The All-Stars

Chapter Fifteen

The team makes it through to the finals with only two swimmers not making the times. However, they still stuck around since our relays were so successful. Our North Shore – McTyler's alliance is quickly gaining popularity with a few articles in some of the newspapers.

I half-listen as Jordan announces the order of today's heats to the teams. Once that is done, I get everyone into the water for warm-ups with a short reminder to watch out for each other.

At my seat in the stands, I take off my shirt and put on my goggles and cap. Taylor is writing down the swimmers' names on a roughly drawn table to record their times. I pass her a chocolate bar that I picked up at the candy stand this morning.

Asher walks me to the pool, his arm around my shoulders. Jordan and Diana are talking by the blocks so I decide to introduce Ash to Diana. She smiles and waves before entering the water.

"Look at you, all confident and ready to go." Ash grins and fist bumps Jordan.

"Great to see you again."

They hug since Jordan is still dry, but I catch Asher's devious smirk just before he shoves the North High captain into the pool. My caring boyfriend throws his head back and chortles as I roll me eyes.

"Would you like to be next, sweetheart?"

I roll my eyes.

Today, I have the first heat, the fifty freestyle. The line-up steps onto the blocks, assuming the starting position. I swing my arms to loosen up before I join them.

The announcer tells us to take our marks and the beep follows soon after, sending us into the water. I plunge gracefully and start kicking, staying underwater for as long as I can before my burning lungs force me to surface. In the middle lane, Diana is right beside me, holding out as we sprint to the other end.

She was first for the qualifiers and semi-finals, but her winning streak is about to end. I force myself to move faster and edge her out. As I hit the middle of the pool, I do another check.

Diana is about an arm's length behind me and still moving fast while Annie-Lauren is fighting with an Eastman swimmer for third. I have always hated competing against my own teammates. Looks like a podium sweep this time. I keep my breathing steady and hold my breath for the final strokes into the wall.

My hand slams against the pad to stop the clock and I throw an arm over the lane line to keep myself afloat in the deep pool. I wave to the crowd and start moving to the side to get out of the pool.

They allow us to put on our jackets and track pants for the award ceremony. The first round is for the fifty free. Annie-L and Diana wait in front of me, they wear the team jacket with the alliance colours and our schools' names plastered across their backs. I smile as they announce my name and I step up onto the highest point of the podium.

After we receive our medals, I pull the two girls to stand with me and we raise our hands. The flashes go off and we celebrate our podium sweep.

"Great job, Ellie." Annie-L grins and Diana gives me a thumbs up. I hug them both as we squeal in elation, our victory sinking in.

Asher waves his phone, and I catch Connor on the screen. The baseball player must have seen it all. I have a quick exchange with Connor before hanging up and jumping into Asher's arms.

"Come on, let's get you three ready for the relay." Taylor herds the three of us to the reporting tent. I snag Hailey as we pass by.

"Here's to another great swim." I extend a hand and they place their own on top of mine. With a cheer, we throw our arms in the air and walk out onto the deck once more.

Taylor waves from behind the barricades.

"The pressure's all on you, Diana." I smile, "Make Taylor proud."

She nods and shrugs off her jacket, revealing her tan skin.

For the last time in the competition, we take to the water and emerge victorious.

///

The team's loud chatter is annoying the other patrons of the western food joint but I do not try to shush them. Instead, I sit back and drink in the atmosphere. Asher drapes his hand across the back of the booth's seats. His fingers twirl a lock of my hair as I talk animatedly to Kailen.

Finally, the burgers, steaks and fries arrive and the teams dig in. Asher exchanges half of his mashed potato for my mac 'n' cheese but I consent to him poaching more mac 'n' cheese than he deserves.

"We should do this again next year." Jordan says.

I smile, "Next year, we'll probably have to pick the best to compete. This is great publicity."

"Agreed." We click our glasses of soda together.

///

In the morning, I gather the swimmers in the lobby after everyone finished checking out. They crash on the couches and talk amongst themselves until I clear my throat.

"Well, we had a great run this season."

They cheer as I find the note on my phone.

"North Shore racked up 19 medals for their individual events with an astonishing amount of swimmer to medal ratio. McTyler's has got 23 individual medals but more swimmers so we are evenly matched." The teams chuckle.

"For the relays, we managed to place in almost all of them, collecting 14 medals. Since we are an alliance the actual numbers are a lot greater because we have decided to share our wins, making our final tally 56 medals and twelve podium sweeps. Great job, everyone."

Our applause rings out through the hotel lobby, earning us a few curious looks as we strike out and head for the bus to the airport.

Asher stays behind with me as I go to talk to Jordan.

"Thanks for doing this with us." I shake Jordan's hand.

"You don't need to be so formal. Bring it in." Jordan throws an arm out and hugs me briefly.

Asher does not even blink. I laugh as I step back and embrace Diana as well.

"Have your happily ever after, you two." I say fondly.

Diana signs something and Jordan translates, "She says that you two better still be together when we meet next year in the college games."

"I promise you, we will be." Asher says as he pulls me into his side.

"Stay in touch, okay?" I add as we walk to our respective buses.

"Will do." Jordan allows Diana to get up first, waving before he follows.

I snuggle into Ash's side. His arm comes up and rubs warmth into my shoulder.

"I'm going to miss them." I sigh.

"Me too. Come on, sweetheart." He pulls me to our bus, passing me a novel once I am seated.