Despite The Doubt

Five- Records, Regionals, and Ring leaders

"GOOD MORNING JESSICA!!!!!!" Lara screamed as I stepped into the team bus.

"Ugggh. It's too early!" I groaned still not fully awake. Checking my phone I saw it was still 5:20. "Sorry about that." I apologized to the bus driver giving him a dollar as a tip. On my way to the back of the bus where Lara and everyone else was, I passed Jack.....asleep....taking up two seats....so I flicked him in the forehead.

"What the Fu- Fun! Oh it's you..... Slavik" Jack and I had weird nicknames, he called me Slavik and I called him Stephanie Hamburger. "You really shouldn't have woken me up, I need me rest so I can break more open records." Jack said confidently.

"Why do you need more? Your name is already up there like 14 times." I said, everyone knew that Jack was the best swimmer on the team. He already broke a New England record at 16 and made Olympic trials last year at 17.

"It's always good to strive for something." He said shaking his finger at me and putting his headphones back in. I considered his advice and kept going to find my seat.

"Hey Jess! What took so long?" Lara asked looking up form her iPad as I walked over to their little group of seats.

"Oh, just a little 'pep talk' from Jack." I said laughing putting 'pep talk' in finger quotes. I sat down in the empty seat next to Olivia that she had been saving for me.

"So how is everyone doing this fine morning?" I asked getting out my Starbucks frappecino and taking a sip, checking my phone for texts.

"Ugh." Olivia groaned putting her head on my shoulder. Not a morning person.

"Ok then," I said acknowledging Olivia's head on my shoulder. "How is the math Sydney?" I asked looking over to Sydney who was sitting next to Caroline, both on their phones.

"I actually brought some. It's in my bag somewhere." She said not looking up from her phone.

"Are you gonna do it? Or do you just bring it so your mom wouldn't harass you?" I asked skeptically not thinking Sydney would voluntarily spend time doing something she, A: doesn't like, and B: isn't very good at.

"Maybe." Sydney said shrugging and plugging in her earbuds, she isn't a morning person either. Nobody is at 5:20, that's barely morning. I plugged my earbuds into my phone and started listening to my workout playlist bracing myself for the four hour drive to Upstate New York.

"May I have your attention swimmers, we have everyone on the bus now so we are going to leave in a few minutes! Please stay in your seats unless you need to use the bathroom at the back. If you have an emergency ask me or Coach Kaitlyn. Also, please don't be too loud so the driver doesn't get distracted for, the road." Coach Will said addressing everyone on the bus.

Claire🐱: Lara is the best bus buddy ever!
Lara🍩: That was Lara! Btw this is Claire, but Lara is pretty awesome.
Olivia🍄: I'm confused...
Avery🌼: Lara has Claire's phone and Claire has Lara's.
Olivia🍄: Got it!
Caroline🌸: We are all litter ally sitting like right next to each other.
Sydney🍒: My vocal chords don't function properly with communication in the morning.
Lara🍩: ?
Chloe🌺: Sydney no talk in the morning
Me👑: It's too early for this, let's all enjoy the next two hours of sitting and listening to our workout playlists before we get to our hotel. Please. I'm begging you let me drink my frappecino in peace!

~#~

"Who are you rooming with?" Lara asked me as we walked down the hall of the hotel to the elevator.

"Uhh, Chloe, Sydney, and Caroline." I said looking at my room assignment. I figured they would put me with them because they are my age and I'm the same group.