time flash up on the screen, and realized with deep regret that it was a good .45 seconds faster than his personal best.
Jeff had dreamt of going to the Olympics ever since he had seen Carl Lewis set the world on fire in the 1984 games. He had always been fast and had honed his speed to the point of earning a college scholarship to a major southern university, and qualifying for the Olympic trials. He had dedicated his life to the sport, training every single day. He would hit the weight room 3 days a week, did road work for 3, and spent one day running laps in the pool. All throughout his college career he had beaten everyone who he had faced, everyone that is except Charlie Potter.
Every time Jeff had faced Charlie he lost. No matter how hard he trained, or how hard he worked Jeff could never beat him. It was almost as if Charlie had his number. Over the years the frustration began to build inside Jeff, and his desperation and obsession to beat Charlie began to manifest itself inside him.
Jeff would always lose the mental battles to Charlie, he had let him inside his head and it caused him to double false start on more than one occasion. The way that Charlie began to taunt Jeff after that event caused the resentment to grow between them, and as Jeff stared at Charlie embracing his beautiful girlfriend Jillian, a new and daring plan began to form in Jeffâs mind, a plan that if successful would almost guarantee his Olympic shot.
Jillian Scott was captain of the womanâs swimming team and voted homecoming queen. She was the most beautiful girl in school and the object of every males fantasy. She and Charlie had been dating for two years and looked to be heading towards marriage. Through the years of competition Jillian and Jeff became close, as she consoled him after his loses, and encouraged him in his training. Jeff had become very smitten with her and she became his ultimate fantasy. There were times when he would just lie awake at night praying that one day she would be his, that she would see Charlie as Jeff saw him, a lousy mean spirited person who did not deserve her. As his patience waned and his desire for her grew he began to search for an opportunity to take her away from him, and he decided tonight was his opportunity.
Jeff made his way out of the stadium and returned to his apartment. He quickly set up his video camera in the corner of his bedroom and camouflaged it by draping some laundry over it. He then took a shower and got dressed for the night. He was going to the local bar that he overheard Charlie saying he was going to, and if all went as planned, where Jillian would be. He looked over himself in the mirror and took stock. There was something wrong about what he was going to do, but his obsession with beating Charlie coupled with his desire to get him back for all the pain and humiliation that Charlie had caused him, pushed all of these rational thoughts out of his head. He checked his hair one more time, and then headed for the bar.
Jeff walked into the bar, and while gazing around, his heart skipped a beat when he saw Jillian. She was dressed in a pair of low cut jeans that clung tightly around her seductive hips, long toned legs, and tight firm behind. The jeans hung low to show the waistband of her thong above the waistband of her jeans. Her black belly shirt pulled tightly against her skin, and strained greatly to cover her size c breasts, ending just above her navel, and exposing her flat stomach. Her shoulder length black hair was pulled back, and her beautiful dark eyes were filled with excitement. He could see from her broad smile and the rather loud conversation she was having, that she had been drinking for a while.
âHi Jillian, how are you doing tonight,â Jeff asked as he approached her and gently kissed her on the cheek.
âOh just great Jeff, How are you doing sweetie,â she replied as she hugged him in a friendly embrace.
âNot too bad I suppose, so where is Charlie keeping himself tonight?â
âHe is hanging out with his friends over by the pool table. So it looks like you and he will face each other again huh,â Jillian smiled at him while gently squeezing his arm.
âYeah looks like it,â Jeff said while frowning.
âOh donât worry Jeff; I know you will beat him someday. You are too good not to,â Jillian said as she playfully slapped him on the back.
My God she is so beautiful Jeff thought as he continued his conversation with her. She did not have one pretentious bone in her body, and even though he knew deep down that she wanted Charlie to win, he never doubted that her encouragement for him came strait from her heart. For the first time he really began to envy Charlie for having Jillian, the girl was nothing short of perfection to him. She had bewitched him with her beauty, but she intoxicated him with her soul and as the conversation continued his desire for her began to grow. The continued to talk through the night about all they had been through years, all the various track meets and banquets and campus parties were they had run into each other, were all recalled during the night.
As the evening wore on, the alcohol continued to flow and Jeff decided the time had come to put his plan into action. He had noticed Charlie back at the pool table all night surrounded by a bevy of beautiful ladies and was pleasantly surprised to see Cheryl Miller, the campus slut, among them.
âJillian I am so sorry for what he did to you. I feel really awful about it and if there is anything I can do to help you please donât hesitate to ask,â Jeff said as he gently rubbed her shoulder.
âWhat are you talking about Jeff,â Jillian said as she stared at him through uncomprehending eyes.
âOh my God Iâm sorry you didnât know! Please forgive me! Forget about it!â