Chapter 1:
The freezing cold water hit my body hard. My body felt numb. The low temperature made my body ache. And I loved it. It relaxed me. This was home. I was free.
When I reached the surface everything was a blur. I kept swimming no matter what. I finally saw the goal and I also saw a girl swimming in front of me and I knew immidiently who it was; Alisa. The only girl that is constantly better than me and happens to win all competitions. I realized that she was going to win this time too, but I kept swimming either way. I was going to do my best, no matter what.
When I crossed the finish line I heard my name being called. "Noelle!"
I saw three figures standing in the front row of the crowd. After taking off my swimming glasses I saw Shelley, Olivia and Gareth. My mum, my sister and my boyfriend. A smile made it's way onto my face; they made it in time. Mum and Olivia had been picking up Gareth at the airport, since he came home from Canada today. He had spent a whole year there as an exchange student before going to college. None of his parents were alive, so my parents always looked after him. I got up from the water and my mum held out a towel for me. I dried myself and threw on a big sweater and sweatpants, anything to keep me warm.
Gareth came to me and mum left us alone. "I've missed you", he said before crashing his lips onto mine. It felt weird having his lips on mine once again. It's been a year since I last saw him and now it was all going back to normal. It has been hard not having him by my side, especially when Alisa wouldn't shut up about how Gareth left me. You see, it all started before Alisa joined the swimming club.
When I first met Gareth, he had a best friend: Jake. They had known each other for two years back then, and they're still best friends. Jake happens to have a younger sister, Alisa, and Alisa happened to be in love with Gareth. When I met Gareth it was love at first sight. We were on a sight-seeing boat that went around the coast of Edinburgh. I was working there over the summer and he was there with Jake. In the night I stood outside to look at the view and he came out to me since he couldn't sleep. We fell in love with each other and that wasn't something that Alisa approved of. But I didn't know who she was until she joined the swimming club a few months later. She was very eager to win all competitions, and I can't deny that she's a really good swimmer.
It was time for us to get our prices. The announcer started. "On third place: Paige Johnsson!". Everyone started applauding and a short brunette made her way to our coach who gave her a bronze medal and then she stood on her spot on the podium. The announcer continued. "On second place: Noelle Barnaby!". The crowd started applauding again, this time a lot louder since mum, Olivia and Gareth was cheering and clapping like crazy. I walked up to my coach who gave me an apologetic look. I was always his favourite, and I knew he didn't like Alisa at all. I smiled and he gave me the silver medal, then he motioned for me to step up on the podium. "And on first place, please put you're hands together for: Alisa Russett!", the announcer called and I swear I could see my coach roll his eyes. My eyes met Gareth's, and he raised his eyebrows. Alisa came up besides me and smiled to the crowd. She shaked both mine and Paige's hands, not because she wanted to, but because you're supposed to in these kinds of competitions. She had a fake smile plastered to her face and she leaned into my ear to whisper something. "Get used to the feeling of losing. This is not the last time"
After the awards ceremony we all went back to mum's car. She drove us home and started making dinner. Me and Gareth walked up the stairs to my room. "Noelle, I've missed you so much", he whispered as he put a strand of my hair behind my ear. Our lips connected in a soft kiss, amd I felt my knees go weak by his touch. I've missed this so much, I've missed him so much. We layed down on the bed and just talked. We talked about everything the past year, about Canada, about Edinburgh, about Alisa and everything in between. It felt so good.
"Don't ever leave me ever again"
He tilted my chin up so that my eyes met his. "I will never leave you again Noelle, I promise"
We ate dinner with mum, dad and Olivia. Everything was finally back to normal. During the whole dinner I kept glancing towards Gareth. This is so weird. He's like a whole new person, yet the same he was when he left.
But all days has to end, and so did this day. Gareth was going out with Jake and some other friends tonight, so I was left by myself this very special night. But I did not know by then that this night would be more special than I would've ever thought.
***
A/N:
Welcome to this new story Swallowed in the Sea! Most of you reading this story has probably read my first story Reign of Love, but for those of you who haven't, please read it! It is a story about Chris Martin and a girl called Adelaide. I'm sorry this chapter wasn't as long as I wanted it to be. And also, as I said in RoL, I don't think I'll be able to post one chapter every week this time, since I'm very busy at the moment.
I hope you all enjoy this story!
~kiwibananaxx
