So You’re Good At Swimming
"You sound like such a poet." He says. That is his strongest refute because he knows
what I had just told him is true. We go back to watching the ga in silence.
I’m sighing every minute because I am borrrrred out of my mind. I don’t know how it ca to, but all of a sudden, I find myself staring face to face at Calyx.
He is looking at in the crowd. I glance around to know if he is looking at soone else. But no. His gaze pinned on just , no other person. And then he lazily takes his eyes off.
It was a very brief mont but it was sohow enough to get my heart quickening with fear and fascination. I feel like I should leave. I really should leave. But that would an passing the front of so many people. All the seats on my left and right are fully occupied. Why did and Maverick have to sit in the very middle? Whose idea was it again? Luckily the ga soon ends. His team had won.
Him mostly. "Did you see him back there? How can one person be so hot?
It’s unfair! He is the sole reason for global warming." Maverick has been talking my ear off about his crush since after the ga. The discussion moves from school and takes place at the noodle shop.
"Would you please keep quiet about him for a second?" I say when I get so fed up. "I just cannot understand the appeal about that guy. Find soone else to crush on. I promise I would give my full support." I place my hand on my chest to emphasize. "You think I haven’t tried that? He is one of a kind. You admitted it too. You said he is handso."
"Was." I correct. "He is not to anymore. I’d choose the ugliest guy in the world over that idiot." I cuss. Throwing the cloth I was using to wipe the countertop hard on the surface.
Maverick sighs. "It sort of hurts that you are calling him an idiot. But I can’t tell you not to because he really is." He says.
Business is slow today. It always is at noonti like this. Which ans I’m stuck hearing Maverick speakings for another couple hours before the evening rush cos.
"I took so photos of him. I’m going to post them on my Pinterest board later." He is looking at his phone and blushing. I don’t need to glance at his phone screen to know the reason for that. "Suit yourself." I sigh.
"And can we please talk about sothing other than Mr Entitled?" I will so have to tell him to go out the door if he has nothing else to talk about.
My ears and sanity needs freedom from the na and person—Calyx. It’s always Calyx, Calyx, Calyx. I am so sick and tired of hearing that na! "Other things? Like Ted Huntington?" I co alive upon hearing that. Finally! Sothing interesting.
"What? Have you heard sothing new about him?" I eagerly ask. "Yeah. His parents decided to settle." He deadpans.
"WHAT!" I shriek. How can? "They settled? When?"
"Today. This morning. I told you it would be like this. It’s always been. That is why students like us gotta keep our head down because there is nothing like justice in Krohn’s. It’s only money and influence."
"But the money or whatever they are going to get out of the settlent will not restore their son’s ntal state. Him being punished would have." I reason.
"But the money would be sothing at least. Knowing Calyx, he wouldn’t go cheap on settlents fees."
Three weeks in. I can now say that I have fully settled. Enough to know the people to avoid other than Calyx Lamont. I have also discovered the color of his eyes. They are green. Bluish green. I did not go close to him to know that. Maverick told . I have also discovered that he doesn’t co to the cafeteria unless it is to bully and drag soone off. Reportedly to the lounge created by the school for him and the other diamond leagues. He has gotten a tattoo. The tattoo of a scorpion on his hand. At the back of his hand.
A scorpion, sothing as lethal as he is. Luckily he and so of his notorious lots are seniors with just less than six months before going off to college. The school will be a calm for a while before soone else decides to continue his legacy.
Most of the teachers praise my intelligence and attentiveness in class. They were considering making give private tutorship to other students. I politely turned it down. The only thing I can handle in my life right now is my studies, my part-ti job and my family. The last thing I need is getting told off and bullied by an entitled brat.
I’m also starting to do better in swimming. and Curry never spoke again after that first day. She moves around with those girls who had put in my place on the first day. She always follows them around, carrying their bags and running errands for them. Making understand why Maverick calls her a lackey.
What Maverick said is devastatingly right. Money and influence is the only pass to fit in Krohn’s. I knew I didn’t fit in from the first day I ca here. I am not soone who tries to fit in anyway. I’m an onion surrounded by its own protective peel and layers.
Having nothing else but books and studying which is my only hope for a better future. I am not that good at swimming. So the idea of becoming a professional swimr is ruled out. I can’t say it doesn’t hurt—at all. It does hurt. Being sidelined and pushed back. It makes feel like I am in a different world from the others. It gets worse when I listen to the other girls on my swimming team talk about where they had gone for their past sumr vacations and where they would go in the future. So had almost travelled the entire world. While I have never left this place. The farthest I would most likely ever go would be outside of Florida. Never out of the country. But I really do hope to one day go when I beco successful in the future. Then they shift the conversation to what type of bag and makeup brand they bought. I would curiously search it online to see that the accessory brand they are speaking off is total luxury. The price of a single item can feed and my family for weeks. Here, I discovered that not only silver spoon exists. There is gold and diamond. And then there is the wooden spoon. "Are you girl’s ready?" Coach Mira’s booming voice cuts through the air like a blade. "Yes!" We chorusly answer. "You go in as soon as the whistle blows. Not a second before or after, understand?" "Yes Coach!" I dive into the large swimming pool when the whistle blows. I like swimming because I find it easy. I love the water. And it also helps clear my thoughts. I was shocked when I ca out to find that I was number one. "12. 5seconds. That was excellent Gweneth." Coach Mira praises. I don’t imdiately get into it because I don’t believe that I beat the other six girls now when I use to co in fourth or third among my team. "You are an excellent swimr. You just need so extra Coaching and I would be happy to give it." She beams.
"Thank you." I say in a weak tune.
"No need to thank dear. I just like to admire dedication when I see one. Keep it up okay. I have sowhere else to be right now. We’ll co to a consensus about how to work around your extra sessions tomorrow."
The vibe fully changes when she leaves. I felt it too. I hurry to change and co out of the swimming class. Taking the route to the students main section. But suddenly a hand rests on my shoulder. I glance up and et the eyes of Brooke Baldwin. A diamond league rich and sassy school queen. She is one of the people that Maverick had told to look out for and avoid. But I just had to end up in the sa swim team as her. "Hi there little lolita." She says in her high-pitched voice. An uncomfortable feeling is crawling on my skin. Brooke Baldwin does not co off as nice. What does she want with ? "Why are you staring mute? Co on, don’t play dumb. I know you can speak." She says firmly this ti, humor lining her voice.
"Hi." I managed to keep my voice calm and balanced even though I am uncomfortable by her presence. Her glossy lips curves into a smile. One that is can be seen as friendly. But I know that it can’t an any good. Maverick told to avoid her for a reason. "So, you are good at swimming?"
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