At first, Dakota had wondered how this girl, Joceline, had known her name, but then her mind drew back to signing up for the race without a partner. Joceline had obviously seen her name on the list and, as it turned out, was also seeking someone to partner her in the race. A small smile of relief and excitement, crept onto Dakota's smooth dark face where it dwelled merrily for some time. Dakota nodded her reply "I'd love to." They had soon decided upon Dakota being the wheelbarrow- the idea, of which, made Dakota giggle slightly. The race was about to begin and the girls hurried to the the starting place. Dakota dived to the ground with her shoulders back and her elbows bent. Her legs were soon raised up behind her, causing her to hang at an angle. Dakota couldn't easily reply, but she gave a light-hearted laugh and within seconds, Dakota had begun to move her arms forward, taking great strides, but at the fastest speed she could go.
Many years ago, it was Maddie Cinellison holding up Dakota's legs as they raced around the back garden as giggling children. She did miss her sister and her being so close, but there was very little she could do about it. The time they had first begun to grow distant, was when they had started at Hogwarts and Maddie had become a Gryffindor. Protest as she might, Maddie couldn't convince the hat to change its decision about placing the girls in different houses, and she became upset at Dakota not putting up a fight.. But Dakota had grown to rather enjoy Ravenclaw, the cheerful silence in which to study, and she doubted she would have enjoyed Gryffindor as much. Her sister was far more confident, and a bit of a trouble maker.
Most of the time, it was neck and neck between contestants. Dakota's arms were spinning so fast that there was a good chance she would take off. Joceline was doing a good job of holding Dakota's ankles, and not running overly fast. Suddenly. out of nowhere, Dakota felt her breath shortening and- her arms had paused only for a second, but a second too long. She fell forwards onto her face, trying to scramble back up onto her arms to continue the race, but she had broken into a fit of giggles. "I.." Dakota tried to speak through her laughter, wondering if someone had hit her with a spell, "S-sorry about.. that." She managed to begin moving her arms again, beating them against the ground and trying to gain speed. But did it really matter who won or lost?