Swimming back to you

chapter 5.

"Maggi!"

The familiar nickname rang out through the crisp morning air, making me wince internally. It was 7 a.m., and the last thing I wanted was to deal with anyone, let alone a cheerful, overly-enthusiastic Austin. I had just parked my car and was making my way to the pool, hoping to sneak in unnoticed. But of course, that was wishful thinking.

I kept my head down, determined to ignore him and make it to the pool without any unnecessary interaction. But I heard his footsteps closing in, his pace quickening. Damn those long legs of his. It was like he was skipping along, so full of energy that it was almost offensive. I was too groggy for this kind of cheerfulness.

Why is he so happy in the morning? And why does he have to be happy in my face? It's great that he's a morning person, really, but he could take that enthusiasm elsewhere, like to someone who actually enjoys being spoken to at this time.

Before I could even formulate a proper response in my head, Austin had caught up to me. With a quick step, he moved in front of me, blocking my path with a broad grin plastered across his face. His eyes sparkled with that infuriating mix of amusement and delight, as if he found it hilarious that he had managed to ambush me this early.

I sighed inwardly, resigning myself to the inevitable. "Hey, good morning," I mumbled, forcing a smile that probably looked more like a grimace.

"Good morning!" he practically chirped back, his voice way too bright for this hour. "You ready for the day?"

I blinked at him, trying to comprehend how someone could be so full of energy so early. "Sure," I replied, my voice dripping with as much enthusiasm as I could muster, which wasn't much. "How about you? Did you drink like five cups of coffee already or something?"

He chuckled, clearly enjoying my grumpiness. "Nah, just excited to be here. It's a beautiful morning, don't you think?"

I looked at him like he was crazy. "If you say so," I muttered, brushing past him and continuing my march towards the pool. I could feel his gaze on me, and I half-expected him to keep up the conversation, but to my relief, he let me go.

As I walked away, I couldn't help but shake my head. It was too early for this kind of interaction. All I wanted was to get through my swim practice and start the day without any more interruptions. But with Austin around, I had a feeling that was going to be easier said than done.

I slipped into the pool and the cool water instantly washed away any lingering sleepiness.

 Swimming had become my version of coffee in the morning. I never really liked coffee, but I imagine this is what it feels like for those who do—feeling truly awake only once you've had that first sip, or in my case, that first dive into the pool. The glistening waves, the echo of chatter, the weightlessness—everything about it was invigorating.

As I pulled my hands over the top of my swim cap, I suddenly realized something was missing. "Oh no," I muttered under my breath.

Lily, who was stretching beside me, noticed my panic. "What's wrong?" she asked, tilting her head.

"I think I forgot my glasses in the locker room," I said, glancing around as if they might magically appear.

"But didn't you have them when we left the locker room?" she asked, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

I nodded, trying to recall where I could've left them. Just then, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning around, I wasn't surprised to see Austin standing there, his ever-present grin firmly in place.

"Looking for these?" he asked, holding out my glasses in one hand.

Relief washed over me, and I was about to thank him when he added with that same grin, "Here you go, Maggi."