Because of the fire.

chapter fourteen

I sat on the  bleachers and watched the group of boys coming out of the locker room in their swim trunks and caps. Earl saw me and i waved. I noticed he had a whole matching suit the cap goggles and swim trunks.
Way to go Phelps...
Coach Daves blew the whistle and the noise quietened...
"ok so we have some new guys who wanna join. Round up... So you'll do 6 laps.. I'll time you and the top three will be chosen. Fairwood is quite reputable when it comes to swimming so we are only picking the three best.. Take your stands and when I blow the whistle you go.. Standard style crawl... Let's go"
The boys took their stands and when the whistle was blown they all dived into the pool. Earl's dive was like a torpedo's, swift, smooth, sleek.
He's actually good
Needless to say he was ahead of all the other boys.
At that point Gregory Leash came to sit beside me.
"you're here? " he asked.
I just gave a half shrug. Greg was the football captain I didn't understand what business he had talking to me especially considering that i was kinda invisible.
"you didn't strike me as the type to wanna come and admire dudes in trunks, " he snickered.
I just rolled my eyes, "and you know me? "
"duh, Trace Collins, you're pretty hot stuff right now after you know what..so yeah that too. "
I knew that he knew me obviously from Spanish class but I didn't get why he would be talking to me but then again we were the only two people on the bleachers.
"mh-hm it's Tracy.. " i shrugged again. If he was looking for a comment about the last remark he wasn't getting any.
At that point Earl did an impressive spin as he started another lap. I hooted.
Greg furrowed his brow, "mmh i should have known, you didn't just come for a peek at just anyone's torso but his.. Classic.. The new guy, Collins..."
I cut him short, "enough. The new guy is Earl and he's my friend."
I didn't actually know if Earl and I could be friends but after hanging out at the mall I considered him one. Well potentially.. I drew back from my thoughts as I became aware Greg was saying something.
"...whatever, you tell your Early guy however that there's only one king in the school and that's GL not that he'd have a shot at the crown anyways but just so he doesn't start dreaming. "
I gave a light chuckle, "you  sound jealous. His name is Earl. "
Greg Leash had a tendency of purposefully saying people's names wrong maybe to overemphasize that popular people had no business knowing just anyone.
"whatever," he just shrugged as he stood up.
"and by the way what business have you doing here anyway, you didnt strike me as the type to be wanna admiring dudes' torsos. "
He chuckled, "very funny Collins, I'm here to see coach Daves. And your boy is pretty good by the way. Seems Pete has got some real competition now." he finished the statement as he ran his hand through his golden curls.
Greg was the king of Fairwood. In as much as he was self proclaimed the talent was undeniably there, the dude was a beast on the football field and looks that fit the profile. blond hair, blue eyes and a stocky build.
I turned my eyes back to watching the tryouts and my oh my... Earl had already finished. He was hanging by the ropes and had already taken off his goggles.
A minute later every other boy finished their laps and coach Daves had to call out the victors. "if I call out your name, go seat by the bleachers. Thornton, Banks, Wench. Congratulations boys you made it to the team, the rest better luck next season.
The 'victors' made way to where the rest of the team was but Earl came over to me. He had a grin on his face, "so?.. "
Maybe it was the water drops on his body or maybe his grey eyes or what but I felt a shiver..
"uh-uhm you were good... " i stuttered.
Tracy get a hold of yourself!
"really? " he arched a brow
I smiled, "yeah really.. Yeah i think I'll call you Phelps for real.. "
He smiled at me without saying anything.
At that point Coach Daves' voice boomed, "Thornton! Save the chit-chat for later get over here."
The rest of the team laughed...
Earl smiled sheepishly, "I'll see you later."
"I could wait for you outside. "
"No, stay.. I'm sure it won't take... "
"Hey Thornton! I mean now! " coach Daves again.
Earl ran off to where he was being called and I took out my phone.