[ WP ] Write from the perspective of a bug making the arduous journey across a parking lot .

The blacktop sizzles beneath the blinding summer sun, a seemingly endless stretch of rocky pitch that meets the bright blue sky. Six pill bugs march across the sweltering pavement towards a solid white line painted upon the black floor. Dozens, if not hundreds, of other bugs crawl from the structures, litter, and crevices dotting the landscape around them to see this event unfold. Small troops follow closely behind the pill bugs offering words of advice or encouragement like an entourage or pit crew. One of these bugs stands out above the rest, carried upon the backs of his team like royalty as the growing crowd chirps, hisses, and sings his praise. 
 
 Upon his banded exoskeleton was a stripe of another color, a red belt worn across his midsection from birth, the ultimate symbol of his superiority. The other woodlice watch in awe at the reigning champion's entrance, demoralized by the lingering doubts in their minds. Arriving at the starting line, Joe rolls off of his companions and somersaults into place with a triumphant landing pose showcasing his skill and arrogance. The crowd eventually lulls into a dull roar as the contest is set to begin. In the distance, beyond the last light-post, a small but familiar voice cries out. 
 
 “ Did you think you could start without me? ” Jack cried out to the dismay of all in attendance. 
 
 An audible series of groans drowned the laughter that spread across the crowd as the competitors glared at the lone bug fading in from the hazy distance. Jack strolled confidently at his own pace across the parking lot towards the sizable gathering as something seemed to flow from his back. As the peculiar pill bug drew closer, they were shocked to find a candy wrapper in the form of a green cape bearing an'S' upon his back. Several audience members gasped at the impressive adornment upon Jack's shell and the crowd murmured amongst themselves. 
 
 “ I know, I know, ” Jack said, “ I'm awesome. ” 
 
 “ What do you think you're doing‽ ” Joe yelled as his fists shook in anger. “ Are you trying to make a mockery of me? The competition? Your entire race? ” 
 
 “ Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down there Joey, ” Jack responded dismissively, “ I know my cape is awesome and you want one, but you're just going to have to find your own. ” 
 
 “ Why, I oughta-! ” Joe began as Jack played with his cape and made wind noises, ignoring him entirely. Before he could swing on Jack, his crew rolled up and carried him away. “ I'll get you, Jack. Just you wait. ” 
 
 A final warning call sounded from above as the starting cricket hopped into place. Jack came to his senses as the first chirps rang out, causing him to shed his cape and hurry to the starting line. Joe glared menacingly at his cocky, pint-sized enemy as the other five bugs focused straight ahead. Behind each of the bugs was a starting man, an insect on their team that gave them the initial acceleration necessary to carry out the race. Behind the champion stood an enormous dung beetle, specifically chosen for his speed at rolling. Behind another competitor was a grasshopper with powerful legs, a spider with silk wrapped around his teammate's shell, a mantis prepared to bat his buddy as best his could, and a stinkbug flying away to build enough speed to push his racer along. Yet, Jack stood alone and unfazed by the overwhelming might of his rivals psyching himself up quietly. 
 
 The second set of chirps sounded a little less loudly upon Jack's ears as he stared at the ground ahead of him, focusing on little more than his breathing and the start of his roll. The noises around began to fade away as his eyes concentrated on a single spot, the spot he would land on once he had rolled over. Just as his vision narrowed to nothing other than this single rock jutting from the pavement, a third series of chirps signaled the start of the race. His black carapace glinted in the light as he tucked and rolled, propelling himself forward as quickly as possible, just moments ahead of his fellow racers. Jack's reaction time was better than that of a secondary figure, unprepared for the start of the race, unable to experience the exhilaration of rolling along that rocky stretch of road themselves. This was the moment that he lived for each year, the moment that he might be crowned the king of speed. 
 
 His segmented shell gripped the gritty ground and used the slight slants of the embedded gravel to its advantage, pushing Jack forward just a little faster. He knew this lot better than anyone else. At night, when the streets fell silent and the other insects crept and crawled home, Jack remained. He heard the slight hum of the lights above as night fell, a sound that he overlapped with a mental track of cheering to give him that extra boost. Those nights he trained alone, preparing for the race that lie ahead, hoping to realize his dream as the others soundly slept. These memories played on repeat in his mind as they approached the groove, a small but long trench carved into the ground, while he fought to maintain his position at the front with the others quickly closing in. One after another, they closed the gap and began to pass Jack despite his best efforts. 
 
 Joe spun loudly and furiously across the pavement, barreling towards Jack with no intention of slowing or diverting from his course. Jack attempted to move out of the way himself, finding that Joe had locked onto him like a poly-seeking missile. The words that he had spoke last echoed in Jack's mind as the champion pulled an incredible stunt. He unfurled himself, grabbing onto the shell of his rival, and launching him off course using their combined momentum. Jack flailed wildly and uselessly in the air as Joe sped off once more, surely laughing the entire way. Spinning and writhing in the air, the once hopeful pill bug began to doubt that this was his year. All of his hard work was meaningless if he could n't get back on track. A dragonfly and butterfly relayed the information on this sudden change and shocking development to the crowd as Jack wallowed upon the pavement almost a foot off-course. 
 
 Jack laid motionlessly in the shade of a nearby lamppost as he stared into its bulb, hearing the fictional crowd cheering him on, telling him to get up and finish the race. Slowly, that fictional crowd melted into the actual crowd that had begun to encourage the out-of-bounds bug. Rocking back and forth, he returned to his feet and rolled forward onto the track, running the course over in his mind in search of shortcuts that could cut the lost time. Speeding along as quickly as he can, Jack pours into the turns, stretching out and contracting along the curves and narrows to gain any advantage available to him. A lagging opponent is quickly outpaced by the well-trained hopeful as another comes into view only to fall behind him. Now in fifth place with only a few meters remaining, Jack speeds toward the upcoming curve with no intention of bearing off his straight path, launching himself up and over the edge and landing precariously on the other end of a long loop in third place. 
 
 With only one bug between himself and Joe, Jack quickly steadies himself and speeds along the smooth section of the track as the deafening rumble of cars sounds from the approaching end. As he attempts to pass the second place racer, he finds himself subject to a number of near collisions with this skilled roller. Thinking quickly, he waits for the next telegraphed bash and lets off on the speed, sending his opponent hurtling off-course. With only himself and Joe at the front of the pack, the crowd goes wild for the intense rivalry forming between the two dedicated competitors. The roving insect reporters struggle to keep up with the increasing speed of the two roly polies. Jack reaches deep within himself, searching for the speed necessary to overtake the champion and finds just a little left in his emptying tank, enough to unfurl and catapult himself up and over Joe, who pushed him across the finish line at last to a deafening chorus of applause. 
 
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